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entry, see the
Research, Design, and
Production Facilities
file.
St. Petersburg
Address: 18 ulitsa Frunze, St. Petersburg 196135
Telephone: 812-298-3590
Fax: 812-298-1719
Russian Shipbuilding Agency
General Designer and Head: Vladimir Nikolayevich Pyalov
The Malakhit (or Malachite) Central Marine-Engineering Design Bureau, founded
in 1948, evolved from Special Design Bureau No. 143,[1, 3] and takes credit
for designing the Soviet Union's first nuclear-powered submarine (November-class
Project 627 SSN), which was constructed at Sevmash. Malakhit
worked in close cooperation with the Kurchatov Institute, and designers
at Malakhit were the first to find a way to outfit nuclear submarines with
ballistic missiles.[4] After handing the first Project 627 SSN to
the navy, Malakhit proceeded with designs for the world's first nuclear
submarine equipped with heavy metal-cooled reactors, the November-class
Project 645. Malakhit also participated in the creation of the world's
first titanium hulled nuclear submarine, the Project 661 Papa SSGN,
also built at Sevmash, and handed over to the navy in 1969.[5] Because
of its titanium hull, the Papa was able to dive deeper, and it also
set a world underwater speed record, which remains unbroken.[4]In
addition, Malakhit worked on the Alfa SSN,[2, 5] the second generation Victor I,
Victor II, and Victor III SSNs,[5] and the Akula SSN.[6] The bureau has designed 82 nuclear submarines out
of its total 105 submarines.[2, 3] As of late 1996, in order to preserve
its constructive potential, Malakhit was undergoing conversion activities,
which included, among other things, research and development on an environmentally
safe, underground nuclear power plant.[5]
Malakhit developed new, unified torpedo-missile armament
systems to accommodate the latest types of cruise missiles, torpedoes,
rocket-assisted torpedoes, and mines. As of June 1998, Malakhit led
the industry in the development of these weapons for every kind of submarine
that the Russian Navy operates. Plans are also underway for a new
generation of multi-purpose submarines. In spite of a decrease in
the number of naval orders, Malakhit remains the leader in designing naval
hardware for the Russian Navy.[4]
Defense conversion efforts include a November 1998
proposal to use nuclear submarines for exploiting mineral deposits on the
Arctic Sea shelf, which involves a deep-water complex for exploration and
extraction of minerals under thick ice.[7]
9/27/99: RUSSIA OFFERS TO SELL NUCLEAR SUBMARINES
TO CHINA
The Malakhit Central Marine-Engineering Design Bureau
and Amurskiy Zavod (in
Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Khabarovsk) have reportedly
made offers through Rosvooruzheniye to sell two Akula-class submarines
to the Chinese Navy for as much as $500 million each. A senior official
at Malakhit stated that the deal was sanctioned by former Prime Minister
Yevgeniy Primakov, but Vladimir Pospelov, head of the State Shipbuilding
Agency, denied any knowledge of the sale. However, he also stated
that he saw no major obstacles to such a deal. According to the Malakhit
official, the submarines are already 30 percent completed and could be
delivered in less than four years. (However, according to CNS information,
the two submarines under construction at Komsomolsk-na-Amure are least
60 percent complete; please see the Profiles entry on Amurskiy
Zavod for details. Also, please see the Russia--China
nuclear reactor exports development section for more information on
reactor technology transfers.)
12/8/95: PROJECT TO CONVERT NUCLEAR SUBMARINES IS DELAYED
An earlier proposal by the nuclear power plant engineers at the Malakhit
Bureau to convert nuclear submarines into stationary nuclear power plants
was supported in Sakhalin. However, both Sakhalin authorities and the Malakhit
Bureau still have reservations about the environmental ramifications of
the project and have not yet come to full agreement on the expediency of
the project.
9/95: RUSSIA SEEKS NEW USES FOR OLD SUBMARINES
Russia is reportedly seeking to find new uses for
its converted nuclear submarines. One project, being conducted by Russian
defense enterprises and a joint stock venture, is examining the possibility
of "under-the-ice delivery" of cargo using nuclear submarines in the Arctic.
The Malakhit Plant in St. Petersburg has come up with three possible options:
using submarines as floating power plants; building full-scale nuclear
power plants which could be towed to remote areas or islands; and constructing
underground nuclear power plants. According to ITAR-TASS, Malakhit is also
studying the possibility of using submarines to lay communications cable
under the Arctic.
1/95: MALAKHIT DESIGNING SPECIALIZED SHIP
It was reported that Malakhit is designing an atomic-technical maintenance
ship to carry radioactive waste and reprocessed fuel of the Northern
fleet to waste facilities in Novaya Zemlya. The ship is planned for commissioning
in 1998.
Page last updated 25 September 2001
Comments or questions? Contact Cristina Chuen at MIIS
CNS: Cristina.Chuen@miis.edu
This material is produced independently for NTI
by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the
Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has
not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers,
employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.
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