Submarine Proliferation

Russia Export Behavior

Capabilities | Import | Export

Varshavyanka-class submarine for the Indian Navy, Zvezdochka Shipyard, Severodvinsk.
Source: Zvezdochka Website, http://www.star.ru

The Soviet and later Russian nuclear submarine program involved a variety of industrial enterprises. It encompassed an expansive network of research, design, and production centers, including the world's largest shipbuilding complex, known today as the Russian State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding (GRTsAS) in Severodvinsk, made up of two shipyards: the Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (more commonly referred to as Sevmash) and the Zvezdochka State Machine-Building Enterprise. The Severodvinsk shipyards are involved in the design, construction, testing, repair, and decommissioning of nuclear-powered ships. Two nuclear-powered submarines remain under construction at the Amurskiy Zavod shipyard in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, in the Russian Far East, as well, while additional yards are involved in nuclear submarine dismantlement (for more information on nuclear-powered submarine dismantlement, please see Russia: Naval Nuclear Reactors, in the NTI Nuclear and Missile Database, created by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies.)

To date, neither Russia nor the Soviet Union before it have sold nuclear submarines to foreign parties. However, technology transfer from the Soviet Union assisted the Chinese in the construction of their first nuclear boat in 1966, which copied but was not identical to Soviet Project 629 (NATO name Golf) class submarines. In addition, from 1988 to 1991 the Soviet Union leased a Project 670 Skat (NATO name Charlie I) class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, the K-43 (renamed Chakra while in Indian service), although the reactors were operated by a Soviet crew and the vessel was returned to the Soviet Union.[1] Since the late 1990s, there have been reports that Russia and India have been discussing the possible lease of a Project 971 Shchuka B (NATO name Akula II) submarine, most likely one of the vessels currently under construction at the Amurskiy shipyard.[2] In February 2005, Russia's newspaper Voyenno-promyshlennyy kuryer (Military-Industrial Courier) reported that Boris Aleshin, head of Russia's Federal Industry Agency, told Amurskiy Zavod to resume work on the boats for the Indian Navy.[3] Yet another indication of Russian plans is the scheduled September 2005 opening of a training center in Sosnovyy Bor, slated to train about 300 Indian naval officers. Sosnovyy Bor, in the Leningrad region, is the location of the Russian Navy Training Center, which has working nuclear submarine reactors; the new training center building is adjacent to the Russian Navy training center, and likely has simulators, not reactors, inside.[4] The Russian Navy's Shchuka B submarines are equipped with 28 cruise missiles, each armed with nuclear or conventional warheads with a striking range of 3,000 km. However, the Indian version is expected to be armed with the 300-km Klub missiles already installed on the Project 1135 (NATO name Krivak) class frigates and Project 877 Varshavyanka (NATO name Kilo) class diesel submarines Russia has built for India.

Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, has a large diesel submarine production program and actively exports these boats. The height of Soviet submarine exports came between 1960 and 1980, when some 90 diesel boats were exported around the world. The most-exported submarine was the Project 613 (NATO name Whiskey) class boat: 61 submarines of this class were exported to eight countries. In the early 1970s, the Soviets also exported large numbers of Project 633 (Romeo) class submarines, which became the mainstay of the Chinese fleet. By the mid-1970s, the Soviet Union had begun exporting Project 641 (Foxtrot) class submarines. Finally, in the mid-1980s, it started selling the Project 877 Varshavyanka (NATO name Kilo) and its later variant Project 636 class submarines, which are the mainstay of its current export program. Contracts for 27 Varshavyankas have been concluded to date, including three to Iran in the early 1990s, as well as boats sold to India, China, Poland, Romania, and Algeria.

China has emerged as a critical importer of Russian-made naval equipment. China has already purchased four Varshavyankas from Russia, including two improved Project 636 models. There have also been suggestions that Russians have continued to have a role in assisting China in its construction of nuclear-powered submarines. Further, it is possible that Russia might decide to export nuclear submarines to China in the future, although no such negotiations appear to have begun. In addition to China, India is a key export market for Russian submarines. Besides the possible lease of a nuclear-powered submarine (mentioned above), India has imported eight Varshavyankas. Further, Russia is reportedly part of a joint bid with Germany's HDW for a sale of submarines and submarine construction technology to India (for more information, see the discussion under the French Exports file). The Russian participation likely focuses on the submarines' weapon systems (Russia has been jointly developing the BrahMos missile with India. For more information on BrahMos, please see Russia: Missile Exports To India Developments, in the NTI Nuclear and Missile Database, created by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies.)

The chief promoter of Russian submarine exports is the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in St. Petersburg, which designed three generations of Russian nuclear- and diesel-powered submarines, including all of Russia's diesel submarines for export. Rubin showcases these vessels at international defense exhibitions. The boats are constructed at the Admiralteyskiye Verfi (Admiralty Shipyards) in St. Petersburg, the Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard in Nizhniy Novgorod, and Amurskiy Shipyard. The Malakhit (or Malachite) Central Marine-Engineering Design Bureau, in St. Petersburg, has also been a major designer of submarines, submarine power plants (both nuclear and diesel), and submarine-launched weaponry since its formation in 1948. More recently, it has turned to the design and production of mini-submarines, for military and civilian uses.[5]

Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering

Amur-class submarine.
Source: Rubin Website,
http://www.ckb-rubin.ru

Since the Rubin design bureau was founded in 1901, it has designed more than 20 submarine classes, totaling approximately 950 submarines, of which 138 were nuclear.[6,7] With the waning demand and resources for nuclear submarine production, the state-controlled Rubin design bureau has focused its efforts on establishing commercial exports of fourth generation Project 667 Amur-class and Varshavyanka-class diesel submarines.[8] Diesel submarines built from Rubin designs serve in 14 navies around the world.

The first exports of Project 877E (Varshavyanka) class submarines were delivered to the Polish and Indian navies in April 1986. Project 877EKM is a modification of 877E, including new cruise missile, inertial navigation, and automated information and control systems. Sindhushastra, the lead boat of Project 877EKM and outfitted with the Klub-S cruise missile (NATO name SS-NX-27 Alfa) complex, was built at Admiralty Shipyards and handed over to India in 2000. Russia is also refitting earlier Project 877E boats with the Klub S missile system; India, for instance, has had some five Varshavyankas refit with the Klub-S system.[9]

The Amur class is the export version of the Project 667 (Lada) class submarine. An extremely quiet boat, the Amur can be outfitted with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. The Amur is smaller than the Varshavyanka, designed for operation in the littoral; it is expected to cost significantly less than the Varshavyanka boats.[10] The first of class, Sankt Peterburg, a Project 667 boat for the Russian Navy, was launched by Admiralty Shipyards in October 2004. A second boat, an Amur 1650 for export, is awaiting funds for its completion at the Admiralty Shipyards.[11] No buyer has yet been identified for this vessel. Although the Chinese Navy has expressed its interest in AIP boats, no AIP-equipped submarines have yet been exported by Russia.[12]

Malakhit Central Marine-Engineering Design Bureau

The Malakhit design bureau was founded in 1948, and takes credit for designing the Soviet Union's first nuclear-powered submarine (the Project 627, NATO name November, class SSN), which was constructed at Sevmash. Malakhit worked in close cooperation with the Kurchatov Institute, and designers at Malakhit were the first Russians to find a way to outfit nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles.[6] Malakhit also designed the world's first nuclear submarine equipped with heavy metal-cooled reactors, the Project 645 (also November class), and participated in the creation of the world's first titanium-hulled nuclear submarine, the Project 661 Anchar (NATO name Papa) SSGN.[7] Most recently, Malakhit has been developing new, unified torpedo-missile armament systems to accommodate the latest types of cruise missiles, torpedoes, rocket-assisted torpedoes, and mines, and remains the leader in designing naval hardware for the Russian Navy.[6]

In the export sphere, Malakhit's main push has been the export of mini-submarines, small submarines, and equipment for the oil and gas market. The Triton-class mini-submarine is even being promoted to commercial customers for tourism. For foreign navies, Malakhit is promoting the Project 865 Piranya (NATO name Losos) class mini-submarine to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Near East, which appeared at expositions in Indonesia (February 2005) and Singapore (May 2005).[13,14] The Piranya was originally designed for the Soviet Navy; the first of class was laid down in July 1984. While the Russian Navy no longer uses Piranyas (only two were ever built), Malakhit believes that the vessel, which is quick and relatively inexpensive to build, is well-suited to navies that must operate in shallow waters. There have also been negotiations with France over joint construction and sale of Piranyas to third countries. According to Russian sources, these offers, initiated at the November 2004 EuroNavale expo in Paris, await French government approval.[15]

In addition, the Malakhit design bureau designed the Project 971 Shchuka-B or Bars (NATO name Akula) class nuclear-powered submarine. Two of these boats are currently under construction at Amurskiy Shipyard, in the Russian Far East. As noted above, there have been reports for nearly a decade that India might purchase or lease one of these boats.

Project 877 (Varshavyanka) submarine.
Source: Rubin Website,
http://www.ckb-rubin.ru

Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (Sevmash)

The largest of the two shipyards of the Russian State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding (GRTsAS) in Severodvinsk, the Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (more commonly referred to as Sevmash) began building nuclear-powered submarines in 1952. By 1995, Sevmash had constructed 125 submarines and had produced all the Northern Fleet's SSBNs.[16,17] Currently, the shipyard is constructing fourth-generation submarines for the Russian Navy (the Borey-class SSBN and Yasen-class SSGN) and overhauling Russian Navy submarines—repairs were completed on one Bars-class (NATO name Akula) SSN and one Akula-class (Typhoon) SSBN in the past three years, and one Akula is still in the drydock at the yard. Sevmash also defuels and dismantlies Russian SSBNs (four are at Sevmash for scrapping as of 2005).[18] Most recently, Sevmash has begun to construct submarines for export for the first time. On July 27, 2005, Sevmash launched the second of two diesel-electric Kilo-class submarines the yard is building for export under contract to Rosoboroneksport. The first was launched in May. Both boats are awaiting trials. The two submarines were the first diesel boats constructed at Sevmash in 40 years.[19]

Zvezdochka State Machine-Building Enterprise

The smaller of the two shipyards of the Russian State Center for Atomic Shipbuilding (GRTsAS) in Severodvinsk, Zvezdochka, was commissioned in 1954. Since its establishment, the yard has repaired and modernized over 100 first-, second-, and third-generation submarines.[20] More recently, Zvezdochka has been involved with dismantling SSBNs under START I. Zvezdochka also constructs submarines for export and repairs submarines previously exported. For instance, it has overhauled and modernized several of India's Project 877EKM Varshavyanka (Kilo) class submarines.[21] In February 2005, it signed its most recent such contract, for the modernization of the Sindhudhvaj. [22]

Admiralteyskiye Verfi (Admiralty Shipyards)

Project 636 (Improved Kilo) submarine, Admiralty.
Source: Admiralty Website, http://www.admship.ru

Also known as Admiralty-Sudomekh, United Admiralty, and Leningradskoye Admiralteyskoye Obedineniye, Admiralteyskiye Verfi is a former nuclear submarine production facility and consists of two side-by-side shipyards in St. Petersburg.[16,23,24] Unlike Sevmash and Zvezdochka, both state-owned entities, Admiralteyskiye Verfi is a joint stock company. The shipyard is building a new Project 667 Lada-class submarine for the Russian Navy, and has laid down an Amur 1650 (the export variant of the Lada), but has yet to find a buyer. It had promoted the boat to India, but in 2001 India decided to purchase French Scorpènes instead.[25] In addition, Admiralty Shipyards has built a line of Varshavyanka submarines for the Indian and Chinese navies. As of July 2005, Admiralty was completing work on two Varshavyankas for China.[26] The shipyard is building five of the eight SSKs ordered by Beijing, and is hoping to expand production of submarines for export still further: in late 2005 or early 2006 it is expected to decide conclusively whether to invest some $80 million in a new production line for diesel submarines, as is currently planned.[26] The shipyard also has contracts to modernize Indian and Chinese Project 877EKM Kilos (outfitting them as Project 636 vessels); each such contract is worth about $1 million. Rosoboroneksport, Russia's weapons export agency, has also recently begun negotiating the refit of the three Varshavyankas sold to Iran with the Klub S system. Both Zvezdochka and Admiralty shipyards will vie for the Iranian contract.

Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard

The Krasnoye Sormovo Shipyard was founded in 1849. It built the Soviet Union's second- and third-generation Project 670 Skat and Chayka (NATO name Charlie I and Charlie II) SSGNs, Project 671 Ersh, Semga, and Schuka (NATO name Victor I, Victor II, and Victor III) SSNs, and Project 945 Barrakuda (NATO name Sierra) SSNs, in addition to Project 641 Som (NATO name Tango) and Varshavyanka diesel submarines.[24] In 1994, the shipyard was privatized.[24,27] Since that time, the yard has constructed three Kilos for China.[28] In 2002, Krasnoye Sormovo received a contract for the construction of yet one more Varshavyanka, an updated Project 636 version, for China.[29]

Amurskiy Zavod

The Amurskiy Sudostroitelnyy Zavod, located in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Khabarovsk territory, in the Russian Far East, began operations in 1957.[16] The shipyard produced a total of 56 submarines from 1960 to 1996. Because the shallow waters of the Amur River prevented the launching of large vessels, Amurskiy Zavod built only smaller SSBNs—Project 667A Navaga (NATO name Yankee) and Project 667B Murena (NATO name Delta I), SSNs—Project 971 Shchuka B (NATO name Akula) and Project 671 Ersh and Shchuka (NATO name Victor I and III), as well as Varshavyanka-class diesel submarines.[30,31]

In November 1992, President Boris Yeltsin announced the termination of nuclear submarine construction at Amurskiy Zavod and the consolidation of future nuclear submarine production at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk.[16,30,31] An Akula SSN (the K-295 or Drakon), completed at Bolshoy Kamen's Vostok Plant (Primorskiy Kray) in 1995, was the last nuclear submarine released from the Komsomolsk-na-Amure plant.[32] Despite the presidential order, however, two nuclear submarines remained under construction at the facility. The two submarines are Project 971 Shchuka-B (NATO name Akula II) class submarines.[32] During President Vladimir Putin's October 1999 visit to the facility (when Putin was still in the post of prime minister), the decision that one submarine would be completed and the other used for spare parts in Severodvinsk was announced.[33] As of August 2005, there are no reports that the latter has been dismantled or parts shipped to the northern yard. Meanwhile, reports continued to surface that India would lease the first Akula II completed at Amurskiy Shipyard (discussed above).

The shipyard has had less success obtaining new contracts for the construction of Kilo-class submarines for export. In May 2002, Russia's export agency (Rosoboroneksport) signed a contract for the sale of eight Kilos to China. Initially, Amurskiy Zavod was to build two of these vessels. However, in June of that year the Russian Shipbuilding Agency transferred the contract to Sevmash instead, reportedly saying that strategic exports should be made by state, not private, shipyards. However, Krasnoye Sormovo, a private yard, retained its contract for one of the Chinese Kilos.[34]

Sources:
[1] Yuriy Golotyuk, "My na lodke katalis...," Vremya novostey, February 15, 2001; in WPS Oborona i Bezopasnost, February 19, 2001; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[2] Marina Kravchenko, "Boris Aleshin raskonserviroval atomnyye submariny dlya Indii," Kommersant, October 11, 2004; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[3] Vladimir Shcherbakov, "Atomokhody na prokat," Voyenno-promyshlennyy kuryer, February 2, 2005, in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[4] Vera Ponomaryova, "Nuclear subs on lease from Russia to India," August 16, 2005, Bellona Foundation Website, http://www.bellona.no/en/international/russia/nuke-weapons/nonproliferation/39412.html.
[5] "Sankt-Peterburgskoye morskoye byuro "Malakhit" rossiyskogo agentstva po sudostroyeniyu pravitelstva RF," Biznes Sankt Peterburga Website, http://www.spb-business.ru/show.php?directory=450.
[6] Thomas Nilsen, Igor Kudrik, and Alexander Nikitin, "Nuclear-powered vessels," The Russian Northern Fleet, Bellona Foundation, http://www.bellona.no/e/russia/nfl/nfl2-1.htm.
[7] Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering Rubin Website, http://www.ckb-rubin.com.
[8] Starshell, "World Submarine Developments," http://www.naval.ca/worldsubs.html.
[9] Nikolai Novichkov, "Fifth Indian submarine to get Club-S," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, August 1, 2002.
[10] David Markov, "Europe, More Details Surface of Rubin's 'Kilo' Plans," Jane's Intelligence Review, May 1, 1997, www.janes.com.
[11] Richard Scott, "Russia Launches First Project 677 Submarine," Jane's Defence Weekly, November 3, 2004.
[12] Martin Driver, "AIP: Strength in Numbers," Jane's Navy International, June 1, 2005, www.janes.com.
[13] "Morskoye byuro mashinostroyeniya 'Malakhit' prognoziruyet rezkiy rost sprosa na malyye podvodnyye lodki," ITAR-TASS, February 17, 2005, http://armstass.su.
[14] Sergey Zavorotnyy, "V Singapure shtormilo," Tribuna, May 28, 2005, p. 6; in Integrum Techno, www.integrum.ru
[15] Andrey Mikhaylov, "Podvodnyye lodki: nash otvet 'supostatu,'" Pravda.ru, November 3, 2004, http://www.pravda.ru/politics/2004/1/100/401/18385_podlodka.html.
[16] Oleg Bukharin and Joshua Handler, "Russian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Decommissioning," Science and Global Security, vol. 5, 1995, p. 251.
[17] Thomas B. Cochran and Robert Standish Norris, Soviet Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Weapons Databook, vol. 4, 1989, pp. 78, 137-142.
[18] "Voyennoye sudostroyeniye," Sevmash Website, http://www.sevmash.ru.
[19] Vladimir Anufriyev, "Na oboronnoy verfi Sevmash v Severodvinske spushchena na vodu vtoraya dizel-elektricheskaya podvodnaya lodka, postroyennaya na eksport," ITAR-TASS, July 27, 2005; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[20] Pavel Kachur, "Sindhuvir Operational Again," Military Parade, September-October 1999, p. 32.
[21] Nikolai Kalistratov, "Zvyozdochka: Russia's Ship Repair Industry Leader," Military Parade, May-June 1998, pp. 78-80.
[22] Interfax, February 8, 2005.
[23] Valery Marinin, "Nuclear Submarine Construction in Russia," Military Parade, March-April 1995, pp. 114-119.
[24] Robin Lee, "Ongoing Naval Construction Programs," State of the Russian Navy Data Page, http://www.webcom.com/~amraam/build.html#shipyards.
[25] Aleksandra Gritskova, Konstantin Lantratov, "Rossiya osnastit Iranskiye podlodki raketami," Kommersant, July 4, 2005, p. 6; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[26] "'Admiralteyskiye verfi' planiruyut postroit novyy sborochnyy tsekh korpusov podvodnykh lodok," Delovoy Peterburg, July 6, 2005, p. 6; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[27] Yevgeniya Morozova, "The Ships Got Caught in a Gale: Post-Privatization Passions Have Become More Intense at Nizhniy Novgorod's 'Krasnoye Sormovo' Plant on the Eve of the Anniversary at the Well-Known Russian Military Industrial Complex Enterprise," Segodnya, August 6, 1999, p. 6; in "Krasnoye Sormovo Plant Survival in VPK Struggles," FBIS Document FTS19990815000542.
[28] Praym-TASS, "'Varshavyanka' poydet v Kitay," Rossiyskaya gazeta, March 25, 2000; in Natsio>http://nel.nns.ru.
[29] Aleksandra Gritskova, "'Admiralteyskiye verfi' spuskayut tankery i podlodki dlya Rossii i Kitaya," Kommersant (St. Petersburg), August 28, 2004.
[30] Bellona Report, http://www.ngo.grida.no/.../nfl/index.htm.
[31] "Yeltsin: No More Red Submarines?" Arms Control Today, November 1992, p. 35.
[32] Interfax, July 9, 1997, "Payments for Two Nuclear Submarines Uncertain;" in FBIS-UMA-97-190.
[33] "Vremya" newscast, October 27, 1999; in "Russian Premier Visits Nuke Sub and Aircraft Plants," FBIS Document FTS19991104001084.
[34] Anna Smolina, "Ushla kitayskaya podlodka," Kommersant (St. Petersburg), October 22, 2004; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.

RUSSIAN SUBMARINE EXPORTS
Country	Class	Shipyard	Year of Order	Number ordered	As Boats	As Material Kits	Comments
China	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	Russia (yard unknown), Shanghai, and Wuchang	1956-64	21		21	First 5 boats built in USSR, 1956-64, subsequent vessels constructed in China.
Egypt	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1957- 1962	8	8		Ex-Soviet Navy
Bulgaria	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1958	2	2		Ex-Soviet Navy
Poland	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1960-70	6	6		Ex-Soviet Navy
North Korea	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1960	4	4		Ex-Soviet Navy
Albania	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1960-1961	4*	4		Ex-Soviet Navy; *Two boats were transferred from the USSR in 1960, two were seized by Belgrade in 1961.
Indonesia	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown (Russia)	1960-1965	14	14		An additional 2 vessels were ordered as spare parts.
China	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1962-1986	30 (China eventually built 87)	2	28	First two leased or lent to China; subsequent construction in China.
China	Project 629/ Golf SSBN	Dalian	1966	1		1	Similar but not identical to Soviet Golf class.
Egypt	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1966-69	8	8		Ex-Soviet Navy; Egypt subsequently received Romeos from China.
India	Project 641/ Foxtrot SSK	Admiralty	1968-75	8	8		Ex-Soviet Navy
Bulgaria	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1972-86	4	4		Ex-Soviet Navy
Libya	Project 641/ Foxtrot SSK	unknown	1976-83	6	6		Ex-Soviet Navy
Cuba	Project 641/ Foxtrot SSK	unknown	1977-84	3	3		Ex-Soviet Navy
Cuba	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown	1979	1	1		Ex-Soviet Navy
Algeria	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1982-83	2	2		Transferred in 1982-83 as a five-year loan.
India	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	Admiralty	1983	8	8		Original order for 6 boats was expanded to 10, and later cut back again to 8. Final boat commissioned in 2000.
Syria	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1985	3	3		Ex-Soviet Navy
Syria	Project 613/ Whiskey SSK	unknown	1985	1	1		Transferred November 1985 for use as charging platform
Algeria	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	Admiralty	1985	2	2		One refit 1993-95, second refit 1993-96.
Bulgaria	Project 633/ Romeo SSK	unknown	1986	2			Built in 1961, transferred from USSR in 1986.
Poland	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	Admiralty	1986	1	1
Romania	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	unknown	1986	1	1		Transferred from USSR in 1986
Poland	Project 641/ Foxtrot SSK	Admiralty	1987	2	2		Leased from USSR in 1987 and 1989, purchased in 1992.
India	Skat/Charlie I SSGN	Krasnoye Sormovo	1988	1	1		Lease from Soviet Navy.
Iran	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	Admiralty	1988	3	3
China	Varshavyanka/ Kilo SSK	Admiralty	1993	4	4		First pair Project 877 hulls, second pair Project 636.
China	Project 636 Varshavyanka/ Improved Kilo SSK	Admiralty, Sevmash, and Krasnoye Sormovo	2002	8	8		Delivery of all 8 boats expected by 2007
TOTAL EXPORTED				158	106	50

CURRENT RUSSIAN SUBMARINE EXPORT CLASSES:

Project 877K/877M/636 Varshavyanka (NATO Name Kilo)
Project 667 Lada

Project 865 Piranya (NATO Name Losos)

Project 865 Piranya (NATO Name Losos)
Displacement, tons:	218, submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	92.5 x 15.4 x 12.8 (28.2 x 4.7 x 3.9)
Main machinery:	One 160 MW diesel generator; one 60 kW direct current motor
Speed, knots:	8 surfaced 6.7 submerged
Range, miles:	1,000 at 4 knots, surfaced 260 at 4 knots, submerged
Complement:	3 officers and group of 6 divers
Diving depth, ft (m):	650 (200)
Endurance:	10 days
Weapons:	Two containers for the transport of diving units and two mine units or two lattices for Latush torpedoes

Sources:
"SPL - Proyekt 865 'Piranya,'" Rossiyskiy podvodnyy flot Website, http://www.submarina.ru/sub.php?865.
"Small Size Submarines," Rosoboronexport Website, http://www.rusarm.ru/p_prod/navy/small.htm.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin 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 © 2008 by MIIS.