MOD vs Zvezdochka Shipyard: Oscar II "Orel"

Oscar II submarine "Orel" undergoing dock repairs at 82nd Shipyard (Roslyakovo) - March 31, 2012
credit: avsky

On December 30, 2010, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed state contract R/1/2/0137/GK-11-DGOZ with Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center for service maintenance and repairs of Northern Fleet ships and submarines, to include Oscar II submarine "Orel", Sierra II submarine "Pskov", and Victor III submarines "Obninsk" and "Tambov". Costs included in the table of work to be performed on "Orel" totaled RUB 10,529,136. While the contract was signed in December 2010, the specific repairs for "Orel" were not approved by the MOD until May 22, 2012 - nearly 17 months after the contract was signed. According to the contract, all work under the contract was to be completed by December 31, 2012.

On December 25, 2014, the MOD filed papers with the Arbitration Court of Moscow seeking RUB 3,042,920 in compensation for the shipyard's failure to complete the agreed to work on "Orel" by the specified deadline. According to its complaint, the MOD stated that some elements of the submarine's repairs were not completed as of October 16, 2013, or 289 days after the contract deadline.

The court determined that nearly all contract line items for the "Orel" repairs were completed by the deadline. Two line items, totaling RUB 7,260,831, were completed by May 13, 2013. However, this delay was caused in part by the MOD's failure to finalize the specifics of the submarine's repairs as they related to those two line items until May 2012.

On April 2, 2015, the court issued its decision (A40-217314/2014) in which it found Zvezdochka was not authorized to unilaterally stop work under the contract, as it violated Articles 309 and 310 of the Russian State Code. The court, however, dismissed the MOD's claim that a contract having multiple line items can only be considered complete when all line items have been completed. Since the shipyard did complete all but two of the line items within the stated deadline, the court limited the shipyard's compensation to the MOD to RUB 500,000 (about 16% of what the MOD was seeking), plus another RUB 13,000 in court fees.

Within a few days, both sides filed appeals with the 9th Arbitration Appeals Court, which is scheduled to begin reviewing the case on July 7.

Upgrading Barents Sea Undersea Surveillance

Sierra II nuclear-powered submarine "Kostroma" after collision with "USS Baton Rouge" in 1992

The Russian Ministry of Defense is planning to install a new, modernized MGK-608M fixed undersea surveillance system in the Barents Sea by the end of 2016. The announced contract covers the installation, set-up, and calibration of the system, but not the production of the system – which suggests that the system has already been produced. The contract also covers training of operators at the Northern Fleet’s Experimental Sonar Facility in Severomorsk. The total cost of the MOD contract is RUB 216,349,700.

Based on the contract (RA/1/04/Р/0347/2015), at-sea installation of the MGK-608M will be performed by a Northern Fleet cable ship. This most likely will be the fleet’s only operational Klasma-class cable ship – “Inguri”. The contract also contains other interesting details:

• this MGK-608M will replace a prototype MGK-608M system installed some time earlier
• there are passive and active elements of the system
• the current passive section will be lengthened by 105 kilometers
• the system will be connected to an Alevrit “functional surveillance control system” [procurement and installation of the Alevrit system is covered under state contract RA/1/04/Р/0346/2015]
• the cable ship will spend 218 days in port and 50 days at sea loading, checking, installing, and calibrating elements of the system

An earlier version of the undersea surveillance system, MGK-608, has been in operation since the mid-1990s. Contracts for repairs of the MGK-608 in 2007-2008 indicate that the older system was still functional at that time.

Annual stockholder reports (2011-2013) for the Special Draft Design Bureau of Control Systems showed that the company was working on software improvements for MGK-608 systems under a State Defense Order for the “Severyanin” program; its efforts were to continue into 2015. Additionally, the reports indicated that the company has been working on a component of a Scientific Research Project (OKR) called “Silda” under state contract 253/10/8/К/0028-07 (signed September 28, 2007). The contract stipulated that work on OKR “Silda” was to occur between September 2007 and March 2015. Thus, while there appears to be a link between MGK-608, the “Severyanin” project, and OKR “Silda”, the link between these efforts and either the prototype or newer MGK-608M is not yet clear.

MGK-608E undersea surveillance system offered for export
(credit: Atoll Scientific Research Institute)

The MGK-608 has been offered for export (MGK-608E) by the Atoll Scientific Research Institute. According to the company’s website:

The MGK-608E fixed passive sonar system is made up of a number of linear phased antenna arrays, consisting of receiving elements (hydrophones), which are installed on the seabed and can be extended to a range of dozens or hundreds of kilometers from the shoreline.

The system, which has a reported 90% accuracy rate in detecting submarines, can be installed at a depth of up to 1,000 meters, with the hydrophones extending up to 200 kilometers from shore.

Locations of 1992-1993 submarine collisions in the Barents Sea
(credit: Wikipedia)

With claims of multiple detections of foreign submarines operating in the Barents Sea dating back as far as the 1960s, Russia views the presence of NATO submarines in the Barents Sea as a constant irritant. Submarine collisions in 1986, 1992, and 1993 have added to Moscow’s concerns that NATO boats regularly operate in their back yard with impunity. In August 2014, Russian submarines detected what they believed to be a Virginia-class submarine conducting operations in the Barents Sea. This February, Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer published an article written by Rear Admiral (retired) Sergey Zhandarov in which he stipulated that the U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarine “New Hampshire” operated in the Barents Sea for some period between February 11 and August 13, 2014, likely referring to the same submarine detection reported above.

Daily Operations Center at the National Defense Command Center - 2015
(credit: RF Ministry of Defense)

While installation of the newer MGK-608M undersea surveillance system may provide local officials improved warning of the presence of foreign submarines in the Barents Sea, it will also keep decision-makers at the new National Defense Command Center apprised of ongoing activity in the area as part of the growing Common State Maritime and Undersea Surveillance System (Rus: ЕГСОНПО). The MGK-608M, along with other sensors and data sources, will provide Moscow with a common operating picture of activities occurring in and around Russia. Not only will duty officers in Moscow be informed in near-real time when the fleet has detected a foreign submarine, they will be able to monitor the fleet's response to the intruder, as well.

Status of Kilo Transfers to Black Sea Fleet

Despite official claims that new Kilo-class (Project 636.3) submarines would begin arriving in the Black Sea Fleet in May-June 2015, the readiness of the first hull, named "Novorossiysk", is in question. According to one source, there may be problems with the submarine as evidenced by the lack of reporting of any activity by the submarine since it transferred to Polyarnyy in November 2014. The source indicated "something serious" occurred on the submarine before the New Year that will require its return to Admiralty Shipyards in the Baltic Sea this spring before it heads for the Black Sea.

The second unit of the new class, "Rostov-na-Donu", was commissioned into the Russian Navy on December 30. On January 8, a navy spokesman told reporters that the submarine crew was preparing to transfer to the Northern Fleet for deep-water testing of equipment and weapons. The submarine remains at Admiralty Shipyards as of today.

When President Putin visited Novorossiysk Naval Base in September 2014, he was informed by Black Sea Fleet commander Admiral Vitko that construction projects at the base to support new ships [and submarines] would not be completed until late 2016. And that date has been pushed back to sometime in 2017, according to a Southern Military District press release this month. A review of contracts announced in 2014 indicates a lot of work has yet to be completed. Seven contracts specifically linked to submarine basing in Novorossiysk have reported completion deadlines of between May 2015 and February 2016, with the majority of them being completed in August or later.

Description	Cost	Deadline
high-pressure air stations	RUB 265,636,262	May 20, 2015
high-pressure air station	RUB 275,241,985	August 15, 2015
transformer substations	RUB 36,241,590	August 15, 2015
battery recharging station	RUB 251,979,920	October 15, 2015
battery storage facility	RUB 41,477,946	October 30, 2015
barracks for submarine crews	RUB 190,983,303	December 1, 2015
battery workshop	RUB 375,464,251	February 28, 2016
TOTAL	RUB 1,437,025,257

Despite this construction timeline, the first two new submarines can be temporarily based in Sevastopol, if needed. With regards to submarine battery recharging requirements, the converted Romeo-class submarine "PZS-50" (PZS = floating charging station) could be transferred to Novorossiysk on a temporary basis. "PZS-50" normally supports the fleet's sole Kilo submarine, "Alrosa"; however, that submarine's ongoing repairs will last through October 2015. This means "PZS-50" is free to support submarine basing requirements in Novorossiysk until that base's recharging station is completed in October, after which "PZS-50" would return to Sevastopol.

Arktika-2012 + "Losharik" = "Drill, Baby, Drill!"

Research into this week’s sighting of the “secret” submarine “Losharik” (actually, the sighting of a photograph probably taken nearly ten years ago) led back to the submarine’s participation in Arktika-2012 – an expedition to determine Russia’s mineral rights in the Arctic. Below are some interesting facts that may be new to readers already familiar with the expedition:

• The expedition took place between August 10 and September 28 and involved the civilian icebreakers “Dikson” and “Kapitan Dranitsyn”, as well as the Russian Navy’s Delta Stretch nuclear-powered submarine “Orenburg” and deep-submergence nuclear-powered submarine “Losharik”.
• “Orenburg” and “Losharik” (identified in expedition reports and briefings as “scientific research submarines” NIPL-1 and NIPL-2, respectively) departed port in early September. “Orenburg” (mothership for "Losharik") surfaced near one of the icebreakers on September 8, marking the start of the two submarines’ participation in the expedition. The submarines ended their participation on September 24.

Commemorative certificate from Arktika-2012
[credit: Yevgeniy Gusev]

• On board “Losharik” was civilian geologist Yevgeniy Anatolyevich Gusev. Following the expedition, Gusev posted to the web a scan of a certificate commemorating his presence on “PL BN-220” (“Submarine Hull Number 220”), which turns out to be the hull number for “Losharik”. Gusev learned very quickly that posting the certificate to the web was a very bad idea, but his attempts to undo this mistake were unsuccessful as the certificate was immediately reposted across dozens of websites, blogs, and forums.
• The French iXSea GAPS (Global Acoustic Positioning System) was used to coordinate activities between the icebreakers and the submarines. Additionally, an underwater communications (UWC) system was installed on “Kapitan Dranitsyn”. The UWC system allowed for voice communications as well as for passing SMS text messages.

"Orenburg" surfaced near the North Pole following its participation in Arktika-2012 - September 27, 2012
[credit: urban3p]

• “Orenburg” was used to survey large areas believed to have escarpments (steep slopes) that may be suitable for placement of a GBU-2 seabed drilling unit. Based on those surveys, locations were passed to “Losharik” for more detailed survey work. Upon completion of the secondary survey, “Losharik” communicated back to “Orenburg” one of three commands: "Drill" (site suitable for drilling), "Dredge" (no suitable site, but area contains rock bottom material that can be dredged), and "Empty" (no suitable site and no rock bottom material). Upon receipt of any command, “Orenburg” would then head to the next survey area. When “Losharik” sent a "Drill" command, it would hover over the site while "Kapitan Dranitsyn" maneuvered over the submarine’s location, lowered the GAPS system (which is linked to a GPS system) to determine the exact location of “Losharik” (±10m accuracy). After the submarine’s position was fixed, the icebreaker would order “Losharik” to depart the area so that the GBU-2 could be lowered.
• Of the ten locations identified as possible drilling sites, only two were identified as suitable. Three sites were identified as not suitable but having rock bottom material. The remaining sites were "empty."

Diagram depicting how activities were coordinated during Arktika-2012 using GAPS, GPS, Iridium,and WiFi
[credit: Andrey Morozov]

• “Dikson” and “Kapitan Dranitsyn” were able to share seismology and ice data using a WiFi network that had a range of 8 kilometers.

Magazine Lassoes a Fictitious Horse in the White Sea

Scan of Top Gear magazine page showing mysterious submarine

One of today's popular military news stories out of Russia was the "accidental" leak of a picture of a rarely seen piece of naval hardware: the "Losharik" nuclear-powered special-purpose submarine. The boat gets its name from a 1971 Soviet stop-motion film bearing the same name. The lead character in the children's film was named Losharik because it was a horse ("loshad") formed from balls ("sharik") used by a circus juggler (watch the 10-minute movie here).

Losharik - the juggling man's horse

Today's story first surfaced last Friday when a scan of page 149 from a past or future edition of the Russian version of Top Gear magazine was posted to the internet. When queried, the poster stated he wasn't sure which edition the page came from, but he had heard that Top Gear's office in Moscow had been visited on Friday by some government officials - possibly from the Ministry of Defense. After the story was picked up by the Russian press today, the source went back and deleted his posts and the original image. But it was too late as more than a hundred Russian and foreign news sites had already republished the picture.

It's not clear when or where the photo was taken. The article's title, "Water Spray of the White [Sea?]," would seem to suggest the White Sea was, in fact, the location. The background does look very similar to other pictures taken from the beach adjacent to Severodvinsk, on the southeastern corner of the White Sea.

Nikolay Ushanov

One of the people in the article is most likely Nikolay Ushanov (identified by the diminutive name "Kolyunya" and "K-U" within the article's text). Ushanov has penned articles for and been on the editorial staff of many car magazines in Russia, such as Car Shop, XXL-Auto, Trend, Top Gear, Car World, and most recently Classic & Sports Car. He lives in Moscow, but has occasion to travel to such hot spots as the White Sea in far northwestern Russia. Before he was a car magazine writer and editor, he served in the Soviet Navy aboard a Yankee-class nuclear-powered submarine. Apparently Ushanov has maintained some naval and shipbuilding industry contacts, as evidenced by his attendance at the roll-out of the third Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine "Vladimir Monomakh" in December 2012. The submarine was built at Northern Machine-Building Enterprise in Severodvinsk.

Given his background, the picture really could have been taken at any time over the past decade. A local Severodvinsk photographer believes the photo used in the Top Gear article was taken nine years ago. It's unclear if he knows that to be true, or if he, too, noted Ushanov's work history and guessed it was taken while he was working for Top Gear magazine between 2004 and 2010. One final possible clue to the photo's date is the vehicle being discussed in the article: the Mercedes-Benz GL 450. According to Wikipedia, the GL 450 was not sold until 2006.

It's amazing what the press will pick up on a slow news day.

Which Subs Will Be Upgraded to Carry Kalibr?

In 2014, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, head of the Russian Navy, stated:

"By 2020, 12 multipurpose nuclear-powered submarines are scheduled to undergo deep modernization: Project 949AM – four units, Project 971M – six units, Project 945M – two units. Characteristics of these submarines will not be inferior to foreign equivalents, but rather, in terms of certain criteria, such as strike missile weapon loads, they will be superior to their foreign equivalents."

In this context, "deep modernization" most certainly refers to reconfiguring the submarines to carry the Kalibr family of missiles (SS-N-27 antiship cruise missile, SS-N-30 land-attack cruise missile, and 91R antisubmarine missile) and, in most (if not all) cases, upgrading to the MGK-540M (Kizhuch) sonar system. Based on multiple statements and a review of repair contracts and annual stockholder reports, the following is a list of known candidates that fit Chirkov's "deep modernization" projections:

Class	Name	Age
Akula I	"Bratsk"	27
Akula I	"Leopard"	22
Akula I	"Samara"	19
Akula I	"Volk"	23
Oscar II	"Chelyabinsk"	24
Oscar II	"Irkutsk"	26
Oscar II	"Tver"	22
Sierra I	"Karp"	27
Sierra I	"Kostroma"	24

There certainly are other upgrade candidates, including announced upgrades for specific units, but none of them appear to be in place for an upgrade shipyard period before 2020. Also note that Chirkov's projections do not specify upgrades to old Kilo diesel submarines or Victor III nuclear-powered submarines. Contracts for the ongoing repairs of Sierra II "Pskov" and Victor III "Tambov" provide no indications of Kalibr or major sonar system upgrades. Victor III "Obninsk" completed a repair period in 2014, which was classified by shipyard officials as a "restoration of technical readiness" and not "deep modernization." Thus, the recent launch of a probable land-attack cruise missile by "Obninsk" indicates that submarine is simply being used as a test platform.

The question still remains: can all this really be achieved by 2020? Given Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center's experience and record, it is certainly possible that the six units the shipyard was contracted to upgrade will be finished by 2020. The same cannot be said for Zvezda Far East Shipyard, which has a record of continually delayed repair schedules and a (criminal) history of not actually performing the repairs it was contracted and paid to perform. The MOD currently has at least five cases against Zvezda Far East Shipyard at various levels in the Russian arbitration court system and is seeking to receive over RUB 111.5 million in payments and fines. Factors that will impact both shipyards are continuing Western sanctions, the loss of access to Ukrainian firms that produced parts and components used in Russian submarines, and the ruble crisis.

In 2020 and beyond, the field of candidates for Kalibr/Kizhuch upgrades could include the following:

Class	Name	Age (in 2020)
Akula I	"Kuzbass"	28
Akula I	"Magadan"	31
Akula I	"Nerpa" ("INS Chakra")	9
Akula I	"Pantera"	30
Akula I	"Tigr"	27
Akula II	"Gepard"	19
Akula II	"Vepr"	25
Oscar II	"Omsk"	27
Oscar II	"Orel"	28
Oscar II	"Smolensk"	30
Oscar II	"Tomsk"	24
Oscar II	"Voronezh"	31
Sierra II	"Nizhniy Novgorod"	30
Sierra II	"Pskov"	27

Severodvinsk SSGN: How Many and When?

Severodvinsk nuclear-powered submarine "Severodvinsk" (November 9, 2014)
[credit: TASS]

It is quite frequently reported that Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (SevMash) will build either seven or eight Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered multipurpose submarines - Project 885 and 885M - by 2020. In November 2012, ITAR-TASS reported that "SevMash will build seven Project 885 and 885M Yasen fourth-generation nuclear-powered strike submarines by 2021..." A year ago, an unnamed "defense industry source" told RIA Novosti that "the Russian Navy plans to receive no less than eight submarines of this type by 2020." And in April of this year, ITAR-TASS changed its 2012 forecast and reported that "SevMash shall build eight Yasen and Yasen-M nuclear-powered submarines by 2020."

Are these numbers and timelines real?

Construction of the first (and only) Project 885 hull, "Severodvinsk", took 20 years from keel-laying to delivery. During that time, requirements were changed and new design specifications were implemented. The second unit, "Kazan", was laid down in July 2009 and is being built under the improved Project 885M design. Initial reporting indicated "Kazan" would be delivered in 2014. The delivery date, however, began slipping into 2015, 2016, and now 2017. A 2017 delivery would equate to eight years since the hull was laid - a lot better than 20 years.

After reviewing equipment delivery schedules, the actual timelines for only seven units looks something like this:

HULL	NAME	LAID	LAUNCHED	DELIVERED
160	Severodvinsk	Dec 1993	Jun 2010	Dec 2013
161	Kazan	Jul 2009	(2016)	4Q2017
162	Novosibirsk	Jul 2013		(2019)
163	Krasnoyarsk	Jul 2014		(2019)
164		(2015)		(2020)
165		(2015)		(2021)
166		(2015)		(2022)

Unless SevMash production and contractor-supplied equipment deliveries can be sped up, delivering more than five submarines by the end of 2020 appears improbable.

Analysis of MOD's New-Construction Numbers for RF Navy in 2014

Dolgorukiy nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
[credit: Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Technology]

At this week's expanded MOD collegium meeting, deputy defense minister Yuriy Borisov stated that "6 combat ships and cutters, 1 submarine... 21 auxiliary ships and vessels" were delivered to the Russian military. Those numbers appear to be somewhat correct; however, the official report published by the MOD on its website states that 2 submarines and "5 surface ships and 10 combat cutters of various classes" were delivered to the military in 2014.

Here is what I see (as of December 19) for new-construction ships, vessels, and submarines:

"6 combatant ships and cutters" (Borisov) | "5 surface ships and 10 combat cutters of various classes" (MOD report)

• [x2] Dyugon amphibious landing craft ["Denis Davydov", "Ivan Kartsov"]
• [x1] Serna amphibious landing craft ["D-199"]
• [x1] Steregushchiy I frigate ["Stoykiy"]
• [x2] Sviyazhsk patrol combatants ["Uglich", "Velikiy Ustyug"]

"one submarine" (Borisov) | "two submarines" (MOD report)

• [x1] Dolgorukiy nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine ["Vladimir Monomakh"]
• [x1] Kilo diesel submarine ["Novorossiysk"]
• There is still hope that Kilo diesel submarine "Rostov-na-Donu" could be delivered by the end of December

"21 auxiliary ships and vessels" (Borisov)

• [x1] Baklan hydrographic survey vessel ["BGK-2152"]
• [x3] Grachonok harbor protection craft ["P-355", "P-377", "P-417"]
• [x2] PE-65 sea-going tug ["MB-134", "MB-135"]
• [x1] Mod-Shelon VIP personnel launch ["KSV-2155"]
• [x2] Stridsbat 90 combat personnel launches
• [x3] SKPO-1000 harbor tanker ["Pecha", "Umba", "VTN-73"]
• [x3] Project 16609 harbor tug ["Belukha", "RB-406", "RB-407"]
• [x1] Project 22870 salvage and rescue tug ["SB-45"]
• [x3] Project 23370 multi-function harbor craft ["SMK-2093", "SMK-2094", "SMK-2100"]
• [x2] Project 90600 harbor tugs ["RB-412", "RB-413"]

Not included in either report were the following less-sexy items:

• [x2] Project 02690 floating cranes ["SPK-19150", "SPK-42150"]
• [x6] Project 23040 harbor diver support vessel ["RVK-933", "RVK-946", "RVK-1045", "RVK-1064", "RVK-1102", one other]
• [x6] Project 436BIS target vessels
• [x11] Project 455 target vessels

Borisov then stated that "Aleksandr Nevskiy" and "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" each launched a single "Bulava" (SS-N-32) missile this year as part of their combat certifications. True, but there was a third launch by "Vladmir Monomakh" that was conducted as part of state trials - would it have hurt to mention that launch?

XLT+: Construction of "Kronshtadt" Diesel Sub Continues

"Kronshtadt" bow module section ready for transfer to Workshop 12 (2014)
[credit: Admiralty Shipyards]

                                         [translation of "Admiralteyets" newspaper article]

SUBMARINE "KRONSHTADT": FIRST MODULE ON BUILDING WAY!
December 15, 2014

In the coming days, the bow module section of the second Project 677/Lada-class submarine "Kronshtadt" will be transported from Workshop 9 to Workshop 12. Today, construction of the serially-produced unit, which was restarted in July 2013, is in full swing.

In 2009, the Ministry of Defense ordered a halt to the construction of "Kronshtadt", which was laid down in 2005. Four years later, this unique project was given a "second life" - a state contract to continue construction was signed by RF deputy defense minister Yuriy Borisov and Admiralty Shipyards general director Aleksandr Buzakov.

New Life for Lada Project
Today, the bow and stern module sections of the second Project 677 submarine are in Workshop 9, and internal structures requiring rework have been dismantled. The bow module is being prepared for transport to a construction way in Workshop 12. It's symbolic that Bay 6, the same bay used for the construction of "Sank-Peterburg", has been prepared to receive the new bow module.

Work continues on the stern module - a joint in the fourth compartment has already been cut, and upgrades to the end of the stern section are underway.

"In accordance with drawings we received from our designer, Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Technology, adjustments were made to the design of the shaft line, which is why the stern section tip is undergoing modifications. To this end, serious efforts are underway," explains project manager and Construction Department 6 senior builder Viktor Mishkin. "The layout of some spaces has changed somewhat - mostly in the fourth and fifth compartments, where the diesel generators and electric propulsion motor are located. Work is also underway to improve designs; this requirement arose while the first hull was being tested."

According to the project manager, the changes being made are primarily focused on improving technical characteristics and habitability, as well as simplifying the ability to service onboard systems.

At the same time as the submarine's construction, a lot of effort is underway to survey structures that were completed earlier. Outfitting buildings and units and machine-building equipment have been activated.

According to Viktor Mishkin, construction of the submarine hasn't reached the most intensive phase yet. Only the scope of work clearly defined by the designers is underway: "As soon as we receive drawings, we immediately start working. First and foremost, the reliability of the submarine depends on clear adherence to the parameters set forth in the design."

Workshop 9 employees - builders under the supervision of Oleg Sosunov, assemblers led by Nikolay Borisenko, teams of welders under Roman Shemenkov and Valeriy Kichigin - are now actively involved in the construction. Preparation of the bow module section for transport to Workshop 12 is being handled by Vladimir Kozlov's assembly team and Yevgeniy Agapov's metal worker team. These are the same workers who participated in construction of the first Project Lada submarine.

A majority of the work is also being performed by Workshops 6 and 7 and by machine-building production personnel.

The transfer of the stern module section into Workshop 12 is scheduled for spring 2015. During this time, the submarine's hull will be prepared for insulation work. "Habitability conditions inside the submarine depend on the quality of insulation, and this step also helps prevent accumulation of condensation, which is not desired when operating machinery," explains Viktor Mishkin. "After insulation work, the module section can be moved to the construction way, where installation of equipment will begin."

Upon completion of the first stage of construction in Workshop 9, all factory teams will be brought in to work on the submarine.

We Create... And Build
Despite the fact that "Kronshtadt" is not a lead hull, it is being built using a corrected technical design. "Nearly 20 years have passed since the draft design was completed," says Construction Department 6 senior builder Mark Khazanov. "Since then, based on construction and testing experience, new types of equipment and requirements have materialized, which the designer has reviewed and which will be introduced during construction. We could consider that, at some level, "Kronshtadt" - for us - is a submarine that isn't being built, but rather created. There's a difference!"

New, Modern!
Currently, Project 677 submarines are the most modern non-nuclear submarines. Despite the large scope of work, timelines for building this unique submarine are rather tight: according to the signed documents, the transfer of "Kronshtadt" to the Russian Navy is scheduled for 2017.

                                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Probable "Kronshtadt" hull section loaded on "Luga" floating dry dock (December 15, 2014)
[credit: "Curious"]

It appears that some transfer activity has already occurred. On December 16, Admiralty Shipyard's floating dry dock "Luga" did transfer a hull section from the northern area of the shipyard to a southern construction facility. The larger bow section also may have been transferred on December 16 or could be transferred during a separate operation by the end of this month.

Contracts linked to "Kronshtadt" construction include (listed by order of scheduled delivery):

• 1Q2015: 72V29KM remote control equipment; oil-water separators; automated air compressor systems
• 2Q2015: hydraulic mooring capstan; LGS-42 special-purpose hydraulic winch; P407/P-408 communications systems; MG-65 emergency underwater communications system; air/water heaters; PD-3MA2 incinerators; anti-vibration mounts 
• 3Q2015: Baget 41-10 computer; diesel generators 
• 4Q2015: ARM-5 automated steering apparatus; Gnom-2 device
• 1Q2016: reserve propulsion system

Third Russian-Built Kilo Submarine to Begin Journey to Vietnam Next Week

Track of "Rolldock Star" - December 4, 2014

Final preparations are underway for the transfer of the third Kilo-class diesel submarine, named "Haiphong", from Russia to Vietnam.

"Haiphong" conducted three phases of underway training for the submarine's future crew in July, August and September. The submarine then conducted two brief underway periods on October 29-November 2 and November 5-10. Over the past month, Admiralty Shipyards completed some final cosmetic touch-ups on the boat in preparation for the official hand-over.

In October, shipyard officials stated that "Haiphong" would depart for Vietnam before December 10. And it looks like that may be close to the truth.

The heavy-lift ship "Rolldock Star" (IMO: 9656498) departed Antwerp, Belgium, at 14:00 GMT today en route to St. Petersburg, where it is expected to arrive at 15:00 GMT on December 8. "Rolldock Star" was used to ferry the second Vietnamese Kilo ("Ho Chi Minh City") from Russia to Vietnam earlier this year. With an approximate six-week transit, the heavy-lift ship should arrive in Cam Ranh Bay in late-February 2015.

Possible Land-Attack Cruise Missile Launch Scheduled for Next Week

Flight bans (yellow) and an area closure for missile activity (red) - December 8-10, 2014

                        [updated December 6 to include flight bans and modify launch candidates]

Unusual flight bans and area closure for Barents Sea missile activity have been announced for December 8-10:

G2604/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT:
692800N 0351600E-695500N 0351400E-702900N 0450400E-691700N 0474000E-684500N 0474000E-683600N 0475000E-683000N 0482000E-682800N 0492000E-682000N 0494000E-681000N 0490000E-680900N 0482000E-675500N 0481000E-675000N 0474000E-675200N 0472000E-683100N 0463800E-681800N 0452500E-694500N 0435000E-692100N 0360000E-692800N 0351600E.
SFC - FL070, DAILY 0200-1700, 08 DEC 02:00 2014 UNTIL 10 DEC 17:00 2014.

G2610/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD:
692800N 0351600E-692100N 0360000E-691500N 0351000E-692800N 0351600E.
SFC - FL070, DAILY 0200-1700, 08 DEC 02:00 2014 UNTIL 10 DEC
17:00 2014. CREATED: 05 DEC 05:02 2014

HYDROARC 349/14
ARCTIC.
BARENTS SEA.
MISSILES.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0200Z TO 1100Z DAILY 08 THRU 10 DEC IN AREA BOUND BY:
69-55.0N 035-14.0E, 70-29.0N 045-04.0E, 68-54.0N 048-13.5E, 68-43.0N 048-37.0E, 68-03.0N 049-54.0E, 67-35.0N 047-52.0E, 67-49.0N 046-42.0E, 68-29.0N 045-47.0E, 69-45.0N 043-50.0E, 69-15.0N 035-10.0E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 101200Z DEC 14.

The area closure has two legs measuring approximately 215nm and 180nm - for a total length of nearly 400nm. The range is longer than known ranges of Russian anti-ship cruise missiles, and the dog-leg turn is not something one would expect of an anti-ship cruise missile area closure, suggesting this is a land-attack cruise missile launch. The eastern-most leg ends at the shoreline that is adjacent to Cheshkaya Guba.

While the launch platform is not yet known, there are at least two candidates, both of which are armed with the SS-N-30 land-attack cruise missile (range: 800nm-1,400nm, depending on the warhead payload):

• Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine "Severodvinsk"
• Kilo-class diesel submarine "Novorossiysk", which arrived in Polyarnyy last month

[Follow-up: On December 8, Victor III-class nuclear-powered submarine "Obninsk" successfully launched a cruise missile from a submerged location in the Barents Sea towards the Chizha Test Range, according to a Northern Fleet spokesperson.]

“Aleksandr Nevskiy” to Launch Bulava SLBM This Week

Flight bans (red) and flight route restrictions (green) - November 28-29, 2014

Several flight bans and flight restrictions have been announced for Barents Sea missile activity scheduled for November 28-29, 2014:

Flight bans
G2530/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD:
  1. 693800N 0341000E-694700N 0341000E-702200N 0350000E-700400N 0362600E-692700N 0353500E-692700N 0351800E-693800N 0341000E-693800N 0341000E.
  2. 770300N 0530200E-755800N 0563300E-750500N 0521300E-760400N 0485300E-770300N 0530200E-770300N 0530200E.
SFC - UNL, DAILY 0900-2030, 28 NOV 09:00 2014 UNTIL 29 NOV 20:30 2014.

G2540/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD:
693800N 0341000E-692700N 0351800E-692700N 0341000E-693800N 0341000E.
SFC - 1500M AMSL, DAILY 0900-2030, 28 NOV 09:00 2014 UNTIL 29 NOV 20:30 2014.

Flight route closure
G2525/14 - FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: B483 PIBOL - ANODI, B488 TILGA - ANODI. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0900-2030, 28 NOV 09:00 2014 UNTIL 29 NOV 20:30 2014.

Additionally, a flight route closure over the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Kura Test Range also goes into effect on the same dates:

P8284/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENT CLSD: B240 TILICHIKI NDB (TK) - OKLED. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0900-2030, 28 NOV 09:00 2014 UNTIL 29 NOV 20:30 2014.

"Aleksandr Nevskiy" arrived in Severodvinsk on November 7 to onload at least one SS-N-32 Bulava SLBM. The submarine departed Severodvinsk on November 15 for a two-day return transit to Sayda Guba. A week later, it transferred to the Severomorsk area.

Despite some confusion created by Interfax on November 10, military officials confirmed the next day that "Aleksandr Nevskiy", indeed, would launch a Bulava SLBM sometime during the last 10 days of November.

Submarine Turbines Being Shipped from Kaluga to Severodvinsk

Track of "Letniy Bereg" - November 9-23, 2014

It's late in the year, and most of Russia's inland waterway system has been shut down until next spring. But the transfer of important submarine equipment must continue.

On September 25, SevMash announced it was accepting bids for a contract to transfer cargo (dimensions: 17.7m x 8.0m x 9.25m; weight: 400 metric tons) from a pier at the DzerzhinskKhimMash port facility to Severodvinsk. The contract, valued at RUB 11,500,000, is effective through December 31. On October 7, the SevMash contract bid review committee declared the bidding process invalid without explaining why. Such bidding processes are often canceled when none of the companies that have tendered bids meet all of the requirements set forth in the contract (such as price, dates, etc.); however, the committee can recommend the company sign a contract with the best candidate. One of the companies competing for the bid was White Sea Freight Company (BelFreight).

On November 11, SevMash announced it had earlier signed a separate contract (RUB 89,962,968) with Kaluga Turbine Factory for delivery of an OK-17M turbine (dimensions: 17.7m x 7.88m x 9.39m; weight: 360 metric tons) from Kaluga to Severodvinsk by November 30. The umbrella contract (N/1/2/0614/GK-11-DGOZ; signed November 9, 2011) covering the OK-17M delivery contract is the same contract that covers construction of Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine "Kazan".

On November 18, the Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transportation announced that the cargo vessel "Letniy Bereg" (IMO 8870839) had arrived in St. Petersburg from Dzerzhinsk on November 15 with cargo originating from the Kaluga Turbine Factory. The cargo was delivered from Kaluga to Dzerzhinsk on a barge - only after portions of the Oka River were dredged to accommodate the barge and its cargo. "Letniy Bereg" departed St. Petersburg on November 21 and is currently heading southwest in the southern Baltic Sea.

The same November 18 announcement mentioned that the cargo vessel "Pur-Navolok" (IMO 8869397) was scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg on November 20 (it actually arrived the next day). The announcement did not specify the origin or nature of the cargo. After offloading of its cargo, "Pur-Navolok" headed back to the Neva River and is currently proceeding in an easterly direction towards Lake Ladoga.

"Letniy Bereg" and "Pur-Navolok" are owned and operated by BelFreight. And while there is some uncertainty as to which vessel ferried which cargo, it is possible that one or both of them ferried turbines or turbine-related components to St. Petersburg.

It is worth noting that while the dimensions and weights in the two contracts are very similar (suggesting they both may be turbines), the contracts are dramatically different in terms of cost. And that can be explained by the fact that the RUB 11,500,000 contract only covers the shipment, while the RUB 89,962,968 contract covers the OK-17M itself.

XLT+: New DSRV Completes Next Stage of Sea Trials

Project 18271/Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle "AS-40" - August 22, 2014

                                                 [Translation of RF MOD press release]

INDEPENDENT FACTORY SEA TRIALS OF BESTER-1 DEEP-SUBMERGENCE VEHICLE COMPLETED
November 21, 2014
http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12000949@egNews

The crew of the Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle has successfully completed a phase of independent factory sea trials and will participate in sea trials of the new "Igor Belousov" rescue ship in late November of this year.

Following joint testing of the "Igor Belousov" rescue ship, which is scheduled for the first half of 2015, the Bester-1 rescue vehicle will become a fully functional component of the ship's suite of search and rescue equipment.

With the vehicle's acceptance into the Russian Navy's search and rescue forces inventory, the Navy's ability to render assistance to submariners involved in an accident will significantly expand.

The crew of this unique and modern submersible consists of six men. The crew has completed all required preparations and on-the-job training aboard a similar Northern Fleet submersible.

The Bester-1 deep-submergence rescue vehicle is unique in terms of its characteristics.

Distinguishing features include: vehicle control systems; level of accuracy in navigating and maintaining position while at a given depth; integrated automated control system; more powerful and practically new propulsion and steering systems; new system for guiding, landing and attaching the vehicle to a disabled submarine; and new chamber for mating to a submarine escape hatch, through which the crew can evacuate, when the submarine is listing at up to 45 degrees.

All previous rescue vehicles built in our country and abroad could only render assistance to the crew of a distressed submarine that was listing at up to 15 degrees.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Project 18271/Bester-1 "AS-40" was towed from Admiralty Shipyards to Kronshtadt on October 30 and then back to Admiralty Shipyards on November 10. This 12-day period may be the "independent factory sea trials" referenced in the above press release.

Construction Pace for Domestic Kilo Submarines

Kilo SS "Rostov-na-Donu" heading out for factory sea trials - October 21, 2014
(Image credit: A. Akentyev)

The Russian Ministry's public affairs office reported yesterday that the test program for "Rostov-na-Donu" - the second new Project 636.3 Kilo-class diesel submarine built for the Russian Navy - was "nearing completion." That sounded odd given that the submarine didn't commence factory sea trials until October 21 of this year. But a closer review suggests the statement may be closer to truth than fiction.

The tables below depict the major milestones in the construction of the first three hulls of the new series.

"Novorossiysk"
Keel laid	August 20, 2010	-	-
Launched	November 28, 2013	1,216	-
Sea trials start	May 30, 2014	1,399	+183
Delivery	August 22, 2014	1,483	+84
"Rostov-na-Donu"
Keel laid	November 21, 2011	-	-
Launched	June 26, 2014	948	-
Sea trials start	October 21, 2014	1,065	+117
Delivery	December 31, 2014	1,136	+71

"Staryy Oskol"
Keel laid	August 17, 2012	-	-
Launched	August 28, 2014	741	-
Sea trials start	May 2015	-	-
Delivery	August 2015	-	-

There are easily identifiable differences in the day counts between the major milestones in the tables. For example, the time between keel-laying and launch of the three units decreased from 1,216 days ("Novorossiysk") to 948 days ("Rostov-na-Donu") and to 741 days ("Staryy Oskol"). That's a nearly 22% decrease in time between the two milestones when comparing "Novorossiysk" to ""Rostov-na-Donu" and nearly 40% when comparing "Novorossiysk" to "Staryy Oskol". Additionally, the shipyard shaved off 22% between the same period of time for the second and third hulls.

The significant decreases in time between keel-laying and launch can be explained by a combination of factors, to include:

• delivery of design documentation --- the later it arrives, the later the first unit will launch
• first of the series --- as with any new program, the first unit (even one that is only a slightly modified version of an existing submarine class) is bound to have a few construction/design issues that impact production
• sub-contractor deliveries --- major components are often ordered in batches, meaning successive unit construction should not be delayed
• improvements in shipbuilding processes when building multiple orders of the same submarine class
• workforce availability --- the shipyard has had to seek additional temporary manpower after "Novorossiysk" in order to fulfill both domestic and export submarine construction project timelines

When comparing the differences in the day counts between launches and commencement of sea trials for the first two units, there is another notable difference: 183 days versus 117 days. Admiralty Shipyards could have decreased the time period by 36% for most, if not all, of the same reasons listed above. But one factor that probably only impacted the first unit was the time of year. "Novorossiysk" was launched in November. The Gulf of Finland becomes treacherous and impassable without icebreaker support roughly between late November and mid-April. The initial phase of factory sea trials have to be performed close to the shipyard or in the Gulf of Finland, whereas later testing phases can be performed in the ice-free regions of the central and southern Baltic Sea. This same issue may impact "Staryy Oskol" as it prepares for factory sea trials in the near future.

Finally, if the above MOD report is correct and "Rostov-na-Donu" will be delivered by the shipyard no later than December 31, the projected time period between commencement of sea trials and delivery will be at most 71 days, which is 13 days (15%) shorter than for "Novorossiysk". Using the timeline day counts for "Rostov-na-Donu" and factoring in the time of year, projected timeline dates for "Staryy Oskol" would be late May for commencement of sea trials and early August for delivery.

Projecting timeline dates for the next three Kilos, however, is tricky. In order for Admiralty Shipyards to meet the delivery deadline of 2016, as stated multiple times by various high-level military officials, the shipyard's construction timelines will have to be more aggressive. The last two units, "Kolpino" and "Velikiy Novgorod", were laid down last month. If it takes two years between keel-laying and launch (using "Staryy Oskol" as the model), then both units will be facing the same Gulf of Finland seasonal weather issues that impacted "Novorossiysk". Therefore, unless things change, they will not be delivered to the MOD until spring or summer 2017.

XLT+: "Severodvinsk" Emergency Escape Chamber Tested

Severodvinsk SSGN "Severodvinsk" with emergency escape chamber removed (November 2014)
(Image credit: TASS)

        [Translations of RF MOD press release and Russian TV21 news clip + RT video clip + more photos]

NORTHERN FLEET TESTS EMERGENCY ESCAPE CHAMBER FOR NEW "SEVERODVINSK" SUBMARINE
November 10, 2014
http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=11999475@egNews

The Northern Fleet held training of the emergency escape chamber on the lead Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine "Severodvinsk", which joined the Russian Navy in June of this year.

According to Commander of the Northern Fleet Admiral Vladimir Korolev, "for the first time in the Russian period of our Navy's history, we have tested the direct applicability of the emergency escape chamber of a new nuclear-powered submarine with a test team on board."

Admiral Vladimir Korolev emphasized that "test results of the emergency escape chamber once again have confirmed that ships joining the fleet are reliable and well thought out. The careful preparation of the Northern Fleet Submarine Forces Command and the "Severodvinsk" crew for this event ensured safety execution of this highly complex combat training event."

A distinctive feature of this event was that, in the relatively shallow waters of Guba Zapadnaya Litsa, the nuclear-powered submarine, which displaces more than 13,000 tons and is nearly 140 meters long, had to submerge to a depth of 40 meters and become stable at that depth, thus replicating the motionless condition of a simulated distressed submarine on the seabed.

At the same time, the test team consisting of five men practiced steps for evacuating the simulated distressed submarine using the emergency escape chamber. In addition to the test team, inside the escape chamber was ballast that was equal to the total weight of the submarine's crew.

A second technical feature of this event was that after the emergency escape chamber with its positive buoyancy separated and freely floated to the surface, the submarine "became heavy" due to the mass of the escape chamber - and this was several tons. The crew had just a few seconds to stabilize the submarine at the assigned depth and later to safely surface.

After surfacing, the emergency escape chamber was towed to the side of a rescue vessel, and the test crew then climbed on board.

In addition to the "Severodvinsk" submarine crew, joining the training were units of the Northern Fleet's search and rescue service - the rescue vessel "Mikhail Rudnitskiy" and diver specialists.

Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov thanked the Northern Fleet personnel who participated in testing the emergency escape chamber for the courage and professionalism demonstrated during the training event.

All modern Russian Navy nuclear-powered submarines and those currently being built are equipped with emergency escape chambers.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SUBMARINERS TEST EMERGENCY ESCAPE CHAMBER
November 10, 2014
http://tv21.ru/news/2014/11/10/?chid=13&newsid=74641

The Northern Fleet tested the emergency escape chamber on the lead Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine "Severodvinsk", which joined the Russian Navy in June of this year. Elvira Serga and Konstantin Kabanets went to sea to see how this went.

The operation that the submariners had to perform, which was unique in terms of its complexity: rescuing the crew of a simulated distressed submarine using the emergency escape chamber. This evacuation method was invented 53 years ago. During Soviet times, however, only two such training events were held. And this operation is being held for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy. The "Severodvinsk" nuclear-powered submarine is already heading to the operations area.

In the shallow waters of Guba Zapadnaya Litsa, the nuclear-powered submarine, which displaces 13,000 tons and is nearly 140 meters long, has to submerge to a depth of 40 meters and become stable and motionless at that depth, thus replicating a motionless condition on the seabed.

[Sergey Grishko - Northern Fleet Submarine Forces Deputy Commander for the Electro-Mechanical Service] "For a crew with rather consistent training, this is a complex maneuver. But it's absolutely safe. Considering the support units that have been assembled for this maneuver, I believe everything will be fine."

On "Severodvinsk", the emergency escape chamber is built into the sail. One can only enter and exit the submarine through it. The chamber has the same factory of safety as that of the submarine itself. In essence, it's one more compartment. Inside of it at the moment it separates free will be five men - the test team, and ballast that is equal to the total weight of the crew. The goal is to test the reliability of the rescue system.

Air is removed from the ballast tanks, and the submarine begins to submerge. The first smoke flare indicates that the submarine has reached its position at the designated depth. The second flare is a signal that the chamber has separated.

The completely watertight compartment, a "group parachute" with people inside, freely floats to the surface. At that moment, the submarine, which became heavier due to the mass of the emergency escape chamber, goes deeper due to inertia. The crew's task is to stabilize the submarine at the assigned depth and ensure a safe surfacing maneuver.

The first phase of the operation was a success. Now this gigantic "cork" needs to be pushed to a tug and then moored to the hull for later transport to port. SevMash representatives on board the tug breathed a sign of relief.

[Viktor Pavlov - senior master from SevMash in Severodvinsk] "Of course, it was an unforgettable scene. Everything happened exactly as it was supposed to. Very cool, everything turned out very well, and I'm very pleased!" The next phase - decompressing the escape chamber and evacuating the personnel.

The entire team consisted of five testers: Sergey Balazhigitov, Sergey Melnikov, Aleksandr Dorofeyev, Igor Osaulenko, and Vladimir Serebryakov were transferred to the surface unharmed. Their names have already become part of the history of the Russian Navy.

[Sergey Balazhigitov - communicator] "I feel excellent, exhilarated, and we completed the task. We're ready for the next tasks."

[Sergey Melnikov - chemist] "Oxygen was within maximum allowable concentration limits. At the moment we surfaced, it was 21%, which means that the oxygen reserves in this emergency escape chamber ensure that the assigned tasks can be performed."

[Igor Osaulenko - test group leader] "There were no abnormal sensations - it was like being in an elevator. We rocked a little, and there was a 20 degree list to one side, and we jumped out of the water. That was it. Everything happened literally within 10 seconds, so no one had any time to really think about it."

[Vladimir Serebryakov - damage control commander] "Well, I can now say with confidence that it works, because I tested it myself. The emergency escape chamber is reliable, and it performed its function completely and thoroughly."

The "Severodvinsk" crew also successfully managed its task. Without the escape chamber, the submarine was stabilized, it surfaced unharmed, and it returned to port. Here, too, moored the tug with the escape chamber - the most non-combatant component on the submarine.

[Aleksandr Moiseyev - Northern Fleet Submarine Forces Commander] "This was rather serious training and maneuvers for the submarine. That is, credit goes without doubt to the commanding officer and the personnel who prepared to test this armament. This equipment was tested under factory conditions, but we tested it under conditions at its permanent home port in order to confirm our confidence in the equipment."

[Sergey Mityayev - "Severodvinsk" commanding officer] "We remembered, we read what they wrote about this, we figured it out and then we did it. A crane is now placing it on a special platform that was brought from SevMash, where both the submarine and emergency escape chamber were built. Later, after this, they'll perform specific steps to remove the ballast that was placed in it, and then use a crane to place it in its normal seated position."

After the successful operation, the crew will have a short break, and then the "Severodvinsk" crew will again go back on combat watch.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

RT also released a video of the event. Below are more TASS photos of "Severodvinsk" and its emergency escape chamber.

XLT: Status of Petersburg SS Construction

Petersburg SS "Sankt-Peterburg"
(Image courtesy of TASS)

                                                      [Translation of TASS news article]

SECOND PROJECT 677 SUBMARINE FOR RUSSIAN NAVY TO BE LAUNCHED IN LATE 2015
October 28, 2014
http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1538231

The second Project 677 diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Navy, "Kronshtadt", will be launched in late 2015. Admiralty Shipyards general director Aleksandr Buzakov informed TASS about this at Euronaval-2014. Previously it was reported that work on the submarine "Kronshtadt" should be completed in 2017.

"There is still a year before the launch of 'Kronshtadt'," said Buzakov. "Everything will depend on equipment delivery timelines, and not timelines for conducting factory work. When the equipment shows up, we can talk about more precise timelines for a launch," he added.

The general director reported that one quarter of the hull work on "Kronshtadt" has been completed.

Construction of a third submarine

Admiralty Shipyards has begun construction of a third Project 677 diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Navy, although a contract has not yet been signed. The submarine has been named "Sevastopol", Buzakov explained. "A final contract has not been signed, but the cost and a number of other contract parameters have been agreed to. That is to say, at the present time, several formalities are proceeding to completion. Therefore, part of the work on the submarine is already underway," Buzakov explained, noting that a small percentage of hull work has already been completed as part of the submarine's construction.

The general director noted that the first three Project 677 diesel-electric submarines will not be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP). "This will be a series of three submarines that will not be equipped with AIP. The lead unit, "Sankt-Peterburg", is undergoing trial operations. On the other two submarines, everything will be verified in terms of quality and other parameters, which must be raised to the level of the design," Buzakov said.

AIP allows non-nuclear submarines to operate under the water for long periods without having to surface.

Project 677 (Lada) diesel-electric submarines were developed to combat surface ships and were designed for antisubmarine warfare, destruction of enemy naval bases, facilities and sea lines of communication, as well as for intelligence and patrol missions.

“Yuriy Dolgorukiy” to Launch Bulava SLBM This Week

Area closures (red), flight bans (yellow), and flight restrictions (green) for missile activity - October 29-31, 2014
(Map courtesy of Google Earth)

Two area closures and several flight bans and flight restrictions have been announced for Barents Sea missile activity scheduled for October 29-31, 2014:

Area closure
HYDROARC 319/14

ARCTIC.
BARENTS SEA.
ROCKETS.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0600Z TO 2100Z DAILY 29 THRU 31 OCT IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 70-22.0N 035-00.0E, 70-03.0N 036-25.5E, 69-27.0N 035-35.0E, 69-27.0N 034-10.0E,
69-47.0N 034-06.0E.
B. 77-03.0N 053-02.0E, 75-58.0N 056-33.0E, 75-05.0N 052-13.0E, 76-04.0N 048-53.0E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 312200Z OCT 14.

Flight bans
G2124/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD:
 1. 6938N 03410E-6947N 03410E-7022N 03500E-7004N 03626E-6927N 03535E-
6927N 03518E.
 2. 7703N 05302E-7558N 05633E-7505N 05213E-7604N 04853E-7703N 05302E.
SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

G2136/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD:
693800N 0341000E-692700N 0351800E-692700N 0341000E-693800N 0341000E.
SFC - 1500M AMSL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Flight restrictions
G2123/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
B483 TIMUN-ANODI,
B488 TUMOM-ANODI. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Additionally, a flight restriction over the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Kura Test Range also goes into effect on the same dates:

P7610/14 - ATS RTE B240 SEGMENT TILICHIKI NDB (TK)-OKLED CLSD. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0600-2100, 29 OCT 06:00 2014 UNTIL 31 OCT 21:00 2014.

Flight restriction (green) located just west of the Kura Test Range (red) - October 29-31, 2014
(May courtesy of Google Earth)

Russia's TASS news agency, citing an unnamed General Staff source, reported on October 20 that Russian Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" would launch a single SS-N-32 Bulava SLBM on October 29-30. And on October 22, flot.com reported that "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" had arrived in Severodvinsk to onload one or more SLBMs. Why the submarine had to transit all the way from Gadzhiyevo to Severodvinsk to onload the missile(s) is a mystery.

This launch will be the first SS-N-32 launch outside of the White Sea and the first SS-N-32 launch by a commissioned Dolgorukiy SSBN. The last SS-N-32 was launched by "Vladimir Monomakh" in September as part of its pre-commissioning state acceptance testing.