Photo: Alexander Demianchuk/TASS
It’s hard to say whether Russia is fonder of tanks, submarines, or military aircraft, since it wrote history with some legendary models in each category. 2021 was a full year in that regard, as the year when Russia launched not only its next-generation stealth fighter jet, the Checkmate, but also new submarines in the Kilo-II or Varshavyanka class. One of them is ready to start its missions this year.
Even though Russia’s submarine game is far from the roaring force it displayed throughout the Cold War, it’s still one of the strongest in the world. In 2016, a new series of submarines started being built – Project 636.3 designates the third generation of large, diesel-electric powered, underwater vessels. They are based on the previous Kilo-class submarines, but with superior qualities, including a better target detection range, an advanced control system, and more powerful weapons.
The Project 636.3 submarines are known to be some of the quietest (or stealthiest) in the world, which is why the U.S. Navy dubbed them “the Black Holes”, National Interest reports. Almost 243-foot-long (74 meters), they have a displacement of over 3,900 tons and boast a working depth of 787 feet (240 meters). But they can reach as deep as 984 feet (300 meters), able to operate for almost 45 days at a time. With a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph), and a range of 7,500 miles (12,000 km) these silent killers can go anywhere, anytime.
The Magadan was the third one to join the new class after the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Volkhov were delivered in 2019. Magadan officially joined the Russian Navy in October 2021, but this is the year when it will kick off its first mission, as part of the Pacific Fleet – according to a recent announcement of the Ministry of Defense.
Packed with the latest radars, sonars, and communication systems, and boasting a Club-S integrated missile system with a 310-mile (500 km) fire range, in addition to its torpedoes, the Madagan is ready to hunt down enemy submarines and strike land facilities.
The fourth Black Hole, Ufa, is also on its way, expected to be delivered this year.
The Project 636.3 submarines are known to be some of the quietest (or stealthiest) in the world, which is why the U.S. Navy dubbed them “the Black Holes”, National Interest reports. Almost 243-foot-long (74 meters), they have a displacement of over 3,900 tons and boast a working depth of 787 feet (240 meters). But they can reach as deep as 984 feet (300 meters), able to operate for almost 45 days at a time. With a top speed of 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph), and a range of 7,500 miles (12,000 km) these silent killers can go anywhere, anytime.
The Magadan was the third one to join the new class after the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Volkhov were delivered in 2019. Magadan officially joined the Russian Navy in October 2021, but this is the year when it will kick off its first mission, as part of the Pacific Fleet – according to a recent announcement of the Ministry of Defense.
Packed with the latest radars, sonars, and communication systems, and boasting a Club-S integrated missile system with a 310-mile (500 km) fire range, in addition to its torpedoes, the Madagan is ready to hunt down enemy submarines and strike land facilities.
The fourth Black Hole, Ufa, is also on its way, expected to be delivered this year.
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