Russia to Build 6 Submarines Annually – Deputy PM

Russia to Build 6 Submarines Annually
© RIA Novosti. Sergey Guneev

20:53 02/02/2012

Russia will start producing six submarines and one aircraft carrier annually starting in 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.

“By 2013, production capacity [at Russian shipyards] will allow us to build six submarines and an aircraft carrier every year,” Rogozin told reporters, adding that the number includes both nuclear and diesel-powered submarines.

As a result, the production output will surpass that of the Soviet era when Russia built an average of five submarines annually, he said.

Rogozin earlier said the production had been bogged down in the past by a lack of financing, outdated equipment and a shortage of skilled labor.

Russia is planning to build eight Borey class strategic submarines and up to 10 Graney class attack subs by 2020.

 Fire-damaged Sub Will Cost $16.5 mln. to Repair – Rogozin

Russian nuclear submarine Yekaterinburg
© REUTERS/ Andrei Pronin

The cost to repair the Yekaterinburg, a Russian nuclear submarine damaged by fire late last December, will total about 500 million rubles ($16.5 million), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.

“The repairs will cost about 500 million rubles,” Rogozin said.

Some media reports previously said the costs would exceed 1 billion rubles but Rogozin denied those reports.

On December 29, the outer hull of the Yekaterinburg, a Delta-class nuclear submarine, caught fire during repairs at a shipyard in northwest Russia's Murmansk Region. Seven crewmembers and two responders were injured as they battled the fire, which was put out the following day.

There was no radiation leak because the reactors had been shut down before repairs began.

The submarine’s hydro acoustic system was disabled by the fire and will need to be replaced before it is brought back into service.

Delta-class submarines have an outer skin of anechoic rubber, designed to absorb sound from sonars to make the boat harder to detect, that can burn in a dry environment. However, the boat has a double hull of thick steel, which would protect its interior from external fire.

The repairs are scheduled to start this summer.

Disposal of Russian Third Generation Nuclear Subs Suspended

Disposal of Russian Third Generation Nuclear Subs Suspended
© RIA Novosti.

21:00 02/02/2012

SEVERODVINSK, February 2 (RIA Novosti)

Russia has decided to suspend the planned disposal of third-generation strategic nuclear submarines currently in service with the Navy, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.

“The most successful projects will undergo two repairs instead of one. The subs' period of service will be extended to 30-35 years instead of the current 25,” Rogozin told journalists.

He also said Akula (Typhoon) class submarines will be upgraded and their electronics and armaments replaced every seven years.

According to Rogozin, this will help gain time until all eight Borey class strategic submarines are deployed by 2020.

The deputy premier also said a naval vessel construction development program for the next 30 years is expected to be worked out soon.

sumber : RIA NOVOSTI