The first of six Project 636M Varshavyanka class (Improved Kilo class) diesel-electric submarines are scheduled for delivery to the Vietnam Navy in November 2013, RIA Novosti reported.
"We are now rectifying deficiencies and prepare for dock-side acceptance / delivery tests to begin in September and at the end of September – tests at sea. Preliminary signing of the acceptance certificate and the ship transition to her permanent base are scheduled for November. So a flag-hoisting ceremony will be held in the Customer’s country," the news agency quoted as saying the responsible deliverer Alexander Bely.
He added that the first phase of submarine trials ended December 25. The second phase of the shipbuilder’s and sea trials along with the crew training lasted from 16 April to 27 June. On 4-17 July the state acceptance trials program was completed.
The contract for six Project 636M class Russian submarines worth about $ 2 billion was signed in December 2009.Execution of the contract is scheduled for completion by 2016. Two serial submarines were launched in 2012 and are to be handed over to the Customer this year.