On 24 November 2016, Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard held a flag hoisting ceremony for the diesel-electric submarine Kolpino, the last submarine in the series of six ships built by the shipyard for RF Navy, Admiralteiskie Verfi says in its press release.
The ceremony was attended by Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Korolev, President of United Shipbuilding Corporation Aleksei Rakhmanov and Director General of Admiralteiskie Verfi Aleksandr Buzakov.
“The significance of today’s event for our personnel can hardly be overestimated, – said Aleksandr Buzakov. – The flag hoist on the Kolpino means that Admiralteiskie Verfi has successfully completed the series of six submarines and we are satisfied to realize the revival of the Black Sea submarine fleet. This work has become a good platform for the new start – construction of a new series - six submarines of project 636 for the Pacific Fleet of Russia.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Korolev described the flag hoisting ceremony as a milestone event for the entire Navy of Russia: “Admiralteiskie Verfi have built world class ships and we have a lot to be proud of. The series of six submarines featuring high reliability, maneuverability and modern weapons will allow for higher efficiency in facing the challenges of the Black Sea fleet. RF Defence Ministry pays much attention to the development of conventional submarines today while Admiralteiskie Verfi have perfect prospects in building cutting edge submarines including those with air-independent propulsion power plants.”
The Kolpino was laid down in October 2014 and launched in May 2016. The submarine has been built under the long-term plan of RF Defence Ministry on Black Sea Fleet’s combat readiness recovery and the plrogramme on improvement of diesel-electric submarines for Russian Navy.
It took Admiralteiskie Verfi six years to build the series of submarines, from August 2010 to November 2016. Starting from 2014 the shipyard delivered two ships per year. The Novorossiysk, the lead submarine of the series, and the Rostov-on-Don joined the Black Sea Fleet of RF Navy in August and December 2014. Two more submarines, the Stary Oskol and the Krasnodar, were delivered to RF Navy in July and November 2015. The Veliky Novgorod joined the fleet of RF Navy in October 2016.
The submarines of updated project 636 have enhanced (compared with previous projects) combat effectiveness. Optimal combination of stealth capabilities and target detection range, the newest inertial navigation system, modern automated information management system, powerful high-speed torpedo and missiles equipment provide for global priority of this class ships in area of conventional submarine shipbuilding. JSC “Admiralteiskie Verfi” is an undoubted leader in construction of submarines of this class and since 1983 the enterprise has been successfully exporting them.
The series production of submarines at “Admiralteiskie Verfi” started in 1932, and during that period have been built more than 400 submarines and deep-water vehicles of various projects. Admiralteiskie Verfi has been building submarines from 1932. Over this period the shipyard has built over 400 submarines and different deepwater vehicles.
In October the shipyard started implementing a newly signed state contract for construction of a series of six submarines of project 636.3 for the Pacific Fleet of Russia.
Admiralteiskie Verfi OJSC (Admiralty Shipyards) is a key enterprise of shipbuilding, a centre of conventional submarine building of Russia. The shipyard is affiliated with the United Shipbuilding Corporation OJSC. A number of contracts are being successfully implemented at the shipyard for domestic and foreign customers. Four series of submarines are under construction now for RF and foreign Navies. Besides, icebreaker Ilya Muromets is under construction. The Company’s staff numbers 6,700 persons. On 5 November 2016 the shipyard celebrated 312 years from its foundation.