Russia launches final Project 636.3 submarine for Pacific fleet
The Yakutsk was launched in St Petersburg in October 2024. (Photo: Admiralty Shipyards)
The Yakutsk, built by Admiralty Shipyards, is intended for service in the far east of the Russian Federation.
Russia has launched its sixth – and presumed final – Project 636.3 submarine in its Pacific fleet, the Yakutsk, in St Petersburg.
The submarine will largely be sent to work in the Russian Federation’s sphere of operations in the Far East.
The submarine was taken from the Admiralty Shipyards production hall in St Petersburg to the dock and submerged to gain buoyancy on 11 October 2024. While it still has to undergo factory trials and was described as “90% ready” by the company in October, Admiralty predicted the vessel would be at sea by the end of the year.
Related Articles
Russian Navy to receive trio of new submarines
The six submarines of Project 636.3 were designed as a modern variant of the Project 877 Paltus vessels, and are currently the most numerous among Russia’s conventionally-powered submarines due to a range of defects in the Project 677 Lada design, which led the Russian Navy to reject that vessel.
While the Pacific fleet’s Project 636.3 cohort will be complete with the launch to sea of the Yakutsk, submarines of its fundamental type, the Improved Kilo II in NATO reporting code, will continue to add to the Russian Navy’s arsenal. Plans are already well advanced for the keel-laying of the Petrozavodsk, which will likely report to the Baltic fleet, and three additional submarines destined for the Northern fleet.
Admiralty Shipyards is a longstanding supplier of submarines for the various Russian fleets. It has been solely responsible for the building of all the Project 636.3 vessels for the Pacific fleet since 2016, and previously built the first six such submarines for the Black Sea fleet between 2010 and 2016.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Improved Kilo/Varshavyanka Class (Project 636.3) 6-12
Improved Kilo/Varshavyanka Class (Project 636.3) 13
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned]()
Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned
The vessel, DDG 122, will be named after enlisted marine John Basilone.
-
![Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract]()
Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract
The contract could rise to as much as US$1.1 billion and follows an announcement last month that Kongsberg was building a missile production facility in the US to meet burgeoning global demand.
-
![Australia expands western shipbuilding precinct and sidelines Luerssen]()
Australia expands western shipbuilding precinct and sidelines Luerssen
Australia’s investment in naval infrastructure will aim to support its expanding fleet and will focus on the Henderson naval shipbuilding precinct, but challenges remain as Luerssen exits the market due to delays in the Arafura-class project.
-
![Japan introduces new landing craft classes to transport army equipment]()
Japan introduces new landing craft classes to transport army equipment
Japan’s new Nihonbare-class landing craft has highlighted Tokyo’s strategic moves to secure its archipelagic regions. Their introduction could be of interest to Australia as it develops its own amphibious capabilities.
