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Black Sea Fleet submarines in Arctic tests

The dieselelectric submarine “Rostov-na-Donu” was handed over to the Navy in the end of December.

Russia is using the Arctic as training ground for its newest class of diesel-electric submarines built for the Black Sea Fleet.

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The Varshavyanka-class (NATO reporting name Improved Kilo class) diesel-electric submarine “Rostov-na-Donu” is preparing to sail to the Barents Sea for deep-water tests of equipment and weapons systems, the Armed Forces’ web site reads.

The vessel, which is the second of a total of six such submarines that Russia is building for its Black Sea Fleet, was delivered to the Navy from the Admirality Shipyards in St. Petersburg on December 27 2014.

The 2500 nautical miles long journey from the Baltic Sea to the Barents Sea is expected to take about two weeks.

The first submarine of the class, the “Novorossiysk”, arrived in the Northern Fleet for deep-water tests in the beginning of November 2014, RIA Novosti reported.

The four next submarines of the Varshavyanka-class are already under construction at the Admirality Shipyards. Two are planned to be handed over to the Navy in 2015, while the two last ones should be finished in 2016, according to Wikipedia.

The Varshavyanka-class submarines are characterized by a combination of small size and low noise level with powerful torpedoes and missiles. They can fight underwater and surface targets and are designed to protect naval bases, coastline and sea lanes. They have a 4000 tons displacement and can make 20 knots submerged. The submarine is armed with 533 mm torpedoes and Kalibr cruise missiles, which can destroy surface targets at a distance of up to 300 kilometers.