Russian Navy Launches Varshavyanka-class Sub

By Aiswarya Lakshmi June 1, 2016

The sixth diesel-electric submarine for Russia's Black Sea fleet was launched Tuesday at a shipyard in St. Petersburg, says Russian News Agency TASS . The Varshavyanka-class sub, named Kolpino, is an advanced version of what NATO designates as a Kilo-class submarine.

The launch ceremony has been attended by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Aleksandr Fedotenkov, Saint-Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko and USC President Aleksei Rakhmanov.

"It’s a big day for the Navy, for St. Petersburg, for the country. The submarine launch is a national event. Admiralty Shipyard is indeed the flagship of the national shipbuilding industry. Your ships are delivered on time and with proper quality," said Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov.

“The Admiralteiskie Verfi has confirmed its ability to build excellent ships,” said Georgy Poltavchenko.

TASS mentioned that “there are already four submarines of this project in the Russian Navy’s (Black Sea Fleet) combat strength. The lead submarine – the Novorossiysk, was delivered to the Russian Navy in August 2014. The second submarine in the series – the Rostov-on-Don – was delivered on December 30, 2014. In late 2015, it launched the Kalibr cruise missiles to destroy facilities of the Islamic State terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) from a position in the Mediterranean Sea.”