Vietnam Gets Fifth Submarine from Russia

By Aiswarya Lakshmi February 10, 2016

The fifth of the six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam purchased from Russia has arrived at Cam Ranh Bay, Thanh Nien news reported.

The submarine, which was delivered by a Dutch-registered cargo ship, laid anchor near the Cam Ranh Port.

Vietnam purchased the six submarines for $2 billion in 2009.

The sixth submarine is undergoing sea trials in Russia and is expected to arrive in the middle of 2016. The fourth submarine, codenamed HQ-185 Da Nang, arrived at Cam Ranh Port back in July.

The latest delivery comes amidst simmering disputes in the South China Sea, where both Vietnam and China are claimants alongside the Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Last year, Vietnamese officials said that the first Kilo-class submarine had begun patrolling the South China Sea.

Commissioning of the new submarine is scheduled in the next few months. Da Nang will join the Vietnamese Navy’s 189th Submarine Brigade which already operates four Project 636.1 subs.

Project 636.1 is an upgraded version of Soviet diesel electric submarines (Project 877EKM) exported to the Warsaw Pact countries so obtained the codename of Varshavyanka (in Russian, a female native of Warsaw, also known as Kilo-class in the west).

Project 636.1 is an exclusively exportable submarine; even more improved Project 636.3 subs are being built for the Russian Navy.