Russia’s ‘Mini Red October’ Subs Will Lack Advanced Propulsion System

The Diplomat ^ | AUGUST 17, 2017 | Franz-Stefan Gady

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Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric attack submarines will lack air-independent propulsion systems (AIP) for the foreseeable future, the head of Russian-state owned Admiralty Shipyards, Alexander Buzakov, revealed in a recent interview with Russian media this month.

Buzakov confirmed that the third and fourth boat of the class will operate without AIP. AIP vastly improves the underwater endurance of a submarine by allowing it to operate its propulsion system without access to atmospheric oxygen. Given that there is less need for AIP subs to surface or use a snorkel to charge their batteries, the stealth capability of any boat fitted with this technology is significantly improved.

Russian Navy watchers have suspected for some time that Lada-class will likely operate without AIP, although originally the class was to be fitted with the system. A first AIP system prototype will likely not be ready until the early 2020s, according to Russian defense industry representatives.

The Russian Navy has plans for a total fleet of six Lada-class submarines. Funding for the third and fourth Lada-class submarines will reportedly be allotted in Russia’s new state armament program. However, funding for the fifth and sixth boats has so far not been secured and most analysts believe that construction of the Lada-class will stop after the fourth boat (if not earlier).

Originally, the Russian Navy expected to commission three Lada-class submarines by 2018. However, repeated delays in the program have so far only lead to the delivery of the lead boat of the class, the St. Petersburg, in 2010. The sub has been undergoing operational evaluation ever since. It primarily serves as a test platform. As I explained elsewhere:

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The US sub I served on in 1963 was diesel-electric too, built in WW2.

USS Jallao (SS-368)