Russia, India discuss upgrading Varshavyanka submarines

Russia and India are in talks on upgrading the latter's fleet of Improved Kilo-class (Project 636.6 Varshavyanka) diesel-electric submarines, Rosoboronexport Deputy Director General Sergey Goreslavsky told journalists on Tuesday.

"We are in talks on the development prospects for the Indian Navy's diesel-electric submarine fleet. Negotiations are taking place to determine the prospects for upgrading the Varshavyanka submarines previously supplied to the country," he said, speaking at Defexpo India 2016, an exhibition of arms and military equipment.

Mr. Goreslavsky did not specify how many Varshavyanka submarines India has received.

The third-generation Improved Kilo-class submarines have a displacement of 3,950 tonnes, a speed of 20 knots submerged, a maximum depth of 300 metres, and a crew of 52 people. The modified Project 636 submarines offer enhanced combat effectiveness.

The submarines are armed with six 533-mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, mines and a Kalibr attack missile system. They can detect a target from three to four times further away than an enemy can detect them. This stealth technology has led NATO to dub theVarshavyanka the "black hole".

Russia and India are major partners in the field of defence industry cooperation: more than 70% of the arms and military equipment used by the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy comes from Russia or the Soviet Union. Russia exports arms and military equipment worth more than USD 4.5 billion to India every year.

First published by RIA Novosti.

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