Russian Defense Ministry signs contracts for construction of Yasen-M, Lada subs at Army 2019 forum
KUBINKA (Moscow region). June 27 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry and manufacturers signed contracts for the construction of Project 677 Lada and project 885M Yasen-M submarines at the fifth international military-technical forum Army 2019.
An exchange of eight state contracts signed by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko on behalf of the Defense Ministry with certain enterprises took place in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the forum on Thursday.
Specifically, the Defense Ministry and Admiralty Shipyard signed a state contract for the construction of the large Project 677 Lada submarines, while a state contract was signed with the Sevmash enterprise for the construction of nuclear-powered project 885M Yasen-M submarines.
The number of submarines the contracts envisage construction of is not reported.
Project 677 Lada submarines were developed at the end of last century. The keel of the head submarine, the Sankt-Peterburg, was laid down in 1997 and it was provided to the Russian Navy in 2010. The keels of Project 677 submarines Kronshtadt and Velikiye Luki were laid down in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Their construction was repeatedly suspended over the navy's complaints about the project.
The multi-purpose Project 885M Yasen-M submarines carry cruise missiles Onyx and/or Kalibr. Sevmash CEO Mikhail Budnichenko earlier told Interfax these submarines have combat characteristics that enable them to fight enemy ships and fulfill strategic non-nuclear deterrence functions. The head submarine is the submarine Kazan, which is undergoing trials and is expected to be provided to the fleet before the end of 2019.