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Russia’s upgraded and silent Kilo-class submarines have been operating in the Black Sea during the conflict in Ukraine, armed with lethal Kalibr cruise missiles that have been employed to eliminate targets within Ukraine.
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Despite being conventionally powered, these submarines have the capability to navigate stealthily along the Ukrainian coast, enabling them to conduct operations without being detected.
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October 2021 saw the induction of the Magadan, the most recent submarine in this category, into Russian service. Project 636.3 submarines are constructed based on the original Kilo-class design from the early 1980s.
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These newer submarines are considered to be among the most silent globally, earning them the moniker “Black Hole” due to their exceptional stealth capabilities.
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The diesel-electric Kilo-Class submarine, known for its 45-day maximum endurance at sea and a submerged range of 400 nautical miles, remains a fixture in Russia’s current naval capabilities despite the prevalence of nuclear submarines.
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Developed in the 1970s and manufactured in the 1980s, the fleet of 73 Kilo-Class submarines has maintained a consistent level of operational activity.
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Throughout the years, these submarines have undergone incremental upgrades, resulting in quieter operations, enhancing their effectiveness in anti-shipping and submarine missions.
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As the U.S. Naval Institute’s Eric Wertheim remarked, “more than 70 Kilo-class units have been built during the past 40-plus years, and more than 60 remain in service… New and improved models are still being built, with deliveries planned well into the future.”
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Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukraine War, these “relics” have shown their worth.
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Moreover, the Kilo-class poses a significant challenge for not only the US Navy but also the navies of its allies.
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This is primarily due to the exceptional stealth capabilities of the Kilos, particularly following the extensive upgrades implemented by the Russians in 2010.
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The use of special ceramic coatings and rubber insulation contributes to maintaining the stealthiness of the Kilo-class submarines when submerged.
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The Kilo-class submarines have proven to be valuable assets for the Russian navy, with successful export ventures.
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However, they do possess certain vulnerabilities. Their small size limits their torpedo capacity, and their slower speed and shorter endurance compared to nuclear-powered submarines restrict their time at sea.
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Despite these drawbacks, the Kilos are renowned for their exceptional stealth capabilities. They are anticipated to maintain their role in launching Kalibr cruise missiles for land-attack missions in the Black Sea while submerged, a capability that renders them unstoppable by Ukraine.
Relevant articles:
– Russia’s Kilo-Class ‘Black Hole’ Submarine: A Nightmare for the U.S. Navy?, The National Interest
– Russia’s Kilo-Class Submarine: Nightmare for the U.S. Navy That Won’t End, The National Interest
– Kilo-Class: What Makes This Russian Submarine So Dangerous?, nationalinterest.org
– Russia Sends Super-Quiet ‘Black Hole’ Submarine to Pacific: Intensified Hunt for American Subs?, Defence Security Asia