OREANDA-NEWS. A keel laying ceremony of two large diesel electric submarines of project 636.3 "Veliky Novgorod" and "Kolpino" took place at JSC "Admiralteiskie Verfi".

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Navy of Russia Alexander Fedotenkov, Governor of St.-Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, General Director of JSC "Admiralteiskie Verfi" Alexander Buzakov, First Deputy of JSC "CDB for ME "Rubin" Valentin Frolov and Deputy Governor of Novgorod region Vladimir Varfolomeev took part in the solemn ceremony.

Mr Buzakov called this event especially symbolical as it takes place on the eve of 310th anniversary of Admiralty Shipyards: "Today we are laying down two final submarines of the series for Russian Navy. And at present we can say that the construction became "an engine room" which enabled us to increase the production capacities and the personnel of the shipyards. Only for last 3,5 years the number of employees of the enterprise grown by almost 800 persons. And today the main thing is not to reduce the gathered momentum. Therefore we are ready for continuation of construction and expect from the Navy an order for a new series of the submarines."

"It is really a remarkable event for Saint-Petersburg," - said George Poltavchenko. "Today our city for the first time is celebrating Shipbuilder Day, and today we are laying down at once at oldest shipyard of Russia two new ships named in honour of the cities of Military Glory, with which Saint-Petersburg has the long-term close relations".

"Today it is not only Shipbuilder Day, but also the day of formation of regular Navy of Russia," Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov noted. "And Admiralteiskie Vefi have immensely contributed to its development and formation. And today's keel laying is the best acknowledgement of the present day Admiralty shipbuilders continue to follow our the sovereign traditions started by the founder of the shipyard and the establisher of Russian Navy - Peter the First".

Submarines "Great Novgorod" and "Kolpino" of project 636.3 completing a series of six ships constructed by JSC "Admiralteiskie Verfi" for Navy of Russia. The lead submarine of the series "Novorossiysk" on 22nd of August was handed over to Russian Navy. The sea trials of second submarine "Rostov-on-Don" started on 21 th of October, and the submarine will be also handed over to Navy before end of 2014. The third ship "Stary Oskol" is passing the mooring trials. The fourth serial submarine "Krasnodar" laid on 20th of February 2014 is being constructed on the assembly line.

The submarines of modified project 636 have a higher combat effectiveness (compared to the previous projects). The optimum combination of acoustic stealthiness and target acquisition range, latest inertial navigation complex, up-to-date computerised information control system, powerful quick operating torpedo and missile systems guarantee global priority of the submarines of the class in field of conventional submarine shipbuilding.