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Russia Commissions Final Kilo-Class Submarine, Completes Pacific Stealth Fleet
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The Russian Navy has officially commissioned the diesel-electric submarine Yakutsk, marking the completion of the Project 636.3 construction program for its Pacific Fleet.
The ceremony took place on June 11 at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, with senior naval officials in attendance.
According to Defense Blog on June 12, Yakutsk is the sixth and final unit in the series of Project 636.3 submarines—also known by NATO as the Improved Kilo-class—intended for deployment in the Pacific.
The submarine was laid down in August 2021 and launched in October 2024. Following state acceptance trials, it is now formally integrated into the Russian fleet. There is no official information on the timeline for its transfer to the Russian Far East.
The Ministry of Defense stated that Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, delivered remarks at the ceremony, congratulating the shipbuilders and urging the crew to fulfill their missions with discipline and commitment.
The keel-laying of Yakutsk was previously attended by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
With the induction of Yakutsk, the Pacific Fleet now operates six Project 636.3 submarines. Four—Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Volkhov, Magadan, and Ufa—are reported to be operational with the Primorskaya Flotilla. A fifth submarine, Mozhaisk, was last reported in the Baltic Sea; no update has been given on its relocation.
Project 636.3 submarines are a modernized version of the Soviet-era Kilo-class and are designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
The submarines feature improved acoustic stealth and are capable of launching Kalibr-PL (SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missiles and 533 mm torpedoes. The Russian Navy has emphasized their extended range and low detectability.
Each vessel is approximately 73 meters long, 9.9 meters wide, and displaces over 3,000 tons. They are powered by two diesel generators and a single seven-bladed propeller, enabling speeds of 17 knots on the surface and 20 knots submerged. Operational depth reaches up to 300 meters, with an endurance of up to 45 days and a crew of 52.
The Admiralty Shipyards have now delivered twelve Project 636.3 submarines to the Russian Navy since the program’s inception.
Earlier, Portugal began exploring the purchase of next-generation submarines from South Korea to counter growing Russian naval activity near its waters. The Portuguese Navy is considering Hyundai’s HDS-1500 design as it seeks to replace its aging Tridente-class subs, both of which are currently undergoing repairs.
