4/1/2012 Naval Interest

RUSSIA TO DELIVER MINI SUBMARINES TO VIETNAM

Editor's Note: 1/3/2015: As of Today's date we were not able to find confirmation that all subs were delivered on time, nor any evidence of any cancellations.

 Good news or bad news? A better armed Vietnam is another check on China's over aggressive navy and coast guard forces that doesn't come out of the U.S. Treasury. On the other hand Vietnam and U.S. allied Philippines have their own island dispute. There is a Chinese curse applicable to the whole China Sea host of issues...."May you live in interesting times". Below is a lead in and link to the full story of the Russian sale.

Small Russian Submarine Built for Export

LANGKAWI (Malaysia), March 29 (RIA Novosti) – The first of six Varshavyanka class (Project 636M) diesel-electric submarines will be delivered to Vietnam in 2013 as scheduled, the submarine designer said on Friday.

The Varshavyanka class is an improved version of the Kilo class submarines, featuring advanced stealth technology, extended combat range and ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.

“The first vessel is undergoing sea trials. It will be delivered to Vietnam this year,” Rubin design bureau general director Igor Vilnit told reporters at the LIMA-2013 arms show in Malaysia.

Vietnam ordered a fleet of six Russian-made submarines in 2009 in a step seen as an effort to counterbalance China’s expanding maritime influence in the region. The contract, which also stipulates the training of Vietnamese submarine crews in Russia, is reportedly worth $2 billion......

Link:  http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130329/180332942/Russia-to-Deliver-First-Kilo-Class-Sub-to-Vietnam-in-2013.html