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Iran eyes purchase of Russian submarines with missile systems
From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription.
MOSCOW -- Russian industry sources said Iran is examining Russian-origin submarines and could move to the procurement stage in 2010. The platforms were identified as the Project 636- and Amur-1650-class submarines, the subjects of briefings at the International Naval Show-2009 in St. Petersburg.

"Russia's export potential in this market sector is very high thanks to Project 636 and Amur-1650 class submarines equipped with the Club-S integrated missile systems," Russia's state-owned arms export agency Rosoboronexport said.

In a June 24 statement, Rosoboronexport said fourth-generation diesel-electric submarines could be sold to up to 40 foreign clients by 2015. The agency did not identify the clients, but the sources said Iran and Algeria appeared to mark the leading prospects.

Iran has already received Kilo-class submarines. In 2006, Algeria agreed to procure the Project 636 Kilo submarine in a contract that industry sources said has not yet been finalized.

Project 636 Kilo-class submarine has been deemed one of the stealthiest submarines in the world. The platform was designed for operations in shallow water.

Rosoboronexport has also been exporting the Project 677, or Lada-class, diesel submarine. Project 677, the export version of which is known as the Amur 1650, contains a new anti-sonar coating for its hull as well as an extended cruising range and advanced anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons.

Russia has also been offering Club-S submarine cruise missiles, which includes the 3M-54E1 anti-ship missile and the 3M-14E land-attack variant, with a range of 275 kilometers. The missiles were said to be capable of launch from standard torpedo tubes from a depth of up to 40 meters.

"By 2010, the share of naval equipment in Russia's arms exports will reach 15 percent, and by 2011 it will total 20 percent," Rosoboronexport delegation head Oleg Azizov said.
Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-07-11
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=274125