Two Varshavyanka-Class Stealth Subs to Join Russian Black Sea Fleet in 2015

Two elusive, virtually undetectable submarines with extended combat ranges and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets will join the Black Sea Fleet by the end of 2015.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Two Russian Varshavyanka-class submarines, the Novorossiysk and the Rostov-on-Don, will be transferred to the Black Sea Fleet in August and December respectively, the Southern Military District's press service said Friday.

Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric subs feature advanced stealth technology, extended combat ranges and the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets. They have been dubbed "black holes in the ocean" by the US Navy because they are virtually undetectable when submerged.

"In August, the submarine 'Novorossiysk' will carry out an inter-fleet transfer to the Black Sea Fleet. The arrival of the submarine 'Rostov-on-Don' to its place of permanent deployment is expected in December 2015," the press service said in a statement.

On July 13, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said that Russia would add six diesel-electric submarines to its Black Sea Fleet by the end of 2016.

Russia is currently undergoing a $325-billion rearmament program to modernize 70-percent of its military by 2020.