'Black Hole' in Action: Novorossiysk Submarine to Hold Drills in Black Sea

ROSTOV-ON-DON (Sputnik) — A new Russian Varshavyanka-class Novorossiysk submarine will hold a four-day military exercise in the Black Sea, a source in Russia's Southern Military District told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Novorossiysk, the first new Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine in the post-Soviet Russian history, passed the Turkish Straits and arrived to its permanent deployment in the Black Sea.

"The navigation in the Black Sea is completely different. Besides, the Black Sea basin has peculiarities associated with hydrogen's occurrence," the source said, adding that one of the drills involves the submarine crew's adaptation to their new environment.

According to the source, the crew of the submarine will practice tracking underwater ships at various distances.

"After completing the training missions the submarine will arrive in Novorossiysk — its stationing site — on September 21," the source pointed out.

Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines feature advanced stealth technology, extended combat range and the ability to strike at 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 July, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said that Russia will add six diesel-electric submarines to its Black Sea Fleet by the end of 2016. One more submarine besides Novorossiysk — Rostov-on-Don — is expected to arrive to its place of permanent deployment in December 2015.