[Gator]

The Russian inet magazine "Independent Military Review" has an article describing some of the features of the new diesel sub "Lada" project 677 at:

http://nvo.ng.ru/armament/2004-11-12/6_peterburg.html

Brief comparison with the "Warsaw" class (NATO "Kilo"):

single hull vs double hull in the Warsaw

displacement (surfaced) 1765t vs 2300t

submerged speed: 21knots vs 19knots

regular operational (literally "working") depth - same - 250m

crew decreased to 34 people instead of 52

autonomy - 45 days

better quieting due to a single hull design, new generation of acoustic hull coverage, noise-absorbing materials, active noise cancellation

the sub has a system of "ecological safety"

new crew safety features that take into account the "Kursk" investigation results

new radioelectronic warfare system

new integrated system of the automated sub control

the sonar "Lira" has a highly sensitive antenna the area of which exceeds the area of the antenna on the Warsaw class in several times (at least over 200% ?).

6 torpedo tubes (533mm) with high speed reloading automatics, new torps

capability to launch cruise missiles at several targets in a single salvo

capability to launch Navy seals

the test trials of the anaerobic powerplant have not yet been finished

the Russian experts claim superiority over German project 212 and French "Scorpion" primarily due to the capabilies of the "weapon complex",
also very proud of the quieting system, they are convinced it's superior to the foreign counterparts.

[nattydread]

It sounds like she would have made "Dieseling" a bit easier for us planning on using the Russian tubs, maybe she'll come on an add-on

Wishful thinking!