Russian shipyard Admiralteiskie Verfi will soon begin testing a new Kilo-class Project 636 diesel-electric submarine for Vietnam. The shipyard on Tuesday launched the first of six submarines ordered by the Vietnamese government. The contract valued at $2 billion was signed in 2009. “The boat is due to be delivered to the customer by the end of the year. All six boats are due to be delivered by 2016,” a shipyard official was quoted as saying. Armed with 533-mm torpedo tubes and are armed with torpedos, mines, and Kaliber 3M54 (NATO SS-N-27) cruise missiles, the Project 636 class boats displace 3,100 tons, have a top speed of 20 knots and can dive to 300 meters with a crew of 52.