Herro, Bubbleheads: the state of Asian submarine technology

[derspiess]

It is fuel cells.  Both the Type 212 and Lada class use them, and they have decent range for a boat of that size  that does not have a conventional engine.

It is decent range, and I guess a suitable replacement for diesel-electric submarines, but not a replacement for nuclear subs.

[Brazen]

They're smaller and cheaper too, the theory is that post Cold War missions won't call for hiding under ice floe for six months at a time.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

It is fuel cells.  Both the Type 212 and Lada class use them, and they have decent range for a boat of that size  that does not have a conventional engine.

It is decent range, and I guess a suitable replacement for diesel-electric submarines, but not a replacement for nuclear subs.

Well, the size of the boat needs to be factored in.  A reactor wouldn't fit in a boat that size, and I don't know what could be done with fuel cells in a 9000t boat.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

They're smaller and cheaper too, the theory is that post Cold War missions won't call for hiding under ice floe for six months at a time.

And actually, since the Russians switched to the bastion approach the range of their boomers doesn't matter as much anymore.

[CountDeMoney]

They're smaller and cheaper too, the theory is that post Cold War missions won't call for hiding under ice floe for six months at a time.

And actually, since the Russians switched to the bastion approach the range of their boomers doesn't matter as much anymore.

Bastion doesn't have as much to do with it as is does with the receding of the polar ice, exposing more precious metal deposits, oil and gas fields along the length of northern Russia that were previously unreachable. 
The Russian Navy's far more interested in safeguarding their access to limited natural resources closer to home than it is defending its nuclear strike capability, or the need for subs and surface craft with global power projection capabilities.