Chinese Diesels Create New Problem for Russian Ships

Chinese diesel engines do not always solve the problem of Russian shipbuilding's dependence on imported components. Difficulties with spare parts are already arising during repairs, as manufacturers quickly change model ranges, said Alexey Solovyov, acting director of the Upper Volga branch of RKO.

He gave a specific example with "Meteor" vessels built by the Gorky Zelenodolsk Plant. Eight vessels were equipped with Chinese diesels, but then the manufacturer modernized the line.

Moreover, the problem is not only in the cost of parts. If a manufacturer stops producing a specific engine version, it becomes significantly more difficult to find suitable components after a few years.

Not everything is smooth in the defense sector either. Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Maritime Board, warned that the presence of ships with a significant service life in the Navy negatively affects the combat capabilities of the fleet.

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