[MeanWestTexan]

I wondered why they were bothering with a diesel.

I was thinking home port protection, but you are probably correct.

[Pyro7480]

I think the Russian still use Kilos, so it wouldn't surprise me that they would use this new model too. Diesel-electrics are good for "choke point" situations, like the entrance to the Black Sea, for example.

[RayChuang88]

Diesel-electric subs have the advantage of running extremely quietly because you don't need the noisy pump systems for cooling a nuclear reactor; however, there is the major disadvantage of limited running time under water. Mind you, the Seawolf and Virginia class nuclear subs have highly-insulated reactor sections, which also drastically reduces the noise signature of the submarine.