Akula-class SSN profile
Class overview
NameAkula class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byVictor class, Sierra class
Succeeded byYasen class
Costest. $1.55 billion (1995 dollars)
Built1983–1999
In commission1984–present
Planned20
Completed15
Cancelled4 (1 Iribis suspended 42% complete since 1996)
Active4 (4 active +6 on modernization in Russia)
Retired4
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement
  • surfaced:
  • 8,140 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved
  • 8,450–8,470 tons Akula II and III
  • submerged:
  • 12,770 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved
  • 13,400–13,800 tons Akula II and III
Length
  • 110.3 m (362 ft) for Akula I and Akula I Improved
  • 113.3 m (372 ft) for Akula II and Akula III
Beam13.6 m (45 ft)
Draught9.7 m (32 ft)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 28–35 knots (52–65 km/h; 32–40 mph) submerged[6]
Endurance100 days[4]
Test depth
Complement73 for Akula I & Improved,[2] 62 (31 officers) for Akula II & III.[3]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • MGK-540 active/passive suite
  • Flank arrays
  • Pelamida towed array sonar
  • MG-70 mine detection sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Bukhta ESM/ECM
  • MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes)
  • MT-70 Sonar intercept receiver
  • Nikhrom-M IFF
Armament
  • 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes) and 4 × 650 mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes). (K-152 Nerpa has 8 × 533 mm torpedo tubes) 40 torpedoes total
  • 1–3 × Igla-M surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail (surface use only)
  • Granat cruise missiles, now Kalibr
Notes
  • Chiblis Surface Search radar
  • Medvyeditsa-945 Navigation system
  • Molniya-M Satellite communications
  • MGK-80 Underwater communications
  • Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas
  • Paravan Towed VLF Antenna
  • Vspletsk Combat direction system

The Akula class, Soviet designation Project 971 Shchuka-B (Russian: Щука-Б, lit. 'Pike-B', NATO reporting name Akula) is a series of fourth generation nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka-B, consisting of the original seven Project 971 boats (codenamed Akula I), commissioned between 1984 and 1990; six Project 971Is (Improved Akulas), commissioned between 1991 and 2009; one Project 971U (Akula II), commissioned in 1995; and one Project 971M (Akula III), commissioned in 2001. The Russians call all of the submarines Shchuka-B, regardless of modifications.[7]

Some confusion may exist as the name Akula (Russian: Акула, meaning "shark" in Russian) was used by the Soviets for a different class of submarines, the Project 941, which is known in the West as the Typhoon class. The Project 971 was named Shchuka-B by the Soviets but given the designation Akula by the West after the name of the lead ship, K-284.

According to defense analyst Norman Polmar, the launch of the first submarine in 1985, "shook everyone [in the West] up", as Western intelligence agencies had not expected the Soviet Union to produce such a boat for another ten years.[8]

Design

Descriptions of the Akula-class SSN

The Akula incorporates a double hull system composed of an inner pressure hull and an outer "light" hull. This allows more freedom in the design of the exterior hull shape, resulting in a submarine with more reserve buoyancy than its western analogs.

The distinctive "bulb" or "can" located on top of the Akula's rudder houses its towed sonar array when retracted. Most Akulas have the wake detection system (Russian: Система обнаружения кильватерного следа) (SOKS) hydrodynamic sensors, which detect changes in temperature and salinity. They are located on the leading edge of the sail, on the outer hull casing in front of the sail and on the bottom of the hull forward of the sail.[9][10]

Akulas (excluding Nerpa) are armed with four 533 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 53 torpedoes or the RPK-2, RPK-6 missile, and four 650 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 65 torpedoes or the RPK-7 missile. These torpedo tubes are arranged in two rows of four tubes each. The external tubes are mounted outside the pressure hull in one row, above the torpedo tubes, and can only be reloaded in port or with the assistance of a submarine tender. The 650 mm tubes can be fitted with liners to use the 533 mm weaponry. The submarine is also able to use its torpedo tubes to deploy naval mines.

Versions

As with many Soviet/Russian craft, information on the status of the Akula-class submarines is sparse, at best. Information provided by sources varies widely.

Project 971 (Akula I)

The four known versions of the Akula class

Of the seven original Akulas, only three are known to still be in service. These boats are equipped with MGK-540 Skat-3 sonar system (NATO reporting name Shark Gill).[11][12] The lead boat of the class, K-284 Akula, was decommissioned in 2001, apparently to help save money in the cash-strapped Russian Navy. K-322 Kashalot and K-480 Bars [currently Ak Bars] are in reserve. K-480 Bars was put into reserve in 1998,[4] and was being dismantled in February 2010. Pantera returned to service in January 2008 after a comprehensive overhaul.[13] All were retrofitted with the SOKS hydrodynamic sensors. All submarines before K-391 Bratsk have reactor coolant scoops that are similar to the ones of the Typhoon class SSBNs, long and tubular. Bratsk and subsequent submarines have reactor coolant scoops similar to the short ones on the Oscar IIs (the Typhoon, Akula and Oscar classes use the similar OK-650 reactor).

Project 971 and 971I (Improved Akula I)

The six Akulas of this class are all thought to be in service. They are quieter than the original Akulas. Sources also disagree as to whether construction of this class has been suspended, or if there are a further two units planned.

Improved Akula I Hulls: K-328 Leopard, K-461 Volk, K-154 Tigr, K-419 Kuzbass, K-295 Samara and K-152 Nerpa. These submarines are much quieter than early Akula-class submarines and all have the SOKS hydrodynamic sensors except Leopard.[14][failed verification]

Project 971U (Akula II)

K-157 Vepr is the only completed Akula II (see the table below).[15] The Akula II is 3 metres (9.8 ft) longer and displaces about 700 tons (submerged displacement) more than the Akula I. The added space was used for additional quieting measures. K-157 Vepr became the first Russian submarine that was quieter than the latest U.S. attack submarines of that time, which was the improved Los Angeles class (SSN 751 and later).[16] Two of these submarines were used to build the Borei-class SSBNs.

Project 971M (Akula III)

The K-335 Gepard is the 14th submarine of the class and the only completed Akula III (see the table below) built for the Russian Navy.[17] It was the first submarine commissioned in the Russian Navy since the Kursk disaster, as a result, its commissioning ceremony was an important morale boost for the Russian Navy with President Vladimir Putin in attendance.[18][19] There is no NATO classification for the Akula III. It is longer and has a larger displacement compared to the Akula II, also it has an enlarged sail and a different towed-array dispenser on the vertical fin. Again, more noise reduction methods were employed. The Gepard was the most advanced Russian submarine before the submarines of the Severodvinsk and Borei class were commissioned.

The Soviet advances in sound quieting were of considerable concern to the West, for acoustics was long considered the most significant advantage in U.S. submarine technology compared to the Soviets.

In 1983–1984 the Japanese firm Toshiba sold sophisticated, nine axis milling equipment to the Soviets along with the computer control systems, which were developed by Norwegian firm Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. U.S Navy officials and Congressmen announced that this technology enabled the Soviet submarine builders to produce more accurate and quieter propellers.[20] This is known as the Toshiba–Kongsberg scandal.

Due to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, production of all Akulas slowed.

The 1999–2000 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships incorrectly listed the first Akula III as Viper (the actual name is "Vepr", "wild boar" in Russian), commissioned on 25 November 1995. Gepard (Cheetah), was launched in 1999 and was commissioned 5 December 2001.

Operational history

Between December 1995 and February 1996, submarine Volk was deployed to the Mediterranean along the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, where she monitored activities of several NATO submarines under Captain 1st rank S. V. Spravtsev.

Between April and June 1996, Tigr was deployed in the Atlantic, where she detected a U.S. Ohio class SSBN and tracked it on its combat patrol.[21] On 23 July 1996, its commander, Captain 1st rank Alexey Burilichev, received a Hero of the Russian Federation award.[22]

In August 2009, the news media reported that two Akula-class submarines operated off the East Coast of the United States, with one of the submarines being identified as a Project 971 Shchuka-B type. U.S. military sources noted that this was the first known Russian submarine deployment to the western Atlantic since the end of the Cold War, raising concerns within U.S. military and intelligence communities.[23][24] U.S. Northern Command confirmed that this 2009 Akula-class submarine deployment did occur.[25] One of the boats was likely Gepard that finished a relatively lengthy combat patrol between June and September that year[26] under the command of the Captain 1st rank Alexey Vyacheslavovich Dmitrov, who on 15 February 2012 was awarded a title Hero of the Russian Federation for courage shown at work.[27] The other submarine could have been Tigr under the command of Captain E. A. Petrov, given that she performed a combat patrol sometime between March and November 2009.[28] It is unlikely that other submarines of the project 971 could have been present in the Atlantic that year. Pantera was in Severemorsk during summer,[29] while Vepr, Leopard and Volk did not report any kind of activity in that year (1-3 submarines of the project are usually active with the Northern Fleet at any given moment).

In August 2012, the news media reported that another Akula-class submarine operated in the Gulf of Mexico purportedly undetected for over a month, sparking controversy within U.S. military and political circles, with U.S. Senator John Cornyn of the Senate Armed Services Committee demanding details of this deployment from Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, the Chief of Naval Operations.[30][31][32] Most likely, this was Tigr, as its commander Captain 1st rank Pavel Bulgakov received the Order of Courage on the Defender of the Fatherland Day on 22 February 2013.[33]

Units

# Name Project Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Fleet Status
K-284 Akula 971 Amur Shipyard 11 November 1983 27 June 1984 30 December 1984 Pacific Fleet Decommissioned in 2001.
K-480 Ak Bars 971 Sevmash 22 February 1985 16 April 1988 29 December 1988 Northern Fleet Decommissioned in 2002, scrapping began in 2010 but the hull section was used
in the construction of ballistic missile submarine Vladimir Monomakh.[34]
K-263 Barnaul 971 Amur Shipyard 9 May 1985 28 May 1986 30 December 1987 Pacific Fleet Decommissioned in 2011
K-322 Kashalot 971 Amur Shipyard 5 September 1986 18 July 1987 30 December 1988 Pacific Fleet Decommissioned on 9 October 2019.[35]
K-317 Pantera 971 Sevmash 6 November 1986 21 May 1990 27 December 1990 Northern Fleet Active, overhaul and modernization completed in 2007.[36]
K-461 Volk 971 Sevmash 14 November 1987 11 June 1991 29 December 1991 Northern Fleet Overhaul and modernization to finish in 2023.[37][38][39]
K-391 Bratsk 971 Amur Shipyard 23 February 1988 14 April 1989 29 December 1989 Pacific Fleet Decommissioned 2022, awaiting scrapping.[40]
K-328 Leopard 971 Sevmash 26 October 1988 28 June 1992 30 December 1992 Northern Fleet Overhaul and modernization to finish in second half of 2021;[39][41][42][43] projected as likely to begin post-refit sea trials in 2022[44]
K-154 Tigr 971 Sevmash 10 September 1989 26 June 1993 29 December 1993 Northern Fleet Overhaul to finish in 2022.[45][46]
K-331 Magadan 971 Amur Shipyard 28 December 1989 23 June 1990 23 December 1990 Pacific Fleet In overhaul from July 2019 to 2022.[47][48][49]
K-157 Vepr 971U Sevmash 13 July 1990 10 December 1994 25 November 1995 Northern Fleet Active, overhaul and modernization completed in 2020.[50][51]
K-xxx 971M Amur Shipyard 1990 Not completed.
K-419 Kuzbass 971 Amur Shipyard 28 July 1991 18 May 1992 31 December 1992 Pacific Fleet Active, overhaul and modernization completed in 2015.[52][53]
K-335 Gepard 971M Sevmash 23 September 1991 17 September 1999 5 December 2001 Northern Fleet Active, overhaul and modernization completed in 2015.[54]
K-xxx 971M Amur Shipyard 1991 Not completed.
K-337 Kuguar 971U Sevmash 18 August 1992 Not completed, the hull section was used in the construction of the Yury Dolgorukiy SSBN.[55]
K-333 Rys 971U Sevmash 31 August 1993 Not completed, the hull section was used in the construction of the Alexander Nevsky SSBN.[56]
K-295 Samara 971 Amur Shipyard 7 November 1993 5 August 1994 17 July 1995 Pacific Fleet Modernization to finish in 2023.[57]
K-152 Nerpa
(ex-Chakra) 		971I Amur Shipyard 1993 26 July 2006 28 December 2009 Active, has been leased to India from 2012 until 2022,[58] returned already in 2021.[59] Proposed to decommission in 2023.[60]
K-519 Iribis 971I Amur Shipyard 1994 Construction halted at 42% in 1996,[61] may be completed and leased to India.[62][63]

Nerpa 2008 accident

On 27 October 2008, it was reported that K-152 Nerpa of the Russian Pacific Fleet had begun her sea trials in the Sea of Japan before handover under a lease agreement to the Indian Navy.[citation needed] On 8 November 2008, while conducting one of these trials, an accidental activation of the halon-based fire-extinguishing system took place in the fore section of the vessel. Within seconds the halon gas had displaced all breathable air from the compartment. As a result, 20 people (17 civilians and 3 seamen)[64] were killed by asphyxiation. Dozens of others suffered freon-related injuries and were evacuated to an unknown port in Primorsky Krai.[citation needed] This was the worst accident in the Russian navy since the loss of the submarine K-141 Kursk in 2000. The submarine itself did not sustain any serious damage and there was no release of radiation.[65]

Lease to India

Chakra in the open sea, flying colours of the Indian Navy

Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of the Akula II submarine Nerpa. India has finalised a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them. The submarine is named INS Chakra as was the previous India-leased Soviet Charlie-I SSGN.[66] Chakra was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy on 4 April 2012.[67][68]

Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II could be equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km (1,620 nmi; 1,864 mi), the Indian version is reportedly armed with the 300 km (162 nmi; 186 mi)-range Club-S nuclear-capable missiles.[69] Missiles with ranges greater than 300 km (162 nmi; 186 mi) cannot be exported due to arms control restrictions, since Russia is a signatory to the MTCR treaty.

Russia said in December 2014 that it is ready to lease India more nuclear-powered submarines a day after President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to deepen defence ties.[70]

In January 2015, it was reported that India was involved in negotiations involving the leasing of the Kashalot and the Iribis.[71]

On 7 March 2019, India and Russia signed a $3 billion deal for lease of another Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine. The submarine, dubbed as Chakra III, should be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2025.[72][73]

In June 2021, Nerpa was reported in Singapore with Indian crew aboard and on its way back to Russia, despite one year remaining of the 10-year lease, commenced in April 2012. The stated reason was problems with maintenance of the nuclear reactors.[59] Accordingly, the lease will not be prolonged after 2022, as was initially expected.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Russian submarines" (PDF). lynceans.org. October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Specification: SSN Akula Class (Bars Type 971) Attack Submarine, Russia". Naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Typhoon (Akula) class (Project 941/941U) (Russian Federation)". Jane's Fighting Ships. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b Apalkov, Yu. V. (2003). Подводные лодки ВМФ СССР [Submarines of the Soviet Navy]. Sankt-Peterburg: Galeya Print. ISBN 5-8172-0071-6.
  5. ^ "The Ship Day to be celebrated at SSN Kuzbass". Rusnavy.com. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  6. ^ Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2008). Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-09. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. p. 644. ISBN 978-0-71062-845-9.
  7. ^ "In-service ships". Rusnavy.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  8. ^ Norman, Colin (31 March 1989). "Quiet Soviet Subs Prompt Concern". Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 243 (4899): 1653–1654. Bibcode:1989Sci...243.1653N. doi:10.1126/science.243.4899.1653. JSTOR 1703462. PMID 17751269.
  9. ^ Hambling, David (23 October 2017). "How the Soviet Union Snooped Waters for Enemy Subs — Without Sonar". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  10. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (8 May 2019). "Royal Navy Sub Appears In Gibraltar Equipped With A Wake Detection System". The Drive. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  11. ^ "MGK-500 Shark Gill (Bow)". HarpoonDatabases.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Armament "MGK-500" automated sonar complex". Submarine.su. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  13. ^ "K-317 Pantera". Rusnavy.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Run Silent, Run Deep". FAS.org. Archived from the original on 5 February 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  15. ^ "K-157 Vepr". Rusnavy.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  16. ^ Adm. Boorda, statement at a meeting of the Naval & Maritime Correspondents Circle, Washington, D.C., 27 February 1995.
  17. ^ "K-335 Gepard". Rusnavy.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  18. ^ "President Vladimir Putin attended a ceremony of adopting the Gepard nuclear-powered submarine by the Russian Navy". President of Russia. 4 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  19. ^ Besserglik, Bernard (4 December 2001). "Putin Inauguration of New Sub Seen As Balm To Russian Navy". SpaceDaily.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Quieter Soviet subs cost U.S. at least $30 billion". Navy News & Undersea Technology. 14 March 1988.
  21. ^ "Подводная лодка К-154, "Тигр". Проект 971" [Submarine K-154, "Tiger". Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian).
  22. ^ "Буриличев Алексей Витальевич" [Burilichev, Aleksey Vitalyevich]. WarHeroes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast of U.S." The New York Times. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  24. ^ Mark, Mazzette; Shanker, Thom (6 August 2009). "Pentagon: Russian subs no cause for alarm". UPI. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  25. ^ Ewing, Phillip (20 August 2012). "Pentagon Denies Russian Sub Patrolled Gulf of Mexico". News and Analysis. United States Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Подводная лодка К-335, "Гепард". Проект 971" [Submarine K-335, "Gepard". Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian).
  27. ^ "Дмитров Алексей Вячеславович" [Dmitrov, Aleksey Vyacheslavovich]. WarHeroes.ru (in Russian).
  28. ^ "266-й экипаж подводной лодки. Проект 971" [266th crew of the submarine. Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian).
  29. ^ "Подводная лодка К-317, "Пантера". Проект 971" [Submarine K-317, "Panther". Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian).
  30. ^ Gertz, Bill (14 August 2012). "Silent Running". Washington Free Beacon. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  31. ^ Gertz, Bill (21 August 2012). "Torpedo Run". Washington Free Beacon. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  32. ^ "Reports of Russian sub in gulf downplayed". UPI. 19 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  33. ^ "Подводные силы Северного флота – лучшее объединение ВМФ в составе Западного военного округа" [The submarine forces of the Northern Fleet – the best formation of the Navy in the Western Military District]. Russian Ministry of Defence (in Russian). 18 March 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  34. ^ "К-480, "Барс", "Ак Барс"" [K-480, "Bars", "Ak Bars"]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  35. ^ "Nuclear-Powered Submarines - Project 971". Russianships.info.
  36. ^ "К-317, "Пантера" Проект 971" [K-317, "Panther" Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  37. ^ "Source: the submarine "Wolf" with "Caliber" will return to the Navy in 2023". Novosti VPK. 6 January 2021.
  38. ^ "Подлодка "Волк" отправилась на ремонт" [Submarine "Wolf" went for repair]. flotprom.ru (in Russian). 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  39. ^ a b "Бесшумные "Суперакулы" вооружили "Калибрами"" [Silent "Superakuly" armed with "Calibers"]. Izvestia (in Russian). 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  40. ^ "СМИ узнали о списании атомной подлодки "Братск"" [The media learned about the decommissioning of the nuclear submarine "Bratsk"] (in Russian). 17 January 2022.
  41. ^ "Источник: подлодка "Леопард" вернется в боевой состав ВМФ во второй половине 2021 года" [Source: the submarine "Leopard" will return to the combat strength of the Navy in the second half of 2021]. ТАSS (in Russian). 6 January 2021.
  42. ^ "Плановый срок ремонта АПЛ серии "Щука-Б" составит не менее 3 лет" [The planned repair period for nuclear submarines of the Shchuka-B series will be at least 3 years]. Flot.com (in Russian). 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  43. ^ "Russian shipyard floats out nuclear-powered Akula-class sub after upgrade". TASS. 26 December 2020.
  44. ^ "After ten years at yard, nuclear sub "Leopard" is soon to sail".
  45. ^ "Подлодка "Тигр" "звериной" дивизии вернется в состав флота в 2022 году" [Submarine "Tiger" of the "animal" division will return to the fleet in 2022]. ТАSS (in Russian). 11 January 2021.
  46. ^ "Подводная лодка К-154, "Тигр". Проект 971" [Submarine K-154, "Tiger". Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  47. ^ "Модернизированная подлодка Магадан вернется в строй в 2022 году" [Upgraded submarine Magadan will return to service in 2022]. Korabel.ru (in Russian). 14 November 2020.
  48. ^ "Russian shipbuilders start repairs of nuclear-powered subs for Pacific Fleet". TASS. 30 July 2019.
  49. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2 October 2020). "Russian Akula-class Submarine 'Magadan' to be Operational Again in 2022". Naval News. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  50. ^ "Атомная подлодка с "Калибрами" вышла на испытания" [Nuclear submarine with "Caliber" went for testing]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  51. ^ "Nuclear submarine Vepr returned to the Russian Navy after repair". Russian Ministry of Defence. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  52. ^ "Отремонтированная АПЛ "Кузбасс" передана ТОФ" [Repaired nuclear submarine "Kuzbass" transferred to Pacific Fleet]. vpk-news.ru (in Russian). 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  53. ^ "Медведев в ДФО осмотрел модернизированную АПЛ К-419 "Кузбасс"" [Medvedev in the Far Eastern Federal District examined the modernized nuclear submarine K-419 "Kuzbass"]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  54. ^ "Атомная подводная лодка "Гепард" вернулась в состав боевых кораблей подводных сил Северного флота" [Nuclear submarine "Gepard" returned to the combat ships of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet]. Russian Ministry of Defense (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  55. ^ "К-337, "Кугуар" Проект 971" [K-337, "Kuguar" Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  56. ^ "К-333, "Рысь" Проект 971" [K-333, "Rys" Project 971]. Deepstorm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  57. ^ "Две АПЛ доставят с ТОФ в Северодвинск для модернизации" [Two nuclear submarines will be delivered from the Pacific Fleet to Severodvinsk for modernization]. arms-expo.ru (in Russian). 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018.
  58. ^ "Russia hands over nuclear-powered attack submarine to India". The Times of India. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  59. ^ a b "СМИ: арендованная Индией атомная подлодка возвращается в Россию".
  60. ^ "Главкомат ВМФ предложил утилизовать аварийную АПЛ "Нерпа"". TASS (in Russian). 16 November 2023.
  61. ^ "Владимир Путин пригласил слесаря-монтажника" [Vladimir Putin invited a fitter from the Amur Shipyard to a meeting]. REGNUM News Agency (in Russian). Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  62. ^ Radyuhin, Vladimir (13 March 2013). "India in talks with Russia on lease of second nuclear submarine". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  63. ^ LaGrone, Sam (8 July 2013). "India Interested in Leasing Second Russian Nuclear Attack Sub". USNI News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  64. ^ "Accident on nuclear submarine kills 20 off eastern Russian coast". International Herald Tribune. 9 November 2008. Archived from the original on 26 November 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  65. ^ "20 Dead on Russian Nuclear-Powered Submarine". The New York Times. 9 November 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  66. ^ "India to get Russian nuclear submarine after 17 years". India Today. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  67. ^ "INS Chakra: Govt inducts Russian-origin Akula II class Nerpa into Navy". The Economic Times. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  68. ^ "INS Chakra formally inducted into Indian Navy". India Today. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  69. ^ "Russia may lease nuclear submarine to India". The Hindu. 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 17 July 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  70. ^ Pearson, Natalie Obiko; Kotoky, Anurag (12 December 2014). "Putin ready to lease nuclear submarines to India, minister says". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  71. ^ "Индия возьмет у России в аренду атомную подлодку "Кашалот"" [India to lease nuclear submarine "Kashalot" from Russia]. Novosti VPK (in Russian). 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  72. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (5 March 2019). "India, Russia To Sign $3 Billion Nuclear Sub Deal This Week". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  73. ^ Pubby, Manu (4 March 2019). "India, Russia to ink $3 billion nuclear submarine deal this week". The Economic Times. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akula class submarines.
Akula-class submarine
Soviet and Russian submarine classes after 1945
Current and planned classes of nuclear-powered attack submarines
Ship classes of the Indian Navy
Categories