Akula-class submarine

The Akula-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for the Soviet-designed Project 971 Shchuka-B nuclear-powered attack submarine. Built by Amur Shipbuilding Plant and Sevmash, the class used a double-hull design, combined torpedo and cruise-missile armament, and a mission set focused on anti-submarine and anti-shipping warfare.

Syrian Civil War🏳️ Unspecified

Akula-class submarine, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval Systems

Image source: Akula class submarine starboard quarter view.JPEG

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: Amur Shipbuilding Plant Joint Stock CompanySevmash
Built in: Russia
Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Service note: 1984-present
Produced: 1983-2001
Number built: 16 completed
Variants: Project 971 Akula I, Project 971I Improved Akula, Project 971U Akula II, Project 971M Akula III

Also Known As

Akula
Akula-class
Akula class submarine
Project 971
Project 971 Shchuka-B
Shchuka-B
Shchuka B
NATO: Akula

submarine nuclear-powered anti-submarine warfare cruise missile torpedo

Specifications

Displacement: 8,140 tonnes surfaced; 12,770 tonnes submerged
Length: 110.3 m
Beam: 13.6 m
Draft: 9.7 m
Crew: 73
Diving depth: 600 m
Speed: 33 knots submerged
Propulsion: 1 x 190 MW OK-650 pressurized-water reactor; 1 shaft
Armament: 4 x 533 mm and 4 x 650 mm torpedo tubes; torpedoes, mines, and Granat cruise missiles

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Entered Soviet Navy service in 1984; Russian Navy boats remain active, and K-152 Nerpa was leased to India as INS Chakra.
Used by: Soviet Navy, Russian Navy, Indian Navy

Conflict Usage

Side: 🏳️Unspecified

Reported conflict-theater deployment rather than confirmed weapons release: in October 2016, two Northern Fleet Akula-class submarines were reported to have joined the Admiral Kuznetsov battlegroup heading toward Syria/the eastern Mediterranean. I found no public evidence that an Akula-class submarine launched weapons during the Syrian campaign.

Timeline

Akula-class submarine Key Events

Oct 30, 2016
Two Akula-class submarines are reported near Syria
Open-source reporting said two Northern Fleet Akula-class submarines joined the Russian battlegroup heading toward Syria and the eastern Mediterranean.
Sources: Two nuclear submarines from Kola sail into Mediterranean, Russian Submarines 'Join Battle Group Heading For Syria'

Akula-class submarine Images

Akula-class submarine, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: Akula submarine DN-SN-91-00616.JPG

Akula-class submarine, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval Systems - view 2 — Source: AkulaProjekt971K335.png

Related Weapon Systems

Victor III-class submarine, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsVictor III-class submarineNuclear-powered attack submarineThe Victor III-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for the Soviet Project 671RTM/RTMK Shchuka nuclear-powered attack submarine. Built for the Soviet Navy by Admiralty and Komsomolsk shipyards, it combined a quieter hull, a hydrodynamic stern-plane pod that housed a towed passive sonar array, and a mixed torpedo-and-missile fit that kept a few boats in Russian service after the Soviet collapse.

Lada-class submarine, Diesel-electric attack submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsLada-class submarineDiesel-electric attack submarineThe Lada-class submarine is Russia's Project 677 diesel-electric attack submarine family, designed by Rubin and built by Admiralty Shipyards for coastal, confined-water, and strait operations. The class emphasizes reduced noise, torpedo and missile armament, and an optional air-independent propulsion fit.

Oscar II-class submarine, Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsOscar II-class submarineNuclear-powered cruise missile submarineThe Oscar II-class submarine is the NATO reporting name for the Soviet and Russian Project 949A Antey nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. Designed by Rubin and built by Sevmash, the class was created to attack carrier battle groups with 24 P-700 Granit anti-ship cruise missiles and remains one of the largest SSGN families ever fielded.

Project 636.3 Improved Kilo, Diesel-electric attack submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsProject 636.3 Improved KiloDiesel-electric attack submarineProject 636.3 Improved Kilo is Russia's modernized diesel-electric attack submarine class, built by Admiralty Shipyards from the earlier Kilo family. The design adds quieter machinery, updated sensors and combat systems, and Kalibr-PL cruise-missile strike capability for Russian Navy service.

Sierra II, Nuclear-powered attack submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsSierra IINuclear-powered attack submarineSierra II is the NATO reporting name for the Soviet Project 945A Kondor class, a titanium-hulled nuclear-powered attack submarine built by Krasnoye Sormovo. The two completed boats, Pskov and Nizhny Novgorod, remain the Russian Navy's active Sierra-class units and are noted for an enlarged sail, six 533 mm torpedo tubes, and deep-diving, low-noise design.

Yasen / Yasen-M, Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, Naval Systems

Naval SystemsYasen / Yasen-MNuclear-powered cruise missile submarineYasen / Yasen-M is Russia's family of fourth-generation nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, designed by Malakhit and built by Sevmash. The lead boat Severodvinsk entered service in 2014, and later Yasen-M boats added a modernized sensor fit and new cruise-missile carriage options.

Sources

Russia Submarine CapabilitiesPublisher: Nuclear Threat Initiative | Note: Supports Akula-class background, dimensions, submerged speed, tasking, and the Russian Navy's current Shchuka-B inventory. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Akula: The Russian Submarine The U.S. Navy Truly HatesPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports the Akula-class builder context, double-hull design, reactor family, cruise-missile fit, and general class background. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 AKULA CLASS RUSSIAN NUCLEAR ATTACK SUBMARINESPublisher: Naval Submarine League | Note: Supports Project 971 background, design bureau and shipyard context, armament, propulsion, crew, depth, and tactical mission profile. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Two nuclear submarines from Kola sail into MediterraneanPublisher: The Barents Observer | Note: Supports Syrian Civil War fielded-by context: reported Akula-class submarines joined the Russian battlegroup heading toward Syria in October 2016. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Russian Submarines 'Join Battle Group Heading For Syria'Publisher: Forces News | Note: Supports Syrian Civil War fielded-by context: reported Akula-class submarines joining the Russian naval battle group heading toward Syria. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Akula class submarine starboard quarter view.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain context for the primary Akula-class submarine photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Akula submarine DN-SN-91-00616.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for an Akula-class gallery photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 AkulaProjekt971K335.pngPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the K-335 Akula-class diagram in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 AkulaSchema1.svgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the Akula-class schematic gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25