Naval Systems

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.

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

  1. 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

Related Weapon Systems

Sources