Project 971: Akula class

GarryB wrote:Are you sure Artjomh?

I mean do you know for sure or are you just assuming?

The upgrade of Russia's Project 971 Bars ('Akula')-class nuclear-powered attack submarines will arm them with Kalibr 3M-54 (SS-N-27A 'Sizzler') anti-ship missiles, Viktor Kochemazov, chief of the Russian Navy Training Department, told the RSN radio channel on 21 March. "Now, the upgrade of the Project 971 submarines provides for equipping them with the Kalibr system," he said.

The weapon "proved itself" during trials, according to Kochemazov. "Its use by the Rostov-on-Don diesel-electric submarine showed that the system is facing bright vistas in terms of further development," he said.

He is likely to have been referring to the 8 December 2015 strikes on Syria conducted by the Project 636.3 Improved 'Kilo'-class diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don . According to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the time, this boat conducted Russia's first-ever submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on 8 December when it fired four 3M-14 land attack variants of the Kalibr missile from the Mediterranean into Syria.

At present, the Russian Navy operates a fleet of 11 Project 971 submarines, although most of these are in various stages of repair and only three boats, in service with the Northern Fleet, are operational.

Four 'Akulas' belonging to the Pacific Fleet (K-322 Kashalot , K-391 Bratsk , K-331 Magadan , K-295 Samara ) are at shipyards for repairs, with Kashalot expected to be leased to India. Bratsk and Samara have been at the Zvyozdochka Shipyard since summer 2014, Kashalot at the Amur Shipyard, and Magadan at the Zvezda Shipyard. K-419 Kuzbass has recently been released back to the Pacific Fleet, while the repair of Magadan is nearing completion.

The Northern Fleet has six submarines of the class, of which three - K-154 Tigr , K-335 Gepard , and K-317 Pantera - are operational, while K-461 Volk , K-328 Leopard , and K-157 Vepr are in various stages of repair.

max steel wrote:Is it true that the US Navy had intended to replace its Los Angeles-class attack submarines with the powerful new Seawolf-class, which was designed specifically to hunt a new generation of advanced Soviet designs like the Project 941 Akula—which are better known by their NATO moniker as the Typhoon-class. ?  Difference between Project 941 and 971 Akula class ?

max steel wrote:Is it true that the US Navy had intended to replace its Los Angeles-class attack submarines with the powerful new Seawolf-class, which was designed specifically to hunt a new generation of advanced Soviet designs like the Project 941 Akula—which are better known by their NATO moniker as the Typhoon-class. ?  Difference between Project 941 and 971 Akula class ?

bhramos wrote:Inside Akula-II [New]

Big_Gazza wrote:..............

Not at all convinced about Izvestia claims the Leopard & Volk will be brought to near Yasen capabilities, but if the rebuild is extensive enough they could be extremely effective boats, even against USN Virginias & Seawolf.