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Submarine Proliferation
Russia Current Capabilities
Capabilities | Import | Export
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Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, the once mighty Soviet submarine fleet entered a period of prolonged crisis, during which it shrunk to one-third its former size. The Russian Navy began to emerge from crisis only a few years ago, and now faces a dual task. On the one hand, it needs to dismantle the submarines it no longer needs or cannot maintain: with 194 boats decommissioned, the task is truly massive. On the other hand, the shrunken force has to be maintained and modernized. Whereas international assistance has contributed to the first task (Western assistance to date accounts for 38 out of the total of 107 dismantled nuclear submarines), the second is the exclusive prerogative of the Russian government, the Ministry of Defense, and the navy. (For more information on foreign assistance for Russian submarine dismantlement and related issues, please see "Russia: Naval Fuel Cycle Foreign Assistance," in the NIS Nuclear and Missile Database.)
The submarine force is intended to support several missions. SSBNs are viewed as an integral part of Russia's nuclear triad and as contributing to nuclear deterrence as relatively invulnerable, primarily second-strike assets. The number of SSBNs is dwindling, however, and, perhaps most important, the navy cannot maintain many SSBNs on combat patrol—according to open sources, no more than one or two SSBNs are on patrol at any given moment, and there have been periods of time when no SSBN was on patrol at all. Although Soviet SSBNs were given the capability to launch missiles from the surface, including when moored to the pier, this is poor consolation because, in port, SSBNs are little but a "soft" (unhardened) and very attractive target that cannot contribute to deterrence.
The "attack" or multipurpose nuclear submarine force traditionally had a primarily anti-ship and anti-submarine mission: they were supposed to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships (the priority target was U.S. aircraft carriers). Consequently, the emphasis was given to anti-ship cruise missiles and torpedoes, the latest models of which are highly sophisticated. The same mission was also supported by diesel submarines in relatively shallow waters close to shore or in narrow straits. More recently, attack submarines have also acquired cruise missiles for use against land targets. With the exception of SLBMs, all weapons on board submarines are non-nuclear in accordance with the 1991 U.S.-Soviet Presidential Nuclear Initiatives (PNIs).
Although defense spending has tripled in the last five years, the available funds are still insufficient in the face of the backlog of modernization, training, maintenance, and dismantlement tasks. Like the rest of the armed forces, the navy is haunted by insufficient funding, which limits its ability to conduct regular overhauls of operational submarines and even to maintain them in a combat-ready state. The inability to conduct overhauls, which are required every seven to eight years (and, according to some sources, the low attention of the navy leadership to this problem) is perhaps the gravest problem, because it forces the navy to decommission submarines at a faster rate than would otherwise be necessary. As a result, many of the submarines that are officially classified as operational cannot be deployed. Another navy-specific problem is the burden of past and recent political decisions, which tended to set overambitious goals that cannot be supported by current funding; this problem applies primarily to the SSBN fleet.
Paradoxically, the long period of decline has helped to optimize the submarine fleet and make it more cost-effective. Prospective future programs now emphasize smaller, cheaper, but also more technologically advanced multipurpose vessels.
The strategic submarine fleet—SSBNs carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles—seems to be in the worst shape. Currently, Russia has no more than 20 SSBNs, according to a recent (March 2005) statement of Chief of the Navy Vladimir Kuroyedov, but most experts believe that the number of operational SSBNs does not exceed 12-14 and is likely to contract further. The largest (and the most expensive) SSBNs in the world, Project 941 Akula (NATO name Typhoon), face near extinction—only one, at most two, of these vessels will remain in service. The reasonably modern Project 667BDRM Delfin (Delta IV) that are the mainstay of the SSBN fleet number only seven and their predecessor, Project 667BDR Kalmar (Delta III) number between seven and eight. SSBN modernization remained at a standstill until a few years ago, in contrast to other elements of the submarine fleet.
The sorry state of the SSBN force could be attributed to the failure, in the mid-1990s, of a program to develop the new solid-fuel Bark SLBM, based on the older R-39 (SS-N-20) SLBM that was deployed on Project 941 Akula (Typhoon) submarines. The new missile was supposed to keep the Akulas "afloat" and be deployed subsequently on a new, smaller SSBN, Project 955 Borey, whose first keel was laid in 1996. When the Bark program was terminated in 1997, construction of the first Borey, Yuriy Dolgorukiy, had to be frozen. In 1998, a new SLBM program, "Bulava-30" was launched, and the Borey class had to be redesigned for the new missile; this also doomed Akulas (except for the first submarine in that class, the TK-208, later named Dmitriy Donskoy, which was overhauled to serve as a testing platform for the future SLBM). Flight-tests are scheduled to begin in 2005; Yuriy Dolgorukiy is scheduled to be launched in 2006 as well. Moreover, the keel of the second Project 955 Borey submarine has already been laid and it is supposed to be launched in 2007. It seems that following many years of delays, insufficient funding, and design failures the Navy is rushing to bring the new SSBN into service at the earliest possible date. The production plans for the new class are still uncertain—it is reported to be between three and 10 boats.
By contrast, the shape of the nuclear attack submarine fleet—which will also represent the core of the submarine fleet not only by their numbers, but also in terms of their mission—can be predicted reasonably well. The main task of the existing and future vessels in this category is finding and destroying enemy submarines and surface ships (including aircraft carriers and aircraft carrier groups), as well as land targets.
Their modernization concentrates on designs that date back to the late 1970s and 1980s, which had matured by the last years of the Soviet Union. Production of the large third-generation attack nuclear submarines of Project 945 Barrakuda (NATO name Sierra I) and 945A Kondor (NATO name Sierra II) was discontinued in 1993 (the unfinished fifth submarine of that class, Project 945B Mars was disassembled at the shipyard); officially, four ships in that class remain in service but only two are reported to be seaworthy. The main drawbacks of these submarines from today’s perspective are their high cost (caused, in part, by the titanium hull) and limited mission—they were originally designed for antisubmarine warfare (ASW), although the modification, Project 945A, was also equipped with Granat (NATO designation SS-N-21 Sampson) cruise missiles intended to attack land targets. A number of second-generation Project 671RT Semga and 671RTM-RTMK Shchuka (Victor II and III) boats remain part of the fleet, but will probably be decommissioned in the near future.
The core of the attack nuclear submarine fleet consists of Project 971 Shchuka B (NATO name Akula) submarines—a smaller multipurpose development of Project 945 (Nato name Sierra). Project 971 began in the mid-1970s and the first submarine in that class was launched in 1984. A total of 13 these SSNs have been built, the latest, Vepr, was launched in 1996. Project 971 SSNs are widely known as the quietest, fastest, most modern submarines in Russia and are widely reported to be on par with the most advanced U.S. attack submarines. Reportedly, Russia plans to build several more submarines of this class, completing vessels whose construction was frozen in the 1990s due to the lack of funding. Another "core class" of SSNs are Projects 949 Granit and 949A Antey (NATO names Oscar I and II); 13 of these submarines have been built. There are no reports, however, about building new submarines of these classes.
The future of the Russian attack submarine fleet is represented by fourth-generation cruise-missile Project 885 Yasen (NATO name Granay), the first of which, Severodvinsk, is still under construction (the Severodvinsk was supposed to be completed in 2000, but its launch has been postponed several times due to insufficient funding). Project 885 is supposed to eventually replace Projects 945 and 949, so that only two classes of attack submarines will eventually remain in the navy.
Diesel submarines number about 20 and are represented by reasonably advanced Project 877 Varshavyanka (NATO name Kilo) class submarines of various modifications, which entered service in late 1980s. A submarine of the latest modification entered service in 2000. Construction of the latest submarine in that class was completed in May 2005, but the vessel was intended for export. In early 2005, the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg launched the St. Petersburg, the first submarine of a new class, Project 677 Lada; an export version of that class, Project 677E (Amur-1650) will also be produced in the near future.
NUCLEAR-POWERED BALLISTIC-MISSILE SUBMARINES (SSBNs)
Project 955 Borey
| Displacement, metric tons: |
11,750-14,720 surfaced 16,750-24,000 submerged |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
557.7 x
44.3 x 29.5-32.8 (170 x 13.5 x 9-10) |
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| Main machinery: | 2 PWR reactors; 2 diesel generators; 3,400 hp (m) (2.5 MW); 1 motor; 5,576 hp(m) (4.1 MW) | ||
| Speed, knots: |
15 surfaced 26-29 submerged |
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| Complement: | 107-130 (including 55 officers) | ||
| Diving depth, ft (m): | 1,250-1,475 (380-450) | ||
| Endurance: | 100 days | ||
| Weapons: | 12 Bulava (Topol-M-type) SLBMs; Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW missiles; four 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes and two 25.6" (650 mm) tubes | ||
| Comments: | Currently under construction. The first of class, Yuriy Dolgorukiy, was laid down in 1996. It had to be substantially redesigned in 1999 to accommodate the new Bulava SLBM design. There are currently two vessels under construction, Yuriy Dolgorukiy (scheduled to be launched in 2006) and Aleksandr Nevskiy (laid down in March 2004). The Russian Navy is hoping the Bulava will be ready by the end of 2006. | ||
"Bulava programme skips ground launches," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, www.janes.com, July 1, 2005.
Combat Fleets of the World, 2000-2001.
Mark Galeotti, "Putin puts confidence in new generation of missiles," Jane's Intelligence Review, www.janes.com, February 1, 2005.
Bellona Website, www.bellona.org, August 20, 2004.
| Project 667BDRM Delfin (NATO name Delta IV) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement, metric tons: |
11,700 surfaced 18,200 submerged |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
548
x 38.4
x 29 (167 x 11.7 x 8.8 m) |
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| Main machinery: | Two VM-4SG PWR reactors, 90 MW each; two OK-700A steam turbines, 20,000 hp each | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed, knots: |
13-14 surfaced 22-24 submerged |
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| Complement: | 130-135 men | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diving depth, ft (m): | 1,300 (400) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weapons: |
16 R-29RM Shtil (NATO designation SS-N-23 Skiff) SLBMs; four 21" (533 mm) tubes with 12 torpedoes and/or Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) missiles. |
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Sources: Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 1 "RPKSN i mnogotselevyye PL" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2002). Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 2 "Mnogotselevyye PL i PL spetsnaznacheniya" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2003). S.S. Berezhnoy, Atomnyye podvodnyye lodki: VMF SSSR i Rossii (Moscow: Naval Kollektsiya, 2001). V. Demyanovskiy et al, Podvodnyy shchit SSSR, vol. 1 "Atomnyye mnogotselevyye podvodnyye lodki" (Rybnisk: Star, 2003). Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), 591. |
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| Project 667BDR Kalmar (NATO name Delta III) | |||
| Displacement, metric tons: |
8,940-10,600
surfaced 10,600-13,700 submerged |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
508.5 x 38.4 x 28.5 (155 x 11.7 x 8.7) |
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| Main machinery: | Two VM-4S PWR reactors, 90 MW each; two OK-700A steam turbines, 20,000 hp each | ||
| Speed, knots: |
14 surfaced 24-25 submerged |
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| Complement: | 30-40 officers; 50-90 crew | ||
| Diving depth, ft (m): |
1,050-1,312 (320-400) |
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| Endurance: | 80-90 days | ||
| Weapons: |
16 R-29 R (NATO designation SS-N-18 Stingray) SLBMs; 12 torpedoes and/or Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW missiles fired from four 21" (533 mm) tubes. |
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| Comments: | |||
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Sources: |
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NUCLEAR-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINES (SSNs)
Project 945B Kondor (NATO name Sierra II)
| Displacement, metric tons: |
5,200-7,600 surfaced 9,100-10,400 submerged |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
370
x 36.7
x 28 (112.7 x 11.2 x 8.5) |
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| Main machinery: | One VM-5 190 MW reactor; one OK-650B 50,000 hp steam turbine | |
| Speed, knots: |
14-18 surfaced 32.8-36 dived |
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| Complement: | 31-32 officers and 28-38 crew | |
| Diving depth, ft (m): |
2,000-2,625 (610-800) |
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| Endurance: | 50-100 days | |
| Weapons: | P-100 Oniks (NATO designation SS-N-22 Sunburn) ASW missiles; RPK-6 Vodopad and Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW missiles; Type 40 torpedoes fired from fired from four 21" (533 mm) tubes and four 25.6" (650 mm) tubes (total of 40 weapons, or 42 mines in lieu of torpedoes). | |
| Comments: | The K-534 Nizhniy Novgorod is laid up, but could be returned to service | |
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Sources: Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 1 "RPKSN i mnogotselevyye PL" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2002). Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 2 "Mnogotselevyye PL i PL spetsnaznacheniya" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2003). S.S. Berezhnoy, Atomnyye podvodnyye lodki: VMF SSSR i Rossii (Moscow: Naval Kollektsiya, 2001). V. Demyanovskiy et al, Podvodnyy shchit SSSR, vol. 1 "Atomnyye mnogotselevyye podvodnyye lodki" (Rybnisk: Star, 2003). Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), p. 593. Project 945 Barrakuda (NATO name Sierra I)
Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 1 "RPKSN i mnogotselevyye PL" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2002). Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 2 "Mnogotselevyye PL i PL spetsnaznacheniya" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2003). S.S. Berezhnoy, Atomnyye podvodnyye lodki: VMF SSSR i Rossii (Moscow: Naval Kollektsiya, 2001). V. Demyanovskiy et al, Podvodnyy shchit SSSR, vol. 1 "Atomnyye mnogotselevyye podvodnyye lodki" (Rybnisk: Star, 2003). Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), 598. Project 971/971U/971O Shchuka-B/Bars (NATO name Akula) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Displacement, metric tons: |
8,632 surfaced; 12,770 dived (according to Jane's, 8,140 surfaced; 10,500 dived |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
361.6 x
44.6 x 45.2 (110.23 x 13.6 x 13.78 m) |
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| Main machinery: | One VM-5 190 MW reactor; one OK-9VM or OK-650M.01 50,000 hp steam turbine | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed, knots: | 11.2 surfaced; 33.3 knots dived | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Complement: | 33 officers and 40 crew (according to Jane's, 31 officers and 31 crew) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diving depth, ft (m): | 1,968.5 (600) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Endurance: | 100 days | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weapons: | RK-55 Granat (NATO designation SS-N-21 Sampson) SLCMs, 3M51 Alfa (NATO designation SS-N-27) SLCMs, and RPK-2 Tsakra (NATO designation SS-N-15 Starfish) ASW missiles launched from four 21" (533 mm) tubes; four 25.6" (650 mm) tubes with Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW missiles and/or torpedoes; mines; Improved Akulas (971U) and Akula IIs (971O) have six additional 533 mm external tubes in the bow | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comments: | The Akulas are the core of the Russian SSN force. Two additional Akula IIs are under construction at the Amurskiy Shipyard. The last two additional project numbers are included in Jane's. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sources: |
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Project 671RTMK Shchuka (NATO name Victor III) |
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Displacement, metric tons: |
4,750 surfaced; 5670 dived |
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| Dimensions, ft (m): |
351.7 x
35.4 x 24.3 (107.2 x 10.8 x 7.4) |
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| Main machinery: | Two VM-4P, 4T, 72 MW each; Two OK-300 steam turbines, 31,000 hp each | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed, knots: | 10-11.7 surfaced; 30 dived | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Complement: | 23 officers and 76 men | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diving depth, ft (m): | 1,312 (400) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Endurance: | 80 days | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weapons: |
Four 21" (533 mm) tubes with torpedoes, RK-55 Granat (NATO designation SS-N-21 Sampson) SLCMs, 3M51 Alfa (NATO designation SS-N-27) SLCMs, and RPK-2 Tsakra (NATO designation SS-N-15 Starfish) ASW missiles; two 25.6" (650 mm) tubes with Type 86R Vodopad (NATO designation SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW missiles and/or torpedoes; can carry 36 mines in lieu of torpedoes |
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Sources: NUCLEAR-POWERED CRUISE-MISSILE ATTACK SUBMARINES (SSGNs) Project 885 Yasen (NATO name Granay)
Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), 592. "PLARK - Proyekt 885 'Yasen'," Rossiyskiy podvodnyy flot Website, http://submarine.id.ru/sub.php?885.
Project 949A Antey (NATO name Oscar II)
Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 1 "RPKSN i mnogotselevyye PL" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2002). Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 2 "Mnogotselevyye PL i PL spetsnaznacheniya" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2003). S.S. Berezhnoy, Atomnyye podvodnyye lodki: VMF SSSR i Rossii (Moscow: Naval Kollektsiya, 2001). V. Demyanovskiy et al, Podvodnyy shchit SSSR, vol. 1 "Atomnyye mnogotselevyye podvodnyye lodki" (Rybnisk: Star, 2003). Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), p. 594. Diesel-Powered Submarines WITH AUXILIARY NUCLEAR REACTOR
Diesel-Powered Submarines (SSKs)
Project 877K/877M/636 Varshavyanka (NATO name Kilo)
Jane's Fighting Ships (2004-2005), 600. "Proyekt 877," http://www.deepstorm.ru. "Russia: Overview of Missiles Exported by Russia," CNS Nuclear and Missile Database, NTI Website, http://www.nti.org/db/nisprofs/russia/exports/general/expmsl.htm.
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