Posted on 05/10/2010 9:49:35 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Russian Navy will retain its Akula class nuclear attack submarines in service till 2019, the country’s Navy chief has said.
“They (the Akula class subs) will remain in the fleet at a minimum until 2019,” Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky was quoted by Arms-Tass as saying.
The Navy Chief said that modernisation opportunities for the attack submarines “are very large, there are several options.”
The Russian naval fleet at present comprises of three Project 941 Akula class (NATO name Typhoon) nuclear submarines out of the six constructed. One of them – the Dmitry Donskoy – has been refurbished to be used as a platform for test launching the Bulava ballistic missiles.
The other two vessels of this family – the Arkhangelsk and the Severstal – are awaiting modernization in a shipyard, according to RIA Novosti.
Russia is building the new Borey class ballistic missile submarines which will replace the Akula-class subs.
(Excerpt) Read more at brahmand.com ...
It looks like the Russian military complex is much more worse off than we were lead to believe
What a surprise... not.
>>> One of them – the Dmitry Donskoy – has been refurbished to be used as a platform for test launching the Bulava ballistic missiles.
Sounds odd. The Akula is a very deep diving attack submarine, not a ballistic missile boat. How would a SLBM tube even fit, and if it could fit why would you go to the expense of modifying an attack submarine to carry SLBM tubes when you have surplus boomers already available to the purpose.
The ‘Akula’ is the original Russian name for what is popularly called the Typhoon class SSBN (Which is what is being discussed here). The Typhoon is the NATO codename for that boat, Akula is the NATO codename for the BARS class SSN.
Thanks for the answer. Interesting insight into how the allied naval intelligence agencies were dropping the ball in the 70s leading to such confusion.
>>> The Russian naval fleet at present comprises of three Project 941 Akula class (NATO name Typhoon)
And a PS for my own confusion, missing that line on the first read.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.