i think the destructive capabilities of this Russian sub are being greatly exaggerated.
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Maybe, but it was not launched with the much ballyhooed nuke torpedoes - just the regular ones.
Russia has been pouring rubles into fleet modernization and primarily its subs. These are now on par with their US counterparts and various US admirals are screaming about the catch up ... China is about 3-5 years behind.
And the ASW mission has been neglected at least since 9/11, probably since Clinton. For one example, there is no longer a dedicated fixed wing carrier-based ASW aircraft. There was all through the Cold War.