These torpedo tubes are arranged in two rows of four tubes each. Īkulas (excluding Nerpa) are armed with four 533 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 53 torpedoes or the RPK-2, RPK-6 missile, and four 650 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 65 torpedoes or the RPK-7 missile. They are located on the leading edge of the sail, on the outer hull casing in front of the sail and on the bottom of the hull forward of the sail. Most Akulas have the wake detection system ( Russian: Система обнаружения кильватерного следа) ( SOKS) hydrodynamic sensors, which detect changes in temperature and salinity.

The distinctive 'bulb' or 'can' located on top of the Akula's rudder houses its towed sonar array when retracted. This allows more freedom in the design of the exterior hull shape, resulting in a submarine with more reserve buoyancy than its western analogs. The Akula incorporates a double hull system composed of an inner pressure hull and an outer 'light' hull. The Project 971 was named Shchuka-B by the Soviets but given the designation Akula by the West after the name of the lead ship, K-284.Īccording to defense analyst Norman Polmar, the launch of the first submarine in 1985, 'shook everyone up', as Western intelligence agencies had not expected the Soviet Union to produce such a boat for another ten years. Some confusion may exist as the name Akula (Russian: Акула, meaning ' shark' in Russian) was used by the Soviets for a different class of submarines, the Project 941, which is known in the West as the Typhoon class. The Russians call all of the submarines Shchuka-B, regardless of modifications. There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka-B, consisting of the original seven Project 971 boats (codenamed Akula I), commissioned between 19 six Project 971Is (Improved Akulas), commissioned between 19 one Project 971U ( Akula II), commissioned in 1995 and one Project 971M ( Akula III), commissioned in 2001. The Akula class, Soviet designation Project 971 Shchuka-B ( Russian: Щука-Б, lit.' Pike-B', NATO reporting name Akula) is a series of fourth generation nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas.1–3 × Igla-M surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail (surface use only).(K-152 Nerpa has 8 × 533 mm torpedo tubes) 40 torpedoes total 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes) and 4 × 650 mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes).MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes).600 m (2,000 ft) maximum operating depth ħ3 for Akula I & Improved, 62 (31 officers) for Akula II & III.480 m (1,570 ft) test depth for Akula I and Akula I Improved.2 OK-300 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed and quiet maneuvering at 5 knots (9.3 km/h 5.8 mph).one 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor ( HEU 113.3 m (372 ft) for Akula II and Akula III.110.3 m (362 ft) for Akula I and Akula I Improved.12,770 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved.8,140 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved.

4 (1 Iribis suspended 42% complete since 1996)Ĥ (4 active +6 on modernization in Russia)

Russian typhoon submarine interior