Akula class submarine underway in the Baltic Sea
Russian Federation
Operators:	Soviet Navy Russian Navy
In service:	1986
Ships in Class
General Characteristics
Class type:	NATO: Nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) Russian: Podvodnaya Lodka Atomnaya (PLA)
Displacement:	5,700-7,500 tons surfaced 7,900-9,100 tons submerged 7,900-9,500 tons submerged (Akula-II)
Length:	108.0 - 111.7 m (sources vary)
Beam:	13.5 m
Draft:	9.6 m
Propulsion and power:	1 190 MW OK-650B pressurized water nuclear reactor 1 OK-7 steam turbine 43,000 hp (32 MW) 2 OK-2 Turbogenerators producing 2,000 kW 1 seven-bladed propeller 2 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed manuvering at 3 knots (6 km/h)
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h) surfaced 35 knots (65 km/h) submerged
Test depth:	450 m test depth 550 m never-exceed depth 600-660 m calculated crush depth
Complement:	25 Officers, 26 Enlisted
Armament:	four 533 mm torpedo tubes (plus six external 533 mm tubes on Improved Akulas and Akula II’s) four 650 mm torpedo tubes storage space for up to forty torpedoes/mines/missiles etc. One SA-18 Igla-M Surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail. (To be used if the sub is forced to remain surfaced) assorted small arms for security. (Locked away when away from port)
Sonar:	MGK-503-M Skat active/passive suite Flank arrays Pelamida towed array sonar MG-70 mine detection sonar
Countermeasures:	Bukhta ESM/ECM *MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes) MT-70 Sonar intercept receiver Nikhrom-M IFF
Other systems:	Chiblis Surface Search radar Medvyedista-945 Navigation system Molniya-M Satellite communications MGK-80 Underwater communications Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas Paravan Towed VLF Antenna Vspletsk Combat direction system

This article is about the submarine class with NATO reporting name "Akula". For the submarine class with the Soviet name "Akula", see Typhoon class submarine. Image File history File links Akula_class_submarine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Russia. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... The OK-650 reactor is the nuclear fission reactor used singly to power the Soviet Navys Project 685 Плавник (Mike), Project 971 Щука-Б (Akula), and Project 945 Баракудда, Кондор, and Марс (Sierra) submarines, and in pairs to power the Project 941 Акула (Typhoon) and Project 949 Гранит and Антей (Oscar) third generation submarines. ... Core of a small nuclear reactor used for research. ... WWII era steam turbine used for ship propulsion. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... An electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction. ... The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Categories: Stub | Marine propulsion ... A knot is a unit of speed, abbreviated kt or kn. ... A knot is a unit of speed, abbreviated kt or kn. ... A knot is a unit of speed, abbreviated kt or kn. ... Test depth is the maximum depth that a submarine is permitted to operate at, under normal circumstances (during peacetime). ... Never-exceed depth is the maximum depth that a submarine is allowed to operate at, under all circumstances. ... Crush depth is the submerged depth at which a submarine will implode due to the surrounding water pressure. ... Torpedo tubes of the French SNLE Redoutable A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes in a horizontal direction. ... The 9K38 Igla (Russian 9К38 Игла́ - needle) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. ... Akash Missile Firing French Air Force Crotale battery Bendix Rim-8 Talos surface to air missile of the US Navy A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. ... Small arms captured in Fallujah, Iraq by the US Marine Corps in 2004 The term small arms generally describes any number of smaller infantry weapons, such as firearms that an individual soldier can carry. ... A Towed array sonar is a sonar array that is towed behind a submarine or surface ship. ... French ship Monge, specialised in SIGINT In telecommunication, the term electronic warfare support measures (ESM) is the division of electronic warfare involving actions taken under direct control of an operational commander to search for, intercept, identify, and locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition. ... Inspecting an AN/ALQ-184 Electronic Attack Pod Electronic countermeasures (ECM) are any sort of electrical or electronic device designed to spoof radar, sonar, or other detection systems. ... A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. ... In telecommunications, identification, friend or foe (IFF) is a crypto identification system designed for command and control. ... This long range RADAR antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. RADAR is a system that uses radio waves to detect, determine the direction and distance and/or speed... Very low frequency or VLF refers to radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 3 to 30 kHz. ... NATO reporting names were code names for Soviet and Chinese military equipment. ... The Typhoon class submarines are a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. ...

Project 971 Щука-Б (Shuka-B, 'Shuka' meaning pike, NATO reporting name "Akula"), is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. The class is sometimes erroneously called the "Bars" class, after one of its members. Note that Akula ("shark") is the Soviet designation of the ballistic missile submarine class designated by NATO as the Typhoon class submarine. They are sometimes bitterly called "the Walker class," referring to John Anthony Walker, whose espionage data related to sonar detection was used to improve this submarine. NATO reporting names were code names for Soviet and Chinese military equipment. ... Species  E. americanus –       grass and redfin pickerels  E. lucius – northern pike  E. masquinongy – muskellunge  E. niger – chain pickerel   – Amur pike Esox Linnaeus, 1758, is a genus of freshwater fish, the only member of the pike family (family Esocidae) of order Esociformes. ... NATO reporting names were code names for Soviet and Chinese military equipment. ... German UC-1 class World War I submarine A model of Gunter Priens Unterseeboot 47 (U-47), German WWII Type VII diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine Inside of the Argonaute, showing the typical obstructed, tiny space of a post-WWII diesel attack submarine. ... Orders Carcharhiniformes Heterodontiformes Hexanchiformes Lamniformes Orectolobiformes Pristiophoriformes Squaliformes Squatiniformes Sharks (superorder Selachimorpha) are fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton[1] and a streamlined body. ... The Typhoon class submarines are a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. ... John Anthony Walker Junior (born July 28, 1937) was a Chief Warrant Officer and communications specialist for the U.S. Navy, who sold his services as a spy to the Soviet Union from 1968 to 1985, the height of the Cold War era. ...

There are three sub-classes or flights of Shchuka, consisting of the original seven "Akula I" submarines built between 1982 and 1986, five "Improved Akula" submarines built between 1986 and 1991, and four "Akula II" submarines built from 1991. This information is disputed, however, as the distinction between the Improved Akula and the Akula II class is debated by authoritative sources.

Akula incorporates a double hull system that increases the strength reserve and is able to dive deeper than any other modern SSN. It is the quietest Russian nuclear attack submarine; the noise radiated by the Akula-II class is comparable to that of last versions of the American Improved Los Angeles class . The Los Angeles-class attack submarines (SSN) are the most numerous class of nuclear powered submarines built by any nation, and form the bulk of the U.S. attack submarine force as of 2004. ...

The distinctive "bulb" or "can" seen on top of the Akula's rudder houses its towed sonar array, when retracted.

All Akulas are armed with four 533 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 53 torpedoes or the SS-N-15 Starfish missile, and four 650 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 65 torpedoes or the SS-N-16 Stallion missile. These torpedo tubes are arranged in two rows of four tubes each. Improved Akulas and Akula IIs have an additional six 533 mm torpedo tubes mounted externally, however it is unclear whether these are fully functional external tubes, or if they are only capable of launching Mines and decoys. The external tubes are mounted outside the pressure hull in one row, above the 'Normal' Torpedo tubes, and can only be reloaded in port or with the assistance of a submarine tender. The 650 mm tubes can be fitted with liners to use the 533 mm weaponry. The submarine is also able to use its torpedo tubes to launch mines. Type 53 is a torpedo manufactured in Russia. ... The RPK-2 Viyuga (western designation SS-N-15 Starfish, Russian: ) cruise missile is a Russian missile. ... Type 65 is a torpedo manufactured in Russia. ... The SS-N-16 Stallion was a Soviet 650 mm anti-ship missile that was deployed between 1979 and 1981. ... A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. ...

Current status

Information on the status of the Akula Class submarines is sketchy at best. Information provided by several internet sites varies widely.

Akula-I submarines

Of the seven original Akula-I submarines, only three are known to still be in service. The lead boat of the class, K-284 'Akula' was decommissioned in 1995, apparently to help save money in the cash-strapped Russian Navy. Three others, K-322 'Kashalot', K-480 'Bars' [Currently Ak Bars], and K-317 'Pantera' are all thought to be in reserve.

Akula-I Improved submarines

The five Akulas of this class are all thought to be in service. There is some debate about the hull number of the 5th submarine. Some sources report it as K-267, while others say K-295. Most however agree on the name 'Drakon'. Sources also disagree as to whether construction of this class has been suspended, or if there are a further two units planned. Improved Akula-I Hulls: Volk, Tigr, Narval. There is a new class, a development of the Akula being slowly developed, the Graney class. Project 885 Graney (Yasen) is a new Russian attack submarine class, first vessel Severodvinsk will be commisioned about the 2010 year. ...

Akula-II submarines

The Akula-II 'Vepr' is the only Akula-II known to be in service at present. The 'Gepard' is in service and was launched a short time after the Kursk submarine disaster, along with the halted 'Kuguar' (Akula-I) and 'Rys'. The 1999-2000 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships listed the Akula-IIs then as Viper (Vepr), commissioned July 1995, Gepard, launched 1999 and expected to commission in 2000, and Nerpa, launched in May 1994 and expected to commission in 1999. Another source has Nerpa listed as having been under construction for eleven years, and effectively having its building suspended. The 'Gepard' is known to have a slightly smaller and streamlined Towed Array Sonar Dispenser than the other submarines of the class. Gepard also appears to have a longer sail than other Akula class submarines. Vepr (K-157) (Вепрь-Wild Boar) is a Project 971 Schuka-B (also known by the NATO reporting name Akula-II) class nuclear powered attack submarine of the Russian Navy. ... Janes Fighting Ships is an annual reference book (also published online, on CD and microfiche) of information on all the worlds warships arranged by nation, including information on ships names, dimensions, armaments, silhouettes and photographs, etc. ... // The F70 type frigates (here, La Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C tugged sonars SONAR (SOund Navigation And Ranging) â€” or sonar â€” (the British used Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee (ASDIC) until 1948) is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate...

Leasing to India

It was reported in December, 2005 that Russia may be preparing to lease two Akulas to India, that Indian Navy personnel have completed training in Russia to run the boats, and that India is paying for the completion of two additional Akulas.

Again it was reported on 1 July 2006 that a nuclear-powered Nerpa submarine that will be leased to India was launched at a shipyard in the Russian Far East.Nerpa is the Project 971 third-generation submarine (NATO code name Akula-II), the most advanced Russian nuclear attack submarine. A second submarine is also being fixed which will also join the indian navy later in 2007. July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II submarines are equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km, the Indian version is expected to be armed with the 300 km Klub nuclear-capable missiles [1]

Appearances in fiction

• An Akula-class submarine appears in the film Crimson Tide. She engages a U.S. Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine but is destroyed.
• The fictional Akula-class submarine Admiral Lunin sinks the USS Maine SSBN near the end of Tom Clancy's novel The Sum of All Fears.
• In the 1987 book Skydancer by Geoffrey Archer, the Akula is depicted as having a silent propulsion system similar to that of the Red October (another fictional submarine). It is discovered by the fictional British Resolution-class submarine HMS Retribution.
• 'Akula' is a class of ship in the Star Trek universe serving the United Federation of Planets as a destroyer.