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Naval ForcesRussia

Akula Class (Project 971 Shchuka-B Class)

Nuclear-powered attack submarineFielded 1984Pending verification
Naval ForcesRUS
Length 110.3 m
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeNuclear-powered attack submarine
Date of introduction1984
ProliferationOrigin country only
Crew73Med[1]
Hulls delivered10Hulls listed in the source cardMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length110.3 m362 ftMed[1]
Beam15.4 m51 ftMed[1]
Draft9.7 mMed[1]
Displacement (surface)8,140 tonsMed[1]
Displacement (submerged)12,770 tMed[1]
Propulsion and performance
Propulsion1 x OK-9BMMed[1]
Engine power47,600 total shpMed[1]
Endurance100 daysMed[1]
Protection
Hull ArmorThis class differs in appearance from the SIERRA-I and -II classes in having a longer, much more streamlined sail. There is a steel pressure hull rather than the titanium on the SIERRA-class boats.Med[1]
Countermeasures6 x 533-mm external tubes for MG-104 and MG-114 programmable torpedo decoys (2 per tube).Med[1]
NBC Water Washdown SystemYesMed[1]
EW Intercept1 x Amber Light intercept and 1 x Rim Hat intercept.Med[1]
Armament
Torpedo System: bow mounted torpedo tubes4 x bow 650-mm tubes [unknown no. Type 86R and Type 88R/SS-N-16 Stallion ASW missiles and/or Type 65-76 torpedoes carried] and 4 x bow 533-mm tubes [unknown no.Med[1]
Mine System: mines42 x mines in lieu of missiles and/or torpedoes.Med[1]
Armament18 x 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail)Med[1]
Fire control
Surface Search / Navigation Radar1 x MRK-50 Albatros-series (Snoop Pair) surface search/navigation.Med[1]
Low-Frequency Sonar Suite1 x MGK-540 Skat-3 (Shark Gill) low-frequency suiteMed[1]
Flank Array Sonar1 x passive flank arrayMed[1]
Low-Frequency Active / Passive Sonar1 x MGK-503 low frequency active/passive systemMed[1]
High-Frequency Active Mind Avoidance Sonar1 x MG-519 high-frequency active mine avoidanceMed[1]
Towed Passive Low-Frequency Hydrographic Array Sonar1 x large aperture towed passive low-frequency linear hydrographic array.Med[1]
Variants
AkulaCommissioned: 1984 Status: Decommissioned in 2001. Fleet: Pacific Fleet[1]
Ak BarsCommissioned: 1988 Status: Decommissioned in 2002 Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
DelfinCommissioned: 1987 Status: Decommissioned in 2011. Fleet: Pacific Fleet[1]
KashalotCommissioned: 1988 Status: Decommissioned in 2019. Fleet: Pacific Fleet[1]
PanteraCommissioned: 1990 Status: Active, overhaul, and modernization completed in 2007. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
VolkCommissioned: 1991 Status: Overhaul and modernization to finish in 2023. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
BratskCommissioned: 1989 Status: Overhaul and modernization to finish in the second half of 2021. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
TigrCommissioned: 1993 Status: Overhaul to finish in 2022. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
18 x 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail)Surface-to-Air Missile
Med[1]
Range
3.7 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Type
Surface-to-Air Missile
Guidance
Proportional navigation logic
Launcher
1 x shoulder-launched SAM system
Length
1.44 m
Summary

The Akula Class (Project 971 Shchuka-B Class) Russian Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine is a nuclear-powered attack submarine of Soviet origin. The name Akula is the NATO reporting name for what is called the Project 971 Shchuka-B submarine in Russia.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
Russia
Sources
  1. Akula Class (Project 971 Shchuka-B Class) Russian Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import