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Naval ForcesRussia

Akula II Class (Project 971U Class)

Nuclear-powered attack submarineFielded 1995Pending verification
Naval ForcesRUS
Akula II Class (Project 971U Class)
Photo: US Navy · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeNuclear-powered attack submarine
Date of introduction1995
ProliferationOrigin country only
Crew53Med[1]
Hulls delivered2Hulls listed in the source cardMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length114.3 m375 ftMed[1]
Beam13.6 m45 ftMed[1]
Draft9.7 mMed[1]
Displacement (surface)9,830 tonsMed[1]
Displacement (submerged)12,770 tMed[1]
Propulsion and performance
Propulsion1 x OK-9BMMed[1]
Engine power47,600 total shpMed[1]
Range3,000 km1,864 mi · 1,620 nmiMed[1]
Endurance100 daysMed[1]
Operating depth480 mMed[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]
Source Imageshttps://www.reddit.com/r/submarines/comments/8od0rn/k157_akulaclass_ii_vepr_6218/; https://www.pinterest.com/pin/243827767296241162/; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9A-335_%C2%AB%D0%93%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B4%C2%BB.jpgMed[1]
Armament18 x 9K32 Strela-2M (SA-7b 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 suite.Med[1]
Flank Array Sonar1 x passive flank array.Med[1]
Low-Frequency Active / Passive Sonar1 x MGK-503 low frequency active/passive system.Med[1]
High-Frequency Active Mind Avoidance Sonar1 x MG-519 high-frequency active mine avoidance.Med[1]
Towed Passive Low-Frequency Hydrographic Array Sonar1 x large aperture towed passive low-frequency linear hydrographic array.Med[1]
Variants
VEPRCommissioned: 1995 Status: Active, overhaul, and modernization completed in 2020. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
GEPARDCommissioned: 2001 Status: Active, after overhaul and modernization completed in 2015. Fleet: Northern Fleet[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
18 x 9K32 Strela-2M (SA-7b 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 II class is a third-generation attack submarine whose design includes advanced quieting techniques for significantly reduced noise signature. These noise-reduction features reportedly reduce the sound levels to those of (or lower than) U.S. SEAWOLF and Improved LOS ANGELES classes.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
Russia
Sources
  1. Akula II Class (Project 971U 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
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (Public domain)