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Submarine

Russia

Rubin Design Bureau

Akula-class (Project 971)

A Cold War-era nuclear-powered attack submarine that closed the acoustic-quietness gap with Western designs, remaining a mainstay of the Russian Navy's torpedo-armed attack submarine force through ongoing modernization.

In service since 1984 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

480

m depth

8,140

crew

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: No public modern unit cost

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Russian state channel

Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.

Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 1984. Status: active · ~15 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Compatible munitions & weapons

Publicly reported weapons the Akula-class (Project 971) can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

Kalibr torpedoes mines

Full specifications

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Torpedo tubes Number of torpedo tubes (submarines and some surface ships).: 8

Stronger than 88% of submarines

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 110.3 m

Naval

Displacement, speed, endurance and diving depth.

Displacement Standard displacement in tonnes, the ship’s size class. Larger hulls carry more but cost more and are less agile.: 8,140 t
Max speed Top speed in knots (surfaced, for submarines). Higher aids positioning and screening.: 10 kn

Bottom 5% of submarines
Submerged speed Maximum speed while submerged (submarines). Higher is faster underwater.: 33 kn

Top 2% of submarines
Test depth Maximum rated diving depth (submarines). Deeper is harder to detect and engage. Actual crush depth is classified.: 480 m

Stronger than 86% of submarines
Complement Crew size. Fewer eases manning cost; more may indicate a larger, more capable platform.: 73
Propulsion plant Machinery type, nuclear reactor, gas turbine (COGAG), CODAG, diesel-electric, AIP.: 1x nuclear reactor (PWR)

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 15

Stronger than 77% of submarines
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 1

Stronger than 39% of submarines

Specifications compiled from public Rubin Design Bureau and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

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Akula-class (Project 971) Virginia-class Submarine

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View Virginia-class Submarine ↗

Submarine

Akula-class (Project 971) Borei-class

Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class

View Borei-class ↗

Submarine

Akula-class (Project 971) Kilo-class (Project 636.3)

Rubin Design Bureau Kilo-class (Project 636.3)

View Kilo-class (Project 636.3) ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971) used for? +

The Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971) is a submarine typically used for anti armor.

How many countries operate the Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971)? +

The Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971) is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971) cost? +

Rubin Design Bureau Akula-class (Project 971): No public modern unit cost. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.