Unexpected results from a comparison of US and Russian submarines.
Business Insider recently published an article comparing the balance of power between Russian and American submarine forces, and it made a surprising observation.
Forces from both sides
The article states that, as of now, the US Navy has a total of 14 ballistic missile submarines and 280 missiles carrying nuclear warheads, each capable of wiping out an entire city.
Additionally, there are four submarines equipped with satellite-guided missiles, each carrying 154 Tomahawk missiles, and 54 nuclear attack submarines. All of the US submarines are manufactured using state-of-the-art technology and heavy weaponry.
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| US nuclear submarine. |
Meanwhile, Russia has only 60 submarines, but that doesn't mean they're at a disadvantage. Russian submarines are no less stealthy than their Western counterparts, especially the diesel-powered ones, dubbed "silent killers."
Alongside this, Russia is also developing new weapons for submarines, including nuclear torpedoes with a destructive power equivalent to hundreds of millions of tons of conventional explosives and capable of devastating an entire city. In particular, Russian submarine crews are highly regarded and their skills are constantly improving.
After writing about the Russia-US balance of power, Business Insider magazine argued that Russia's technological advancements and rapid construction of shipbuilding facilities have made the oceans more dangerous for US submarines. However, the US submarine fleet still holds the upper hand.
The advantage lies with the US.
Along with Business Insider, another American magazine, The National Interest, also published an article highly praising Russian submarines but came to a surprising conclusion. According to the magazine, Russia is currently building fifth-generation submarines, including a "carrier killer" for the US.
Following its success with two models of strategic nuclear submarines and fourth-generation nuclear attack submarines, Russia has begun work on two models of fifth-generation nuclear submarines, according to an American magazine.
American media described that, of these two models, one was designed specifically to intercept enemy submarines, while the second was a "carrier killer," designed to neutralize large surface targets such as aircraft carriers or large amphibious assault ships.
The author of the article notes that Russia is striving to revive its submarine shipbuilding industry with renewed vigor. "After years of post-Cold War inactivity, Moscow recently introduced two highly successful new fourth-generation submarines," the National Interest reported.
In 2013, the Russian Navy received Borey-class strategic submarines carrying Bulava submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (SLBMs), as well as the first Yasen-class nuclear attack submarines carrying various land-attack cruise missiles such as the RK-55 Granat, P-800 Onyx, and Caliber-S…
The capabilities of Russian nuclear submarines have impressed many American military experts. British military experts have also admitted that the US and NATO do not know much about Russian nuclear submarines, and their weapon systems remain a great mystery.
Even an older generation Russian submarine, the Project 941 "Akula," has impressed the West. This largest nuclear submarine in the world is a prime example of perfect engineering and can dive to a depth of 500 meters, operating independently at sea for 180 days and nights.
The ship possesses formidable power with 20 launchers for 20 three-stage, solid-fuel R-39 Rif intercontinental ballistic missiles, with a range of 8500 km. Each missile carries 10 independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each with a yield of 100 kilotons. In total, the ship is equipped with 200 nuclear warheads, with a total destructive power of 20,000 kilotons.
In early 2013, Russia's Northern Fleet commissioned new-generation strategic nuclear submarines, equipped with 16 Bulava ballistic missiles and 6 Borey-class cruise missiles. By 2020, the Russian Navy will be supplemented with 8 more Borey- and Borey-A project submarines.
By mid-2014, Russia had also held a solemn flag-raising ceremony on the flagpole of the K-560 Severodvinsk multi-purpose nuclear submarine, the first in a series of eight Project 885 Yasen nuclear attack submarines equipped with powerful cruise missiles.
National Interest suggests that Russia currently possesses around 70 nuclear and conventional submarines, built using the world's most advanced technology, particularly their titanium demagnetizing hulls.
Therefore, the power of the Russian submarine fleet is undeniable, but only the US Navy with its state-of-the-art submarines is capable of countering it, the American magazine asserted.
