Russian nuclear submarine quietly approaches US coast
Russian nuclear submarines are believed to have conducted an exercise near US military bases without being detected.
This information was revealed in an episode of a military drama, scheduled to be broadcast on the official TV channel of the Russian Defense Ministry Zvezda (“Star”).
According to RT, this episode focuses on describing the Akula-class nuclear attack submarine Shchuka-B.
|
| Russian submarine Shchuka-B. Photo: AFP |
Sergey Starshinov, commander of the submarine fleet, said the Russian Navy has ordered submarines to gather in the area near the US military base for exercises.
“The mission has been accomplished. The submarines have arrived at the designated location and returned to base,” Starshinov told Zvezda.
Asked if the submarine could avoid US radars while on duty, Starshinov replied: “Yes. Our goal is to come and go undetected.”
The exact time and location of the mission were not disclosed. But Commander Starshinov said the Russian submarines came “close enough” to the US coast without violating its maritime borders.
The Shchuka-B nuclear submarine was commissioned into the Soviet Navy in 1986. It is capable of launching Kalibr or Granat cruise missiles, attacking underwater targets with 553mm torpedoes and operating continuously underwater for 100 days.
Like other Russian nuclear submarines, information about the status and deployment missions of the Shchuka-B submarine is not widely publicized.
In 2016, Admiral Mark Ferguson, commander of US Navy forces in Europe at the time, complained that the US military could not ensure full information about Russian submarine deployments, because Moscow "has more advanced weapons systems" and increasingly improved power, especially when deployed in areas far from Russia./.
