US and Russia’s Nuclear Submarines in Focus Amid Rising Tensions

Kokcha News Agency – The recent exchange of statements between US President Donald Trump and Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has heightened global concerns over a potential military confrontation. In response to Medvedev’s remarks about Trump’s “ultimatums,” the US President announced on August 1 that two nuclear submarines had been deployed to “where they need to be.”

This escalation has brought the nuclear submarine arsenals of both countries into the spotlight. According to reports from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and other sources, the US Navy operates 71 submarines, 14 of which are nuclear-armed, while Russia’s fleet consists of 64 submarines, including 16 SSBNs.

US Nuclear Submarines:
The US submarine fleet is divided into four classes: Ohio, Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia.

• Ohio Class:
  The 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, built between 1974 and 1997, are equipped with 20 launch tubes each, capable of carrying Trident II D5 ballistic missiles with a range of 12,000 kilometers. These submarines can carry up to 1,120 nuclear warheads. Four Ohio-class submarines have been converted into guided-missile submarines (SSGNs), capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
• Los Angeles Class:
  The 23 Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK-48 torpedoes. They can carry up to 12 cruise missiles and 26-37 torpedoes, with a range of 1,600 kilometers for land targets and 50 kilometers for maritime targets.
• Seawolf Class:
  The three Seawolf-class SSNs are quieter and faster than the Los Angeles class. They can carry up to 50 weapons, including Tomahawk missiles and MK-48 torpedoes, but lack vertical launch systems.
• Virginia Class:
  The 23 Virginia-class SSNs, designed to replace the Los Angeles class, are equipped with vertical launch systems for Tomahawk missiles and can carry up to 40 cruise missiles and 25 MK-48 torpedoes.

Russian Nuclear Submarines:
Russia’s submarine fleet includes 16 SSBNs, divided into several classes:

• Delfin Class:
  The seven Delfin-class SSBNs, built between 1985 and 1992, can carry Sineva ballistic missiles with a range of 8,300 to 11,500 kilometers.
• Kalmar Class:
  The Kalmar-class SSBNs, built in the late 1970s and 1980s, can carry 16 ballistic missiles with a range of 6,500 to 9,000 kilometers.
• Borei Class:
  The eight Borei-class SSBNs, introduced in 1996, are equipped with 16 Bulava ballistic missiles, capable of hitting targets 8,000 to 9,300 kilometers away.
• Antey Class:
  The eight Antey-class guided-missile submarines (SSGNs) can carry 24 Granit anti-ship missiles with a range of 600 kilometers.
• Yasen Class:
  The Yasen-class submarines, which can function as both SSNs and SSGNs, are equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles and Zircon hypersonic missiles, capable of hitting targets up to 2,000 kilometers away.
• Shchuka Class:
  The Shchuka-class SSNs can carry RK-55 Granat cruise missiles with a range of 550 kilometers.
• Project 945 and 945A:
  These SSNs can carry cruise missiles with a range of 300 to 600 kilometers.
• Diesel-Electric Submarines:
  Russia also operates 22 diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs), including the Project 877 and 636 classes, capable of carrying cruise missiles with a range of 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers.