How many Akula II SSN Russia have

Again, reports about the Akula lease deal are unconfirmed and are mainly based on the fact that Russia will train Indian submariners at its training base Sosnovy Bor. The reports are also fuelled by statements like the following (but even here there are many caveats ):

Nuclear subs on lease from Russia to India

ST. PETERSBURG—The construction of a training centre for the Indian military in Sosnovy Bor, 70 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, confirms Russia’s intentions to lease nuclear submarines to India, said Green World Chairman Oleg Bodrov. … According to the spokesman [of the Sosnovy Bor administration], the new building will not house any special equipment or installations—such as nuclear reactors—but is only a wing for classrooms and has no relation to the nuclear industry … Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Ministry of Defense said they were not ready to comment on the potential nuclear submarine leasing … Russian Navy Chief Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov announced in early 2002 his readiness to lease two nuclear submarines to India. It was planned that the first sub would to India in 2004. But the Indian side did not follow up with any official commentary to Kuroyedov’s words.
Discussion of this contract was again taken up in the press toward the beginning of last year, but is was denied by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

source: http://www.bellona.no/en/international/russia/nuke-weapons/nonproliferation/39412.html

Shadow: mate I will not comment on Alex’s abilities, it’s not for me to judge!

As for the American influence, well I think they’d be looking at closing up ties with their new buddies in New Delhi.

Shadow: mate I have had a long running battle with Alex the webmaster of the -technology sites. I keep him updated with military info but he never updates his stuff, I’ve just about given up on pushing for the Mi-26 to be listed on any of his three sites (Army, Navy, Air Force). He has said to me that the dynamic of the machine is so fluent that it can’t be placed in any one of these sites. I countered that there are many such systems that are in more than one site e.g NH-90 but that was the last I heard.

Maybe this guy shouldn’t be running the sites. :rolleyes:
That being said, I wonder what the Americans think of this potential deal. Do they view this as a threat to their Indian/{acific Ocean operations or do they see this as a way to maintain a certain proficiency level by organizing war games with the Indian Navy!

I thought a couple of those were the Sierra-IIs.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/945-list.htm

Pskov and Nizhniy Novgorod? Both are listed as Sierra IIs, probably the ones they want to leave in service.

How about the Victor III SSNs, are there still a few of those in service?

Less than 5 are operational, probably, even if according to official information, 9 have been decomissioned out of a total of 26 built. One was decomissioned last March. 3 In 2004. Repairs/modernisation unlikely, the Navy will focus on the remaining Sierras (Barracuda/Kondor), as the latest Pskov (ex-Okun ) took fire while in dry dock in 2003 and needs repairs. First Sierra (Krab ) decomissioned, 2nd (pr. 945 Barracuda) is active under the name of Kostroma (K-426, ex-Krab , the very one that collided with USS Baton Rouge) and the 3rd, improved Sierra (pr. 945A Kondor) is the K-534 Nijni Novgorod (ex-Zubatka). The Sierra-II-to-be (945B Mars) never entered service.

Vepr is a further improved version, and was called Akula-II Pr 971A. Russian call them Pr 971.

Gepard is also further improved from Vepr and with new towed array sensor. Its sometimes called in west Akula-II other times Akula-III…Russian call them Pr 971 while some other russian sources call them Pr 971B

The Russians sometimes call them the “Bars” series as well, as the Bars is the first Severodvinsk sub that received a proper name and not just a tactical number (the first of all being the K-317 that was named Pantera, now under repairs). They do not assign any special terminology to Bars or her follow-ups.

How about the Victor III SSNs, are there still a few of those in service?

Vepr is not an “Akula-II” in russian terminology.

There is no “Improved Akula” or “Akula II” or “Akula III” but only Pr 971 Schuka-B…

What happened is that the original design had lots of improvement potential, so once new subs were built in Severodinsk, new advancements were applied. Those boats build at Severodinsk are different than the early ones from Komosomolsk and are refered as Improved Akula Pr 971U in western world…but that’s not Russian Terminology.

Vepr is a further improved version, and was called Akula-II Pr 971A. Russian call them Pr 971.

Gepard is also further improved from Vepr and with new towed array sensor. Its sometimes called in west Akula-II other times Akula-III…Russian call them Pr 971 while some other russian sources call them Pr 971B

They are about to loose some as the Indian navy is set to lease four of them.

The Indian lease agreement is not confirmed. It appears that it comes from unreliable sources and has yet to be reviewed both by the Russian MoD and Rosoboronexport. Same applies to rumours about the Russians willing to sell Tu-22M3s and Tu-95MS bombers to China.

As for now, the likely number of Akula I/II operational is 13. The Pantera (K-317) is still undergoing mid-life repairs in Severodvinsk but she’s consideded operational. They will probably remain the main SSN force in Russia. Severodvinsk and Yuri Dolgorukiy (Borey-class) are scheduled for 2006-2010, as soon as the new Bulava missile is operational.

Shadow: mate I have had a long running battle with Alex the webmaster of the -technology sites. I keep him updated with military info but he never updates his stuff, I’ve just about given up on pushing for the Mi-26 to be listed on any of his three sites (Army, Navy, Air Force). He has said to me that the dynamic of the machine is so fluent that it can’t be placed in any one of these sites. I countered that there are many such systems that are in more than one site e.g NH-90 but that was the last I heard.

Here is some information about the Akula I and Akula II. It mentions the Indian lease although it mentions only two of the three Akula IIs will be leased.
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/akula/

They are about to loose some as the Indian navy is set to lease four of them.