Typhoon class submarine
Encyclopedia
The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" ("Shark") class submarine (NATO reporting name
: Typhoon) is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
deployed by the Soviet Navy
in the 1980s. With a submerged displacement of 48,000 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end. The source of the NATO reporting name
remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "Typhoon" ("Тайфун") by Leonid Brezhnev
in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Soviet doctrine for these vessels was to have them launch SLBM
s while submerged under the arctic
ice, avoiding the traversal of the GIUK gap
to remain safe from the enemy attack submarines and anti-submarine forces. Technically Typhoons were also able to successfully deploy their long-range nuclear missiles
while moored at their docks.
s; four are designed to handle RPK-2
(SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedo
es, and the other two are designed to launch RPK-7
(SS-N-16) missiles, Type 65 torpedo
es, or mine
s. A Typhoon class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 120 days in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a nuclear war
). Their primary weapons system is composed of 20 R-39
(NATO: SS-N-20) ballistic missiles (SLBM) with a maximum of 10 MIRV
nuclear warheads each.
Typhoon class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. In the main body of the sub, two Delta class
pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the sail), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steering gear. This also greatly increases their survivability - even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding.
. It is sometimes confused with other submarines, as Akula is the name NATO uses to designate the Russian Project 971 Shchuka-B
(Щука-Б) class attack submarines. The project was developed with the objective to match the SLBM armament of Ohio class submarine
s, capable of carrying 192 nuclear warheads, 100 kt each (as 24 UGM-96 Trident I
missiles). However, at the time, state-of-the-art Soviet SLBMs were substantially larger and heavier than their American counterparts (the R-39 is more than two times heavier than the Trident I; it remains the heaviest SLBM in service worldwide). The submarine had to be scaled accordingly.
Six Typhoon class submarines were built. Originally, the submarines were designated by hull numbers only. Names were later assigned to the four vessels retained by the Russian Navy, which were sponsored by either a city or company. The construction order for an additional vessel (hull number TK-210) was canceled and never completed. Only the first of these submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy, is still in active service with the Russian Navy, serving as a test platform for the Bulava (SS-NX-32) missile which is currently under development. The Arkhangelsk (TK-17) and Severstal (TK-20) remain commissioned, though not currently active with the Russian fleet. All the R-39 missiles have been retired. The Typhoons are slated to be replaced by the Borei class
starting in 2010-11.
In late December 2008, a senior Navy official announced that the two Typhoon-class submarines, the TK-17 and TK-20, that are in reserve would not be rearmed with the new Bulava SLBM missile system. They could however be modified to carry cruise missile
s or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations. In late June 2009, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky
told reporters that the two submarines would be reserved for possible future repairs and modernization.
In May 2010 the Navy Commander-in-Chief reported that Russia's Typhoon-class submarines would remain in service with the Navy until 2019.
In Septermber 2011, Russian defense ministry decided to write off all Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines till 2014. The reason for decommission of the world's largest submarines are restrictions imposed on Russia by Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and successful trials of new Borei class submarine
.
where a Typhoon has its missile launchers removed and replaced with cargo holds. The projected cargo capacity of this configuration is 15000 tonnes (14,763.1 LT).
, Russia
One to three units (depending on the satellite map service you click) visible in the waters of the Zapadnaya Litsa
naval base on the Kola peninsula
Red October, the subject of the Tom Clancy
novel The Hunt for Red October
and its 1990 movie adaptation
, starring Sean Connery
as the fictional Captain Marko Ramius.
In the novel, the Red October used a drive system consisting of long shafts cut through the hull with no moving parts inside them, called a tunnel drive or caterpillar drive. In the movie, the caterpillar drive was instead said to be a magnetohydrodynamic drive
. In both the novel and the movie, the drive was said to be near-silent; this made the Red October a perfect platform for launching depressed-trajectory ballistic missiles at the United States.
The movie features the Red October as an upgraded Typhoon class submarine with additional length and a towed array sonar
(the distinctive "bulb" seen on top of the rudder houses).
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
: Typhoon) is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
deployed by the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
in the 1980s. With a submerged displacement of 48,000 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end. The source of the NATO reporting name
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "Typhoon" ("Тайфун") by Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Soviet doctrine for these vessels was to have them launch SLBM
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
s while submerged under the arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
ice, avoiding the traversal of the GIUK gap
GIUK gap
The GIUK gap is an area in the northern Atlantic Ocean that forms a naval warfare chokepoint. Its name is an acronym for Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, the gap being the open ocean between these three landmasses...
to remain safe from the enemy attack submarines and anti-submarine forces. Technically Typhoons were also able to successfully deploy their long-range nuclear missiles
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
A submarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
while moored at their docks.
Description
Typhoon submarines are among the quietest Russian sea vessels in operation, being quieter and yet more maneuverable than their predecessors. Besides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six torpedo tubeTorpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s; four are designed to handle RPK-2
SS-N-15
The RPK-2 Viyuga cruise missile is a complex Russian submarine launched missile. Its NATO reporting name is Starfish ....
(SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedo
Type 53 torpedo
Type 53 is the common name for a family of 53 cm torpedoes manufactured in Russia, starting with the 53-27 torpedo and continuing to the modern UGST....
es, and the other two are designed to launch RPK-7
SS-N-16
SS-N-16 Stallion refers to a Soviet 650 mm anti-ship missile that was deployed between 1979 and 1981. The name is a combination of the American designation of SS-N-16 and the NATO term of Stallion for Soviet RU-100s.It refers to either...
(SS-N-16) missiles, Type 65 torpedo
Type 65 torpedo
The Type 65 is a torpedo manufactured in the Soviet Union/Russia. It was developed to counter the US Navy's aircraft carrier battle groups as well as to be used against large merchant targets such as supertankers...
es, or mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
s. A Typhoon class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 120 days in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
). Their primary weapons system is composed of 20 R-39
R-39 missile
The R-39 Rif, or Rif-Ma was a Russian submarine launched ballistic missile . It had the NATO reporting name of SS-N-20 Sturgeon and the bilateral arms control designation RSM-52...
(NATO: SS-N-20) ballistic missiles (SLBM) with a maximum of 10 MIRV
Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle
A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine-launched ballistic missile . Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly...
nuclear warheads each.
Typhoon class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. In the main body of the sub, two Delta class
Delta class submarine
The Delta class is a class of submarines which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973...
pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the sail), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steering gear. This also greatly increases their survivability - even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding.
History
The Typhoon class was developed under Project 941 as the Russian Akula class (Акула), meaning sharkShark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
. It is sometimes confused with other submarines, as Akula is the name NATO uses to designate the Russian Project 971 Shchuka-B
Akula class submarine
Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986...
(Щука-Б) class attack submarines. The project was developed with the objective to match the SLBM armament of Ohio class submarine
Ohio class submarine
The Ohio class is a class of nuclear-powered submarines used by the United States Navy. The United States has 18 Ohio-class submarines:...
s, capable of carrying 192 nuclear warheads, 100 kt each (as 24 UGM-96 Trident I
UGM-96 Trident I
The UGM-96 Trident I, or Trident C4 was an American Submarine-launched ballistic missile, built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California. First deployed in 1979, the Trident I replaced the Poseidon missile. It was retired in the Early 21st Century, having been replaced by the...
missiles). However, at the time, state-of-the-art Soviet SLBMs were substantially larger and heavier than their American counterparts (the R-39 is more than two times heavier than the Trident I; it remains the heaviest SLBM in service worldwide). The submarine had to be scaled accordingly.
Six Typhoon class submarines were built. Originally, the submarines were designated by hull numbers only. Names were later assigned to the four vessels retained by the Russian Navy, which were sponsored by either a city or company. The construction order for an additional vessel (hull number TK-210) was canceled and never completed. Only the first of these submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy, is still in active service with the Russian Navy, serving as a test platform for the Bulava (SS-NX-32) missile which is currently under development. The Arkhangelsk (TK-17) and Severstal (TK-20) remain commissioned, though not currently active with the Russian fleet. All the R-39 missiles have been retired. The Typhoons are slated to be replaced by the Borei class
Borei class submarine
The Borei class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by the Russian Navy. The class is intended to replace the Delta III, Delta IV and Typhoon classes now in Russian Navy service...
starting in 2010-11.
In late December 2008, a senior Navy official announced that the two Typhoon-class submarines, the TK-17 and TK-20, that are in reserve would not be rearmed with the new Bulava SLBM missile system. They could however be modified to carry cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
s or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations. In late June 2009, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky
Vladimir Vysotsky (Admiral)
Vladimir Sergeyevich Vysotskiy , Volodymyr Serhiyovych Vysotskiy; is a Russian admiral and former Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet...
told reporters that the two submarines would be reserved for possible future repairs and modernization.
In May 2010 the Navy Commander-in-Chief reported that Russia's Typhoon-class submarines would remain in service with the Navy until 2019.
In Septermber 2011, Russian defense ministry decided to write off all Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines till 2014. The reason for decommission of the world's largest submarines are restrictions imposed on Russia by Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and successful trials of new Borei class submarine
Borei class submarine
The Borei class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by the Russian Navy. The class is intended to replace the Delta III, Delta IV and Typhoon classes now in Russian Navy service...
.
Typhoon-based cargo vessel
The Submarine Cargo Vessel is a proposed idea by the Rubin Design BureauRubin Design Bureau
Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in Saint Petersburg is one of the main Russian centers of submarine design, having designed more than two-thirds of all nuclear submarines in the Russian Navy...
where a Typhoon has its missile launchers removed and replaced with cargo holds. The projected cargo capacity of this configuration is 15000 tonnes (14,763.1 LT).
Units
| # | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK-208 Dmitriy Donskoy | June 30, 1976 | September 27, 1980 | December 29, 1981 | In service. Upgraded to project 941UM for use of Bulava missiles |
| TK-202 Soviet submarine TK-202 ТК-202 was a ballistic missile submarine of the Russian Navy, formerly having served in the Soviet Navy.Hull number TК-202 was laid down at the Sevmash shipyards in Severodvinsk in October 1980 and launched in April 1982. She was the second ship of the Soviet Project 941 Akula class... |
April 22, 1978 | September 23, 1982 | December 28, 1983 | Withdrawn from active service in June 1999, scrapped 2003-2005 |
| TK-12,Simbirsk | April 19, 1980 | December 17, 1983 | December 26, 1984 | Withdrawn from active service in 1996, scrapped 2006-2008 |
| TK-13 | February 23, 1982 | April 30, 1985 | December 26, 1985 | Withdrawn from active service in 1997, scrapped 2007-2009 |
| TK-17 Arkhangelsk | August 9, 1983 | December 12, 1986 | December 15, 1987 | In reserve from 2006, main armament inactive. |
| TK-20 Severstal | August 27, 1985 | April 11, 1988 | December 19, 1989 | In reserve from 2004, main armament inactive. |
| TK-210 | 1986 | 1990 (scrapped on the ways) |
834 TK 208 Dmitriy Donskoy
Typhoon-#1- 9 February 1982: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
- December 1982: Transferred from Severodvinsk to Zapadnaya Litsa.
- 1983-1984: Tests of D-19 missile complex. Commanders: A.V.Olkhovikov (1980–1984).
- 3 December 1986: Entered Navy Board of the Winners of the Socialist Competition.
- 18 January 1987: Entered MoD Board of Glory.
- 20 September 1989–1991: Repairs and refit at Sevmash to Project 941U. 1991 refit cancelled.
- 1996: Returned to 941U refit.
- 2002: Named Dmitriy Donskoy.
- 26 June 2002: End of refit.
- 30 June 2002: Start of testing.
- 26 July 2002: Entered sea trials, Re-entered fleet, without missile system.
- December 2003: Sea trials; refitted to carry a new Bulava missile system. New missile system expected to be operational by 2005.
- 9 October 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from surface.
- 21 December 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from submerged position on move.
- 7 September 2006: Test launch of the Bulava missile failed after several minutes in flight due to the problems in the flight control system. The missile fell into the sea about a minute after the launch. The sub was not affected and was returning to Severodvinsk base submerged. Later reports blamed the engine of the first stage for the failure.
- 25 October 2006: Test launch of the Bulava-M missile in the White SeaWhite SeaThe White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
failed some 200 seconds after liftoff due to the apparent failure of the flight control system. - 28 August 2008: Undergone successful testing at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast. More than 170 men are currently working with the Dmitriy Donskoy, hundred of them employees at the Sevmash plant and 70 from other involved companies.
830 TK 17 Arkhangelsk
Typhoon-#5- 19 February 1988: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa) NOR.
- 8 January–9 November 2002: Refit at Sevmash.
- In July 2002, crew petitioned Main Navy Headquarters to adopt the name Arkhangel'sk (renamed on 18 November 2002).
- Commander: 2002-2003 V.Volkov.
- 17 February 2004: Took part in military exercises with President Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
aboard. - Could be modified to carry cruise missiles or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations.
TK 20 Severstal
Typhoon-#6- 28 February 1990: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
- 25 August 1996: Successfully launched SLBM
- November 1996: Successfully launched SLBM from North Pole.
- 24 July 1999: Took part in parade on Navy Day in Severomorsk, NOR.
- November–December 1999 - distant cruise.
- 2001: named to Severstal.
- June 2001–December 2002: Repairs at Sevmash.
- Commander: A.Bogachev (2001).
Satellite photos
Two to four units (depending on the satellite map service you click) visible in the waters of the naval base/submarine manufacturing/scrap base of SeverodvinskSeverodvinsk
Severodvinsk is a city in the north of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina River, west of Arkhangelsk. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . Municipally, it is incorporated as Severodvinsk Urban Okrug. The city was founded as...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- Two side-by-side (TK-20 and TK-17) at 64.5751°N 39.7701°W
- One (TK-208) at 64.580°N 39.8065°W (note the aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
, undergoing refurbishment for delivery to the Indian Navy as INS VikramadityaINS VikramadityaINS Vikramaditya is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012....
, a few metres north and east of this submarine.)
One to three units (depending on the satellite map service you click) visible in the waters of the Zapadnaya Litsa
Zapadnaya Litsa
Zapadnaya Litsa is the largest and most important Russian naval base built for the Northern Fleet. The base is located far in the north of Russia, on the Litsa Fjord at the westernmost point of the Kola Peninsula...
naval base on the Kola peninsula
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
- currently TK-17 at 69.4359°N 32.352°W
Media references
Red October
Probably the best-known fictional Typhoon class submarine was the stealth equippedStealth ship
A stealth ship is a ship which employs stealth technology construction techniques in an effort to ensure that it is harder to detect by one or more of radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods...
Red October, the subject of the Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
novel The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October is a 1984 novel by Tom Clancy. The story follows the intertwined adventures of Soviet submarine captain Marko Aleksandrovich Ramius and CIA analyst Jack Ryan.The novel was originally published by the U.S...
and its 1990 movie adaptation
The Hunt for Red October (film)
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It was directed by John McTiernan and stars Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan...
, starring Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
as the fictional Captain Marko Ramius.
In the novel, the Red October used a drive system consisting of long shafts cut through the hull with no moving parts inside them, called a tunnel drive or caterpillar drive. In the movie, the caterpillar drive was instead said to be a magnetohydrodynamic drive
Magnetohydrodynamic drive
A magnetohydrodynamic drive or MHD propulsor is a method for propelling seagoing vessels using only electric and magnetic fields with no moving parts, using magnetohydrodynamics. The working principle involves electrification of the propellant which can then be directed by a magnetic field,...
. In both the novel and the movie, the drive was said to be near-silent; this made the Red October a perfect platform for launching depressed-trajectory ballistic missiles at the United States.
The movie features the Red October as an upgraded Typhoon class submarine with additional length and a towed array sonar
Towed array sonar
A towed array sonar is a sonar array that is towed behind a submarine or surface ship. It is basically a long cable, up to 5 km, with hydrophones that is trailed behind the ship when deployed. The hydrophones are placed at specific distances along the cable...
(the distinctive "bulb" seen on top of the rudder houses).
National Geographic
In 2008 National Geographic released a documentary about the scrapping of one of the Typhoons in the series "Break It Down". This ship is TK-13, which was scrapped over the time period 2007-2009.See also
- Intercontinental ballistic missileIntercontinental ballistic missileAn intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
- Nuclear strategyNuclear strategyNuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons.As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends...
- Ohio class submarineOhio class submarineThe Ohio class is a class of nuclear-powered submarines used by the United States Navy. The United States has 18 Ohio-class submarines:...
External links
- NATO Code Names for submarines and ships
- Video of the Typhoon in Drydock & on Sea Trials
- Federation of American Scientists: Typhoon
- Haze Gray
- Nuclear Notebook - Russian Nuclear Forces, 2005, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March/April 2005.
- Rubin official site
- russianforces.org - Russian Navy
- globalsecurity.org
- Internal and external pictures from a Russian tourist
- Typhoon Class project details on Naval Technology