What You Need to Know: Russia's Borei-class submarines represent a formidable advancement in nuclear-powered submarine technology. Equipped with the Irtysh-Amphora-B-055 sonar system, these subs surpass the sonar capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s Ohio- and Virginia-class submarines, offering unparalleled situational awareness.

-Borei-class subs can carry up to 20 Bulava SLBMs, Russia’s latest nuclear missiles, along with anti-ship missiles for regional defense. Designed with pump-jet propulsion and powered by OK-650 reactors, these subs enhance Russia's strategic submarine force.

-If Russia continues to build more Borei-class submarines, its naval power could pose an even greater challenge to Western maritime dominance.

Russia’s Borei-Class Submarines: A New Standard in Nuclear-Powered Stealth

Russia might have the world’s best new nuclear-powered submarine. The Borei-class nuclear-powered submarine comes equipped with the most advanced sonar system that allows its crew to have greater situational awareness than even the mightiest American submarine. 

A Sonar System Like No Other

The Irtysh-Amphora-B-055 sonar system outperforms the sonar capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s fourth-generation submarines, including the Ohio-class and Virginia-class submarines that form the backbone of the Navy’s sub fleet.

With this capability on hand, the Russian Borei-class submarines have considerable strategic advantages over their American rivals. This is not something American submariners should dismiss as mere posturing. 

The Borei-class is truly among the most sophisticated submarines in the world. Not only are these subs sporting what might be the world’s most advanced sonar systems, but the Borei-class submarines can fire Russia’s most advanced nuclear weapon, the Bulava. 

The Details of This Submarine

According to Naval-Technology.com, the Borei-class began its existence in 1996, just a few short years after the caustic collapse of the Soviet Union, at least, it was for the Kremlin. However, the first submarine of this class did not hit the High Seas until 2009 and was not commissioned by the Russian Navy until January 2013. Russia’s most recent Borei submarine was commissioned in 2020.

The Borei-class submarines were designed to accommodate “the new submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) Bulava in place of the abandoned R-39UTTH Bark missile.”

Currently, the Russian Federation’s Navy operates four Borei-class submarines. They were designed by the Rubin Marine Equipment Design Bureau and built by the Northern Machine Building Enterprise at the legendary Sevmash Shipyard. 

Borei-class submarines have smaller displacement levels than the iconic Russian Typhoon-class. But the two classes of submarines can carry the same number of missiles. The newer Borei-A-class submarines can carry twenty missiles, whereas the first generation of Borei-class submarines could carry only sixteen. These boats are further outfitted with anti-ship missiles that have a range of almost thirty miles out. That’s a key feature for self-defense in a contested region. 

An OK-650 nuclear reactor, as well as a steam turbine power this class of submarine powers the beast. In fact, the Borei-class submarines are Russia’s first submarines to run on the pump jet propulsion system. 

Russia has a real gem of a submarine in the Borei-class. It can do things that even American submarines, long viewed as the top of their class, cannot do. Should the Russians produce more of these juggernauts, their submarine force, already a significant challenger to the West, will have been made more lethal.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is out now from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. All photos are of various submarine styles. 

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