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Akula vs Virginia

Akula vs Virginia at a glance — displacement 8,140 vs 6,930 tons, length 110 vs 115 m, speed 10 vs 15 knots, crew 73 vs 135.

Akula submarine side profile drawing
🇷🇺 AkulaFull specs
Virginia submarine side profile drawing
🇺🇸 VirginiaFull specs
Specifications
Akula Virginia
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇺🇸 United States
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered attack submarine Nuclear-powered attack submarine
Manufacturer Komsomolsk-on-Amur General Dynamics Electric Boat
Year introduced 1984 2004
Number built 15 units 26 units
Estimated unit price $1,550 million $2,800 million
Displacement 8,140 tons 6,930 tons
Maximum speed 10.0 knots 15.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 110.3 m 115.0 m
Beam 13.6 m 10.0 m
Crew 73 135
Max depth 600 m 240 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Akula Virginia
Armament
  • 4 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes)
  • 4 x 650 mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes)
  • 1–3 x Igla-M surface-to-air missile launcher
  • Granat cruise missiles
  • Kalibr cruise missiles
  • Type 53 torpedoes
  • RPK-2 missile
  • RPK-6 missile
  • Type 65 torpedoes
  • RPK-7 missile
  • Naval mines
  • 12 x VLS tubes (Tomahawk cruise missiles)
  • 2 x Virginia payload tubes (12 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x Virginia payload modules (28 x Tomahawk BGM-109)
  • 4 x 21" torpedo tubes (Mk-48 torpedoes or UGM-84 Harpoon missiles)
Propulsion one 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactor, 1 OK-7 steam turbine 43,000 hp (32 MW), 2 OK-2 Turbo generators producing 2 MW, 1 seven-bladed propeller, 2 OK-300 retractable electric propulsors 1 × S9G nuclear reactor 280,000 hp (210 MW); 2 × steam turbines 40,000 shp (30 MW); 1 × single shaft pump-jet propulsor; 1 × secondary propulsion motor
Explore further
Akula-class side profile drawing Akula-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
Virginia-class side profile drawing Virginia-class Specs, operators & history →
Largest operators · in service
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Akula-class has greater displacement at 8,140 tons compared to the Virginia-class's 6,930 tons.
Which is faster, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Akula-class's 10 knots.
Which has longer range, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
Both the Akula-class and Virginia-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is longer at 115.0 meters compared to the Akula-class's 110.3 meters.
How many crew members do the Akula-class and Virginia-class have?
The Virginia-class has a larger crew complement of 135 compared to the Akula-class's 73 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Akula-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 600 meters compared to the Virginia-class's 240 meters.
Which is more expensive, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is more expensive at approximately $2.8 billion per unit compared to the Akula-class at $1.6 billion.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Akula-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has been built in greater numbers with 26 vessels compared to 15 vessels of the Akula-class.