World’s Largest Akula-Class Nuclear Submarines to Be Recycled in Russia

Two of the world’s largest nuclear-powered submarines will be recycled at a ship yard in northern Russia after reaching the end of their operational lives, a high-level defense industry representative told RIA Novosti on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A total of six Project 941 (NATO reporting name Typhoon) submarines were built in the Soviet era. The remaining Severstal and Arkhangelsk submarines have been in reserve with the Russian Navy, while the Dmitry Donskoy Project 941UM was upgraded to carry Bulava ballistic missiles.

"A decision has now been made to recycle the Severstal and the Arkhangelsk at the Zvezdochka plant in Severodvinsk [Arkhangelsk Region]," the source said.

The defense industry representative noted that the vessels could have been capable of carrying 300 new Kalibr cruise missiles if they had been upgraded.

The soon-to-be-retired submarines were built in reaction to the US Navy’s Ohio class nuclear-powered submarines. They allowed the Soviet Union and the United States to reach parity in terms of marine strategic nuclear forces, confirmed at the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) in 1979.