The Project 945A Kondor is a class of Russian nuclear attack submarine, which was developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Known as Sierra II in the West, it is one of the fastest boat in service in the world today. It is characterized by a wide variety of lethal armament, ranging from supersonic anti-ship missiles to powerful torpedoes which can sink any type of surface vessel and enemy submarine. Although the submarines of this class entered service during the Cold War, they have been upgraded with new powerful sonars, high-tech equipment, and weapons.
The Project 945A Kondor (Sierra II) succeeded the Project 945 Barrakuda class (Sierra I). The first of the four Kondor submarines, the Nizhniy Novgorod, was laid down on February 15, 1989, and it was built by the State-run ship-building plant Krasnoye Sormovo, in Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast, on the Volga River. It was introduced into service in 1990. The four submarines are still in service today (2025) and they are feared by the West for the destructive power they possess as only one boat is enough to destroy a whole NATO nation navy task force formed around an aircraft carrier. They are assigned to the Russian Northern Fleet.
Technical Characteristics
The hull of the Project 945A Kondor submarine is made of two layers of titanium plates. Thus, it is lighter and faster than a conventional steel boat. Since titanium is a non-magnetic metal, it has a very low magnetic signature, which makes it extremely hard for an enemy sonar to detect. Titanium and the use of outer rubberized tiles and rubber pads and washers to absorb vibration make of the Kondor submarine one of the stealthiest in the world.
The Russian Sierra II boat is powered by one pressurized water nuclear reactor, which generates 190 MW (megawatt). This reactor feeds two electrical motors, with one shaft and two spinners. It can travel at the maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h) submerged. This means that it is faster than NATO submarines. Aside from its anti-ship and anti-sub missiles, it is armed with the VA-111 Shkval supercavitating torpedo, which is a very fast torpedo that travels at the top speed of 400 km/h (247 mph or 210 knots). This torpedo has a 210-kg HE warhead, capable of sinking super aircraft carrier or a destroyer.
Specifications
Displacement: 9,100 tons (submerged); 7,600 tons (surfaced).
Length: 110 m (360 feet)
Beam: 14.2 m (47 feet)
Draft: 8.8 m (29 feet)
Propulsion: one 190-MW, PWR nuclear reactor; two 1,000-HP motors.
Maximum Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h)
Range: unlimited; food supply for 70 days.
Compliment: 70 sailors and officers
Armament: six 530-mm torpedo tubes, with 24 VA-111 Shkval torpedoes; a large number of P-700 Granit or P-800 Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles, and 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles.
Below, the three of the four Sierra II (Project 945A) boats of the Russian Northern Fleet.
A Project 945 Barrakuda submarine (Sierra I), from which the Kondor was developed, in 1987.
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