A Russian Akula-class nuclear attack submarine sailed undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for weeks, and was only discovered after it left.
The Washington Free Beacon has cited unnamed sources in reporting the incident, the second time since 2009 that a Russian submarine has sailed close to the US.
The incident occurred at the same time as Russian bombers flew inside restricted US airspace, as Russia flexed its military muscle.
Akula-class submarines, initially developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s as a direct competitor to the US Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarines, remain the most capable attack submarines in Russia’s fleet.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe incident will come as an embarrassment to the US Navy, which is tasked with the detection and tracking of foreign submarines.
See Also:
Undersea sensors and satellites are used to locate and track them, however in this incident the submarine was only detected after it had left US waters.
The incident has also highlighted deficiencies in the US anti-submarine warfare capabilities as well as the patrol of littoral waters, an area that has seen substantial investment in recent years.
The US Navy’s fleet of Littoral Combat Ships continues to increase, with Freedom and Independence variants currently active in service.
Although the number of ships has not been finalised, there is speculation that the US Navy’s fleet of LCS vessels could reach between 56 and 60.
Caption: the Akula Class carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles.
