The propulsion systems of Project 949A Antey submarines (NATO codification - Oscar II) are long outdated. These submarines are expensive to operate and are inferior in stealth to the latest Project 885M Yasen-M submarines, writes the Western publication The Military Watch Magazine.
The main armament of Project 949A Antey submarines is the P-700 Granit missiles, which were developed during the Cold War.
The range of the P-700 missile is up to 500 kilometers. In the 1980s, its guidance system was considered the best in the world.
The author of The Military Watch Magazine emphasized that with a mass of 7000 kg, each P-700 Granit missile is approximately 4 times larger than modern ones, including Zircons.
Characteristics of P-700 Granit:
- Length - 10 m
- Body diameter - 1.14 m
- Launch weight - 7000 kg
- Speed at altitude - M2
- Range - 550 km
- Warhead - penetrating or nuclear
It is likely that Project 949A Antey submarines will be equipped with P-700 until they are decommissioned in the 2030s. There are no plans to equip them with modern cruise missiles.
Between 1982 and 1996, 11 submarines of this project were built. They are designed to destroy large surface ships, including aircraft carrier groups.
Some of the submarines were sent for modernization. This involves replacing the weapons system with the Kalibr missile system, navigation systems, and life support systems.
Read also on the topic:
- The Military Watch Magazine: Soviet P-700 anti-ship missiles are approximately 4 times larger than modern ones
- Yasen and Antey class submarines destroyed targets at a range of 250 km with Onyx missiles
- The National Interest: Russia has proven that Yasen and Yasen-M project submarines are capable of sinking American Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers