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Submarine

Russia

Rubin Design Bureau

Borei-class

Russia's newest class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, carrying the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile as the sea-based leg of the country's nuclear triad. The improved Borei-A variant is in ongoing production.

In service since 2013 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

480

m depth

14,720

107

crew

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Estimated program cost, disputed public figures

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Russian state channel

Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.

Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 2013. Status: active · ~7 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →

Interoperability

Mk 41 VLS-class

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Compatible munitions & weapons

Publicly reported weapons the Borei-class can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

RSM-56 Bulava SLBM torpedoes

Full specifications

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
VLS cells Vertical-launch missile cells on a warship, a proxy for magazine depth. Higher means more missiles before rearming.	16 Stronger than 77% of submarines
Torpedo tubes Number of torpedo tubes (submarines and some surface ships).	6 Stronger than 55% of submarines

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.	170 m

Naval

Displacement, speed, endurance and diving depth.

Naval specifications
Displacement Standard displacement in tonnes, the ship’s size class. Larger hulls carry more but cost more and are less agile.	14,720 t
Max speed Top speed in knots (surfaced, for submarines). Higher aids positioning and screening.	15 kn Stronger than 30% of submarines
Submerged speed Maximum speed while submerged (submarines). Higher is faster underwater.	29 kn Stronger than 88% of submarines
Test depth Maximum rated diving depth (submarines). Deeper is harder to detect and engage. Actual crush depth is classified.	480 m Stronger than 85% of submarines
Complement Crew size. Fewer eases manning cost; more may indicate a larger, more capable platform.	107
Propulsion plant Machinery type, nuclear reactor, gas turbine (COGAG), CODAG, diesel-electric, AIP.	1x nuclear reactor (PWR)

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.	7 Stronger than 61% of submarines
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.	1 Stronger than 39% of submarines

Specifications compiled from public Rubin Design Bureau and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

Submarine

Borei-class Walrus class

Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) Walrus class

View Walrus class ↗

Submarine

Borei-class Suffren class

Naval Group Suffren class

View Suffren class ↗

Submarine

Borei-class Triomphant class

Naval Group Triomphant class

View Triomphant class ↗

Head-to-head comparisons

Borei-class vs

Columbia-class Submarine

Virginia-class Submarine

Los Angeles-class Submarine

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class used for? +

The Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class is a submarine typically used for deep strike.

How many countries operate the Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class? +

The Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class cost? +

Rubin Design Bureau Borei-class: Estimated program cost, disputed public figures. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.