“Russia Claims Undersea Supremacy: Borei-Class Sub Sonar ‘Twice as Powerful’ as U.S. Navy’s”
In a rare public statement, Russian submarine specialists claimed that the sonar systems onboard the Borei-class SSBNs (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) are nearly “twice as effective” as those fitted on American and other NATO nuclear submarines.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — As geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Washington deepen, Russian naval experts have boldly asserted that the sonar capabilities of their latest Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines decisively outmatch those of the United States’ most advanced underwater platforms.
In a rare public statement, Russian submarine specialists claimed that the sonar systems onboard the Borei-class SSBNs (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) are nearly “twice as effective” as those fitted on American and other NATO nuclear submarines.
“Strategic nuclear submarines of the Borei class have a sonar system capable of detecting underwater threats more than 1.5 times farther than what is possessed by nuclear-powered submarines of the United States,” Russian experts told the state-run news agency, RIA-Novosti.
This alleged acoustic superiority, if proven accurate, could tilt the undersea balance of power in Russia’s favour, especially in contested theatres like the Arctic, North Atlantic, and North Pacific where submarine dominance equates to strategic deterrence.
Such claims—while difficult to verify independently—serve not only to project confidence in Russia’s naval modernization programme but also to psychologically challenge NATO’s undersea warfare supremacy.
The sonar suite in question, known as the “Irtysh-Amphora-B-055,” reportedly outperforms even the highly regarded systems on board fourth-generation U.S. nuclear submarines such as the Ohio-class SSBNs and the Virginia-class SSNs (attack submarines).
According to Russian sources, the Irtysh-Amphora-B-055 sonar can detect targets up to 100 kilometres farther than its American counterparts, a potentially game-changing advantage in silent shadow wars beneath the ocean’s surface.
Borei-class nuclear submarine leaves its base.
Beyond range, the sonar system offers formidable multi-target tracking capabilities—capable of simultaneously detecting and monitoring up to 30 underwater threats.
At the heart of this sonar complex lies the powerful “Amphora” hydroacoustic array, complemented by flank-mounted side antennas and towed array sensors, all networked through advanced digital signal processors for real-time classification of contacts.
The system conducts active and passive sonar operations, allowing it to detect enemy submarines, torpedoes, and launch platforms, while also providing critical environmental data.
Of particular importance in Russia’s Arctic strategy, the sonar can measure ice thickness and detect polynyas—open water pockets amidst sea ice—crucial for enabling missile launches and emergency surfacing in polar waters.
The Arctic dimension is especially vital as Russia views the High North as a bastion for its second-strike nuclear capability, with Borei-class submarines acting as the underwater guardians of its strategic deterrent.
🔹 Geo-Strategic Significance
In the era of multi-domain warfare, undersea dominance is becoming as vital as air or space superiority.
If Russia’s claims are accurate, this sonar system may offer the Borei-class subs the ability to detect and evade enemy SSNs before being detected, granting them critical first-move or first-hide advantage.
This is crucial in the context of nuclear deterrence, where remaining undetected ensures a second-strike retaliatory capability — a key element in Russia’s military doctrine.
Borei-class SSBN
To date, the Russian Navy fields six operational boats from the Project 955 and 955A classes, including the Yuriy Dolgorukiy, Alexander Nevsky, and Vladimir Monomakh under Project 955, while Project 955A includes Knyaz Vladimir, Knyaz Oleg, and Generalissimus Suvorov.
These submarines form the backbone of Russia’s strategic naval triad, each capable of delivering devastating nuclear payloads from beneath the waves with near impunity.
Take for instance the Borei-class submarine Vladimir Monomakh, which can deploy up to 16 RSM-56 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), each with a reported range of 8,000 to 8,800 kilometres.
Each Bulava missile can carry between six to ten independently targetable nuclear warheads (MIRVs), allowing a single submarine to deliver a precision nuclear strike on multiple targets across continents.
This capability cements the Borei-class as a central pillar of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, ensuring a credible second-strike capability in any potential conflict with NATO or other nuclear-armed adversaries.
An unindentified Borei-class submarines launching a “Bulava” ICBM
Measuring 170 metres in length, the Borei-class submarine is manned by a crew of approximately 107 personnel, reflecting a blend of automation and strategic capability.
On the surface, these leviathans displace around 14,000 tons, while fully submerged they register approximately 24,000 tons, making them among the quietest and most lethal underwater platforms ever developed by the Russian Federation.
In an age where the undersea domain is emerging as a critical frontier in great power competition, Russia’s latest claims about sonar superiority underscore the intensifying technological arms race playing out far beneath the ocean’s surface.