Russia has abandoned plans to modernise its three Akula-class (Project 941) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) because of cost issues, according to local reports. "A complete overhaul of one Project 941 submarine costs practically the same as building two new-generation Project 955 Yuri Dolgoruky [Borey]-class submarines," said a well-placed source quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency on 7 March. Six Akula-class SSBNs (NATO reporting name 'Typhoon') were built at Severodvinsk between 1976 and 19 8 9, each of them capable of carrying 20 RSM 52 (SS-N-20) ballistic missiles. Displacing 26,925 tonnes (submerged), they are the largest submarines built.
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