Multipurpose low-noise nuclear submarines, carriers of torpedo, missile-torpedo and missile weapons, today form the leading naval component for establishing dominance in remote areas of the Asia-Pacific region, in the Atlantic, as well as under the ice of the strategically important Arctic region. The range of primary tasks of this type of submarine in peacetime includes: conducting long-term hydroacoustic reconnaissance in the areas of operation of shipborne and aircraft carrier strike groups of a potential enemy without revealing their own location (a bow spherical SAC and a flexible extended towed antenna operate in a passive mode), covert tracking of the KUG and analysis of actions, monitoring of the coastal naval infrastructure. During escalation: the application of massive anti-ship strikes against the enemy's KUG / AUG by means of the Sub-Garpoon anti-ship missiles launched from a submerged position and the Tomahawk anti-ship modifications - UGM-109B / E TASM / TLAM-E, the destruction of naval bases, as well as suppression of the enemy's anti-aircraft / anti-missile defense system using the massive use of the same TFR family. In emergency situations, MAPLs are capable of striking enemy submarines and surface ships using torpedoes and anti-submarine guided missiles with a range from several hundred meters to one and a half hundred kilometers.
The importance of the reconnaissance and strike operations performed puts these submarines almost on the same level as strategic missile submarines with SLBMs on board. The technologies embodied in them to reduce noise are at the same level or even surpass those achievements that are implemented in the design of SSBN carriers of ballistic missiles. Submarines of this class are developed and adopted by the fleets only in the most technically developed countries of the world - Russia, the USA, Great Britain, France, China and India. Nevertheless, the most advanced and flexible MAPLs / SSGNs in combat use belong to the fleets of Russia, the United States and, at a stretch, China. British promising multipurpose nuclear submarines "Astute", despite the ultra-quiet water jet propulsion unit, are equipped with only six bow 533-mm torpedo tubes, while there is no module with a universal built-in vertical launcher. This indicates that the low-noise British submarine, with all its acoustic perfection and highly sensitive integrated sonar system Thales 2076, has on board a very limited arsenal of modifications of the Tomahawk TFR and other tactical and strategic missiles with a single 531-mm caliber. Moreover, there will be no possibility of using long-range stealth anti-ship missiles AGM-158C LRASM, which will narrow the Estute's ability to fight enemy surface ships (the technology for launching LRASM from torpedo tubes has not yet been developed, and the Tomahawks have a significantly higher RCS, which makes them more vulnerable to modern shipborne air defense systems).
The so-called "rocket banquet" is also absent from the French promising MPSS of the "Barracuda" class. To launch long-range tactical cruise missiles SCALP Naval, F21 "Artemis" torpedoes and anti-ship missiles SM39 Block 2, 4,533-mm TA are used. At the same time, the ammunition compartment for the TA is small and can accommodate only 24 missile and torpedo weapons, which is almost 1.6 times worse than that of the British Astute submarines. The only advantage of the promising French submarine is the original design of the hull and tail. The high-strength steel hull with a width of 8.8 m allows diving to a depth of 400 m, while the Astute has a depth of operation of about 300-320 m. efficiency at angles of rotation up to 90 degrees. Moreover, stabilizers installed at an angle of 45 ° reduce the radar signature of the submarine during the surface movement and the sonar signature during the underwater one. This is where all the benefits end. Not only do Astute-class submarines carry one and a half times more arsenal of weapons, their autonomy is almost 2 times higher than that of the French Barracuda (90 versus 50 days, respectively).
The most advanced multipurpose nuclear submarines carrying missile and torpedo weapons today are the Russian submarines of the project 885 "Ash" and the American submarines of the "Virginia" class. Submarines of project 885 "Ash" are distinguished by: low acoustic and radar signature due to the use of rubber / composite coatings with a noise suppression complex at frequencies of 50-500 Hz and depreciation platforms for a steam generating unit and a technical training station "Mirage", the ability to operate at depths of 550-600 m, the largest, in comparison with foreign counterparts, underwater displacement of 13800 tons (7800 tons - at the "Estute", 5300 tons - at the "Barracuda" and 7925 tons - at the "Virginia"), the greatest autonomy of 100 days.
The UKSK 3R-14V universal percussion firing system is represented by a modern mine universal vertical launcher SM-346, consisting of 8 x 4 revolving launchers, placed in 2 rows (along the sides of the hull) with 4 transport and launch stationary "drums" each. This "rocket banquet" is very compact and does not stand out as forming hulls. The versatility of these launchers lies in the fact that they can accommodate a solid range of 32 missile strike weapons, in particular: 2, 5-fly highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles 3M55 (P-800) "Onyx", stealth strategic cruise missiles 3M14T "Caliber -PL "with a range of up to 2000-2600 km, promising SKR Kh-101/102, anti-ship missiles 3M54E1" Caliber-PL "with a 3-fly stage (range 220 km), promising hypersonic anti-ship missiles 3M22" Zircon "with a range of 550.
The most interesting armament is 533-mm 2, 5-fly ballistic anti-submarine guided missiles 91RE1 "Caliber-PLE", capable of hitting enemy submarines at a distance of up to 50 km with a launch depth of 50 m. ocean theater of surface ships with long-range air defense missile systems of the SM-6 or PAAMS families, which can easily intercept PLUR. Of the 10 533-mm torpedo tubes located in the central part of the submarine, a wide range of missile-torpedo armament of the Caliber family and modern torpedoes Fizik-1 and Case can also be used. Consequently, Project 885 multipurpose nuclear submarine cruisers are capable of taking on board up to 62 units. missile and torpedo armament. At the moment, the level of acoustic secrecy of the K-560 "Severodvinsk" submarine is slightly below that of the "Virginia" and "Sea Wolf" class submarines, which is due to the use of a classic propeller. The jet propulsion unit can be installed on a modernized version of the 885M Yasen-M submarines.
The heart of the Russian SSGN pr. 885 / M is the advanced combat information and control system "Okrug", which aggregates into a single network-centric picture information from the integrated sonar complex MGK-600 "Irtysh-Amphora-Ash", low-frequency flexible extended towed antenna GPBA, sonar terminal exchange of information "Structure", etc. For defensive purposes, the Project 885 / M submarines can use the 533-mm non-rechargeable TA for launching the MG-104 “Throw”, MG-114 “Beryl”, and REPS-324 “Shlagbaum” submarines. "The best practices previously used in the projects of the 3rd generation 971" Shchuka-B ", 705 (K)" Lira "and 949A" Antey "are embodied.
In contrast to the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau Malakhit JSC, the American corporations General Dynamics Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman, taking into account the wishes of the representatives of the US Navy command, initially chose a slightly different approach to the design of multipurpose submarines of the class " Virginia ". The experience gained during the work on the project of the ultra-low-noise multipurpose attack-torpedo nuclear submarine Sea Wolf was taken into account. For example, the lead submarine SSN-774 "Virginia" of Block I modification, launched on October 23, 2004, received a jet propulsion unit, which significantly increases acoustic stealth in comparison with projects 971 "Pike-B" and 885 "Ash". The emphasis was also placed on the compactness of the body and the highest parameters of the on-board radio-electronic equipment (including CIUS and GAK).
As a result, it was possible to achieve a hull width of 10.4 m and an underwater displacement of 7925 tons, which is about 1.7 times less than that of the "Ash": it was the submarine's smaller hull diameter that became decisive. There is also information that in the emergency mode of operation of a steam turbine unit with a turbo-gear unit, Virginia class submarines are capable of accelerating under water up to 34 knots, which is a very good indicator today. The versatility of this class of submarines is also ensured by the possibility of delivering combat swimmers to the theater of operations, who can leave the submarine through the hatch of the airlock located behind the torpedo and command compartments, or move to the site of the operation on a low-noise underwater vehicle (mini-submarine) "Advanced SEAL Deliveri System”(ASDS) with a displacement of 55 tons, capable of delivering 8 saboteurs at a distance of 230 km. During long voyages, ASDS transport mini-submarines are fixed on the upper surface of the submarine hull above the power plant control compartment. SSGN-class "Ash" is not equipped with such an "optional package" today.
Submarines of the SSN "Virginia" family received a modern high-performance and highly informative C3I CIUS, which provides the crew with comprehensive information about the tactical underwater, surface and air conditions, as well as the state of all subsystems of the submarine, including the power plant. The main sources of information for CIUS are: AN / BQQ-10 bow SAC and AN / BQG-5A airborne wide-aperture SAC. The AN / BQQ-10 integrated bow sonar system with a multi-element spherical acoustic antenna array is distinguished by high selection capabilities of sound-emitting targets in shallow water and near the littoral zone; it is capable of working in both active and passive modes. High performance is demonstrated as in the detection of enemy submarines in the second zone of acoustic illumination.
It is stated that the AN / BQQ-10 SJC is perfectly adapted for conducting passive sonar reconnaissance against small-sized surface targets of the enemy in the coastal zone, which makes it possible to timely correct the path of a mini-submarine with ASDS combat swimmers in order to avoid detection. The submarines of the Batch 2 (Block III) version will be equipped with an even more advanced wide-aperture LAB (“Large Aperture Bow”), horseshoe-shaped bow-shaped aircraft. The product does not belong to the classic GAS with active-passive transducers of the acoustic signal and is built of two arrays. The emitting array is represented by active elements of the middle range with a service life of 16 - 20 years, and the receiving array is represented by 1800 passive hydrophones with a 30-year service life.
The main advantage of the promising SAC type LAB in comparison with the AN / BQQ-10A is the significantly higher sensitivity of hydrophones, which, during hydroacoustic reconnaissance in potentially hazardous waters, makes it possible to focus on the passive mode of operation: sound-emitting objects can be detected at much greater distances.
Side passive acoustic antenna arrays in the amount of 6 units. provide the "Virginia Block III" class with significantly better opportunities for conducting all-aspect hydroacoustic observation in comparison with the project 885 "Ash". In the lower bow of the submarine hull there is a so-called "chin" with an additional active-passive GAS, which allows mapping the bottom relief with simultaneous detection of moored mines, enemy underwater reconnaissance drones, etc. Submarines of this class will also receive two types of low-frequency flexible extended towed antennas (GPBA) - large (TB-16) and small (TB-29A) diameters. As you can see, in terms of the level of acoustic secrecy, the technical capabilities of hydroacoustic systems and the possibility of participating in sabotage operations, Virginia was able to noticeably outstrip the Ash. What can be said about its shock capabilities?
As it became known on July 18, 2017 from a source in the US Navy, in the waters of the Florida Strait, test launches of 2 strategic cruise missiles UGM-109E "Tomahawk Block IV" from two promising 1x6 universal vertical drum launchers were carried out for the first time VPT ("Virginia Payload Tubes") with a diameter of 2100 mm, installed on the SSN-784 "North Dakota" multipurpose nuclear submarine of the Block III modification (it is well known that 12 separate transport and launch nozzles were installed on the "Virginia Block I / II" MAPL). Now we count. Two drum launchers can accommodate only 12 Tomahawks, or other tactical cruise / anti-submarine guided missiles (similar stationary universal "launch drums" for Axes are installed on SSBN Ohio class submarines converted into SSGNs, with that only the difference is that the 7th central TPK is involved). Another 26 Tomahawks, UGM-84L Sub-Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, Mk48 ADCAP torpedoes or Mk 60 CAPTOR mines can be fired from 4,533 mm torpedo tubes. Consequently, the total arsenal of missile and torpedo equipment barely reaches 38 units. (against 62 units at our avenue 885 "Ash"). The superiority of the Russian multipurpose SSGN is obvious.
More importantly, Ash is ahead of Virginia not only in quantity, but also in quality of missile and torpedo armament. In the near future, the Americans will not have advanced long-range supersonic tactical / anti-ship missiles. Neither the UGM-109E, nor the Harpoons, nor the LRASMs (if adapted to VPT launchers), in terms of their ability to break through the ship's missile defense system, will not be able to compare with the unique domestic supersonic Onyxes and Calibers of the 3M54E1 variant. Performing anti-aircraft maneuvers with overloads of more than 20 units, these anti-ship missiles are capable of "twisting" even such agile interceptor missiles as the RIM-162 ESSM, not to mention the less agile RIM-174 ERAM (SM-6).
The "long arm" of "Ash" can also create a lot of problems for strategic objects of the US Armed Forces in Eurasia and North America, because we are talking not only about the SKR 3M14T "Caliber" with a range of 2600 km, but also about more serious long-range cruise missiles (KRBD) X-101/102 (range of 3000 km with the possibility of increasing to 5000 km). Moreover, EPR Kh-101/102, due to the angular shape of the hull contours and the wider use of radio-absorbing composite materials, barely reaches 0.01-0.02 m2, while the Axes have an effective scattering surface of about 0.2-0, 3 m2. The adaptation of promising 3M22 Zircon missiles to the 3R-14V universal firing system of project 885 Ash submarines will further complicate the situation of the Virginia submarine with insufficient missile strike potential.
Today, in terms of the efficiency of the anti-ship strike, the Russian submarines of pr.885 is 2, 5 times ahead of all known western multipurpose submarines; after gaining initial combat readiness of "Zircon" this figure will increase up to 7 times. The command of the US Naval Forces is seriously “straining” this situation, and therefore work is already underway to increase the number of VPT launch “drums” from two to six (the number of transport-launch tubes increases from 12 to 36, and the total ammunition stock on the submarine is up to 62 units). Obviously, for the 4 new VPT drums, VPT will have to carve out space in the rear of the submarine, "squeezing" the control compartments of the armament complex and the power plant. Additional UVPUs can be introduced on the latest Block III submarines, as well as more modern Block IV submarines.
What do we end up with? In terms of the arsenal of missile and torpedo armament, the Virginia class submarines will nevertheless reach the level of Project 885 Ash, while in terms of the architecture of hydroacoustic detection of enemy underwater and surface weapons, American submarines are already noticeably ahead of our 4th generation MPSs. At the same time, the faster, more maneuverable and heavier anti-ship missiles on board the 885 project give the Russian Navy undeniable advantages in the fight against powerful aircraft carrier strike groups of the US Navy. But it is too early to delude ourselves with this fact today, after all, having discarded a good deal of jingoistic patriotism, we can safely state that the planned series of 7 multipurpose nuclear submarine cruisers pr. 885 / M (6 of which belong to the Yasen-M project) is a drop in sea against the background of a US series of 30 ultra-quiet "underwater assassins" of the "Virginia" class, some of which will be performed in even more formidable versions of "Block IV / V".
