Moscow has remained committed to this boat, with good reason: its ability to hold US aircraft carriers hostage is still remarkably dangerous today.
In the midst of the Cold War that defined the last half of the twentieth century between the Soviet Union and the United States, Moscow desired to counter what it correctly viewed as the US Navy’s supremacy on the high seas. Unable to counteract the Americans by building aircraft carriers, the Soviets spent their time and resources developing systems to stymie the tactical usefulness of American carriers.
One such system that Moscow built was the Oscar-II-class submarine, known in the Soviet Union as Project 949A Antey. This submarine was known within the Kremlin as an “aircraft carrier killer.”
The Oscar-II-class sub was developed in the 1970s specifically to deliver devastating strikes against high-value targets from long ranges, while remaining submerged and difficult to detect.
At the time—and still today—aircraft carriers could project airpower across vast distances, functioning as the backbone of NATO’s maritime strategy. The Soviet Union lacked a comparable carrier fleet or the resources to build one. Consequently, it turned to cruise missile submarines to level the playing field. The Oscar-II was built to launch volleys of P-700 Granit supersonic anti-ship missiles, guided by targeting data from the EORSAT satellite system, to overwhelm carrier defenses. This mission profile made the Oscar-II a specialized “carrier killer,” a role that shaped its design and armament.
The Oscar-II-Class’ Specifications
The Oscar-II is a behemoth of naval engineering—displacing up to 24,000 tons when submerged, making it the fourth-largest submarine ever built. It was only surpassed by the Soviet Typhoon-class, the Russian Borei-class, and the American Ohio-class submarines. Its double-hull construction, a hallmark of Soviet submarine design, features an inner pressure hull encased in an outer hydrodynamic hull. This design enhances the submarine’s survivability against conventional torpedoes and provides significant reserve buoyancy.
Powered by two OK-650M.02 pressurized water reactors producing 190 megawatts of thermal power each, the Oscar-II can achieve submerged speeds of up to 33.4 knots (38 miles per hour), allowing it to keep pace with fast-moving US carrier battle groups. The submarine’s propulsion system, featuring twin seven-bladed propellers, offers improved acoustic performance compared to the four-bladed propellers of the earlier Oscar-I-class. However, the Oscar-II’s stealth capabilities are considered inferior to later Russian designs, such as the Akula-II or Yasen-class submarines.
The Oscar-II’s armament remains its most defining feature. These submarines carry an impressive 24 P-700 Granit missiles housed in launchers positioned outside the pressure hull, capable of delivering a 1,653-pound conventional warhead (or a 500 kiloton nuclear warhead) over a range of 342 miles. These missiles, designed to swarm targets in a coordinated attack, were a cornerstone of the submarine’s anti-carrier mission.
Additionally, the Oscar-II is equipped with four 533mm and two 650mm torpedo tubes, capable of firing torpedoes, RPK-2 Tsakra anti-submarine missiles, and Type 86R Vodopad anti-ship missiles, as well as deploying up to 32 mines. The submarine’s robust sensor suite, including upgraded sonar, radar, and electronic intercept equipment, supports its ability to detect and engage targets effectively.
The Oscar-II’s crew of around 107 operates in a vessel meant for long-duration missions, with individual cabins for senior officers and amenities like a gymnasium, reflecting Soviet efforts to improve comfort. An emergency escape capsule, reportedly capable of accommodating 110 people, is housed in the sail, a feature shared with the Typhoon-class and indicative of the submarine’s emphasis on crew survivability.
Russia Is Breathing New Life Into These Death Machines
Eleven of these boats were built at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk between 1982 and 1996. Five were assigned to the Soviet Northern Fleet and six to the Pacific Fleet, reflecting the Soviet Navy’s dual focus on both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
Despite the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Oscar-II remained a priority for the Russian Navy, ensuring its maintenance over older Soviet submarine classes during the financially strained 1990s.
To extend the service life and enhance the combat capabilities of the Oscar-II-class submarine, Russia initiated the Project 949AM modernization program in 2011. This upgrade replaces the P-700 Granit missiles with up to 72 newer 3M-54 Kalibr or P-800 Oniks cruise missiles, offering improved range and versatility. The modernized submarines are also receiving upgraded Omnibus-M combat information systems, Simfoniya-3.2 navigation systems, and new fire-control, sonar, and radar equipment, aiming to bring their technological level closer to that of the Yasen-class submarines.
While this remains an impressive submarine, it is clear that the submarine class is aging. Eventually, it will be succeeded fully by the Yasen-class. Nevertheless, Moscow has remained committed to this boat, with good reason: its ability to hold US carriers hostage is still remarkably dangerous today. In the age of anti-carrier systems, the Oscar-II-class is a real killer.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Chad Lawhorn Photography.
