Typhoon class
Typhoon class is a nuclear-powered submarine operated by Soviet Navy, powered by 2 OK-650, twin of about 190 MWt each. Retired.
The largest submarines ever built, at 48,000 tonnes submerged, more than double an Ohio-class boat, with twin reactors and a design that let the crew live in genuine comfort by submarine standards on the theory that patrols would run for months. All are now retired or scrapped except one kept for missile testing.
| Reactor | OK-650, twin |
|---|---|
| Reactors per vessel | 2 |
| Thermal output | 190MWt each |
| Fuel enrichment | not disclosed |
| Refuelling | not disclosed |
| Category | submarine |
|---|---|
| Role | SSBN |
| Operator | Soviet Navy |
| Country | Russia |
| Vessels in class | not stated |
| In service from | 1981 |
| Status | Retired |
Other submarines
| Class | Enrichment | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AUKUS submarines | HEU | Planned |
| Akula class | - | Operating |
| Alfa class | HEU | Retired |
| Arihant class | HEU | Operating |
| Astute class | HEU | Operating |
| Borei class | HALEU | Operating |
| Columbia class | HEU | Under construction |
| Dreadnought class | HEU | Under construction |
| Han class (Type 091) | - | Operating |
| Le Triomphant class | LEU | Operating |
| Los Angeles class | HEU | Operating |
| Ohio class | HEU | Operating |
| Oscar II class | - | Operating |
| Seawolf class | HEU | Operating |
| Suffren class (Barracuda) | LEU | Operating |
| Type 093 and 094 (Shang and Jin) | LEU | Operating |
| USS Nautilus | HEU | Retired |
| Vanguard class | - | Operating |
| Virginia class | HEU | Operating |
| Xia class (Type 092) | - | Retired |
| Yasen class | HALEU | Operating |
Typhoon class in context
It is one of 22 submarine programs on record, 15 of them operating and 4 retired, and one of 13 naval reactor programs from the same country.
Each of its reactors is rated about 190 MWt; across the 19 submarine programs with a stated rating the median is 165 MWt, and this one ranks 4th.
With 2 reactors per vessel, the combined thermal rating is about 380 MWt.
It entered service in 1981, 45 years ago; the submarine programs on record entered service between 1955 and 2020, and this one is the 5th earliest of 17.
| Measure | Typhoon class | Median of submarine programs | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal power per reactor (MWt) | 190 | 165 | 4 of 19 |
| Entered service | 1981 | 1997 | 5 of 17 (earliest first) |
Worked out from the entries on this site only, so a figure compares Typhoon class with what is recorded here, not with everything that exists. An entry with no value for a measure is left out of that measure's ranking and median.
Sources
- World Nuclear Association, Nuclear-Powered Ships · retrieved 2026-09-07
How these sources are used, including the corrections applied on top of them and what is deliberately left blank · download the underlying data