US Trends

how many nuclear submarines does russia have

Russia is estimated to operate roughly 25–28 nuclear-powered submarines as of early 2026, including both strategic (ballistic-missile) and attack/cruise- missile boats. Within that total, about 16 are strategic nuclear ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs), with the rest being nuclear-powered attack or cruise-missile submarines (SSN/SSGN).

Quick numbers (2024–2026 estimates)

  • Total submarines in Russian fleet (all types): about 64.
  • Nuclear-powered submarines: about 25–28 in active service.
  • Nuclear ballistic-missile subs (SSBNs – core nuclear deterrent at sea): about 16.
  • Nuclear attack & cruise-missile subs (SSN/SSGN): about 25–28 total nuclear boats , including these multirole types, though exact class-by-class counts can vary as boats refit or retire.

These figures are estimates , because:

  • Some older Soviet-era subs are in reserve, overhaul, or limited readiness.
  • New Borei-A and Yasen-M class submarines are still being delivered, while older classes are gradually phased out.

Strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs)

When people ask “how many nuclear submarines does Russia have,” they often mean the strategic nuclear missile carriers —the boats that can launch long-range nuclear missiles.

  • Russia’s strategic nuclear submarine force is centered on Borei/Borei-A class boats plus remaining Delta-class subs.
  • Open-source defense and arms-control assessments indicate around a dozen to 16 boats capable of carrying strategic nuclear missiles, armed with roughly 192 sea-based nuclear missiles in total.

These SSBNs form the sea leg of Russia’s nuclear triad and regularly patrol in the Northern and Pacific Fleets.

Nuclear vs. diesel-electric

It’s also useful to distinguish nuclear-powered from conventional submarines:

  • Nuclear-powered :
    • Can stay submerged for very long periods.
    • Include strategic SSBNs and attack/cruise-missile subs (SSN/SSGN).
    • Estimated 25–28 active nuclear boats today.
  • Diesel-electric (non‑nuclear) :
    • Shorter range and endurance, often used in coastal or regional roles.
    • Russia operates around 23 of these.

Simple HTML table for clarity

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Category</th>
      <th>Estimated number</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Total Russian submarines (all types)</td>
      <td>~64</td>
      <td>Includes nuclear and diesel-electric boats [web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Total nuclear-powered submarines</td>
      <td>~25–28</td>
      <td>All nuclear boats (SSBN, SSN, SSGN) in active service [web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Strategic nuclear missile subs (SSBNs)</td>
      <td>~12–16</td>
      <td>Carry long-range nuclear ballistic missiles, core sea-based deterrent [web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Diesel-electric submarines (non‑nuclear)</td>
      <td>~23</td>
      <td>Conventional attack submarines used mainly in regional seas [web:7]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

“Latest news” and trends

Recent open reporting highlights a few trends:

  • Expansion and modernization : Russia has commissioned several Borei-A SSBNs and Yasen-M attack submarines in the last few years, with more under construction.
  • Arctic emphasis : New nuclear submarines are being concentrated in the Northern Fleet to strengthen capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
  • Relative ranking : China has now reportedly surpassed Russia in total active nuclear-powered submarines, pushing Russia to third place globally behind the U.S. and China.

So, if your core question is “how many nuclear submarines does Russia have,” the best up‑to‑date open-source answer is: on the order of 25–28 nuclear- powered submarines, of which roughly 12–16 are strategic nuclear missile carriers , with the exact number fluctuating as new boats enter service and old ones are retired.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.