MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian nuclear Gepard (Cheetah) submarine has returned to the country’s Northern Fleet after the restoration of technical readiness, the fleet’s spokesman said Saturday.
"During its time in the factory, the nuclear submarine received a series of services, significantly extending the vessel’s operating life and continuing its future use in the Arctic conditions," Сapt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga said.
The vessel will undergo a naval combat training course shortly.
The Gepard vessel is a third-generation Project 971 (Akula class) nuclear-powered attack submarine. It was built in 2001.
Akula-class submarines feature very low acoustic signatures and can carry up to 12 submarine-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and a range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) in addition to anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
