America's Virginia-Class Submarine vs. Russia's Lethal Yasen: Who Wins?

[Kapitan]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I would remind the people here that the sole serving submarine of Yasen class is not representative of the upcomming Yasen class boats for the simple reason of having a different powerplant.

During the 90s we couldn't get the 4th generation powerplant built for the Severodvinsk, hence Severodvinsk has the reactor from the 3rd gen subs.

Originally Posted by ikalugin

Yasen did get the new power train, with hybrid electro-mechanical transmission.

Ie at low speeds the submarine is propelled using the electric motor driving the main propeller, with the main turbine and it's gears disconnected.

That is interesting as that would reduce the signature quite a bit at slow speeds but how long would they need to re engage the gearing if they need to make a run for it ?

im not sure and i doubt it would be confirmed here that the USA France and UK have thought about this system