[Rockingham]

That was a different era, before the US and the West had made dramatic advances due to computers and other high tech and while the USSR was still a going concern. Moreover, nuclear submarines generate a substantial and irreducible level of noise due to reactor cooling pumps. This makes the Borei class subs inherently noisy in ways that simply cannot be remedied no matter how much sound deadening is applied.

[rottndog]

Moreover, nuclear submarines generate a substantial and irreducible level of noise due to reactor cooling pumps.

Um...no. Primary coolant pumps are centrifugal pumps, and use the same sound/vibration isolation mounting technology as any other piece of equipment in the engine room...both US and Russian boats. Besides...in some reactor plant designs you don't need running main coolant pumps when doing quiet ops.

[ejonesie22]

One can hope, but in my dealings with them I have never been one to want to under estimate Russian ingenuity nor resourcefulness. Given where things are with the US it makes things “interesting”.