Editing Akula-class submarine (section)

===Project 971M (''Akula III'')===
The K-335 ''Gepard'' is the 14th submarine of the class and the only completed ''Akula III'' (see the table below) built for the Russian Navy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/nowadays/strength/submarines/k-335/ |title=K-335 Gepard |website=Rusnavy.com |access-date=2017-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717072836/http://rusnavy.com/nowadays/strength/submarines/k-335/ |archive-date=2017-07-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was the first submarine commissioned in the Russian Navy since the ''Kursk'' disaster, as a result, its commissioning ceremony was an important morale boost for the Russian Navy with President Vladimir Putin in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/41924 |title=President Vladimir Putin attended a ceremony of adopting the Gepard nuclear-powered submarine by the Russian Navy |date=4 December 2001 |website=[[President of Russia]] |access-date=2019-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113122415/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/41924 |archive-date=2019-01-13 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/news/submarine-01a.html |title=Putin Inauguration of New Sub Seen As Balm To Russian Navy |first=Bernard |last=Besserglik |date=4 December 2001 |website=SpaceDaily.com |access-date=2019-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808132053/http://www.spacedaily.com/news/submarine-01a.html |archive-date=2014-08-08 |url-status=live}}</ref> There is no NATO classification for the ''Akula III''. It is longer and has a larger displacement compared to the ''Akula II'', also it has an enlarged sail and a different towed-array dispenser on the vertical fin. Again, more noise reduction methods were employed. The ''Gepard'' was the most advanced Russian submarine before the submarines of the {{sclass|Severodvinsk|submarine|5}} and ''Borei'' class were commissioned.

The Soviet advances in sound quieting were of considerable concern to the West, for acoustics was long considered the most significant advantage in U.S. submarine technology compared to the Soviets.

In 1983–1984 the Japanese firm [[Toshiba]] sold sophisticated, nine axis milling equipment to the Soviets along with the computer control systems, which were developed by Norwegian firm [[Kongsberg Gruppen|Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik]]. U.S Navy officials and Congressmen announced that this technology enabled the Soviet submarine builders to produce more accurate and quieter propellers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quieter Soviet subs cost U.S. at least $30 billion |date=14 March 1988 |work=Navy News & Undersea Technology}}</ref> This is known as the [[Toshiba–Kongsberg scandal]].

Due to the [[breakup of the Soviet Union]] in 1991, production of all ''Akula''s slowed.

The 1999–2000 edition of ''[[Jane's Fighting Ships]]'' incorrectly listed the first ''Akula III'' as ''Viper'' (the actual name is "Vepr", "wild boar" in Russian), commissioned on 25 November 1995. ''Gepard'' (Cheetah), was launched in 1999 and was commissioned 5 December 2001.