**OVERVIEW:** The PLARK-675MU Echo II is a Project 675MU (Echo II-class) cruise missile submarine of the Soviet Navy. Entering service in 1978, this submarine represented a significant upgrade to the original Project 675 design, focusing on improved target acquisition, missile guidance, and noise reduction. The Echo II-class, in general, was designed as a dedicated anti-surface warfare platform, intended to eliminate high-value NATO surface combatants, particularly aircraft carriers, in a potential conflict.

**DETAILS:**
The Project 675 (Echo I) and subsequent 675M/MU (Echo II) classes emerged from the Soviet Union’s need to counter the growing threat of US Navy carrier battle groups during the Cold War. The initial Echo I design, while revolutionary for its time, suffered from limitations in its missile targeting and guidance systems, relying on surfaced launch and radio command guidance. The Echo II represented a substantial improvement, particularly in noise reduction, an ongoing concern for Soviet submarine designs, and in the integration of more sophisticated electronic warfare and sensor systems. The 'MU' upgrade further enhanced the submarine’s ability to operate in a more contested electronic environment. The overall design reflected a Soviet emphasis on firepower over stealth in the early Cold War years, prioritizing the ability to launch a large salvo of anti-ship missiles.

The PLARK-675MU's primary role was anti-surface warfare (ASuW), acting as a strike platform against enemy naval groups. Its mission profile involved shadowing carrier groups or other high-value targets, utilizing its extensive sensor suite to acquire and track them, and then launching a coordinated missile attack. The installation of the Snoop Slab [Burya] radar was crucial for initial target detection and classification at long ranges, while the Shark Teeth [MKG-100 Kerch] and Shark Fin [MKG-100 Kerch] sonar suites provided underwater target acquisition. The Front Door A [Argument] system was likely integrated to improve command and control data links, allowing for better coordination with other Soviet naval assets. The inclusion of a Generic Acoustic Intercept system allowed the submarine to monitor enemy communications and potentially gain insights into their tactics and intentions. The Mine Avoidance [MG-14 Arfa-G] sonar was vital for navigating potentially mined areas.

The PLARK-675MU possessed considerable offensive capabilities centered on its SS-N-12 Sandbox [P-500 Bazalt] cruise missiles. These missiles, housed in angled, single tubes, were designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses through sheer volume and speed. The 533mm and 400mm torpedo tubes provided a secondary attack option against both surface ships and submarines. The inclusion of the Signal Ejector system highlights the submarine's ability to deploy countermeasures or decoys, increasing its survivability in a combat environment. While not explicitly designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) or anti-air warfare (AAW), the PLARK-675MU could engage in self-defense using its torpedoes against submarine threats.

**SPECIFICATION:** Length: 119.0 m || Beam: 9.2 m || Draft: 7.1 m || Disp: 4485 t

**SENSORS:** Quad Loop DF || Stop Light B [Nakat] || Shark Teeth [MKG-100 Kerch] || Shark Fin [MKG-100 Kerch] || Front Door A [Argument] || Snoop Slab [Burya] || Generic Acoustic Intercept || Mine Avoidance [MG-14 Arfa-G] || Generic Submarine Periscope || Optical

**ARMAMENT:** SS-N-12 Sandbox [P-500 Bazalt] Single Tubes || Signal Ejector || 533mm TT || 533mm TT || 400mm TT