Russians Test Super-Quiet Sub

June 8 -- Russia is reportedly sea testing a nuclear-powered sub believed superior in many ways to some of America's best subs.

The Gepard (Russian for cheetah) it is expected to begin active duty with the Northern Fleet as early as July, after it passes its trials, according to Russian news reports.

U.S. sub experts suspect the Gepard may move as fast and as quietly as America's best fully operational subs, the Los Angeles-class subs, as well as have the capacity to dive deeper and to harness more firepower.

"In many respects, it's a superior submarine," says independent submarine expert Norman Polmar. "We know it's at least as quiet as an improved L.A.'s. Whether it's quieter I can't say."

Polmar argues, though, the launching of the Gepard does not represent a new capability for the Russian navy.

Russian submarines traditionally have been louder than American submarines, but intelligence experts believe that starting in the mid-1980s, Russia has been advancing quieting techniques with their Akula-class submarines. The Akulas now reportedly have sound levels equal to or lower than U.S. Los Angeles and possibly the future Virginia-class submarines.

With the Gepard, reportedly the best of the Akulas, Russia is believed to have built 13 Akula-class submarines. The Gepard is of the improved Akula II series, and some experts believe Russia actually launched its first Akula II in 1996.

The U.S. Navy currently operates some 55 advanced nuclear submarines.

Important Milestone or Last Gasp?

A recent article in Moscow Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a government daily paper, claims the Gepard surpasses America's new Seawolf submarines, not yet fully operational, "in practically every way."

Still, Polmar and others say the Gepard does not represent a particularly severe challenge for the U.S. Navy. "It's meaningless, because they don't have the money to fully operate them and they have so few of them," he says.

Indeed, the Gepard is five years late in arriving. Construction was begun in 1991 and the Gepard was originally scheduled for launch in 1996. But its construction was delayed due to Russian military funding difficulties.