Project 949А attack submarine with cruise missiles belongs to the 3d generation of Russian nuclear submarines.

Special features of the project are as follows:

• a long-range missile complex with autonomous control system providing in-flight data exchange and target allocation between missiles in a salvo, and "shot-and-forgot" missile launch
• ammunition load considerably larger than that of similar 2nd generation ships
• habitability conditions and conditions to ensure the crew performance unique for a submarine (a gym, sauna, swimming pool and lounge room)

In the middle of the 20th century, a doctrine of creating a well-balanced ocean fleet was developed in the USSR under the leadership of S.G.Gorshkov, the USSR Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. The fleet was to be efficient in opposing fleets of potential adversaries in all areas of the global ocean. The doctrine set the task of developing a series of new nuclear submarines with cruise missiles to effectively operate against aircraft carrier strike groups of a potential adversary at a new stage of their development.

The tactical and technical assignment for the development of a nuclear submarine with a new cruise missile complex "Granit" was placed by the government in 1969.

At the head of the works on designing the Project 949 nuclear submarine cruiser was Pavel P. Pustyntsev, Chief Designer and Head of CDB -18 (now Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering "Rubin"), and Igor L. Baranov, the General Designer (from 1977). Starting from the third ship in the series, the submarine cruisers were constructed to the improved design of Project 949A.

Project 949(949А) nuclear submarine cruisers have become efficient means capable of acting against large surface ship groups and in the first turn against aircraft carrier strike forces and groups. Modifications ensure the submarine cruisers of this Project have up-to-date combat and operating characteristics.