Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) is a young history phd with an amazing determination forged by an war injury causing him to finish his fourth year of college from bed. Gifted with an usual mind for detail and an insight into the behaviors and mental processes of the Russian Caption, Ramo Marcos, Ryan gets a chance to impress some of the top ranking brass in the Pentagon. Ryan works for the central intelligence and performs the mundane work of associated with intelligence. Ryan is summoned by a long time friend who happens to be the director of the CIA because of his analysis of Ramos. Admiral Geer played by James Earl Jones shows Ryan a new Russian submarine which Ryan immedite points out the usual intakes and ask "What are these?" Ryan new assignment is to discover the purposes of the new Russian submarine design. Ryan decides to consult a friend in the submarine business and shows him pictures of the new submarine. After a little thought he eliminates the possiblity it could be missile doors reasoning its unfeasibility to launch a missile sideways. A hunch comes of the engineer and he realizes that it a magneto propulsion system capable of squeezing water out like a jet engine and with one hugh advantage, it could run nearly silently. His friend tells him that he help his daddy build a bomb shelter as a young man because of first strike fears.

The Dallas has been tracking the October and set off the alarm to Washington when the Red October went invisible. Admiral Geer summons Ryan and tells him priorities have changed from a research project to a briefing with the National Security Council. Jeffery Pelt (Richard Jordon) plays the role of the national security advisor. Pelt is looking for a solution to handling the submarine, a submarine capable of first strike response and invisible to all detection devices on the west coast. Pelt wants a solution which will not force him into a foreign policy commitment and with the Generals fearing a mad man first strike scenerio, Ryan counter theory is not well received. Ryan reasons Ramo is defecting :Ramos is not Russian, Ramos resents the party because he was at sea when his wife die, and Ramos was in a perfect position to defect because he command the loyal and training of all new captains of major lead ship and Ryan has meet Ramos. The Generals don't believe an intelligence officer could possible know what was in the mind of this mad man. Pelt is willing to gamble on Ryan's theory and asks what needs to be done, Ryan tells Pelt contact needs to be made with Ramos forwhich Pelt asks Ryan how soon he can be ready to go.

Ramos tells his first officer he plans on giving the Red October to the Americans shortly after Ramos killing the Political officer. Eventually Ramos tells his officers the party mission will not followed and he intends on giving the Red October to the Americans. Some of his officers are concerned they were not consulted on the decision. Ramos then tells them there will be no going back for the party knows of his plans to defect and will probably be sending the fleet after them. Ramos gives a one a three chance of survival; but is perplexed how to contact the Americans.

A dangerous trip by helicopter takes Ryan out on the ocean to the Dallas, captained by Bart Mancuso (Scott Glenn) who has 40 million dollar Cal-Tech tracking system at his disposal to be used to hunt the Red October. Force to break free from the pursuit he is not pleased at meeting Ryan.

Sabotage cause the Red October a nuclear power submarine to shutdown the silent propulsion system. Now the enemy can see them. Dropping torpedos from the air, the October escapes by manuevering the treacherous underwater canyons. The men now realize the are not on a training mission and want to know why the homeland is trying to kill them. Ramos tells them its part of the training to see how good the Red October is, but the tension remains. Ramos realizes the sabatoge incident can be used later. The Dallas catches up to October and holds the Red October in Torpedo sights, Captain Mancuso must decided whether to destroy the October or listen to Ryan, unsure about Ryan he calls his sergent at arms to a ready state, realizing the Ramos will do not to provoke him, he asks Ryan what next? The go to periscope depth and send signal back and forth. Communcation has occurred. Ryan wants to go somewhere deep. Ramos stages a nuclear leak and forces abandon ship. Admiral Geer prematurely explodes a torpedo near the Red October staging its destruction. A rescue submarine with Mancuso and Ryan attach to the Red October and both groups prepare for first contact.

First contact is more like a gun fight with Captain Mancuso playing the cool gunfighter. Ramos thinks Mancuso is a cowboy version of John Wayne. Ramos and Mancuso outsmart Vasily Bordin whose agressive tactics cause him to miscalculate counter tactics by both Ramos and Mancuso. Ryan in the meantime must kill a Russian Spy who does seem to understand most of the equipment on the ship does not respond well to bullets. Pelt offers assistence to hunt Red October at the request of Ambassor Andrei Lysenko (Joss Ackland). A more devious plan is inacted forcing the crew to leave the Red October and at the moment Ramo and Mancuso destory Borodin ship the crew think all is lost. The movies ends with Ramos quoting Christoper Columbus.