2015: A Year of Growth for the Russian Navy
Early this year, MarEx reported that the Russian Navy planned to boost its capacity by 50 vessels this year. Navy Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov stated that his nation’s period of naval stagnation is over.
There are approximately 280 ships, submarines and warfare boats and 250 planes believed to be in active service in the Russian Navy. A wide range of new and refitted vessels have entered service this year, many part of a rearmament program that aims to extend the navy’s capabilities for operating far from home by 2050.
The new vessels, which have boosted all of Russia’s five fleets, include frigates, patrol boats and Borei and Yasen class nuclear submarines.
President Vladimir Putin has outlined an ambitious rearmament program, and four different kinds of submarines are already under construction. The keel was laid in December for the Borei-A-class nuclear submarine Emperor Alexander III. Three Borei-A-class nuclear missile submarines Knyaz Vladimir, Knyaz Oleg and Generalissimus Suvorov are already under construction at the Sevmash shipyard.
Additionally, by 2050, Russia hopes to have built a new fleet of destroyers and cruisers. A new aircraft carrier is also being considered to supplement the aging Admiral Kuznetsov.
The U.S. Office of Naval Research released a report earlier this month outlining its view of the development of the Russian navy stating: “Russia has begun, and over the next decade will make large strides in fielding a 21st century navy capable of a dependable national defense, an impressive but limited presence in more distant global areas of interest, manned by a new generation of post Soviet officers and enlisted personnel. The research, technical development, and production enabling the achievement of these goals have and will continue to be accompanied by a robust program of naval arms sales to other countries.”
A snapshot of some of this year’s new vessels includes:
Igor Belousov
The Igor Belousov is the newest rescue vessel of the Russian Navy. The ship was built by the Admiralteiskiye Verphi shipbuilding company. The ship is capable of performing search-and-rescue operations on the sea bottom or at the depth of up to 1,500 meters.
Academic Kovalev
The navy’s newest armament store carrier is Academic Kovalev. The ship has been delivered to the Northern fleet and was built in the ship repair center Zvezdochka in Severodvinsk. The ship features good seakeeping performance and sea endurance and is equipped for landing of Ka-27 helicopters.
RB-366
The RB-366 is a new generation raiding tug boat introduced into the Leningrad naval base support fleet of the Baltic Fleet. The 300 ton tug boat was built by Pella in Saint Petersburg. The vessel is capable of towing ships and submarines of any displacement and is equipped with fire extinguishing systems for ships and coastal facilities and an emergency fuel spillage cleaning system.
Tug boats in this series are equipped with a modern control system, which allows them to perform accurate maneuvering in any weather conditions and at night. Moreover, the ship possesses enhanced maneuvering capabilities and is able to carry out missions in difficult ice conditions.
The RB-366 tug boat is the fourth ship of this project to be introduced into the Leningrad naval base fleet.
Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol
The Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol are small-sized missile ships introduced into the Black Sea Fleet. The vessels were built at the Zelenodolsky shipyard and feature increased displacement and, says the navy, armaments unparalleled in the world – advanced long-range missile systems Kalibr-NK.
Raptors
Two new generation boats, named Raptors, are the last of eight boats built by the Pella factory in Saint Petersburg for the Russian Navy. Raptor patrol boats are designed to carry out transportation and rapid landing tasks for approximately 20-man strong marine units day and night.
The boats can efficiently patrol assigned sea areas, intercept and stop naval targets and carry out rescue missions in their areas of responsibility. Raptors can also protect ships and vessels’ stationing points from attacks of small-sized naval, air and ground targets at unsafe roadsteads.
Raptor patrol boats can carry out short-range missions (up to 100 nautical miles from their stationing points). The boats can operate both in sea areas and in straits and river estuaries.
Krasnodar
The diesel-electric Krasnodar submarine was put in service earlier this year. The submarine was built by Admiralteyskiye verphi shipyard for the Black Sea Fleet.
Bester-1
The Bester-1, built by Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg underwent trials this year. The vessel is a deep-water search-and-rescue vehicle. The vehicle has a docking chamber which allows link-up with the rescue exit of a submarine that is heeling up to 45 degrees.
Admiral Gorshkov
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov has undergone final testing. The multirole, long-range frigate can be deployed in anti-submarine warfare and escort operations. The ship will be the largest warship to join the Russian navy in over a decade.