Russia Celebrates Navy Day
Dozens of warships and submarines were deployed in ports cities across Russia as the country marked its Navy Day on Sunday.
The celebrations commemorate Russian naval victories and are traditionally held on the last Sunday of July.
The creation of the regular Russian Navy dates back to the reign of Peter the Great with a decree on commencing the construction of the navy on October 20, 1696.
The President Vladimir Putin celebrated the day on the Aurora cruiser. In his presidential address he said:
“Congratulations to all who stand guard over this country's maritime borders, who serve in the surface and submarine forces, naval aviation and coastal troops; to all who work in the shipbuilding industry, who defend the interests of our country, the honor of our flag in the world's oceans, fighting piracy and terrorism, who contribute to the safety of navigation.
“Maritime service has always been considered highly honorable in Russia. Our brave sailors, talented shipbuilders, daring explorers, and famous naval commanders devoted their lives to serving the Navy and their Motherland.
“Navy sailors have always been known for their unique culture, their bearing, discipline and dignity. The Navy has earned the people’s love and gratitude through its efforts to the glory of the homeland, and by following its traditions which include courage, steadfastness, loyalty to their oath of allegiance and their military brotherhood, and the ability to stand up to any challenge even under difficult and harsh conditions.”
Russia now has over 100 vessels on the world’s oceans. Recent additions include the ballistic missile submarines Vladimir Monomakh and Alexander Nevsky, and the Varshavyanka-class Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don and Stary Oskol submarines.
Russia has now started construction of its sixth Yasen-class nuclear submarine, the Navy’s newest generation multi-purpose submarine. The submarine has an estimated cost of $1.5 billion and a construction period of nearly 20 years. Sevmash shipyard has indicated that Perm will be built entirely with Russian equipment. The submarine is scheduled to be ready mission-ready in 2022.
Perm is a modernized version of the class and will be armed with both the Oniks and Kalibr anti-ship missiles, a range of torpedoes and naval mines.
In addition to Perm, four other Yasen class nuclear powered submarines are currently under construction at Sevmash: the Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and Arkhangelsk.
There are also four ballistic missile submarines of the Borei-class under construction at Sevmash, in addition to several special purpose submarines.
Technical specifications for the domestic versions of France’s Mistral-class helicopter carriers have been prepared, Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bursuk said on Friday.
A contract with France for two Mistral-type helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy was signed in June 2011. However the deal was suspended after France’s concern over the situation in the Ukraine.
