The Russian Military Merged Thread- Navy

[CougarKing]

Someone eavesdropping on what changes the US and Cuban officials are mulling?

Russian spy ship docks quietly in Havana on eve of high-level meetings between Cuba, U.S.

A 300-feet Russian intelligence warship docked quietly in Havana Tuesday is fueling speculation about the renewal of diplomatic relations with the U.S.

Its arrival, on the eve of a historic meeting between Cuba and the United States, was not announced by Cuban authorities or the press. The Viktor Leonov CCB-175 entered the Bay of Havana in the morning and was moored to a pier often used by cruise ships, the AFP news agency reported.

(Continued...)

Fox News

 

[CougarKing]

Seems things are bleaker in the Russian Navy than what Putin would have Russia's neighbours believe...

War Is Boring/Medium.com

The Russian Navy Is on the Verge of Collapse
Big ships age out and Moscow can't replace them

by DAVID AXE

The Kremlin has announced that Russia will hugely boost its naval operations in 2015.

But that's an empty promise - or threat, if you will. In fact, the Russian fleet is on the edge of a precipitous decline in ship numbers and combat power, owing to huge industrial shortfalls that have been decades in the making.

Even if the fleet is busier in 2015 than it was in 2013, in coming years it will have fewer and fewer ships to be busy with - and those that remain will be progressively smaller and weaker than rival vessels.

Today the Russian navy possesses around 270 warships including surface combatants, amphibious ships, submarines and auxiliaries.

Of the 270 ships, just 125 or so are in a working state. And of those 125, only around 45 are oceangoing surface warships or submarines that are in good shape and deployable.

By comparison, the U.S. Navy possesses some 290 warships. Pretty much all of them are well-maintained, deployable, oceangoing vessels.

All the same, a force of almost 50 large warships is no insignificant thing, and outguns the fleets of all but the most powerful countries. The problem is that today's Russian navy is old...  and won't last much longer.

Many, if not most, of the Soviet-vintage ships will decommission in the next few years as they became too old to sail safely and economically.

Under Pres. Vladimir Putin's regime, the Kremlin has laid plans to rebuild the fleet. But that's easier said than done when the vessels most badly in need of replacement are also the most difficult to build - heavy cruisers, powerful destroyers and Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's sole aircraft carrier, which is barely seaworthy after nearly three decades in service.

And it doesn’t help that Russia has invaded and alienated Ukraine, which built Admiral Kuznetsov and until recently supplied Russian shipyards with many of the heavy components they need to complete new warships.

 

[CougarKing]

Russia unable to maintain current production of new subs due to falling oil prices?

Defense News

Will Russia's Sub-Building Boom Matter?
By Christopher P. Cavas 4:25 p.m. EST January 24, 2015

WASHINGTON — The Russian Navy's submarine force is on a roll.

Four different kinds of submarines are under construction and more are coming. The country expects to lay down five new nuclear submarines in 2015.

The Navy is accepting Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, Yasen-class nuclear attack submarines, and Kilo- and Lada-class diesel electric attack submarines. Six Kilos are being built for Vietnam and more are offered for export.

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But can Russia sustain this prodigious submarine construction effort?

"The naval production we're likely to see this year is an artifact of decisions made some time ago when oil prices were fairly high and before a number of Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia," Mahnken said. "Whatever the Russians do this year, I think it'll be very hard for them to sustain naval production going forward."

Added Friedman: "Putin doesn't have that much money. And with the drop in oil prices, they have very bad problems."

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[CougarKing]

"Can they even afford it?" is the question that needs to be asked. Unless they intend to sell it to India or China.

Yahoo Finance/Business Insider

Russia claims it's in the early stages of developing an aircraft carrier that can hold 100 planes

According to Russia's TV Vezda, the carrier would be able to stow 100 aircraft onboard. The body of the carrier is also being designed to minimize drag by 20% compared to past Russian carriers. If built, the vessel would be Russia's first carrier to debut since the Admiral Kuznetsov, which launched in 1985. The Kuznetsov is Russia's only functioning carrier.

TV Vezda also stated that the ship would feature catapults on the ship's top to launch aircraft during storms. However, this claim is countered by the fact that the carrier's models feature a ski-ramp style aircraft in the front aircraft takeoff like older Soviet models, which did not have catapults .

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[Oldgateboatdriver]

If the past is indicative of anything, we won't see that ship for another 20 years.

Moreover, the number of aircraft on a carrier is not a relevant figure. The American carried more than 100 planes on their carriers during WWII. The aircrafts were a lot smaller than the ones they have now and I would not want them to fight today's war.

The real issue is therefore which aircraft type are they talking about, and how easily can those planes be defeated by a potential enemy.

 

[CougarKing]

OBGR,

Do you think it will be similar to the cancelled Ulyanovsk Class Soviet supercarrier of the late 1980's? It featured a ski-jump on the bow and two catapults on the waist:

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

It is quite possible. If experience serves, the Soviet/Russians seldom trow anything away, so it could serve as the starting point. However, the Ulyanovsk proved to be too complex an undertaking then, and it might still be now. Moreover, the design then presented in public (close to the one you posted) was severely criticized at the time for poor design of the upper deck/hangar arrangement, which was thought to be inimical to efficient cyclical ops (the constant switching from launching ops to recovery ops and so forth).

 

[OldSolduer]

So why doesn't Russia do what it always does?

Steal the design of a competitor nation? >

 

[Lightguns]

What an interesting parallel!  In order to build Bismack, the Germans went back to the Imperial Navy drawings of the Brandenburg class for a modern capital ship.  Interesting how rather than a new radical design, which is what a state that sets itself to first nation player should done, these European successor states look back to their glory days for ideas. 

 

[CougarKing]

Carrier Kuznetsov sailors sunbathing on a Cypriot beach one day?

BBC

Cyprus signs deal to allow Russian navy to use ports

Cyprus has signed an agreement with Moscow to give Russian navy ships access to Cypriot ports.Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed the deal after talks with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

The deal with Cyprus comes as tensions with the West over the Ukrainian conflict continue. President Putin said that other countries should not be concerned and that the port's main use would be for counter terrorism and anti piracy.

The island already hosts British military bases. Britain announced on Tuesday that it would be deploying troops to Ukraine as trainers.

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[a_majoor]

Proposed new Russian missile cruiser (although it is classed as a Destroyer, the description is certainly much closer to a guided missile cruiser.) The long timeline and lack of specific data on proposed fire control and radar systems certainly makes this more of a PowerPoint cruiser at this time, and of course Russia may have to make some very important prioritization decisions in order to afford even a fraction of the systems they are announcing:

http://rbth.com/defence/2014/11/12/designers_to_start_work_on_new_russian_destroyer_in_2015_41325.html

Designers to start work on new Russian destroyer in 2015

November 12, 2014Vladimir Scherbakov, special to RBTH

Russia’s new future destroyer will enter the design stages in 2015. The lead ship, the chief military purpose of which is to establish supremacy on the open sea, will become operative no sooner than 2025. It is presumed that the destroyer will be equipped with the Caliber cruise missile system and the Prometheus ZRK (anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile system).

Work on the design of the “Leader” is scheduled to begin in 2015. Source: Vladimir Scherbakov

The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the specifications for the design of a new destroyer, according to a report by news agency ITAR-TASS on Oct. 21, referencing a highly placed source in the domestic defense industry. The program for the creation of the vessel has been assigned the codename of “Leader.”

Work on the Russian “lord of the seas” has been entrusted to the Northern Design Bureau, the creator of practically all of the major surface warships in the Russian fleet. Work on the design of the “Leader” is scheduled to begin in 2015, but the construction of the first of the series of 12 ships – half a dozen for the Northern and Pacific fleets – is not expected before 2023-2025.

However, five years ago the fleet command confirmed that the construction of the destroyer would commence in 2012, while two years ago representatives of the United Shipbuilding Corporation mentioned 2016.

Admiral Nakhimov to become most powerful missile cruiser in Russian fleet

Of particular interest is the fact that the “Leader” program is said not to have been included in the state armaments program for 2020 and funds for the construction of destroyers may only be allocated within the framework of a shipbuilding program planned until 2050.

“The decision to change the date for the creation of ‘Leader’-type destroyers to 2023-2025 was completely justified,” the independent military and naval expert Alexander Mozgovoi explained to RBTH.

“First of all, the Russian shipbuilding industry simply cannot build such ships at the moment. Secondly, immense sums of money are needed to implement the program, but this money can currently be put to great use in other areas. Thirdly, some of the armaments systems meant for the ‘Leaders’ simply do not exist yet. They only exist on paper.” 

The long arms and sharp claws of the ‘lord of the seas’

It is believed that the main attack method for the “Leader” will be the Caliber integrated missile system which is exported under the name “Klub” and includes 3M-14 anti-ship and cruise missiles. These are designed for the destruction of important targets at great distances deep in enemy territory and have been called upon to serve as the “long arm” of the destroyer.

In addition, the Caliber has anti-submarine missiles that make it possible to destroy various enemy submarines with great efficiency, including silent non-nuclear subs.

Russian fleet to receive secret new cruise missile

The destroyer’s second “long arm” may be the Onyx strike system with supersonic cruise missiles. Moreover, both the Caliber and the Onyx can be used from the same launching unit. This gives Russian warships full versatility and real multi-tasking capabilities.

A version of the unique S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile system meant for ships will guarantee protection from air attacks. It is even capable of destroying targets located in nearby sectors of outer space. The ship will also get medium and close-range air and missile defense systems.

In addition, artillery and mine-torpedo equipment – used for fighting saboteurs, helicopters, and drones – will be installed on the “Leader”, as well as modern radar and sonar which will allow the destroyer’s crew to detect any air, water surface, or underwater targets, even small or inconspicuous ones, at distances of tens, even hundreds of kilometers.

However, the precise nature of the armaments to be carried by the “Leader” is not yet known - there are weapons systems still in the development stage which will only be available for use in the fleet after several years. In particular, the then-First Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin spoke in spring 2011 of work on the creation of the Zircon-S ship-based hypersonic missile system.

Nuclear or gas energy supply?

The most disputed issue in the “Leader” program is related to the choice of the destroyer’s main energy supply. So, according to the information published, the Ministry of Defense has ordered work on drafts for two options for the main energy supply – gas turbine and nuclear.

Upgrade of Russia’s strategic potential will be completed by 2020

“At the R&D stage, the ministry will conclusively determine which is more appropriate, a nuclear or conventional destroyer, or whether it should be both. The latter option is totally possible,” a highly-placed source in the Russian military-industrial complex told the ITAR- TASS news agency.

Yet questions remain, especially financial ones. Considering the current capacities of domestic shipbuilding, today’s complicated financial and economic situation, and fact that the surface water strength of the Russian fleet requires large-scale and rapid upgrading, does the Ministry of Defense think – even hypothetically – that it can allow itself the construction of destroyers with two types of power-generation units? Or even in midget batches – six nuclear and six gas turbine ships?

“Resuming a permanent presence on the world’s oceans should not be making a hole in the Russian budget,” the executive editor of the Independent Military Review, Oleg Vladykin, told RBTH.

- http://rbth.com/defence/2014/11/12/designers_to_start_work_on_new_russian_destroyer_in_2015_41325.html)

 

[CougarKing]

China and Russia spreading their joint global footprint:

Business Insider

China and Russia will hold joint naval drills in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time ever

China will hold joint naval drills with Russia in mid-May in the Mediterranean Sea, the first time the two countries will hold military exercises together in that part of the world, the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

China and Russia have held naval drills in Pacific waters since 2012.

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[Robert0288]

That's a bit of a trek if not transiting via the Suez.

 

[Blackadder1916]

That's a bit of a trek if not transiting via the Suez.

Why wouldn't they transit the canal?  Chinese warships have used it in the past.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/724411.shtml
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4261923,00.html

 

[Underway]

Canadian Naval Review's spring issue carried a nice article on the current state of Russia's Navy.

Some samples:

...............
A combined reading of the Russian National Security Strategy (2009), Military Doctrine (2014) and Foreign Policy Concept (2013) reveals that Russia sees four external threats: NATO expansion; the deployment of ballistic missile defence capability in Europe; regional and local wars on Russia’s borders; and terrorism/radicalism.  Collectively, the policy documents illustrate a perception of insecurity and vulnerability in the face of Western technological superiority, soft power and military operations in areas of interest to Russia. The policy tone is decidedly more anti-Western/American and considerably more nationalist than in the previous decade
..............

.................
Although Russia has not articulated a naval doctrine since 2001, the 2010 Russian National Maritime Policy made an oblique yet important reference to naval strategy. It observed that unfettered access to the world’s oceans was essential to Russia’s economic well-being and that beyond the critical tasks of defence and deterrence, the RFN could undertake maritime peace support and humanitarian operations, maintain freedom of the seas, and engage in naval diplomacy. In contrast to the defensive nationalist ndertones in Russian defence and security policy, this refl ects an outward-looking, potentially cooperative approach to maritime security not unlike those of Western states. Indeed, the RFN has been an active contributor to anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden since 2007. However, Russia’s disinclination to attach its ships to either NATO or European Union naval task forces suggests that while there is a common interest in assuring good order at sea, Russia prefers to act independently to achieve this, thereby avoiding any appearance of subordination to the West.
....................

In particular I like this section:

.............
Curiously, the RFN’s short-term outlook resembles that faced by the RCN: a temporary dip in the number of operational units while industry re-capitalizes and delivers new or upgraded capabilities plus the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled personnel. Also, lower energy prices aff ect the national revenues of both countries and could therefore slow the pace of naval re-capitalization. But while the quantity of new vessels under construction in Russia is meant to cover its dispersed maritime spaces imultaneously (a challenge also faced by Canada), it may also refl ect the age-old Russian belief that combat resilience is, in part, a function of mass. RCN planners who believe that quality can adequately compensate for quantity should take careful note. Smaller numbers of ‘exquisite’ ships may be a strategic handicap – even in operations short of combat.
................

 

[CougarKing]

Some updates on Russia's expanding sub fleet:

Diplomat

How Many Ballistic Missile Submarines Will Russia Build?
The head of the Russian Navy is considering increasing the number of SSBNs to be commissioned past 2020

Russia will continue building Borei-class fourth generation SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) submarines past 2020 the Russian Navy’s Commander in Chief, Admiral Viktor Chirkov recently told TASS in an interview.

“Our shipbuilding program is devised in a way that does not envisage a stop to the construction of Borei-class submarines after 2020,” Chirkov said at an international naval show in St. Petersburg last week.

Cherokee’s statement could indicate that Russia’s fleet of Borei-class submarines may increase from the currently planned eight to 12 by the 2020s. However, Chirkov emphasized that this is “depending on the situation and the development of international relations.”

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more:

Diplomat

Russia's Deadliest Sub Will Have a New Home by October
Construction at the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base is moving according to plan, a Russian official tells the press.

New Russian submarine facilities currently under construction on the Kamchatka Peninsula could be completed by the end of October USNI News reports.

The Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, located nine miles (15 kilometers) across Avacha Bay from the region’s capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, is home to most of Russia’s Pacific nuclear submarine fleet and will be the homeport of the Russian Navy’s new Borei-class (aka Dolgorukiy-class), Project 955, fourth generation SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) submarines.

According to the Russian Navy’s Commander in Chief, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, the construction on the base, which includes recreation facilities, warehouses, and a new crane used to install missiles on the subs, is moving according to plan:
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[CougarKing]

More to add to today's updates above:

Diplomat

Groundhog Day: ‘Russia Developing 5th Generation Sub’
Only seeing is believing when it comes to Russia’s ambitious 2050 shipbuilding program.

In any case, waiting for the completion of the Yasen project could take a while. The 13,800-ton, 390-foot long and highly automated Yasen-class of Russian attack submarines was supposed to replace older Soviet-era multi-purpose nuclear submarine models by 2020.

Yet, the exorbitant costs of the submarines — estimated to be twice as much as the new Borei-class SSBNs – has so far led only to the commissioning of one out of eight SSGNs, with a further three to four vessels likely to be completed by 2020.

The first of six Yasen-class multi-purpose attack nuclear submarines (SSGN) projected to enter service in the Far East over the next ten years will join the Pacific Fleet in 2017 at the earliest. Russia’s Northern Fleet currently operates one Yasen-class SSGN, the K-329 Severodvinsk, but was projected to receive six SSG

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International Business Times

Russia developing new "carrier-killer sub"
by Christopher Harress
July 7, 2015.

The Russian navy is developing two new fifth generation submarines with the ability to sink aircraft carriers and protect submarines that carry nuclear weapons, according to a Monday report from Sputnik, a pro-Russian news website. The project, which could be completed before the decade is out, is part of Moscow's $350 billion military modernization program aimed at reinforcing the Kremlin's current defense posture across Europe and gaining military parity with the United States.

Earlier in June, chief of the Russian Navy Viktor Chirkov confirmed that the new submarines had been designed by the Malakhit marine engineering design bureau and would be constructed by the Sevsmash shipbuilding company. "We need low-noise, fast-maneuvering submarines with the highest level of stealthiness and equipped with powerful weapons," said Chirkov, who also mentioned that the subs were likely to be completed by 2020. "In order to avoid pauses and standstill, we have started design work on developing submarines of the next, i.e. fifth generation."


(...full article at link above)

 

[CougarKing]

An Oscar class sub in the news:
G Captain

Russian Nuclear Submarine Rescues Sailors in Distress

A group of civilian mariners got the surprise of their lives this Sunday when a giant Russian nuclear submarine came to the rescue after they had sent out a distress signal.

Photos courtesy Russian Ministry of Defense

 

[CougarKing]

Updates on Russian naval aviation and shipbuilding progress:

Sputnik News

Su-33 Northern Fleet Navy Flankers Enter Into Kola Arctic Service
© Sputnik/ Yuriy Lashov
RUSSIA

22305290
The fleet of aircraft entered into service in defense of the air borders of the Kola area of the Arctic region following a ceremony on August 1; the aircraft is a naval fighter jet based on the Su-27.

A fleet of Su-33 navy flankers have entered service in the Kola zone of the Russian Arctic, the Northern Fleet of the Russian navy announced on Monday.

Three More Prototypes of Sukhoi T-50 Fighter to Start Flight Tests in 2015
"Pilots of the shipborne fighter aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet have begun service guarding the air borders of the Kola Arctic region using the deck-based Su-33 fighter jet – the naval equivalent of the multi-role Su-27 fighter jet," stated a spokesman for the Northern Fleet on Monday

Sputnik News

Russian Navy to Receive 17 Warships, 52 Support Vessels by Year's End
© Sputnik/ Igor Zarembo

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Navy will receive 17 warships and cutters, as well as 52 support vessels by the end of 2015, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.

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[MarkOttawa]

Extensive description, note Arctic--will bucks be there for building plans?

Russia's new maritime doctrine
http://www.janes.com/article/53643/russia-s-new-maritime-doctrine

Mark
Ottawa