Russian navy - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Naval Muscle: Russia’s Northern Fleet Is Getting Some Seriously Dangerous Submarines

Mark Episkopos — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 09:58:13 +0000

The Northern Fleet is now taking a major step to modernize its submarine force with a new hardware shipment slated for later this year.

From the Petr Velikiy battlecruiser to the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, Russia’s Northern Fleet is home to some of the newest, most advanced Russian surface ships. The same cannot be said of its aging submarine lineup, however. The Northern Fleet submarine force is largely comprised of 1980’s Soviet Detla IV and Sierra models, which are becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to maintain with incremental updates.

The Northern Fleet is now taking a major step to modernize its submarine force with a new hardware shipment slated for later this year. Admiral and Fleet Commander Nikolai Yevmenov informed Russian state news that, “In 2019, we are expecting the arrival of new logistics vessels and submarines.” Yevmenov added that the new submarines will be Knyaz Vladimir and Kazan, from the Borei and Yasen classes respectively.

Laid down in 2012, Knyaz Vladimir is the first entry in a newer line of 955A– also known as Borei II– submarines. The 955A generation brings several iterative improvementsover its 955 predecessors: target acquisition upgrades, new onboard electronics, updated communication systems, and redesigned living quarters.

Knyaz Vladimir will join the very first Borei vessel, Yuri Dolgorukiy , in replacing the Delta IV line as the Northern Fleet’s staple strategic nuclear submarine. Generic performance improvements notwithstanding, the Borei line introduces a critical, sorely-needed update to Russia’s nuclear triad: the new Bulava missile system . Boasting a 550 kiloton warhead and an effective range of up to 10,000 kilometers, the Russian Navy seeks to make Bulava-equipped Borei vessels the cornerstone of their nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) deterrent for decades to come.

On the tactical front, the introduction of Kazan marks a serious first step in the revitalization of the Northern Fleet’s decades-old attack submarine lineup. The second Yasen-class vessel, Kazan offers an expanded and markedly more deadly armament suite over its Akula and Oscar-class predecessors. Not only does the Yasen class support the standard submarine-launched variant of the Kalibr land attack cruise missile, but it apparently also accommodates the heavier, larger Kalibr-M missile with roughly double the range, at 4,500 versus 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers.

As the Arctic region becomes ever more militarized in the context of global Russia-NATO competition, it is hardly surprising that the Russian Navy is actively investing in the Northern Fleet. But submarine modernization comes neither cheap nor fast, and the Kremlin is unlikely to unlikely to commit the massive resources required to replace every Soviet-era submarine in the Northern Fleet roster with a modernized equivalent.

With two more Borei vessels commissioned over the next several years alone, the Delta IV line is on track to be completely phased out before 2040. But attack submarines pose a much more difficult value proposition, as a single Yasen vessel reportedly costs twice as much as its Borei counterpart.

So, where does the Northern Fleet go from here?

One potential route is consolidation; that is, saturating the Northern Fleet with modernized submarines at the expense of shrinking its total submarine roster. The other is iteration in the form of deep refits of existing submarines, as the Pacific Fleet has recently done with a modernized batch of old Kilo models.

Of course, the two are not mutually exclusive. It’s perfectly possible that Russia will opt for any number of hybrid development approaches; for instance, mass-producing new nuclear strategic submarines while extending the lifespan of existing attack submarines for as long as technically possible.

Mark Episkopos is a frequent contributor to The National Interest and serves as research assistant at the Center for the National Interest. Mark is also a PhD student in History at American University.

Source: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/naval-muscle-russias-northern-fleet-getting-some-seriously-dangerous-submarines-47827

[Disclaimer]

The post Naval Muscle: Russia’s Northern Fleet Is Getting Some Seriously Dangerous Submarines first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Russia develops new frigates capable of carrying nearly 50 cruise missiles – source

TASS (Russia) — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 09:39:41 +0000

The frigates will have a displacement of up to 7,000 tonnes

Kalibr cruise missile – Department of Press Service and Information of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/TASS

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. The Northern design bureau has started developing the construction documentation for modernized frigates of Project 22350M capable of carrying up to 48 Kalibr cruise missiles, a source in the defense and production sector told TASS on Sunday.

“The Northern design bureau has completed designing frigates of Project 22350M and is now developing working design documentation for these vessels in line with the customer’s tactical and technical order,” the source said.

The frigates will have a displacement of up to 7,000 tonnes. The vessels will also carry Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

The new frigates will have a universal automated fire control system for all destruction means. “This will significantly boost their combat capability,” the source stressed.

Russia’s Navy currently has in its service the lead ship of project 22350, the Admiral Gorshkov. The first serial Admiral Kasatonov frigate of project 22350 is running trials. These ships have a displacement of 4,500 tonnes, and each of them can carry up to 16 Kalibr cruise missiles.

Source: http://tass.com/defense/1049002

[Disclaimer]

The post Russia develops new frigates capable of carrying nearly 50 cruise missiles – source first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Russia Deploys Fleet Off Syria While Claiming U.S. Preparing for Possible Strike

Haaretz and Reuters — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 15:32:13 +0000

Up to 13 Russian warships have crossed the Bosphorus toward Syria so far this week as tensions between the U.S. and Syria continue to rise.

Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

UPDATE: Trump, Merkel Share Concerns Over Syria as Russia Continues Largest Naval Build Up Since War Began

The Russian Ministry of Defence said on Monday it had noticed Washington was building up its military forces in the Middle East in preparation for what Moscow feared was a possible strike on Syrian government forces, Russian news agencies reported.

Major-General Igor Konashenkov was quoted by agencies as saying that the USS Ross, a guided-missile destroyer, had entered the Mediterranean on Aug. 25 armed with 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of hitting any target in Syria.

Up to 13 Russian warships have crossed the Bosphorus toward Syria so far this week as tensions between the U.S. and Syria continue to rise, according to ship spotters based in the Bosphorus Strait.

Now in Med Sea:
CG Marshal Ustinov
DDG Severomorsk
DDG Yaroslav Mudryy
FFG Admiral Grigorovich
FFG Admiral Essen
FFL Pytlivyy
FSG Vyshniy Volochek
FSG Grad Sviyazhsk
FSG Velikiy Ustyug
LST Orsk
LST Nikolay Fil’chenkov
MS Turbinist
MS Valentin Pikul
SS Kolpino
SS Velikiy Novgorod

— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) August 25, 2018

Russia ramping up its presence in the eastern Med for the conclusion of #Syriacampaign: Rejoining Russian Navy’s Mediterranean deployment after 85 days, #ВМФ Project1135M #ЧФ BSF Krivak II frigate Pytlivy 868 transited Bosphorus towards Med en route to #Tartus. pic.twitter.com/56XWIWstKK

— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) August 24, 2018

The deployment of the Russian fleet comes as the U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike the Syrian Army ahead of the long-awaited battle of Idlib. Syria, Turkey, Russia and U.S. are about to square off in the northern Syria city with millions of civilians in the crosshairs

Turkey’s foreign minister said last Friday it would be disastrous to seek a military solution in the Idlib region, a rebel-held enclave which the Syrian government says it aims to recapture.

Idlib is a refuge for civilians and rebels displaced from other areas of Syria as well as for powerful jihadist forces. It has been hit by a wave of air strikes and shelling this month in a possible prelude to a full-scale government offensive.

Turkey has backed some rebel groups in the region and set up a dozen military observation posts. It is trying to avert an attack by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Moscow.

Source: https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/russia-claims-u-s-preparing-for-possible-strike-on-syria-1.6420955

[Disclaimer]

The post Russia Deploys Fleet Off Syria While Claiming U.S. Preparing for Possible Strike first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Navy Is Gearing Up For A Fight With Russia In The North Atlantic

Jared Keller — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:17:46 +0000

The Russian and Chinese navies have become increasingly active in the North Atlantic over the last five years, necessitating a return to a “competitive mindset” among U.S. Navy commanders, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said Monday.

“We’re talking about more [activity] than we’ve seen in 25 years,” Richardson said of Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic in an interview with Voice of America, adding that the Chinese Navy “is certainly a pacing competition for us in terms of the naval threat.”

Vice Adm. Charles A. Richard, the new head of U.S. Submarine Forces and Allied Submarine Command, put it more bluntly when he assumed command on August 3: “Prepare for battle!”

“This was Admiral Tofalo’s direction, and it is mine as well,” said Richard, referring to his predecessor, Vice Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo. “It is only by being prepared for battle that we can hope to avoid it. If we cannot, our nation expects and demands victory. We shall not fail!”

The admirals’ warnings reflect threats described in the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which calls upon the U.S. military to make “great power” competition with nations like Russia and China its primary focus rather than combating terrorism.

In May, the Navy announced the reactivation of the 2nd Fleet to oversee naval operations along the East Coast of the United States and across the Northern Atlantic to counter the growing threat of Moscow’s territorial ambitions pose to NATO allies.

The Navy says tackling this threat requires a shift in mentality across the force.

“Our Navy leaders are clearly communicating the need for every Sailor to take a more competitive mindset,” the Navy told Task & Purpose. “In order to maintain America’s maritime superiority, it’s imperative that we’re laser-focused on increasing our warfighting lethality and readiness not only within our Navy, but also with our joint sister services and our allies and partners.”

Despite the broad threat of Chinese subs operating in the North Atlantic, it’s the bellicose Russian military that the Navy is particularly worried about. In 2016, Adm. James Foggo III described tensions between Russia and the U.S. as the “fourth battle of the Atlantic” after the surface and sub encounters that marked World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

“Once again, an effective, skilled, and technologically advanced Russian submarine force is challenging us,” Foggo said. “Russian submarines are prowling the Atlantic, testing our defenses, confronting our command of the seas, and preparing the complex underwater battlespace to give them an edge in any future conflict.”

‘Complex underwater battlespace’ is an understatement. In his VOA interview, Richardson noted that Americans sailors are increasingly dealing with advanced jamming equipment. “This is an emerging part of our business now,” he said. “Those disruptive technologies…are really going to be decisive in the future fight, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re investing in those as well.”

And that’s not to downplay the rising threat of the China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, which has rapidly expanded its submarine fleet over the last decade and expects to boast 70 subs by 2020, according to the Department of Defense.

There is, however, at least one Pentagon official who doesn’t seem phased by all the recent commotion in the Atlantic . When asked about Richardson’s VOA interview on Tuesday, Secretary of Defense James Mattis brushed off the question.

“We watch all submarine activity,” he said. “[I’m] not concerned about it.”

Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/navy-north-atlantic-russia-china/

[Disclaimer]

The post The Navy Is Gearing Up For A Fight With Russia In The North Atlantic first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Russia flexes muscle, test-fires four Bulava nuclear ICBMs from submarine

Zee News — Thu, 24 May 2018 07:41:09 +0000

The Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles were test-fired within a few seconds of each other from the submerged nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy.

Photo: Youtube grab (Минобороны России)

In a major show of strength, the Russian Navy on Tuesday successfully test-fired fired four intercontinental nuclear Bulava ballistic missiles from a submarine in the White Sea. The submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulavas, which can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads of 100-150 kilotonnes each and have a range of 8,300 kilometres, were test-fired within a few seconds of each other from the submerged nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy.

“On May 22, the Project 955 Borei-class strategic nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy made a successful test salvo launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the designated area in the White Sea to targets at the Kura shooting range on the Kamchatka Peninsula within combat training. The missiles were fired from a submerged position, successfully completing the mission. The test confirmed combat readiness of the Project-955 Borei SSBN and the Bulava missile system. It was the first-ever salvo fire from this type of submarines. The SSBN crew demonstrated high professional skills in preparing for the test launch and in the process itself,” the statement posted on Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation website said. A video of the test firing was also posted on the site.

The nuclear submarine Yury Dolgorukiy, commissioned in 2014 and capable of carrying up to 16 Bulava missiles, had earlier test-fired the ICBM on June 26, 2017 from the Barents Sea. The same submarine had conducted the salvo launch of two Bulava missiles on September 27, 2016 from the White Sea towards the Kura practice range.

The 12.1 metres long Bulava has a diameter of 2 m and a launch weight of 36,800 kilogrammes. The missile uses a three-stage solid propellant and entered service in 2013.

Yury Dolgorukiy has a capacity to not only carry 16 Bulavas but is also armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles. The submarine has a full displacement of 24,000 tonnes, is almost 160 metres long and 13 metres wide.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/world/russia-flexes-muscle-test-fires-four-bulava-nuclear-icbms-from-submarine-2111011.html

[Disclaimer]

The post Russia flexes muscle, test-fires four Bulava nuclear ICBMs from submarine first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.