NEW! Upgrade to Pro Hosting and receive Ad-Free Webtools + More!

russian navy Site

A country that `has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role' was how Dean Acheson famously described Great Britain in 1962. The parallel with modern Russia may not be exact but, nevertheless, encapsulates the problems of a nation perceived as a minor league economy which maintains superpower pretensions despite reduction of the military by some 80 per cent since the Cold War. Further manpower reductions, contraction of industrial capacity, infrastructure and support and cuts in a bureaucratic and top-heavy military staff system are all needed. Transformation of the military into an all-professional force along Anglo-American lines might also be considered. Of course, such drastic measures are easier said than done and it is not surprising that they are proving especially difficult to implement for a Russian military hierarchy that has grown up and thrived in the Soviet system. The tragic loss of the Kursk was widely interpreted as being a symptom of the parlous state of the Russian Navy. However, a very different message had been an objective of the major Northern Fleet summer exercise, the setting of the incident. The largest Barents Sea manoeuvres for several years were to give expression to the new naval doctrine that had been published on 4 March 2000. Participation by some 30 submarines and surface units was to conclude with the deployment of the Navy's largest surface vessel, the carrier Kuznetsov to the Mediterranean. While it is implicitly acknowledged that competition with the United States on a worldwide basis is fruitless and unaffordable, the new doctrine outlined a number of important maritime tasks that add up to an important and continuing role for the Russian Navy. First, as land-based strategic missiles reach the end of their operational life and are not replaced, the Navy will become responsible for deployment of an increasing proportion of the strategic deterrent. Second Russia, for all the size of its landmass, remains a maritime nation with large areas of interest that include the strategic approaches to the country from east and west, a large exclusive economic zone, reliance on extensive maritime trade and a big merchant fleet.

There is a realisation among Russian policy makers of the need to maintain a credible naval capability. Speaking in November 1999 Prime Minister Putin announced that a decree on the modernisation of the fleet was to be drafted and that the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was to be deployed to the Mediterranean in 2000. This marks a pattern of increasing Russian naval activity that has seen attack submarines operate in the Cold War stamping grounds of the Mediterranean and Eastern Pacific, carrying out simulated attacks on US naval forces. While the SSBN fleet is contracting - perhaps to a force of 25-30 vessels - there is considerable effort in developing the SSN fleet, with the `Akula II' and Severodvinsk classes replacing dated `Victor I' and `II' class submarines. The construction of surface vessels, by contrast, is slow and largely limited to smaller combatants, notably the Neustrashimy class frigate and Sovremenny II destroyer.Overall, it has had to adopt a `survival and denial' strategy, concentrating on maintaining smaller surface combatants and a powerful submarine arm both to protect Russia's waters and deny other powers the seas it cannot itself control. However, decisions such preserving all the type 1144 Ushakov (ex-Kirov) class battle cruisers in service has a number of implications for how Russia envisages the use of sea power in the early 21st century. The extensive investment involved in keeping these warships in service shows that Russia continues to have a commitment to blue water operations involving large missile cruisers. This may indicated that new doctrine will continue to reflect the Soviet era concept of layered defence, keeping enemy naval forces as far away from home waters as possible.

The Kuznetsov Class heavy aircraft carrying cruiser, also known as Project 1143.5 or Orel Class, was constructed at Nikolayev South Shipyard on the Black Sea in the Ukraine. The Admiral Kuznetsov, was launched in 1985. A second-of-class vessel, the Varyag, was launched in 1988 but was never commissioned. Admiral Kuznetsov is the only aircraft carrier in the Russian Navy.The Admiral Kuznetsov supports strategic missile carrying submarines, surface ships and maritime missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian fleet. The ship has the capacity to support 16 Yakovlev Yak-41M (NATO code name Freestyle), twelve Sukhoi Su-27K (NATO codename Flanker) fixed-wing aircraft and a range of helicopters including four Kamov Ka-27-LD (NATO codename Helix), 18 Kamov Ka-27 PLO, and two Ka-27-S. The ship has a Granit anti-ship missile system equipped with twelve surface-to-surface missile launchers. The Klinok air defence missile system, with 24 vertical launchers and 192 missiles, defends the ship against anti-ship missiles, aircraft and surface ships. The ship is equipped with an Udav-1 anti-submarine system with 60 anti-submarine rockets. Udav-1 protects surface ships and submarine by diverting and destroying incoming torpedoes.

The Kirov Class provides the capability to engage large surface ships and to defend the fleet against air and submarine attack. Four cruisers were built but only Admiral Nakhimov (commissioned in 1988) and Pyotr Velikhiy (commissioned in 1995) remain active.The ship is armed with the Granit (Nato designation SS-N-19 Shipwreck) long-range anti-ship missile system. Twenty Granit missiles are installed under the upper deck, mounted at a 60° elevation. An S-300F Air Defence Missile Complex is installed on the ship, with twelve launchers and 96 vertical launch air defence missiles. The Osa-MA Air Defence Missile System is supplied by the Znamya Truda Plant based at Saratov. The ship has two double launchers and 40 missiles. The Kirov is fitted with a 130mm AK-130 multipurpose twin-barrel gun. The ship has ten torpedo tubes for 20 Vodopad-NK anti-submarine missiles or torpedoes. The ship has two anti-submarine and anti-torpedo rocket systems, the Udav-1 with 40 anti-submarine rockets and the RBU-1000. The ship accommodates three Kamov Ka-27PL or Ka-25RT helicopters.

The Slava class was designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-air and ASW capability. This smaller contemporary of the Kirov may have been intended as a less-expensive complement to the larger ships. The sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox anti-ship missiles are mounted in four pairs on either side of the superstructure, giving the ship a distinctive appearance. Many sources credit the Slava with the ability to carry nuclear armed SA-N-6 surface-to-air missiles, and 21-inch nuclear torpedoes, in addition to the SS-N-12. Soviet sources denied that the SA-N-6 missiles on the ship was even nuclear capable.

The Sovremenny Class destroyer has a maximum displacement of 8480t and is similar in size to the USA Navy's Aegis-equipped missile cruisers. It is armed with an anti-submarine helicopter, 48 air defence missiles, eight anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, mines, long-range guns and a comprehensive electronic warfare system. The first-of-class Sovremenny was commissioned in 1985. A total of 18 have been built for the Russian Navy , eleven of which are in service, six are no longer operational and one more (launched in 1994) is awaiting commission.The ship is equipped with the Raduga Moskit anti-ship missile system with two four-cell launchers installed port and starboard of the forward island and set at an angle about 15°. The ship carries a total of eight Moskit 3M80E missiles.Two Shtil surface-to-air missile systems are installed, each on the raised deck behind the two-barrelled 130mm guns. Shtil is the export name of the SA-N-7, NATO reporting name Gadfly

Project #1135 Burevestnik [Krivak I] was an entirely new design, initially believed in the West to be designed for offensive surface warfare. In reality, the class was intended primarily as a defensive ASW ship. The Krivak was designed as a less expensive and capable counterpart to the larger Kresta II and Kara classes, with which it originally shared the BPK designation. In the late 1970s the designation changed to SKR (Storozhevoy Koabl') or small antisubmarine ship, a more accurate indication of their actual capabilities.

Designed primarily as an anti-submarine warfare platform, with a long cruising range and underway replenishment capabilities, Udaloy class ships provide support to surface task forces. Udaloy reflects design changes that addressed the shortcomings of the previous Krivak program; namely the lack of helicopter facilities, limited sonar capabilities, and light air-defenses.  The Udaloy has two helicopter hangars with doors that serve as a ramp to the flight deck. The ship uses a Polinom active/passive search/attack sonar system. The Udaloy’s air-defense system consists of 8 Klinok launchers, and the AK-630 and AK-100 gun mounts.

The Neustrashimy class frigate was built at the Yantar Shipbuilding Plant in Kaliningrad, Russia. The first of class ship, the Neustrashimy was commissioned in 1993. Two more ships have been launched – Yaraslavl Mudry, in 1991 and Tuman in 1993. The ship is armed with the Uran anti-ship missile system with two eight-cell launchers (16 missiles). The Uran system launches the Kh-35 cruise missile.The Neustrashimy is equipped with the Klinok air defence missile system. Four vertical launch modules, each with eight missiles, are mounted just behind the 100mm gun. The Klinok 9M330 missile (NATO designation SA-N-9 Gauntlet). The ship is fitted with the Kashtan (NATO designation SA-N-11 Grisson) air defence gun/missile system, comprising one command system with two combat modules (64 missiles and 600 rounds) mounted either side of the satellite communications dome.The ship has a helicopter landing deck and a hangar which accommodates a single Kamov Ka-27 (NATO codename Helix) helicopter.

The Project 1239 Sivuch small missile air cushion ship is primary intended for coast defense operations. These very large surface-effect ship corvettes have proven mechanically unreliable. Completion of these units was much-delayed and they probably are not effective combat units. Two ships in service now - for future series intended for Black Sea/Baltic Fleets of Russian Federation.

This heavily armed Small Missile Ship [Malyy Raketnyy Korabl' MRK] feature more gun and anti-air defense capabilities compared to previous Soviet missile ships. The remarkable amount of fire power and electronics mounted on such a small platform apparently was purchased at the price of poor sea-keeping characteristics. All Nanuchka I class ships are being scrapped, though it is difficult to establish how many remain operational, and in particular which units remain in service

The Grisha class antisubmarine ship is designed to search for and destroy enemy submarines found in coastal areas. It has a limited sea-going capability.As with most other classes consisting of large numbers of small units, the identity and status of most individual units of the Grisha class is poorly attested. The correlation between construction sequence and current status and the names and numbers of most listed units is largely conjectural.

The Pauk class Small Antisubmarine Ship (Malyy Protivolodochnyy Korabl' MPK) is designed to search for and destroy enemy submarines in coastal areas. The ship’s hull is made from steel and its superstructure is made from light alloy. The Pauk has a limited sea-going capability, and is not an all weather vessel.

The Typhoon ballistic missile nuclear-powered (SSBN) submarines are the largest submarines ever to be built. The first of the six members of the class to be commissioned was TK 208 in 1981. The submarines are stationed with the Russian Northern Fleet at Litsa Guba. Russia has begun scrapping its Typhoon submarines, assisted by the United States, through the Co-operative Threat Reduction Program. The Typhoon class submarine is of multi-hulled design – five inner hulls are situated inside a superstructure of the two parallel main hulls. Maximum diving depth is 400m. Speed is 12 knots when surfaced and 25 knots when submerged. Typhoon is capable of spending 120 days at sea. The submarine carries 20 RSM-52 intercontinental, three-stage solid propellant ballistic missiles. It has the NATO designation of SS-N-20 Sturgeon.Typhoon has four 630mm torpedo tubes and two 533mm torpedo tubes with a total of 22 anti-submarine missiles and torpedoes of varying types.

The Russian Navy operates seven Delta IV class strategic missile submarines. The submarines operate in the Northern Fleet and are based at the Saida Guba Naval Base. The submarines were built at the Severodvinsk Shipyard from 1981 to 1992. The first of class, K51, was commissioned in December 1985. In Russia, they are referred to as the Delfin or Dolphin class Project 667 submarines. The submarine design is similar to that of Delta III (Project 667 BDR). The submarine constitutes a double-hulled configuration with missile silos housed in the inner hull. The Delta IV submarines are strategic nuclear missile submarines designed to carry out strikes on military and industrial installations and naval bases. The submarine carries the RSM-54 Makeyev missile (NATO designation: SS-N-23 Skiff) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The submarine is also capable of launching the Novator SS-N-15 Starfish anti-ship missile or Mk 40 anti-ship torpedoes.

The development of the 667BDR Delta III ballistic missile submarine began in 1972 at the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering. This strategic submarine is equipped with the D-9R launch system and 16 R-29R missiles, and is the first submarine that can fire any number of missiles in a single salvo. The Delta III is equipped with the "Almaz -BDR" battle management system ensuring firing of deep-water torpedos. The inertial navigational system "Tobol-BD" is of the Delta II was replaced with the "Tobol-M-1" system, and subsequently with the "Tobol-M-2". The Delta III is also equipped with the "Bumblebee" hydroacoustic navigational system to determinate its position through hydroacoustic buoys. Instead of the hydroacoustic system "Kerch" was used on the 667BD submarines, the Delta III uses the new "Rubikon" hydro-acoustic system.The advanced Delta III SSBN entered service in 1976, and by 1982 a total of fourteen submarines were commissioned. All of them were build at Severodvinsk. The operational lifetime of these submarines is estimated to be 20-25 years.

As a cruise missile submarine, the Oscar was designed primarily to attack NATO aircraft carrier battle groups. To cope with its resource problems, the Russian Navy, in the early 1990s, made an effort at preserving its core submarine force capabilities. The Russian Navy continued to invest in new construction. In the late 1990s, it completed several new submarines of the third-generation Oscar II. A dozen of the larger Oscar II submarines were built between 1985 and 1999 at the Sevmash yard in Severodvinsk. Two have been decommissioned and one, the Kursk, sank. Five Oscar II submarines are active with the Northern Fleet and four with the Pacific Fleet. The submarine is equipped with 24 SS-N-19 Granit (NATO codename "Shipwreck") cruise missiles with a range of 550km. Under the START treaty, nuclear warheads for these missiles have been replaced with high explosive warheads. The missiles, which are launched while the submarine is submerged, are fired from tubes fixed at an angle of approximately 40°. The torpedo tubes fire both torpedoes and shorter range anti-ship missiles, and a combination of some two dozen weapons are carried. The SS-N-16 wake-homing torpedo has a range of 50km and speed of 50 knots and is powered by a liquid fuel turbojet engine. On the 12th August 2000, the Oscar II nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, Kursk (K 141) sank in the Barents Sea, with the loss of all 118 crew.

The Russian Navy has 14 Bars class Project 971 submarines known in the West as the Akula class nuclear powered submarines (SSN). A number of Russian Akula class submarines are deployed in the Pacific region. The Akula class carry up to twelve Granat submarine launched cruise missiles. The missiles are fired from the 533mm torpedo launch tubes. Granat (NATO designation: SS-N-21 Sampson) has a range of about 3,000km and delivers a 200kt warhead. The submarine's anti-ship missiles are the Novator SS-N-15 Starfish and the Novator SS-N-16 Stallion. An air defence capability is provided by a Strela SA-N-5/8 portable missile launcher with 18 missiles. The submarine has eight torpedo launch tubes, four 650mm and four 533mm tubes. The Improved Akula and Akula II have ten, with six 533mm tubes.

The Russian Kilo Class submarine first entered service in the early 1980's . Subsequent developments have led to the current production versions, the Type 877EKM and most recently, Type 636. The submarines are constructed at the Admiralty Shipyard in St Petersburg. 24 Kilo Class submarines are in service in the Russian Navy (most of the older designs).The Type 877EKM is designed for anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface ship (ASuW) warfare. Type 877EKM has a displacement of 2,300t when surfaced and 3,950t submerged. Maximum diving depth is 300m. The Type 877EKM has six 533mm torpedo tubes and carries 18 heavyweight torpedoes. The submarine has a launcher for eight Strela-3 or Igla surface-to-air missiles.

The Project 775 Ropucha Large Landing Ship (Bol'shoy Desatnyy Korabl' BDK) is a beachable, general-purpose LST-type design with bow and stern ramps for unloading vehicles. A slightly smaller successor to the Alligator class, they were all built in Poland three distinct production runs. The last three units were an improved version with some variations in detail. Many have been retired, and remaining units may be in reserve, given the Russian Navy's decreased emphasis on amphibious operations.

The Project 1174 Large Landing Ship was built by the Yantar Shipbuilding Plant at Kalingrad. Three ships were built, the Ivan Rogov, the Aleksandr Nikolaev and the Mitrofan Moskalenko. Only the Mitrofan Moskalenko is still in service with the Russian Navy. The ship provides sealift and landing of troops and equipment. Military materiel is landed via a bow ramp and also via assault boats through the doors of the flooded well. The ship has the capacity for the military lift of one battalion of 520 marines and 25 tanks. If no landing craft are carried then the additional space in the docking bay allows a total of 53 tanks or 80 armoured personnel carriers to be transported.The OSA-M (NATO codename Gecko) air defence missile system. supplied by the Znamya Truda Plant in Moscow, provides defence against anti-ship missiles, aircraft and surface targets. The ship carries 20 missiles.The ship is equipped with two close-range, portable, Strela-3M air defence missile systems, each system having a quadruple launcher.The Project 114 ship accommodates four helicopters.

The Ka-27 and Ka-28 are naval anti-submarine helicopters and the Ka-29 is a naval combat and transport helicopter, designed and manufactured by the Kamov Design Bureau in Russia. The helicopters are known in the West by the Nato reporting name Helix. Over 60 Ka-27/28s and 15 Ka-29s are in service with Russia. The mission of the helicopters is to detect, track and destroy submerged submarines at a depth of 500m and running at speeds up to 75kph at any time of year and in all weather conditions. The Ka-28 has both day and night operations capability. The Ka-29 is the naval combat and transport helicopter version of the Ka-27. The mission of the helicopter is to land navy and infantry units with armament from combatant ships, ensure fire support for seaborne assault troops, ferry personnel and cargo from ship bases, and supply vessels to combatant ships.

The MiG-29K was initiated in 1984 as a Russian Air Force development program for a multi-role fighter, and in 1989 - 1991 the MiG-29K underwent tests aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser. The MiG-29K differed from the MiG-29 production model, featuring a new multi-function radar, dubbed Zhuk; a cabin with monochrome display and use of the HOTAS (hands-on-throttle-and-stick) principle; the RVV-AE air-to-air active homing missiles; antiship and antiradar missiles; as well as air-to-ground precision-guided weapons.  The MiG-29K program was revived in response to the decision of the Indian Navy to acquire the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier. The MiG-29K has a Phazatron Zhuk-M (N-010) pulse Doppler radar, which has a planar slotted antenna array which is capable of acquiring 32 sq. ft. radar cross section airborne targets at a range of 50 miles. Due to an integrated weapon selection panel, the MiG-29K can use a wide range of weapons, which includes no less than eight types of air-to-air missiles and 25 air-to-surface weapons. The weapon selection system enables the pilot to fire more than one type of weapon per attack. The aircraft is armed with an internal 30mm GSh-301 gun, with 150 rounds.

Su-33 (Su-27K) is a carrier-based variant that first flew in May 1985, and entered service in the Russian Navy in 1994. The air regiment comprising 24 fighters of the type was formed up on Russia's only operating aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. It has extra small wings near the pilots cabin which shorten the take-off distance and improve manoeuvrability.  The Su-33 can also carry guided missiles such as the H-25MP, H-31 and H-41. The Su-33 is used in both night and day operations at sea, and operate with the command center ship and with the Ka-31 early-warning helicopter. With the R-27EM missiles it can intercept antiship missiles.

Sources : 

	Naval Technology
	FAS

Welcome to the World's Military Site. Have Fun and visit the World''s Armed Forces Forum. Also visit this site for more...

If anyone of these materials are copyrighted, please let me know and I will remove them : rishav111@rediffmail.com

Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Easiest Website Builder ever! · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Audio, Fonts, Clipart
powered by bravenet.com