Navy of the Russian Federation. Navy

VOYNO-MAROVOSKY FLEET (VMF), a branch of the armed forces (AF), designed to solve strategic and operational tasks in ocean and maritime theaters of operations; in a number of states - naval forces (Navies). In terms of its combat capabilities, the modern Navy is capable of delivering nuclear strikes on important enemy ground targets, destroying the forces of its fleet at sea and at bases, disrupting (disrupting) ocean and sea transportation, gaining dominance in maritime (ocean) areas, assisting ground forces (ground forces) in conducting operations on the continental theater of operations, defending their sea (ocean) transportation, and landing amphibious assault forces. The Navy conducts operations and conducts combat operations independently or jointly with other branches of the Armed Forces. The main properties of the Navy: high mobility, greater autonomy, the ability to operate in any area of ​​the World Ocean, constant combat readiness and high combat stability of its submarine forces and aircraft carrier groups.

The development of the fleet began in ancient times. In Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and China, merchant ships were initially built, and later military rowing ships. In the Greek navy in the 5th century BC, the main class of warship was the trireme. The most common types of ships in the Roman fleet in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC were the trireme (the same as a trireme) and the pentera (a large ship with 5 rows of oars). In the 1st century BC, in Rome, along with these types of ships, libburns appeared - small ships with single-row oars and greater maneuverability. The main methods of armed warfare at sea were ramming and boarding. Later, throwing machines began to be used as weapons - ballistas and catapults, installed in the bow of the ship and firing stones and incendiary shells. In the 7th century AD, the Venetians, based on the Roman liburna, created an improved type of rowing ship - the galley, which gradually replaced other types of rowing ships and by the end of the Middle Ages became the main warship. In the 10th-12th centuries, sailing ships appeared in a number of Mediterranean countries, as well as among the Anglo-Saxons, Normans and Danes. The transition from rowing ships to sailing ships was completed by the mid-17th century. Artillery becomes the main weapon of sailing ships. In the 16th and 17th centuries, permanent navies were created in England, France, Spain and Holland. By the beginning of the 18th century, ships began to be divided into classes and ranks depending on their displacement, number of guns and crew size. At the same time, the combat organization of the sailing fleet took shape - squadrons appeared. The tactics of naval combat by sailing fleets consisted of forming their ships in a wake column, taking a windward position in relation to the enemy ships and, approaching them, destroying them with artillery fire. If the artillery duel did not lead to success, the battle ended with a boarding battle.

The creation of a regular Russian navy began in 1696, when, by decree of Peter I, in order to fight for access to the Azov and Black Seas, the Azov Flotilla was built on the Voronezh River. During the Northern War of 1700-21, the Baltic Fleet was created, which promoted Russia to one of the major naval powers. Already at the beginning of its formation, the Russian fleet won its first victory over the Swedish fleet in the Gangut naval battle of 1714 and subsequently wrote many heroic pages in Russian history.

In the 2nd half of the 18th century, the development of industry, science and technology made it possible to significantly improve the design of ship hulls, their sails and artillery weapons. The displacement of battleships increased from 1 to 4 thousand tons, the number of guns increased to 135, naval artillery was improved (bronze guns were replaced by cast iron, the rate of fire increased to 1 shot per 3 minutes, the firing range - from 300 to 600 m). The sailing fleet has reached its peak.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the first steam warships appeared. After the Crimean War of 1853-56, all states switched to the construction of steam armored ships. The transition to the construction of a steam fleet coincided with the introduction of rifled naval artillery, which had a greater firing range and accuracy. The advent of mines and then torpedoes in the 1870s led to the creation of minelayers and destroyers. Rapid technological progress has led to the creation of three main types of ships in the navy: squadron battleships for artillery combat; cruisers for patrol service, reconnaissance and destruction of merchant ships; destroyers to complete the battle with a mine and torpedo attack on damaged ships. The increasing role of the Navy at the end of the 19th century (the theory of “sea power”, the founders were the American Rear Admiral A. T. Mahan and the British Vice Admiral F. H. Colomb) was associated with the active colonial policy of the leading states of the world.

After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, battleships appeared in the fleets, which became the decisive force in the armed struggle at sea. They were constantly being improved: the number of main caliber artillery barrels, its range and rate of fire (up to 2 rounds per minute), armor, and speed increased. Due to technical improvements, the role of torpedo weapons in naval combat has increased, and instead of destroyers, destroyers (destroyers) equipped with artillery and torpedo weapons have appeared in the fleets. For reconnaissance, combating enemy destroyers and operations on sea lanes, light cruisers were built in many countries. Improvements in internal combustion engines, electric motors, batteries and periscopes created the prerequisites at the beginning of the 20th century for the construction of submarines (submarines), which in most states were originally intended to combat enemy surface ships in coastal waters and reconnaissance. In a number of countries, the construction of seaplanes began.

During the 1st World War, hundreds of surface ships, submarines, and at its last stage, aircraft, took part in battles at sea. Battleships were used extremely limitedly due to the sharply increased mine danger, the threat from submarines and other combat weapons. Light cruisers found widespread use, the displacement of which by the end of the war increased to 8 thousand tons, and the speed of up to 30 knots (55.5 km/h) or more. Destroyers proved themselves to be universal-purpose ships, which became the most numerous in the fleets of the warring states; their displacement was increased to 2 thousand tons, speed - up to 38 knots (70 km/h). Minelayers were further developed. Special types of minesweepers appeared: squadron (fast), base and minesweeper boats. Submarines began to play an important role in combat operations at sea, which became an independent branch of the Navy, capable of successfully solving not only tactical, but also operational tasks. During World War I, aircraft carriers, patrol ships, and torpedo boats appeared. For the first time, naval aviation began to be used, whose aircraft carried out reconnaissance, bombed ships and fleet bases, and corrected naval artillery fire. Along with bombs, torpedoes became the weapons of naval aviation aircraft. The Navy began to transform into a branch of the Armed Forces, uniting formations and units of surface ships, submarines, aviation and marines, with the dominant role of surface ships.

During the period between the 1st and 2nd World Wars, preference was given to the construction of battleships. Ships of other classes - aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, etc. - were intended to support the operations of battleships. In 1937-38, Great Britain, Japan and the USA switched to serial construction of aircraft carriers. Cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and torpedo boats were intensively built. The fleets included bomber, mine-torpedo, reconnaissance and fighter aircraft. The ships were equipped with improved artillery and torpedo weapons, proximity mines and new anti-submarine weapons appeared, and radar and sonar began to be used.

In World War II, the scope of military operations at sea increased significantly. During the war, battleships gave way to aircraft carriers as the main striking force. Naval aviation (deck-based and ground-based) has received intensive development. The role of submarines, which were used mainly to combat surface ships, increased. Aviation, submarines and mine weapons were used to combat enemy submarines. Air defense ships began to be used as part of fleets. The war confirmed the conclusion that the goals of armed struggle at sea are achieved through the combined efforts of the diverse forces of the fleet.

In the post-war period, in the construction of the navies of many foreign countries, and primarily the United States, the main efforts were directed towards the creation of nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft carriers. There has been a qualitative renewal of the Navy's aircraft fleet. Surface ships began to be equipped with anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft missiles, and nuclear submarines with strategic missiles. The saturation of naval aviation ships and aircraft with various radio-electronic equipment has sharply increased. Anti-submarine and amphibious helicopter carriers, ships and hydrofoil boats, hovercraft, etc. appeared.

In Russia, after 1917, the Navy was created and developed as an integral part of the Armed Forces of the RSFSR (since 1924 - the USSR). The decree on the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF) was adopted by the Council of People's Commissars on January 29 (11.2), 1918. During the Civil War of 1917-22, the RKKF formed over 30 sea, lake and river military flotillas, mainly from ships of the Baltic Fleet. Most of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, due to the threat of being captured by the German occupiers, were scuttled in the Novorossiysk area on June 18, 1918; some of the ships went into the Sea of ​​Azov and formed the core of the Azov military flotilla. The ships operating on the side of the White movement were withdrawn to Tunisia in November 1920. After the end of the Civil War, only a few ships remained from the Russian Imperial Navy that required repairs.

In 1926, the first Soviet military shipbuilding program was adopted. By 1929, a significant part of the ships had been repaired, destroyers and partly battleships had been modernized, and naval bases had been restored. In 1929-40, due to the construction of new ships, the Baltic and Black Sea fleets were strengthened, and the Pacific (1935) and Northern (1937) fleets were created. For the direct leadership of the Navy, the People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was formed (December 1937). At the same time, the People's Commissariat of the USSR Shipbuilding Industry was separated from the People's Commissariat of the Defense Industry of the USSR. In 1938, a program for the construction of a large sea and ocean fleet was adopted. At the same time, new forms and methods of conducting combat operations at sea and directions for the development of naval forces were actively studied. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the USSR Navy included about 1 thousand warships of various classes (including 3 battleships, 8 cruisers, 54 destroyers and leaders, 212 submarines, 22 patrol ships, 80 minesweepers, 287 torpedo boats), over 2, 5 thousand naval aircraft and 260 coastal artillery batteries. The naval force basing system has improved significantly.

During the Great Patriotic War, the USSR Navy conducted combat operations to destroy enemy fleet forces, disrupted its sea communications, protected its sea, lake and river transportation, and assisted coastal groupings of Soviet troops in conducting defensive and offensive operations. The Northern Fleet, together with the Allied Navy (Great Britain, USA), provided communications connecting the northern ports of the USSR with the ports of these states, and carried out active operations on the enemy’s sea communications. To ensure the safety of ship traffic in the Arctic, and in particular along the Northern Sea Route, the White Sea Military Flotilla was created. In 1942, the Northern Fleet was entrusted with the defense of the Sredny and Rybachy peninsulas. The Baltic Fleet took part in the defense of Liepaja, Tallinn, the Moonsund Islands, the Hanko Peninsula, the Oranienbaum bridgehead, the islands of the Vyborg Bay and the northern coast of Lake Ladoga, and also played an important role in the heroic defense of Leningrad. The Black Sea Fleet, together with the Northern Forces, defended Odessa, Sevastopol, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and participated in the defense of the North Caucasus. On high-water rivers and lakes, river and lake flotillas were used to create defensive lines together with the Northern Forces: Pinskaya, Chudskaya, Ladoga, Onega, Volzhskaya, and a detachment of ships on Lake Ilmen. From the Azov military flotilla, detachments of ships were allocated to operate on the Don and Kuban rivers. The Ladoga military flotilla provided communications across Lake Ladoga (Road of Life) with besieged Leningrad. The sailors of the Volga Military Flotilla made a great contribution to the defense of Stalingrad and to ensuring important national economic transportation along the Volga. In 1943, the Dnieper military flotilla was recreated, and in 1944, the Danube military flotilla. The ships of the Dnieper flotilla, relocated to the Oder River basin, took part in the Berlin operation of 1945. The Danube flotilla took part in the liberation of Belgrade, Budapest and Vienna. The Pacific Fleet and the Amur Military Flotilla in August - September 1945 participated in the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army and the liberation of Korea, Manchuria, South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. The Navy sent about 500 thousand sailors and officers to the land fronts. Military sailors fought near Odessa, Sevastopol, Moscow, Leningrad. During the war years, the Soviet Navy conducted over 100 naval operational and tactical landing operations. For military services in the Great Patriotic War, 78 ships were awarded the Guards rank, about 80 formations and units were awarded honorary titles, and over 240 ships, units and various formations of the Navy received state awards. More than 350 thousand sailors were awarded orders and medals, over 500 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 7 of them twice.

In the post-war period, the USSR Navy developed taking into account the experience of the Great Patriotic War on the basis of the achievements of science and technology. Diesel and nuclear submarines for various purposes, missile ships and boats, and anti-submarine ships capable of successfully fighting modern submarines were created. Naval aviation received jet aircraft capable of carrying missiles over long distances and hitting ships of various classes, and was replenished with anti-submarine aircraft and helicopters. Missile systems have entered service with the Navy. The Marine Corps received the military equipment necessary for amphibious landings on an unequipped coast.

The Navy of the Russian Federation is the successor to the Russian Navy and the USSR Navy, designed to ensure military security from sea and ocean directions, protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its allies in the World Ocean by military methods, and maintain military-political stability. In addition, the Navy creates and maintains conditions to ensure the safety of the Russian Federation’s maritime economic activities in the World Ocean.

The Navy of the Russian Federation consists of naval strategic nuclear forces and general-purpose naval forces (troops). Includes: submarine forces, surface forces of the fleet, naval aviation and air defense, coastal troops, which are the branches of the forces (troops) of the Navy, as well as special troops (reconnaissance, communications, radio engineering, electronic warfare, marine engineering, ship repair, hydrographic, etc.) and rear. Coastal troops, in turn, are divided into types of troops: marine infantry, coastal missile and artillery troops and coastal defense troops. Organizationally, the Navy includes the Baltic, Northern, Pacific and Black Sea fleets, as well as the Caspian military flotilla and formations, units, institutions of central subordination. The main striking force of the Navy is strategic missile submarines, multi-purpose nuclear submarines and naval missile-carrying aircraft.

The navies of the United States, Great Britain, France and China include: strategic nuclear forces (nuclear-powered missile submarines) and general-purpose forces (aircraft carriers, battleships, multi-purpose submarines, escort ships, fire support ships, various landing ships, etc.), as well as aviation Navy and Marine Corps. The navies of Italy, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and other NATO member countries, as well as Sweden, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the Arab Republic of Egypt, India, Israel, Pakistan, Japan, etc. include diesel submarines, surface ships, naval aviation, marines and auxiliary vessels (for more details, see the articles about these states).

Lit.: Battle chronicle of the Russian fleet. Chronicle of the most important events in the military history of the Russian fleet from the 9th century to 1917. M., 1948; Gorshkov S.G. Sea power of the state. 2nd ed. M., 1979; The combat path of the Soviet Navy. 4th ed. M., 1988; Vyunenko N.P., Makeev B.N., Skugarev V.D. The Navy: role, development prospects, use. M., 1988; Armed forces of the main capitalist states. M., 1988; Firsov I.I. Peter's creation: To the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet. M., 1992; Berezovsky N.Yu., Berezhnoy S.S., Nikolaeva Z.V. Combat chronicle of the Navy, 1917-1941. M., 1992; Military encyclopedia. M., 1994. T. 2; Gribovsky V. Yu., Razdolgin A. A. History of the Russian fleet. St. Petersburg, 1996; Russian science - to the Navy. M., 1997; Kostev G. G. The country's Navy, 1945-1995: Ups and downs. St. Petersburg, 1999.

The Navy is a specific branch of the Armed Forces that guards the interests of Russia. They are ready to defend their homeland in the ocean and sea theaters of military operations. The Navy is ready to cooperate with the Ground Forces during possible continental wars.

Navy flag

Since 1992, the fleet has regained the historical flag of the Russian Navy, thereby continuing the interrupted tradition. Under it, as before, sailors perform important tasks in maintaining the country's defense capability.

Missions of the fleet in peacetime

In peacetime, the fleet's potential serves to deter possible aggression of a potential enemy against the Russian Federation. Continuous combat training is underway. It would seem that the time is peaceful, but somewhere along their routes missile-carrying submarines (RPLSN) are continuously on combat duty. In strategically important areas, search, observation and escort of submarine-launched submarines and aircraft carrier groups of a potential enemy are carried out. Its intelligence and communications are being counteracted. A preliminary survey of areas of possible military operations is being carried out.

The Russian Navy is ready to protect the coast, act together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops in the event of civil conflicts, and when eliminating the consequences of disasters, work together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and civil defense.

It is obvious that it is the Naval Forces that represent the best guarantee for the implementation of national economic activities in the World Ocean. They represent the Russian Federation in the vast expanses of water, and, at the direction of the command, perform representative functions by visiting ships. The Russian Navy also fulfills interstate obligations by participating in peacekeeping operations ratified by the world community, provided they comply with the interests of the country.

Tasks of the fleet in wartime

In wartime, the fleet is ready to actively defend the sovereignty of the state in the exclusive zone, as well as on the continental shelf. In addition, he should also carry out a specific “maritime task” in the face of military threats - to defend the freedom of the high seas. To carry out the above tasks at the time specified by the combat work standards, it is transferred to a military state through operational deployment. If it is possible to localize a conflict or prevent it by protecting shipping, this function is performed first.

In the conditions of the active phase of hostilities, the Russian Navy fleet must hit remote enemy ground targets, ensure the combat operation of the submarine-launched missile launchers, strike the enemy’s submarine and surface naval forces, coastal defenses, protect the Russian coast, and interact with ground front-line force groups.

Fleet Composition

The leadership of the military fleet is carried out by the Main Command of the Navy. This refers to the management of its functional forces and assets: surface and underwater, naval aviation, coastal troops, coastal artillery and missile forces, and marines.

Organizationally, the Russian Navy consists of the following operational-strategic associations: the Baltic, Northern, Pacific, Black Sea fleets, as well as the Caspian flotilla.

Northern Fleet

The naval bases are Severomorsk and Severodvinsk. It is called ocean-going, atomic, missile-carrying. The basis of its combat power is made up of nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarines and torpedo submarines, missile-carrying and missile-carrying aircraft, submarine-launched, missile ships, as well as the aircraft carrier - the flagship of the fleet, the nuclear-powered heavy missile cruiser "Peter the Great". At the same time, this mighty warship is the flagship of the Russian Navy.

The length of this missile cruiser is 251.1 m, width is 28.5 m, height from the level of its main plane is 59 m, displacement is 23.7 thousand tons. The mighty “heart” of the giant are two nuclear reactors. The autonomy of the Russian flagship is determined by the food supply for the crew on board, which is enough for about 2 months. Technically, thanks to its reactors, the cruiser can sail unlimitedly - without entering ports. The maximum speed of the ship is 31 knots.

The Northern Fleet is the most formidable operational-strategic formation. The warships that make up its might are regularly assigned combat training missions for the purpose of combat training. For example, the fleet’s flagship crosses the Atlantic Ocean together with accompanying ships approximately once every year and a half, and has participated in the international exercises Vostok-2010 and Indra-2009.

Baltic Fleet

It is serving near the “window to Europe.” Its composition (ships) is now being intensively modernized and updated. The process is taking place against the backdrop of NATO countries building up their military power in Europe. The Baltic Fleet is planned to be strengthened with new Project 11 356 frigates with eight anti-ship cruise missiles and anti-submarine missile torpedoes on board.

This operational-strategic formation is based in the Kaliningrad region (Baltiysk) and in the Leningrad region (Kronstadt). Functionally, it protects the Baltic economic zone, promotes the safety of ships, and performs foreign policy functions. This is the oldest Russian fleet. Its history began with the victory over the Swedish ships on May 18, 1703. Today, 2 - “Restless” and “Persistent” - form the basis of the combat power of the Russian Baltic Navy.

Its combat potential is formed by a brigade of diesel submarines, a division of surface ships, auxiliary ship formations, coastal troops, and naval aviation. The flagship ship is the destroyer Nastoychivy. This year, ship navigation systems (hydrometeological complexes, cartographic systems, hydro-navigating indicators, etc.) are being updated, and modernization of the Baltiysk harbor is planned.

Black Sea Fleet

After Crimea entered the Russian Empire in 1783, under Empress Catherine the Great, this fleet was created. Today it is based in the cities of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. Since March 18, 2014, the main base of the Black Sea Fleet - the city of Sevastopol - became part of Russia.

The Russian Black Sea Navy has 25 thousand people. It consists of the following forces and means: diesel submarines, ocean-sea surface ships, naval aviation (fighter, missile-carrying, anti-submarine). The main tasks of this fleet are to protect the Black Sea economic zone and ensure navigation. The flagship of the fleet is the missile cruiser Moskva.

Currently, military observers are reporting the formation of the Black Sea naval coastal forces and artillery with supporting radio military units equipped with S-300PM2 and Pantsir-S1 air defense systems. It is expected that the naval aviation of the fleet will be strengthened by MiG-29 and Su-27SM aircraft, and Su-25SM attack aircraft. It is also planned to reinforce anti-submarine aviation by additionally equipping units with Il-38N aircraft, Ka-52K attack helicopters and deck-based Ka-29M and Ka-27 helicopters.

As reported in the press, a regiment of Tu-22M3 bombers will be stationed at the airfield in Gvardeyskoye. They will be able to tactically support Russian Navy ships of the Mediterranean squadron. At the same time, the formation of land military units on the peninsula is taking place.

Pacific Fleet

This Russian fleet ensures the protection of Russian interests in the Asia-Pacific region. It is based in Vladivostok, Fokino, and Maly Ulisse. The basis of combat power is made up of strategic submarine missile cruisers, nuclear and diesel submarines, ocean-going surface ships, naval aviation (fighter, missile-carrying, anti-submarine), and coastal troops. The flagship of the fleet is the missile cruiser Varyag.

This fleet performs an important strategic task of nuclear deterrence. Nuclear submarines are constantly on combat duty routes. The Pacific ships of the Russian Navy provide guaranteed protection of the regional economic zone.

Caspian flotilla

The Caspian flotilla is based in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk. The region of this sea is its area of ​​​​responsibility. Organizationally, the flotilla is a component of the Southern Military District. It is formed by brigades and divisions of surface ships. The flagship of the flotilla is the Gepard patrol ship, equipped with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles. It is tasked with countering terrorism, navigation safety, and protecting the state interests of Russia in the oil-producing region.

Ships included in the Russian Navy

At first glance, it is difficult for a non-specialist to even imagine the ship composition of the Russian Navy, but nevertheless, as it turned out, this information is freely available. This allows you to “embrace the immensity”: to present summary data on the fleets of a power occupying 1/5 of the landmass in a convenient, compact form (see Table 1). Let us comment on the abbreviation made in the table: for the sake of compactness, the fleets in it are indicated in capital letters.

Table 1. Ship composition of the Russian Navy as of the beginning of 2014.

Class	WITH	B	T	KFL	H	Total
Missile submarines cruiser strategist. appointments	10		4			14
Diesel/electric submarines	8	2	8		2	20
Multi-purpose nuclear submarines, armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles	18		10			28
Special purpose nuclear submarines	8					8
Special purpose diesel submarines	3	1	2			6
Total - submarine fleet	47	3	24	0	2	76
Heavy atomic missiles. cruisers	2		2			4
Heavy aircraft carrier cruisers	1					1
Rocket. cruisers	1		1		1	3
Squadron destroyers	3	2	4			9
Distant patrol ships		2			3	5
Large anti-frost. ships	5		4		1	10
Close patrol ships		3		2		5
Small rockets. ships	3	4	4	2	4	17
Small artillery. ships				4		4
Small anti-frost ships	6	7	8		7	28
Rocket. boats		7	11	6	5	29
Anti-sabotage. boats		1	1	1	3	6
Artillery. boats	2			5		7
Long-range minesweepers	4		2		7	13
Raid minesweepers	1	15		5	2	23
Close minesweepers	6	5	7	2	2	22
Large landings. ships	4	4	4		7	19
Landing. boats	4	6	4	6	2	22
Landing. ships on air shower		2				2
Total - surface fleet	42	56	52	33	44	227

Prospects for the development of the Russian Navy

Let us analyze the prospects for the development of the fleet, based on an interview given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Viktorovich Chirkov.

The very logic of the development of the Fleet as a complex, integral organism, the admiral believes, does not accept hasty decisions.

Therefore, its development is planned as a strategic process until 2050. The goal of further progress is associated with increasing the effectiveness of the enemy’s nuclear deterrence.

The plan provides that the Russian Navy will receive the latest ships in 3 stages:

• from 2012 to 2020;
• from 2021 to 2030;
• from 2031 to 2050.

At the first stage, the construction of fourth generation nuclear submarine cruisers will be completed. The main carrier of ballistic weapons will be Project 955A RPLSN.

The second stage will be marked by the replacement of existing RPLS with their IV generation analogues. It is also planned to create a ship-based strategic missile system for surface ships. At the same time, the development of fifth-generation nuclear submarine cruisers will begin.

At the third stage, it is planned to begin the construction of tested fifth generation nuclear cruisers.

In addition to fundamentally increasing the potential characteristics of the Russian Navy, the newest ships - strategic submarine cruisers and submarine-launched submarines - will be characterized by increased stealth, low noise, perfect communications, and the use of robotics.

Challenges facing coastal troops

Let us recall that we have previously named the main bases of the Russian Navy for all its fleets. However, the planned development of the fleet for the period until 2050 will certainly affect the coast guard. What accents does Commander-in-Chief Chirkov see in it? Considering the bases of the Russian Navy in the process of their further strategic development, Viktor Viktorovich is betting on completing the creation of coastal missile systems, training and equipping the Marine Corps to perform tasks in the North.

Conclusion

Although the basis of the organizational structure of the Russian Navy will not change (4 fleets and 1 flotilla), heterogeneous highly maneuverable strike forces will be created within their framework. In the spirit of their creation, the successful development of unmanned vehicles, artificial intelligence systems, marine robotic systems, and non-lethal weapons continues.

Summing up the review of the Russian fleet, we should pay special attention to the prospect of its renewal with ships of the IV, and then the V generation. At the same time, the basis of the Navy's power after the plan is implemented will be the fifth generation nuclear submarine cruisers. A fundamental increase in combat power will be accompanied by the improvement of command and control systems and the integration of naval forces into interservice groupings of troops in possible theaters of combat operations.

To conclude our modest presentation of the Russian Navy, here is a photo of its nuclear-powered flagship, the missile cruiser Peter the Great.

The Russian naval forces were created to ensure the security of the state's maritime borders and demonstrate military power in the international arena. The possibility of political influence in the world depends on how seriously other countries take our fleet. That is why the country's leadership has always paid special attention to the development of the fleet.

Historical reference

Peter I, who was a great admirer of the sea and ships, made a great contribution to the development of the fleet of the Russian Empire. During his reign, the first large military ships appeared, equipped at that time with modern weapons. Thanks to this, Russia was able to defend many of its lands, both from the north and the south.

During the existence of the Soviet Union, it was built a large number of heavy warships, many of which continue to perform their functions today.

History of the creation of the Russian Navy

Structure and deployment of the Russian Navy

Submarines

Submarines are divided into the following types:

• Multi-purpose diesel-electric submarines - the Halibut, Varshavyanka and Lada types - currently have 18 ships in service. They carry Kalibr cruise missiles, ZM-54 and Onyx anti-ship missiles, and mine-torpedo weapons.
• Strategic missile submarine cruisers of the "Squid" and "Dolphin" type - 10 units, which are equipped with R-29R and R-29RM ballistic missiles, SET-65, SAET-60M and 53-65K torpedoes, Vodopad anti-ship missiles.
• Nuclear torpedo submarines, including those equipped with cruise missiles, of the following types: “Pike”, “Akula”, “Barracuda”, “Condor”, “Antey”, “Shchuka-B” and “Ash”. The total number of vessels in service is 17 units. It is armed with Kalibr cruise and anti-ship missiles, S-10 Granat and Oniks, and USET-80 homing torpedoes.
• SSBN "Borrey" - 3 vessels, including solid-fuel ballistic missiles "Bulava", torpedoes 533 mm and 324 mm, cruise missiles "Oniks" and "Caliber", etc.

Destroyers

The Russian fleet includes 6 escort destroyers of the Sarych class, which carry the following weapons:

• P-270 “Moskit” missiles, “Uragan” air defense system;
• Anti-submarine RBU-1000;
• SET-65 torpedoes.

Battleships

The last battleships were in service with the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century; with the advent of Soviet power, this type of ship was not produced due to lack of need.

Frigates

Russian Project 22350 frigates are under construction. At the moment, 8 ships have been ordered, 2 of which have already been launched and are being tested. Planned weapons: Broadsword air defense system, ZM55 anti-ship missile system, Redut air defense system, PLR 91R2, PTZ Planet-NK and others.

Boats

When talking about missile boats, which are also called light corvettes, we mean the types 12411T Molniya-1 and 12411 Molniya-1. The total quantity is 26 units. The missile armament includes the P-15 Termit anti-ship missile launcher, the P-120 Moskit anti-ship missile launcher, the Strela-3 MANPADS and the Kortik air defense system.

Minesweepers

Russian minesweepers are gradually leaving Russia's arsenal, as their functions are performed by modern submarines. The ships currently in service include RBU-1200 launchers, Igla and Strela-3 air defense missile launchers.

Corvettes

Project 20380 corvettes began to be produced in 2001; currently there are 5 ships in service, which include the Uran anti-ship missile system, the Kortik-M air defense system, and the Redut air defense system. At the end of 2018, the Project 20385 amphibious corvette is planned to be commissioned.

Russian Navy (Navy of the Russian Federation ) is one of the three branches of the state's armed forces.

It is intended for armed defense of the interests of the Russian Federation, conducting combat operations in the sea and ocean theaters of war. The Russian Navy is capable of launching nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets, destroying its fleet groups at sea and at bases, disrupting the enemy’s ocean and sea communications and protecting its maritime transportation, assisting the Ground Forces in landing amphibious assault forces, and participating in repelling enemy landing forces.

Modern Russian Navy is the successor to the USSR Navy, which, in turn, was created on the basis of the Russian Imperial Navy. The birth of the Russian regular navy is considered to be 1696, when the boyar Duma issued a decree “There will be sea-going vessels.” The first ships were built at the shipyards of the Voronezh Admiralty. Over its 300-year history, the Russian fleet has gone through a glorious military path. 75 times the enemy lowered their flags in front of his ships.

Russian Navy Day celebrated on the last Sunday of July. This holiday was established by a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in 1939.

OPPORTUNITIES AND TASKS OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY

The importance of the Navy in the modern world is difficult to overestimate. This branch of the armed forces is best suited for the global projection of military power to any region of the globe. Specific capabilities inherent only to the Navy are:

1) Mobility and high autonomy, with the ability to reach any point in the World Ocean through neutral waters. While the mobility of the Ground Forces is, as a rule, limited within the borders of their own country, and the autonomy of Navy aircraft does not exceed several hours of flight, naval groups can operate for months at any distance from their bases. High mobility makes it difficult to launch strikes, including nuclear ones, against a deployed enemy naval group, because during the time required to prepare a strike, it can shift significantly, and not always in a predictable direction.

2) High firepower and range of modern shipborne weapons. This allows the navy to hit targets located several hundred or even thousands of meters from the coast. Thus, the Navy is an important instrument of “non-contact” warfare. Combined with mobility and autonomy, this property allows one to exert military pressure on almost any (albeit with some restrictions) state in the world.

3) Short response time to a crisis situation. Possibility of rapid redeployment to a crisis region without long-term political and infrastructural costs.

3) The secrecy of the actions of the Navy's submarine forces. No other branch of the armed forces has this capability. It is the strategic submarine missile cruisers on combat duty that are the factor that can significantly limit the actions of a potential aggressor. After all, the exact location of underwater strategic cruisers is unknown; some of them may be very close to the shores of a potential enemy, and in the event of aggression against Russia, they are capable of delivering a retaliatory strike with monstrous consequences.

4) Versatility of application. The navy can be used in operations of various kinds:

• show of force,
• combat duty,
• naval blockade and protection of communications,
• peacekeeping and anti-piracy activities,
• humanitarian missions,
• transfer of ground forces,
• coastal protection,
• conventional and nuclear war at sea,
• strategic nuclear deterrence,
• strategic missile defense,
• landing operations and combat operations on land (independently or in cooperation with other types of armed forces).

Let us dwell on some aspects of the use of the Navy. What a demonstration of force is was shown quite recently, when a Russian Navy squadron led by the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR entered the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, the possibility of an external invasion of Syria was prevented. From that same time, a series of military successes began for the Assad regime in the fight against the “rebels.” But the United States has the greatest potential for demonstrating power. We can say that they demonstrate strength continuously in all key points of the globe, and this is an integral part of American foreign policy.

The United States also currently takes a leading position in the creation of a naval component of missile defense (BMD). The fleet is considered here as a maritime component of the global missile defense system. Interception of ballistic missiles is carried out by specially developed interceptor missiles launched from sea carriers under the control of the Aegis system. It is very likely that in the foreseeable future the Russian Navy will receive its own analogue of the Aegis. The media reported plans of the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2016 to begin construction of six destroyers equipped with elements of anti-missile and anti-space defense.

The Navy, as a global military instrument, must have its own air and land components. This is exactly what we see in the US Navy. Well-equipped expeditionary divisions of the US Marine Corps, with armored vehicles, aircraft and logistics support units, are capable of arriving anywhere in the world in the shortest possible time and landing on the coast for the purpose of conducting humanitarian, counterinsurgency operations, or full-scale combat operations. This is the essence of US colonial policy, and the Navy is its universal instrument. Russian sailors also had to fight a lot on land, but in a different way. Sailors went to the front in a critical situation and, as a rule, on their own soil. And this is not only the Civil War and the Second World War. In such purely land wars of recent Russian history as the First and Second Chechen Wars, it was not without the participation of sailors.

In peacetime, the Russian Navy performs the following tasks:

• deterrence from the use of military force or the threat of its use against the Russian Federation;
• protection of the country's sovereignty, extending beyond its land territory to internal sea waters and the territorial sea, sovereign rights in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, as well as freedom of the high seas;
• creating and maintaining conditions to ensure the safety of maritime economic activities in the World Ocean;
• ensuring Russia's naval presence in the World Ocean, demonstrating the flag and military force, official visits;
• ensuring participation in military, peacekeeping and humanitarian actions carried out by the world community that meet the interests of the state;
• ensuring the personal safety of Russian citizens located in foreign coastal states in the event of conflict situations arising in them.

In peacetime, the tasks of the Russian Navy are solved by carrying out the following activities:

• combat patrols and combat duty of strategic missile submarines (SSBN) in established readiness to strike designated targets of a potential enemy;
• combat support of the RPLSN (ensuring the combat stability of the RPLSN) on routes and in combat patrol areas;
• searching for nuclear missile and multi-purpose submarines of a potential enemy and tracking them along routes and in mission areas in readiness for destruction with the outbreak of hostilities;
• observation of aircraft carrier and other naval strike groups of a potential enemy, tracking them in areas of their combat maneuvers in readiness to strike them with the outbreak of hostilities;
• revealing and hindering the activities of enemy reconnaissance forces and means in the seas and ocean areas adjacent to our coast, observing and tracking them in readiness for destruction with the outbreak of hostilities;
• ensuring the deployment of fleet forces during a threatened period;
• identification of communications and equipment of ocean and sea theaters in strategically important areas of the World Ocean;
• study of probable areas of combat operations and conditions for the use of various branches of the naval forces, the use of weapons and technical means;
• monitoring the activities of foreign fleets;
• protection of civil navigation;
• implementation of foreign policy actions of the country's leadership;
• protection and security of the State Border of the Russian Federation in the underwater environment;
• protection and security of the State Border of the Russian Federation in airspace and control of its use;
• protection of the State border of the Russian Federation on land and sea by military methods;
• assistance to the Border Troops of the FSB of the Russian Federation in protecting the State Border, the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation;
• assistance to internal troops and internal affairs bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in suppressing internal conflicts and other actions using means of armed violence on the territory of the Russian Federation, ensuring public safety and a state of emergency in the manner established by the legislation of the Russian Federation;
• sea ​​coast defense;
• assistance to the civil defense troops and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation in eliminating the consequences of accidents, disasters, fires and natural disasters.

The tasks of the Russian Navy in wartime are as follows:

• ensuring the combat stability of strategic missile submarines;
• defeating strike naval groups of enemy naval forces and gaining dominance in the near sea (ocean) zone, creating favorable conditions for actions in the coastal direction;
• protection of vital sea communications;
• landing amphibious assault forces and ensuring their actions on the shore;
• delivering fire strikes against aggressor troops from sea directions;
• protecting your coastline;
• blockade of the enemy coast (ports, naval bases, economic coastal areas, strait zones);
• in the event of the use of nuclear weapons by the enemy - destruction of ground objects on its territory, participation in the first and subsequent nuclear strikes.

It should be added that the World Ocean is both a colossal source of resources and a global transport artery. In the future, the importance of ocean control is likely to only increase. A pressing problem for Russia is the growing competition for control over the resources of the Arctic Ocean, which today looks increasingly promising from an economic point of view. And a strong navy is for Russia the key to the wealth of the North.

STRUCTURE AND COMBAT COMPOSITION OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY

The structure of the Russian Navy includes the following forces:

• surface;
• underwater;
• naval aviation;
• coastal troops.

Separate forces are special forces, logistics support and hydrographic service.

Let's take a closer look at each of the above types of forces of the Russian Navy.

Surface forces

They provide access to submarine combat areas, their deployment and return to bases, as well as transportation and cover of landing forces. Surface forces are assigned the main role in protecting communications, laying and eliminating minefields.

The surface forces of the Russian Navy have the following classes of ships:

Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser(TAKR) Project 11435 - 1 (“Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”) as part of the Northern Fleet. The cruiser was put into operation in 1991. The main attack weapons of the aircraft carrier are 12 Granit anti-ship missile launchers and an air wing consisting of carrier-based training aircraft Su-25UTG and Su-33 fighters, as well as Ka-27 and K-29 helicopters. Currently, the air wing actually includes 10 Su-33 fighters. These aircraft lack strike capabilities; their task is long-range defense of an aircraft carrier group. After the planned large-scale modernization, the TAKR air wing will increase to 50 aircraft, of which 26 are MiG-29K or Su-27K fighters. It is also planned to replace the current unreliable boiler-turbine power plant with a gas turbine or nuclear one.

Heavy nuclear missile cruisers(TARK) Project 1144 “Orlan” - 4. These are the largest and most powerful non-aircraft-carrying attack ships in the world. Their main armament is 20 Granit anti-ship missile launchers. At the moment, the Russian Navy has only one combat-ready cruiser of this project - “Peter the Great” in the Northern Fleet. The rest - “Kirov”, “Admiral Lazarev”, “Admiral Nakhimov” - for various reasons were not operational and were in storage for a long time. Currently, work has begun on their repair and modernization. Commissioning of these ships is planned in 2018-2020.

Missile cruisers Project 1164 "Atlant" - 3, of which one ("Marshal Ustinov") is under repair until 2015. The main armament is 8x2 anti-ship missile launchers P-1000 "Vulcan". There are two cruisers of this type in service - the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet GRKR "Moscow" and the flagship of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy RKR "Varyag".

All of the cruisers described above have extremely high striking power. They are intended primarily to strike large enemy surface ships, provide air defense and combat stability of naval groups, and fire support for landing forces. By the way, Project 1164 cruisers are sometimes called “aircraft carrier killers,” but this is an exaggeration. The P-1000 supersonic anti-ship missiles really have no analogues in the world, and a hit from several of these missiles can send an aircraft carrier to the bottom, but the problem is that the range of American carrier-based aircraft is much greater than the flight range of Russian (and any other) anti-ship missiles .

Large anti-submarine ships (LAS) - 9. This is a specific class of ships in the Soviet and Russian fleets. In Western fleets, these ships could be classified as destroyers. Currently, the Russian Navy has 7 BOD Project 1155 "Fregat", 1 BOD 1155.1 and 1 - 1134B. As the name suggests, BODs are primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare. The priority armament is anti-submarine, including Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters. Guided missile weapons are represented by air defense systems. There are no anti-ship missile weapons. True, information recently appeared in the media that BOD Project 1155 will be modernized. The modernization of the BOD will include equipping it with modern A-192 cannons, Caliber missiles and the latest air defense and missile defense system with S-400 Redut missiles. To control the new weapons, the ship's electronics will also be replaced. Thus, BODs will gain versatility and, in terms of their combat capabilities, will actually be equal to destroyers.

During the modernization, one of the BOD Project 1155 “Smetlivy” was converted into a TFR for the far sea zone.

Destroyers (DES) Project 956 “Sarych”, there are 7 in the fleet, another one is undergoing repairs and modernization. Currently, Project 956 destroyers are obsolete and cannot compete with American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The advantage of American destroyers is their versatility (their Mk 41 launcher houses the entire range of anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles) and the presence of the Aegis system. The Russian fleet has nothing like this yet. It must be admitted that while in other countries (USA, Japan) destroyers are the “backbone” of military fleets, in the Russian Navy they are represented extremely insignificantly. We can talk about the imbalance of the Russian fleet in this regard. However, at present, the requirements for a promising destroyer of the Russian Navy have been formulated and its development is underway.

Corvettes Project 20380 “Guarding” – 3 (5 more are under construction). These are the latest multi-purpose ships of the 2nd rank in the near sea zone. They carry balanced weapons: anti-ship missiles (2x4 Uran anti-ship missile systems), artillery (1x100 mm A-190), anti-aircraft (4x8 Redut air defense systems, 2x6 30-mm AU AK-630M), anti-submarine (2x4 330-mm TA) and aviation (1 Ka-27PL helicopter).

Patrol ships (TFR)- 4. Of these, Project 11540 "Yastreb" - 2, Project 1135 and 1135M - 2. Another 3 ships of Project 1135M are part of the Coast Guard of the FSB of Russia.

Missile ships (RK)– 2, project 11661 “Cheetah”. According to the NATO classification, these ships belong to the class of frigates; in Russia, until 2003, they were considered patrol ships, but they are distinguished from conventional TFR by incomparably more powerful weapons: 1x76-mm guns, two 30-mm automated guns (on the lead ship of the Tatarstan series "), torpedo tubes, RBU, anti-ship missile systems (on the ship "Tatarstan" - the Uran anti-ship missile system with X-35 missiles, on the "Dagestan" - the universal Kalibr-NK anti-ship missile system, which can be used to launch several types of high-precision cruise missiles missiles; "Dagestan" became the first ship of the Russian Navy to receive this complex), anti-aircraft weapons (on "Tatarstan" - "Osa-MA-2", on "Dagestan" air defense system "Broadsword").

Small anti-submarine ships– 28. These are mainly ships of projects 1124 and 1124M, built in the 1970s – 1980s. last century. The main armament is anti-submarine and torpedo; There are artillery, air defense systems and electronic warfare equipment.

Small rocket ships(MRK, according to the Western classification - corvettes) - 14 ships pr.1234.1 and 1234.7 "Gadfly". Ships of this series were built from 1967 to 1992. Despite their small size, RTOs have high striking power. The main strike weapons are 6 P-120 Malachite anti-ship missile launchers, or 4 P-20 Termit-E anti-ship missile launchers or 12 Oniks anti-ship missile launchers. The Russian Navy also has two latest-built river-sea class missiles, Project 21631 Buyan-M, armed with 1x8 Kalibr or Onyx anti-ship missiles, artillery and machine gun mounts, and a 30-mm anti-aircraft gun.

Large missile boats(RKA) – 28, various modifications of project 1241 “Molniya” (1241.1, 12411T, 12411RE, 1241.7). The boats are equipped with anti-ship weapons - 4 ZM80 Moskit missiles and 1x76-mm AK-176 AU, and electronic warfare equipment. Anti-aircraft weapons are purely symbolic - 1 Strela-3 or Igla MANPADS. At least one boat of this type received new anti-aircraft weapons during modernization: the Broadsword air defense system with the ability to install two quadruple anti-aircraft missile launchers.

Small artillery ships (MAK) – 4. This class includes one ship Project 12411 after modernization and 3 newest Russian river-sea class ships Project 21630 Buyan, armed with 1x8 anti-ship missiles "Caliber" or "Oniks", artillery and machine gun mounts, 30-mm anti-aircraft gun .

Artillery boats (AKA)– 6. Of these, Project 1204 “Shmel” - 3, and Project 1400M “Grif” - 3. Designed for operations on rivers and lakes, as well as in coastal shallow areas of the sea. Currently, 5 of the 6 AKAs in service are serving as part of the Caspian Flotilla. Project 1204 boats have armor and fairly powerful weapons: a 76-mm tank gun, a BM-14-7 rocket launcher, a 14.5-mm anti-aircraft machine gun mount and mine weapons. Project 1400M boats are intended for patrol and border service. Their armament is a 12.7 mm turret-mounted machine gun.

Sea minesweepers (MTSh)- 13, of which Project 12660 - 2, Project 266M and 266ME - 9, Project 02668 - 1, Project 1332 - 1. The main armament of sea minesweepers is anti-mine and anti-submarine. MTSh are designed for laying minefields, searching for, destroying sea mines and guiding ships through minefields. The minesweepers are equipped with contact, acoustic and electromagnetic trawls, as well as special mine detection sonar. For self-defense, minesweepers have artillery and missile weapons: 76-, 30-, 25-mm gun mounts, Strela-3 air defense systems, etc.

Basic minesweepers (BTSH)– 22, all ships – Project 1265 “Yakhont” 70s. the buildings.

Raid minesweepers (RTSH)– 23, of which Project 1258 – 4, Project 10750 – 8, Project 697TB – 2, Project 12592 – 4, radio-controlled river minebreakers Project 13000 – 5.

Large landing ships (LHDK)– 19. Of these, 15 are BDK Project 775, which are the basis of the Russian landing fleet. Each ship is designed to carry 225 paratroopers and 10 tanks. In addition to transporting troops, large landing craft are designed to provide fire support. For this purpose, the BDK Project 775 has an MS-73 “Groza” MLRS with a firing range of 21 km and two twin 57-mm AK-725 gun mounts. The ship's air defense consists of a 76-mm AK-176 gun mount and two six-barreled 30-mm AK-630 gun mounts. They can also be used for the ship's self-defense against light enemy surface forces. The remaining 4 large landing craft are represented by the older Project 1171 “Tapir”. Ships of this project can transport 300 paratroopers and 20 tanks or 45 armored personnel carriers. Their armament consists of 2 A-215 Grad-M MLRS and a twin 57-mm ZIF-31B artillery mount.

Small landing hovercraft (SDHC)– 2 ships pr.12322 “Bison”. These ships were created in the 80s. last century and still have no analogues in terms of carrying capacity in this class of vessels. Each ship can carry three tanks or 10 armored personnel carriers and 140 troops. The design of the ship allows it to move over land, swampy areas and land troops deep in enemy defenses. The ship's armament consists of 2 A-22 "Fire" launchers with 140-mm unguided rockets and two AK-630 gun mounts; For air defense, the ship has 8 Igla MANPADS.

Landing craft (LKA)– 23, of which 12 are project 1176 “Shark”, 9 are project 11770 “Chamois”, 1 are project 21820 “Dugong” and 1 are project 1206 “Squid”. Landing boats are designed for landing troops on unequipped coasts. Project 11770 and 21820 boats are the latest. When they move, the principle of an air cavity is used, which makes it possible to minimize water resistance and, due to this, reach a speed of more than 30 knots. The carrying capacity of boats pr. 11770 is 1 tank or up to 45 tons of cargo, boats pr. 21820 - 2 tanks or up to 140 tons of cargo.

Submarine forces

The main tasks of the submarine force are:

• defeating important enemy ground targets;
• search and destruction of enemy submarines, aircraft carriers and other surface ships, its landing forces, convoys, single transports (ships) at sea;
• reconnaissance, ensuring the guidance of their strike forces and issuing target designations to them;
• destruction of offshore oil and gas complexes, landing of special-purpose reconnaissance groups (detachments) on the enemy coast;
• laying mines and others.

Includes a strategic nuclear component (which is an integral part of Russia's nuclear triad) and general purpose forces.

Strategic submarine forces of the Russian Navy are designed to carry out combat duty with nuclear ballistic missiles on board and, if the command is received, to carry out nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets. They include 14 nuclear-powered strategic missile submarines (SSBNs; sometimes also referred to as SSBNs, or “nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines”). The main part of the SSBN - 10 units. - concentrated on the Northern Fleet, another 3 SSBNs are part of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.

True, not all of these ships are in combat-ready condition. Two ships of Project 941 "Akula" due to lack of ammunition (the R-39 ballistic missiles used on them have been removed from service) have been put into reserve and are planned for disposal. The lead ship of the same series, Dmitry Donskoy, was modernized in 2008 for the new Bulava missile system and after modernization received the designation 941UM.

Of the three submarines Project 667BDR "Kalmar" (all part of the Pacific Fleet), two are in service, one is undergoing repair and modernization. These submarines are equipped with R-29R intercontinental liquid ballistic missiles. Currently, the submarines of the Kalmar project are largely morally and physically obsolete and are planned for decommissioning.

SSBN pr.667BDRM "Dolphin" is still the main naval component of the strategic nuclear triad of the Russian Federation. The Russian Navy has seven submarines of this project, of which five are actually in service. The Ekaterinburg submarine is being restored after a severe fire that occurred on December 29, 2011. The BS-64 submarine is being converted into a carrier of deep-sea vehicles to perform special tasks, that is, it will no longer be used as a missile cruiser.

It should be noted that all of the above submarines were built in the USSR and belong to the third generation of SSBNs.

They should be replaced by fourth-generation SSBNs Project 955 “Borey”, armed with “Bulava” missiles, but to date the Russian Navy has received only the lead ship of this series, the “Yuri Dolgoruky”. The latter became the only strategic missile submarine built in Russia from the collapse of the Union to the present day. True, the current construction program for the Borei SSBN provides for the construction of 10 ships by 2020.

Thus, the Russian Navy currently has only nine SSBNs in combat-ready condition. True, if we consider that the US Navy has 14 SSBNs, we can talk about relative parity for ships of this class.

General Purpose Submarine Force include nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, nuclear general purpose submarines, diesel-electric submarines, and special purpose nuclear and diesel submarines.

They have the following ship composition:

Nuclear submarines with cruise missiles (SSGN or APRC– nuclear submarine missile cruiser) – 8, Project 949A “Antey”. Of these, 5 are in service, 1 is under repair, 2 are in reserve. These submarines are armed with 24 supersonic anti-ship ZM-45 of the P-700 “Granit” complex and are intended, first of all, for unexpected strikes on enemy naval formations. They are considered, along with naval missile-carrying aircraft, one of the main means of countering AUGs of the US Navy. The secrecy of reaching the missile launch line and unprecedented striking power - greater than that of any surface missile cruiser - give a formation of two SSGNs a real chance of destroying an aircraft carrier. At one time, an anti-aircraft division was created in the USSR Navy, which included 2 groups of 2 SSGNs and one submarine, Project 671RTM. The division successfully conducted a tactical exercise using a real AUG "America".

Multi-purpose nuclear submarines (SSN)– 19. Of these: Project 971 “Shchuka-B” - 11, Project 671RTMK – 4, Project 945 “Barracuda” – 2, Project 945A “Condor” – 2. The main task of the submarine is tracking strategic submarines and AUG of a potential enemy and their destruction in the event of the outbreak of war.

Submarines pr.971 "Shchuka-B" are the basis of the multi-purpose submarine forces of the Russian Navy. They are armed with a missile-torpedo system that allows the use of various types of ammunition: torpedoes, missile-torpedoes, underwater missiles, anti-submarine guided missiles (ASLM), cruise missiles S-10 grenades with nuclear warheads for attacks on AUG, high-precision cruise missiles for attacks on ground targets .

Project 945 Barracuda submarines are the first Soviet third-generation submarines, and Condor is a development of this project. Armament: torpedoes and missile-torpedoes. A distinctive feature of Project 945A is that the level of unmasking signs (noise and magnetic fields) is significantly reduced. This submarine was considered the quietest in the USSR Navy.

Project 671RTMK submarines are largely outdated and should be removed from service in the future. Currently, two of the four existing submarines of this type are combat-ready.

Diesel submarines (DPL)- 19, of which Project 877 "Halibut" - 16, Project 877EKM - 1, Project 641B "Som" - 1 (was under major repairs, at present the final fate of the boat - disposal or resumption of repairs - has not been determined), pr. .677 Lada – 1.

Project 877 submarines have extremely low noise levels and versatile weapons: torpedo tubes and Club-S missile systems. In the West, this submarine received the nickname “Black Hole” for its stealth.

The only submarine Project 641B “B-380” remaining in the fleet was undergoing major repairs for a long time; At present, the final fate of the boat - disposal or resumption of repairs - is not determined.

DPL pr.677 “Lada” is a development of the “Halibut” project. However, due to a number of technical shortcomings in 2011-2012. the project was sharply criticized by the command of the Russian Navy. In particular, the power plant turned out to be capable of developing no more than half of the power specified in the project. It was decided to finalize the project. Currently, the lead ship of the B-585 series “St. Petersburg” has been built and is in trial operation. After eliminating the shortcomings, construction of the series will likely continue.

Special purpose nuclear submarines (PLASN)– 9, of which Project 1851 – 1, 18511 – 2, Project 1910 – 3, Project 10831 – 1, Project 09787 – 1, Project 09786 – 1. All PLSN are part of the 29th brigade of nuclear submarines special purpose boats. The brigade's activities are strictly classified. It is known that PLSN are equipped with special equipment and are designed to carry out work at great depths and on the bottom of the World Ocean. The brigade is part of the Northern Fleet, but is directly subordinate to Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research ( GUGI) General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Special Purpose Diesel Submarine (PLSN)– 1, pr. 20120 “Sarov”. Designed to test new types of weapons and military equipment. In 2012, the media reported that the Sarov submarine is equipped with an experimental hydrogen power plant, which, in case of successful tests, will be installed on the submarine pr.677.

In addition to warships, the Russian Navy includes auxiliary vessels of various types:

• intelligence : large nuclear-powered reconnaissance ship, large, medium and small reconnaissance ships, communications ships, air surveillance ship, underwater surveillance ships, search and rescue ship;
• rescue : rescue ships, fire-fighting and rescue boats, raid diving boats, rescue sea tugs, ship-lifting vessel, etc.
• transport : integrated supply ship, dry cargo and liquid vessels, sea ferries, general-arms self-propelled ferry;
• floating bases : submarines, technical and rocket technology;
• floating workshops ;
• hydrographic ships ;
• demagnetization, hydroacoustic and physical field control vessels .

Naval aviation

Includes airplanes and helicopters for various purposes. Main goals:

• search and destruction of combat forces of the enemy fleet, landing forces, convoys;
• covering their naval groups from air strikes;
• destruction of airplanes, helicopters and cruise missiles;
• conducting aerial reconnaissance;
• targeting enemy naval forces with their strike forces and issuing target designations to them;
• participation in mine laying, mine action, electronic warfare (EW), transportation and landing, search and rescue operations at sea. Naval aviation operates both independently and in cooperation with other branches of the fleet or formations of other branches of the Armed Forces.

Naval aviation is divided into deck-based and shore-based aviation. Until 2011, the naval aviation of the Russian Navy included: missile-carrying, attack, fighter, anti-submarine, search and rescue, transport and special aviation. After the military reform of 2011, the state and prospects of naval aviation are vague. According to available information, its organizational structure currently includes 7 air bases and the 279th naval air regiment assigned to the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.

About 300 aircraft remain in naval aviation. Of them:

• 24 Su-24M/MR,
• 21 Su-33 (in flight condition no more than 12),
• 16 Tu-142 (in flight condition no more than 10),
• 4 Su-25 UTG (279th naval aviation regiment),
• 16 Il-38 (in flight condition no more than 10),
• 7 Be-12 (mainly for the Black Sea Fleet, will be decommissioned in the near future),
• 95 Ka-27 (no more than 70 operational),
• 10 Ka-29 (assigned to the Marines),
• 16 Mi-8,
• 11 An-12 (several in reconnaissance and electronic warfare versions),
• 47 An-24 and An-26,
• 8 An-72,
• 5 Tu-134,
• 2 Tu-154,
• 2 IL-18,
• 1 IL-22,
• 1 IL-20,
• 4 Tu-134UBL.

Of these, no more than 43% of the total number are technically serviceable and capable of performing combat missions in full.

Before the reform, the Navy aviation had two fighter regiments, the 698th OGIAP with Su-27 fighters and the 865th IAP with MiG-31 fighters. They are currently transferred to the Air Force.

Attack and naval missile-carrying aircraft (Tu-22M3) were eliminated. The latter looks more than strange, given that the MRA has long been considered one of the main and most effective means of combating the AUG of a potential enemy near our maritime borders. In 2011, all Tu-22M3 missile-carrying bombers of naval missile-carrying aviation, consisting of three squadrons, were hastily transferred to the Air Force Long-Range Aviation. Thus, all Tu-22M3 missile carriers are now concentrated in the Air Force, and the Navy has lost an important part of its combat potential.

Apparently, this decision was dictated not so much by military considerations as by the realities of today. Due to long-term catastrophic underfunding, combat training of naval aviation pilots was carried out at a more than modest level; only one 1/3 of the crews could be considered combat ready; Tu-22M3 aircraft have not been modernized for a long time. In fact, in the 1990s and early 2000s, only those who learned it in Soviet times could fly in naval aviation. At the same time, the combat effectiveness of Long-Range Aviation in modern Russia continues to be at least somehow maintained. The missile carriers were transferred to places where they are still able to service them and can fly them. In addition, the collection of all Tu-22M3 aircraft in one structure, in theory, should reduce the cost of their maintenance. Currently, out of 150 aircraft of this type available to Russia, only 40 are combat-ready. It is reported that thirty Tu-22M3 will undergo a deep modernization with the replacement of all electronics and will receive a new high-precision missile X-32.

The rest of the Tu-22M3 are in non-flying condition for various reasons and are “mothballed.” Judging by the photos, the condition of these far from old cars is not very good. If we talk about completing such a task as the destruction of at least one Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, then this will require at least 30 Tu-22M3, that is, almost all available combat-ready vehicles. If you divide 40 missile carriers between two structures, it turns out that the fight against AUG is beyond the capabilities of the missile-carrying units of either of them.

In general, after the reform, naval aviation was deprived of most of its striking power, and is currently concentrating on the tasks of anti-submarine defense (ASW), patrol and search and rescue operations, while maintaining a single regiment of ship-based fighters and limited capabilities in its structure. carrying out strike missions from ground airfields.

The patrols carried out by Il-38 and Tu-142M3/MK aircraft in the Pacific region and the Arctic are a demonstration of military presence and have important political significance. Due to Russia's serious political and economic interests in the Arctic, maritime patrol aircraft monitor ice conditions and the movements of foreign ships in this region.

Another important function of naval aviation is anti-submarine warfare. It is also carried out by Il-38 and Tu-142M3/MK aircraft. The anti-submarine function in peacetime includes "offensive" and "defensive" combat patrols. The first includes monitoring the areas of possible presence of SSBNs of a potential enemy, primarily American submarines. In the second case, Russian anti-submarine aviation covers the probable patrol areas of its strategic missile carriers, monitoring the activity of enemy submarines that may pose a threat to Russian SSBNs when they are on combat duty.

The Russian Navy also has specialized Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters. These are reliable machines that still have a significant service life, as well as the Ka-27PS search and rescue helicopters. The Black Sea Fleet has 8 Mi-8 helicopters equipped with electronic warfare equipment.

Coastal strike aviation of the Russian Navy is represented by the only 43rd naval attack squadron of the Black Sea Fleet, consisting of 18 Su-24 front-line bombers and 4 Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft. It is based in Crimea at the Gvardeyskoye airfield. The squadron was not transferred to the Air Force because this could not be done without international complications.

Also equipped with the Su-24, the 4th Separate Marine Attack Aviation Regiment (OMSHAP), based in Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region), became the 7052nd air base in 2009, but was transferred to the Air Force in March 2011.

The Navy's transport aviation has at its disposal the An-12, An-24 aircraft and one An-72 short take-off and landing aircraft.

The Black Sea Fleet has three or four Be-12PS turboprop amphibians, which are mainly used for search and rescue and patrol operations. These machines are significantly outdated and have expired.

Moral and physical obsolescence of the flight fleet is a serious problem for the Russian Navy aviation. So far, it has only been partially resolved. Thus, new Ka-52K helicopters will be purchased for the acquired Mistral UDC, Ka-31 AWACS helicopters and MiG-29K carrier-based fighters for the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. The Su-33 fighter jets are also being modernized.

The training of naval aviation pilots of the Russian Navy is carried out by the 859th Naval Aviation Training Center in Yeisk on the Sea of ​​Azov. It carries out both retraining of pilots for new types of aircraft and training of ground personnel.

To train carrier-based aviation pilots of the Russian Navy, the unique NITKA training ground, located in Crimea and owned by the Ukrainian Navy, is used. In 2008-2010 Due to international complications caused by the “Five Day War” with Georgia, the Russians were deprived of the opportunity to conduct training at the complex. Accordingly, for three years, the training of young pilots of the 279th naval aviation regiment was greatly hampered, since pilots are allowed to fly from the deck of the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier only after successful training at NITKA. In 2013, Russia refused to use the Ukrainian THREAD, as it was actively building its own, more advanced THREAD in Yeisk. In July 2013, the first test flights of Su-25UTG and MiG-29KUB aircraft were successfully carried out on it.

Coastal troops

Designed for the defense of the coast, bases and other ground facilities and participation in amphibious assaults. Includes coastal missile and artillery troops and marine infantry.

Coastal missile and artillery forces of the Russian Navy include:

• 2 separate coastal missile regiments;
• 1 Guards Missile Brigade;
• 3 separate coastal missile and artillery brigades;
• 3 anti-aircraft missile regiments;
• 2 electronic warfare regiments;
• 2 motorized rifle brigades;
• 1 motorized rifle regiment;
• separate naval road engineering battalion;
• communication nodes.

The basis of the firepower of the Coastal Forces of the Russian Navy is the Redut, Rubezh, Bal-E, Club-M, K-300P Bastion-P anti-ship missile systems, and the A-222 Bereg self-propelled artillery system. There are also standard samples of artillery weapons and military equipment of the ground forces: 122-mm 9K51 Grad MLRS, 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzers, 152-mm 2S5 Giatsint self-propelled guns, 152-mm 2A36 Giatsint- towed guns B", 152-mm D-20 gun-howitzers, 122-mm D-30 howitzers, up to 500 T-80, T-72 and T-64 tanks, more than 200 BTR-70 and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers.

Marine Corps includes:

• 3 MP brigades;
• 2 MP regiments;
• two separate MP battalions.

The Marines are armed with T-80, T-72 and PT-76 tanks, BMP-2 and BMP-3F infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80, BTR-70 and MTLB armored personnel carriers, Nona-S and Nona-SVK artillery mounts "on the floating chassis of the armored personnel carrier and "Gvozdika". Currently, a new tracked infantry fighting vehicle is being developed specifically for the fleet.

The Marine Corps of the Russian Navy is considered a special elite branch of the fleet, however, unlike the US Marine Corps, which is, in fact, a full-fledged army, the Russian Marine Corps can only solve tasks of a tactical nature.

In addition to the indicated coastal forces, the Russian Navy includes separate maritime reconnaissance points () and detachments for combating underwater sabotage forces and means (OB PDSS).

OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC ASSOCIATIONS OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY

The operational-strategic formations of the Russian Navy are:

Baltic Fleet with headquarters in Kaliningrad. Ship composition: 3 diesel submarines, 2 destroyers, 3 corvettes, 2 patrol ships, 4 small missile ships, 7 small anti-submarine ships, 7 missile boats, 5 base minesweepers, 14 raid minesweepers, 4 large landing ships, 2 small landing ships VP, 6 landing boats. Total: submarines - 3, surface ships - 56.

Northern Fleet with headquarters in Severomorsk. Ship composition: 10 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, 3 nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, 14 attack nuclear-powered submarines, 9 nuclear-powered special-purpose submarines, 1 diesel-powered special-purpose submarine, 6 diesel-powered submarines, 1 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser, 2 heavy nuclear-powered submarines missile cruisers, 1 missile cruiser, 5 BOD, 1 destroyer, 3 small missile ships, 1 gun boat, 6 small anti-submarine ships, 4 sea minesweepers, 6 base minesweepers, 1 raid minesweeper, 4 large landing ships, 4 landing boats. Total: submarines - 43, surface ships - 39.

Black Sea Fleet with headquarters in Sevastopol. Ship composition: 2 diesel submarines, 1 missile cruiser, 2 BOD, 3 SKR, 7 MPK, 4 MRK, 5 missile boats, 7 sea minesweepers, 2 base minesweepers, 2 raid minesweepers, 7 large landing ships, 2 landing boats. Total: submarines - 2, surface ships - 41.

Pacific Fleet with headquarters in Vladivostok. Ship composition: 3 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, 5 nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines, 5 multi-purpose nuclear submarines, 8 diesel submarines, 1 heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser, 1 missile cruiser, 4 large anti-submarine ships, 3 destroyers, 8 small anti-submarine ships, 4 small missile ships, 11 missile boats, 2 sea minesweepers, 7 base minesweepers, 1 raid minesweeper, 4 large landing ships, 4 landing boats. Total: submarines - 21, surface ships - 50.

Caspian flotilla with headquarters in Astrakhan. Ship composition: 2 patrol ships, 4 small artillery ships, 5 missile boats, 5 artillery boats, 2 base minesweepers, 5 raid minesweepers, 7 landing boats. Total: surface ships - 28.

The Northern and Pacific fleets are full-fledged ocean-going fleets. Their ships can conduct all types of naval operations in the far ocean zone. Only these two fleets of the Russian Navy have submarines and SSBNs. All Russian missile cruisers are also concentrated here except the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the RKR Moskva.

The Baltic and Black Sea fleets are predominantly maritime fleets. Their ships can also enter the World Ocean, but only in global peace, to carry out expeditionary operations against an obviously weaker enemy.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY

Russia has the longest maritime borders in the world - 43 thousand km, and therefore the importance of the Navy for it is very great. At the same time, no country in the world has such an inconvenient strategic location of access to the sea. All fleets of the Russian Navy are isolated from each other, and in the event of a war in one of the directions, the transfer of forces from others is extremely difficult.

The peak of the power of the USSR Navy occurred in the 80s of the last century. According to Western experts of that time, a formation of three AUGs of the US Navy, in the event of the outbreak of hostilities in the area of ​​responsibility of the Northern Fleet of the USSR Navy, most likely would have lasted no longer than a day.

With the collapse of the USSR, the rapid degradation of the fleet began. According to some estimates, compared to the USSR in the 80s, Russia has lost up to 80% of its naval power. Nevertheless, in the world ranking of fleets in terms of combat power, the Russian fleet still ranks second (after the American one), and in terms of the number of ships - sixth.

According to some estimates, the Russian Navy is inferior in combat capabilities to the US Navy by more than one and a half times. The advantage of the Americans is in the number of nuclear submarines, the number and quality of guided missile destroyers and, of course, the presence of 11 nuclear aircraft carriers in the fleet. However, recently there has been a trend towards a revival of the Russian fleet, while the US is at the peak of its naval power, which is likely to decline in the future.

The basis of the combat strength of the Russian navy are Soviet-built ships. At the same time, in recent years there has been active construction of new ships.

First of all, there is a desire to increase the capabilities of the Russian Navy in the near sea zone. This is necessary to protect the country’s economic interests on the continental shelf, and at the same time is not as ruinous as the construction of large warships in the far ocean zone. The surface ships under construction and planned for construction are: 8 frigates of the far sea zone, project 22350, 6 frigates of the far sea zone, project 11356, 35 corvettes (ships of the near sea zone), of which at least 20 ships of project 20380 and 20385, 5- 10 small missile ships Project 21631, four Mistral helicopter carriers, at least 20 small landing ships Dugong and a series of base minesweepers Project 12700 Alexandrite. Of course, these ships are not intended to compete with the United States for supremacy at sea. Rather, they are suitable for opposing lower-ranking fleets, such as the Swedish or Norwegian, in the struggle for Arctic resources, or participating in international missions, for example, against Somali pirates.

At the same time, attention is paid to updating the strategic submarine forces. Three SSBNs Project 955 “Borey” are being built. In total, eight of them should be built. As for general-purpose submarine forces, first of all, it should be noted the construction of eight new fourth-generation multi-purpose nuclear submarines, Project 885 Yasen, for the Russian Navy. Also, 6 diesel submarines Project 636.3 “Varshavyanka” will be built, which are a further development of the submarines Project 877EKM.

In recent years, the media has been discussing the creation of a Russian nuclear-powered aircraft carrier similar to the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. According to some reports, it is planned to create up to five AUGs in the Russian Navy. Currently, the domestic aircraft carrier is at the design stage. The problem is that some technologies available to the Americans are simply not available in Russia, in particular, the electromagnetic catapult that will be equipped with the newest American aircraft carriers of the Gerald Ford series. In addition, the aircraft carrier needs modern escort ships designed to operate as part of the AUG. Among them, an important role is played by destroyers, which are now practically absent from the Russian Navy. Approximately, the commissioning of the first domestic aircraft carrier is planned for 2023, but, apparently, this is still the most optimistic time frame.

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The Russian navy currently presents a very contradictory picture.

Despite the fact that the Russian Navy is only a shadow of the once mighty USSR Navy, it is still one of the most powerful navies of the countries in the world, taking into account the total composition of ships and submarines, as well as their quality level.

At the same time, the Russian fleet and naval industry are still experiencing a huge number of problems. Let's try to figure out how satisfactorily the Russian naval forces can perform the tasks assigned to them and what prospects await them in the future?

Before talking about the state and prospects of the Russian naval forces, it is necessary to consider the tasks facing them and the threats that they must counter. One of the main and “traditional” problems of the Russian Navy is the geographical position of the Russian Federation, as a result of which the Russian Navy is divided into 4 fleets that are virtually isolated from each other - the Black Sea, Baltic, Northern and Pacific, interaction between which is difficult and often completely impossible . At the same time, each of the four Russian fleets faces its own, largely specific tasks. As a result, Russia is forced to have quite numerous naval groups in each of the directions. Therefore, even despite the nominally large composition of the Russian Navy group, its composition in a specific strategic direction is often completely insufficient.

The tasks of the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets are to prevent the actions of a potential enemy in the corresponding seas, which is quite easy to implement. Considering the small geographical size of the Baltic and Black Seas, the action of large groups of a potential enemy there is difficult. At the same time, these seas are easily “blocked” by the forces of small missile ships, coastal missile systems, aviation and diesel submarines.

The situation is completely different for the Russian Northern and Pacific fleets. Even those seas that are in the “area of ​​responsibility” of the Northern and Pacific fleets have a huge area, which forces these fleets to have forces capable of operating effectively at long distances along the coast. At the same time, unlike the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, the forces of the Northern and Pacific fleets cannot be covered by aviation and air defense forces - at a distance of already several hundred kilometers from the coast, the time for aircraft to approach from ground airfields is too long, and taking into account the range of action even modern tactical aircraft, the patrol time during which they can provide cover for ships is completely insufficient.

Let's look at the threats facing the Northern and Pacific fleets. To do this, let us turn to the report of the Russian Ministry of Defense “On a comprehensive assessment of the state of national security of the Russian Federation in the field of maritime activities in 2016.” The report for the Russian Navy identifies the following threats:

• “Potential military conflict” with NATO countries.
• Difficult military-political situation in the Black Sea region.
• Intensifying struggle for control over areas of the Arctic shelf, attempts to increase military presence in the Arctic region, as well as attempts to revise international agreements in their favor by some NATO member countries that have “access” to the Arctic territories. For example, Norway’s desire to establish full control over the Spitsbergen archipelago and its surrounding waters is considered one of the threats.
• Japan's territorial claims to the Kuril Islands.

Thus, for the Northern Fleet, the greatest military threat is a clash with large NATO naval groups, including aircraft carrier strike groups. For the Pacific Fleet, based on the above potential threats, the main potential enemy is the Japanese Navy. Considering the huge numerical and qualitative composition of Japan's naval "self-defense forces" (which are such only in name), the task of countering the Japanese Navy group, taking into account Japan's extremely close location to a potential theater of military operations, as well as the extremely powerful air force, exceeds in complexity the task of countering AUG USA.

Based on this, in almost any case, the naval groupings of the Northern and Pacific Fleet need to be able to effectively counter the numerically superior naval groupings of a potential enemy, which in turn requires the creation of developed and highly effective groupings of heterogeneous forces in each direction.

At the moment, the main forces of the Russian fleets are as follows:

• Surface forces The Northern Fleet in its “active” composition has the aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov”, the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser “Peter the Great”, the Project 1164 missile cruiser “Marshal Ustinov” (completed a complete restoration and modernization in 2016), a large anti-submarine ship ( BOD) Project 1155.1 "Admiral Chabanenko", 3 BOD Project 1155 and 1 destroyer Project 956. The submarine forces of the Northern Fleet include the strategic missile submarine cruiser (SSBN) Project 955 "Yuri Dolgoruky", SSBN Project 941U TK -208 "Dmitry Donskoy", 6 RPK SN pr. 667BDRM, 3 nuclear submarines (NPS) with cruise missiles pr. 949A, the latest multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the 4th generation pr.885 - "Severodvinsk", 6 multi-purpose nuclear submarines pr.971 " Shchuka-B", 3 submarines of projects 945 and 945A, 3 modernized nuclear submarines of Project 671RTMK, as well as 5 diesel submarines of Project 877 and the newest diesel submarine of Project 677 "Lada", which is in trial operation.

• The "core" of the surface forces of the Pacific Fleet consists of the missile cruiser "Varyag" (Project 1164), 4 BOD Project 1155, 2 destroyers Project 956, the newest corvette Project 20380, as well as 4 small missile ships Project 1234, and 11 missile boats pr.1241. The submarine forces of the Pacific Fleet consist of 3 obsolete RPK SN Project 667BDR (will be decommissioned in the coming years), 2 newest RPK SN Project 955 - "Alexander Nevsky" and "Vladimir Monomakh", 5 cruise missile submarines Project 949A, 4 multi-purpose nuclear submarines Project 971 and 8 diesel submarines Project 877.

• The "core" of the Black Sea Fleet is formed by the missile cruiser "Moscow" (Project 1164), the patrol ship "Smetlivy", 2 patrol ships of Project 1135M - "Smetlivy" and "Ladny", 3 newest frigates of Project 11356 - "Admiral Grigorovich", "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov" (officially accepted into the fleet on December 27, 2017), high-speed small missile ships Project 1239 - "Bora" and "Samum", 2 small missile ships Project 1234, 5 missile boats Project 1241, as well as a diesel submarine Project 877 and 6 newest submarines Project 636.3

• The main forces of the Baltic Fleet include the destroyer Project 956 "Nastoychivy", 2 frigates Project 11540 - "Neustrashimiy" and "Yaroslav the Mudry", 4 new corvettes Project 20380, 4 small missile ships Project 1234.1, 2 newest small missile ships Project 21631 Buyan-M and 7 missile boats Project 1241, as well as 2 diesel submarines Project 877.

In general, the condition and level of combat readiness of the Russian Navy is quite good. The fleet is actively engaged in combat training and regularly makes voyages to various parts of the World Ocean. At the same time, the dynamics of the “activity” of the Russian Navy have been continuously growing over the past 5 years. For example, according to a report by the Ministry of Defense, in 2016, ships and submarines of the Russian Navy made a total of 102 cruises, spending 9,538 days at sea, while the intensity of task completion increased by 1.3 times compared to 2015. The military cruise of Russian ships led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the shores of Syria in 2016 showed that Russia is quite capable of “deploying”, if necessary, a powerful multi-purpose naval strike group in the required area of ​​the World Ocean.

In general, the level of serviceability and combat effectiveness of the ship's personnel has increased significantly, although there are also significant problems. For example, of the 5 multi-purpose nuclear submarines Project 971 included in the Pacific Fleet, only 1-2 are combat-ready, the rest are permanently under repair, which is usually sluggish.

A separate problem of the Russian Navy is its very unbalanced composition, as regards the surface fleet. The main forces of the Northern and Pacific fleets have very significant anti-submarine capabilities, but the number of ships capable of providing effective collective air defense of naval formations and possessing powerful strike capabilities is only a few. Such ships are the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great" and three missile cruisers of Project 1164 - "Moscow", "Varyag" and "Marshal Ustinov". Therefore, the Russian Navy is in dire need of new ships in the far ocean zone.

Construction of new large surface ships.

The greatest problem for the modern Russian Navy is the construction of new warships. By the mid-2000s, large-scale rearmament and strengthening of the fleet with new ships was planned within 10-15 years. However, hopes for this were not justified. The speed of construction of new large surface ships turned out to be extremely low. For example, the leading newest frigate Project 22350 (which was supposed to become the main “workhorses” of the Russian Navy) “Admiral Gorshkov”, laid down in 2006, has not yet been officially transferred to the fleet. The situation with the construction of surface ships for the modern Russian Navy is constantly subject to a barrage of criticism in various media.

However, it is worth noting that the fleet and naval industry suffered the most in the 1990s. For example, many enterprises in the aviation industry, especially the Design Bureau named after. Sukhoi, as well as the factories producing aircraft developed by this design bureau, managed to “survive” thanks to numerous export contracts (primarily for India and China). These contracts made it possible to keep key enterprises in hard currency, which in turn allowed them not only to “stay afloat”, but also to finance new developments. The naval industry did not have such “generous” contracts. The Navy, being an extremely complex military-technical mechanism, requires very significant funds for maintenance. Therefore, the almost complete lack of funds for maintaining the fleet in the 1990s led to the fact that it began to degrade, perhaps at the most rapid pace, compared to other types of Russian armed forces.

Thus, in parallel with the construction of new ships, it was necessary to rebuild the entire naval industry as a whole. In addition, in the 2000s, the highest priority direction for the development of the Navy was the renewal of the naval component of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces and the construction of new missile submarines Project 955 "Borey" and the creation of their main weapons - sea-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) R-30 "Bulava" , for which an extremely significant share of the funds allocated for the development of the fleet was allocated.

A separate problem was the need to equip new ships in the far ocean zone with fundamentally new types of weapons. Project 22350 frigates, which in the future should form the basis of the ships of the far ocean zone of the Russian Navy, were initially supposed to use only the most modern, promising weapons systems - 2 Universal Ship Firing Complexes (UKSK), each having 8 cells, each of which can accommodate the supersonic anti-ship missile "Onyx" or one of the cruise missiles of the "Caliber" family - the anti-ship 3M54, the 3M14 cruise missile for hitting ground targets or the 91R anti-submarine missile, the latest universal artillery mount A-192 "Armat", new electronic warfare systems, and most importantly - the latest anti-aircraft missile system "Poliment-Redut". The Poliment-Redut air defense system consists of the Poliment multifunctional radar and the Redut air defense system itself, which has the latest anti-aircraft missiles of the 9M96D family with active homing heads. The Poliment radar consists of four phased antenna arrays oriented at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, each of which provides visibility of space and radio correction of anti-aircraft missiles on the mid-flight section of the trajectory in a sector of 90 degrees in azimuth and 90 in elevation. Thus, 4 antenna arrays provide all-round visibility of the space and the ability to fire at targets in any direction. Each of the four arrays provides guidance for 4 anti-aircraft missiles, and the number of simultaneously guided missiles when repelling an attack from one direction is 8 (when the ship is oriented in such a way that the attacking air attack weapons would be at the “intersection” of the sectors of operation of two antenna arrays). Anti-aircraft missiles of the 9M96 family have active homing heads, which makes it possible to reduce the guidance area using radar, provide the ability to hit an air target if it goes beyond the radio horizon, and in the future this makes it possible to fire at targets beyond the radio horizon. These missiles have gas-dynamic rudders, which allows them to develop G-forces of up to 60 at altitudes of less than 5 kilometers (according to other sources, up to 65 units), allowing them to confidently fight intensely maneuvering targets and ensure a probability of hitting subsonic anti-ship missiles that is close to guaranteed (0.9 - 0.95).

The creation of new types of naval weapons “from scratch”, in the conditions of the naval industry, which was in an extremely problematic state, could not affect the timing of their creation. As a result, the lead ship of Project 22350, Admiral Gorshkov, began sea trials only in 2015, but has not yet been formally transferred to the fleet. The reason for such long delays in commissioning was the need to test a huge number of new systems, and mainly the Poliment-Redut air defense system. At the end of 2017, the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey concern managed to successfully resolve most of the problems with Poliment-Redut. Moreover, as reported, during testing and modifications of the complex, the use of the 9M96D anti-aircraft missile, which has a flight range of over 100 kilometers, was ensured. All other ship's weapons systems, as well as the latest electronic warfare systems, have been successfully tested. It is worth noting that in itself “delaying” the deadlines for modifications of ship-based air defense systems is not something out of the ordinary, and took place during the Cold War in both the USA and the USSR, which did not experience any problems in the field of the military-industrial complex. For example, the Fort anti-aircraft missile system, which is armed with modern cruisers Project 1164, was brought to full compliance with the specified characteristics 3 years after the commissioning of the first ship armed with this complex - the cruiser Project 1164. BOD pr.1155, which is the most numerous type of ships of the far ocean zone in the Russian Navy, after construction for several years actually did not have the required Kinzhal air defense system, which was officially put into service only in 1989. At the same time, the Fort and Kinzhal complexes still have excellent combat capabilities. The first US Navy ship equipped with the Aegis multifunctional weapons control system entered the American fleet in 1983, but the Aegis system and the complex of weapons integrated into it took another 3 years to reach an acceptable level of combat effectiveness.

Modern warships of other navies of the world are no exception. For example, the first British air defense destroyer of a new generation, type 45 Daring, entered service with an essentially “conditionally” operational PAAMS air defense system (which is its main weapon), but now destroyers of this series are considered the best air defense ships in the world. A similar situation has developed with the Indian-Israeli ship-based air defense system “Barak-8”. Due to problems with its creation, the commissioning date of the newest Indian destroyers “Calcutta” was delayed for many years. The lead ship was laid down in 2003, and entered service in 2014, although it was planned to enter service in 2010. The last, third destroyer of this series entered service at the end of 2016, more than 10 years after its keel. Moreover, it is unknown whether the Barak-8 air defense system on Indian destroyers is 100% combat-ready at the moment.

Apparently, the command of the Russian Navy and the Ministry of Defense want to immediately receive a fully combat-ready ship, without fine-tuning its various weapons systems during operation. In addition, Project 22350 frigates will generally determine the appearance of surface ships of the Russian Navy for the coming decades. It can be predicted with a high degree of probability that after the frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Kasatonov (the second ship of Project 22350), which has already completed completion, are accepted into the fleet, the construction of other ships of the series, as well as the possible construction of frigates of the improved project - 22350M, will begin at a much higher rate.

In the current decade, the Russian naval industry has not been able to carry out the mass construction of Project 11356 frigates - “simplified” frigates created for the “inland” seas - the Baltic and Black. Until 2014, shipbuilders managed to maintain the high pace of construction of these ships, because they were built on the basis of the Talvar class frigates built for India in the 2000s and were equipped with existing and proven weapons, radio engineering and information systems. By 2014, it was possible to build 3 such ships out of 6 laid down, however, after the events of 2014, Ukraine unilaterally stopped military-technical cooperation with Russia, and in particular, stopped supplies of ship-based gas turbine power plants for frigates Project 2230 and Project 11356, manufactured in Nikolaev by the Zorya-Mashproekt plant. As a result, it took almost 3 years to launch the production of these power plants in Russia, at the Rybinsk NPO Saturn. Fortunately, this problem was successfully solved. Currently, the Russian Navy includes 3 frigates of Project 11356 - Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, and the latter was officially accepted into the fleet on December 27, 2017. Another 3 frigates of this project will be completed with Russian power plants, and are expected to join the fleet in 2020-21.

Thus, the main efforts in Russian naval construction over the past decade have been aimed at modernizing and restoring the shipbuilding industry, as well as at developing and “fine-tuning” promising weapons systems. Under these conditions, the leadership of the Russian Navy and the Ministry of Defense were forced to somewhat adjust the concept of the development and use of naval forces.

Until the emergence of large surface ships of a new generation, the leadership of the Russian fleet and the Ministry of Defense have obviously chosen a course for large-scale construction of small missile ships and coastal missile systems, with the aim of creating, as they call it in Western countries, “denied maneuver and access zones” in the most important areas adjacent to the Russian coast and territorial waters, and reliable “overlapping” of the so-called. littoral zone, as well as the modernization of existing large warships and submarines.

To be continued...

Pavel Rumyantsev