Military/Intelligence Bulletin 04/2018 – Russia’s new maritime doctrine.

Russia’s renewal of its major surface ships continues with the building of a number of new classes. But Russia faces a challenge with the procurement of these new surface combatants.

The construction programme for Russia’s new surface fleet indicates that President Putin is planning a regeneration if his navy with fewer but more capable ships.

Russian surface ships have been more prominent in recent years, shadowing NATO naval operations in greater numbers. The return to the World stage, has resulted in a small number of ageing platforms conducting a large number of operations stretching their capabilities to the limit. The use of the Admiral Kuznetsov, and the technical issues surrounding it, a sea-going tug having to shadow the aircraft carrier, demonstrates the difficult journey they’re on.

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Russian Frigate – Admiral Gorshkov – One in service, one new (Admiral Kasatonov) 2018, three under construction, eleven planned.

By Walle83

The purpose of Russia’s navy, according to Russia’s maritime doctrine, is to establish and maintain conditions for the safe conduct of Russian maritime activities, to provide a naval presence (flying the flag), combatting piracy; and supporting International military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations, the surface ship being a core force element.

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Admiral Gorshkov – (1 x 130mm gun, 2 x 30 CIWS, 16-cell VLS Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, P-800 Oniks ant-ship missiles, 91RTET anti-submarine missiles and 2 x quadruple 330mm torpedo launchers).

BMPT Strazh. Photo: wikipedia.org

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Russian Frigate – Admiral Grigorovich – (1 x 100mm gun, 2 x 30 CIWS, 8-cell VLS Oniks anti-ship missiles or NK cruise missiles, 3 x 12-cell VLS for air defence missiles, 2 x twin 533mm torpedo tubes and 1 xRBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher). Two in service (Admiral Makarov the 2nd one), four under construction.

By Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0

In November 2016, during combat operations in Syria, Admiral Grigorovich fired the Novator 3M-14T Kalibr SLCM.  Syria possibly being used as a testing ground for new Russian technology.

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The Sea Launched Strategic and Tactical Land-Attack Cruise Missile being fired.

 Russia’s Kalibr cruise missile is a land-attack cruise missile carried by Russia surface vessels. It is believed to have a range of between 1,500-2,500 km. A salvo of Kalibr missiles was launched from the Caspian Sea during late 2015, the target being ISIS forces inside Syria.

Russia’s new navy is centred on five primary ship programmes. The Steregushchiy I/II-class frigate, Derzkiy-class frigate, Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate, Admiral Gorshokov-class frigate and the Buyan-M corvette/patrol vessel. A future destroyer programme is believed to be under way. The Lider-Class heavy destroyer (12 ships), to replace the Udaloy,  Sovremenny destroyers and the Slava-class cruiser.

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Stoikiy – Steregushchiy I/II-class frigate. Five in service with 12 planned. (3K-96 Redut surface-to-air missile (vertical launch) system and a surface-to surface cruise missile system). Five in service, five building, two Mod Steregushchiy building.

Photo- Alex ‘Florstein’ Fedorov

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Model of a Derzkiy-class frigate. One building, nine planned.

By Artem Tkachenko

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Buyan-M corvette/patrol vessel

By Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0

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Russia’s surface ship development now appears to be in line with the western trend of building fewer, but larger and more complex surface platforms. But they are finding this new approach costly and technically challenging.

Russia also appears to have a strategic focus on the artic region. Russian ships Admiral Essen and Admiral Gorshkov, have both conducted sea trials in the High North. Submarine-launched versions of Kalibr have also been tested in the region.

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Post copyrighted to Harvey Black