rickusn

RIA Novosti - Opinion & analysis - Russia's Navy gets ambitious

Russia's Navy gets ambitious
14:04 | 31/ 07/ 2007



MOSCOW. (Nikita Petrov for RIA Novosti) - The Russian Navy will become the world's second largest in 20 years' time, said its commander-in-chief, Admiral Vladimir Masorin, speaking ahead of Navy Day.

He said the navy's core would consist of the newest strategic nuclear-powered submarines and six squadrons of aircraft carriers.

For Russia's navy, this will be its third modernization program, said the admiral. The previous two, although giving it a boost, were never completed. Now, said the admiral, there is such a chance.

Recently approved, a rearmament program until 2015 for the first time in Soviet and Russian history puts the development of the navy on an equal footing with strategic nuclear forces. Out of 4.9 trillion rubles ($192.16 billion) allocated for military rearmament, 25% will go into building new ships.

"We are already building practically as many ships as we did in Soviet times," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said during a visit to Severodvinsk. "The problem now is not lack of money, but how to optimize production so that the navy can get new ships three, not five, years after laying them down."

Ivanov said Russia has a strategy for shipbuilding until 2030 under which warship production is to increase by 50%. For the first time in 15 years, a series of 40 frigates has been laid down, with no less than ten each for the Northern and Baltic fleets. In February 2006, after a 16-year break, the frigate Admiral Sergei Gorshkov had its keel laid down, a surface ship intended for long-range operations in distant seas. The navy has plans for about 20 such ships.

Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, a former commander of the navy, outlined their concept and the strategy for naval development they are to fit into: "We should abandon the existing multitude of ship and aircraft classes. Compact-sized fighting blocks going to make up ships should increase their fire power and reduce research and development costs."

The idea is to drop the use of specialized ships capable of fighting only submarines or aircraft carriers and to go over to multi-purpose fighting units meant to carry out a wide range of missions away from home. Such ships will be assembled from modular units, and their weapons and equipment will be unified for all types of combat craft. In the future, this will not only facilitate the provision of spare parts and ammunition, but also simplify maintenance, repairs and modernization.

Of special note are plans to build six aircraft carriers, which would make the Russian Navy the world second in terms of combat capability. The government program, however, does not provide for their construction before 2015. Nor is there mention of them in plans for the period until 2030. But during his recent trip to Severodvinsk, Ivanov was shown plans for a new $500 million dock designed to build large-tonnage ships at the Zvyozdochka ship repair yard. Earlier such large ships could only be built in Nikolayev, Ukraine. The dock, the Russian shipbuilding agency said, is needed to build gas carriers - ships to transport Russian liquefied natural gas to Western partners.

The same dock could also build aircraft carriers. At any rate, the project is already on the drawing board. Masorin said the craft would be a nuclear-powered ship not less than 100 meters long and would carry an air wing of 30 combat fighter jets and helicopters. But this is not going to be soon.

The outlook is best for submarines. Recently two Project 667BDRM boats have been modernized, and two more submarines are being repaired and upgraded at Severodvinsk. A new sonar system is being installed to enable them to "see" and "hear" better. Other equipment includes new fire fighting systems, nuclear reactor protection devices, and the RSM-54 Sineva strategic missile system. Unlike its predecessor, the Skif, the Sineva carries 10 independently targetable re-entry vehicles instead of four. The new missile has a longer range and a modern control system.

It was a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile that was fired in the summer of 2006 from the North Pole by the submarine Yekaterinburg commanded by Captain Sergei Rachuk. An underwater launch, especially from under the ice, is a challenging task. The jumbled magnetic fields render ship and missile navigation instruments inoperable, and the crew needs special training for working under ice. But there are also advantages - under a thick icecap the submarine remains invisible to hostile observation satellites till the last moment. As a result, a retaliatory nuclear strike would be sudden and unavoidable. Many submarine commanders who managed to do this were later made Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia. Sergei Rachuk, too, received the Gold Star of the Hero from President Vladimir Putin.

But modernization of existing vessels is only part of the rebuilding program. The Sevmash engineering plant at Severodvinsk is currently building a series of new fourth-generation submarines. These are Project 955 Borei boats. It is for them that the new Bulava sea-launched ballistic missile is being developed.

"Three nuclear submarines of the fourth generation are currently under construction," Masorin said. "They are the Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh. In comparison with previous boats, they will have much better armaments and equipment."

A Project 885 Yasen-class multi-purpose attack nuclear-powered submarine is preparing to hit the water at Severodvinsk. It is another new fourth-generation submarine able to replace several classes of submarines used in the Russian Navy. Professionals say this ship will cause a revolution in submarine building. Russia's third-generation Project 971 Akula submarines are already undetectable in ocean depths. The Yasen will outperform even the latest American Sea Wolf in the underwater noise level. In addition, it will be a multi-purpose boat. Thanks to its armaments (several types of cruise missiles and torpedoes), it will be able to carry out diverse missions. It will be able with equal ease to chase enemy aircraft carriers and deliver massive missile strikes on coastal targets.

Experts believe the new nuclear submarines and "floating airfields" will mean a quantum leap for the Russian Navy and its combat capabilities.

Nikita Petrov is a military commentator.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

Lack of qualified sailors confines RNLN's Bruinvis to port - Jane's Naval Forces News
Lack of qualified sailors confines RNLN's Bruinvis to port
By Hans de Vreij
31 July 2007

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has halted operations with one of its four Walrus-class diesel-electric attack submarines for at least a year.

A navy spokesman said that HNLMS Bruinvis, the newest of the class, was confined to port due to a lack of qualified personnel.

The 2,800-ton submarine, which was commissioned in 1994, will remain berthed at Den Helder naval base for the time being.

Commander Richard Keulen, an RNLN spokesman, assured Jane's that the measure would not affect the operational capabilities of the Dutch submarine service.

"We are able to meet all current operational deployments with two submarines and still hold the capacity to sail the third submarine if deemed necessary," he said.

"In addition, the submarines will sail with the maximum possible number of crew, including trainees that need a certain period of time at sea to qualify for their operational tasks."

Cdr Keulen said that the lack of qualified personnel is mainly caused by experienced sailors taking up jobs in the commercial sector.

Feanor

Sounds like another big plan that'll never get completed. I'll believe it when I see ships getting completed.

gunnut

Wow, a 6-carrier fleet. Very ambitious. I wonder where they plan to learn how to operate a true flattop in such a short order. Even the RN needs to re-learn it from the French and US navy.

__________________
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ArmchairGeneral

Well, since they aren't planning on building 'em 'till 2015, they should have plenty of time to practice on the Kuznetsov. Wonder if they plan on building catapults?

__________________
"Apocalyptic thought is curiously pleasurable."
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zraver

Hrmmm.... need a new sino-Russian and for Europe to wake up break beucase a three way coldwar will break the US economy if it has to go it alone.

Feanor

You're forgetting that Russia can't really afford a Cold War either. Russia is no longer a super power. It's simply a large (territory not population) nation with a lot of military R&D.

zraver

This is just another move by the re-emerging empire.

VarSity

Cant see it happening. And does the claim the new russian subs out performing the Sea Wolf class hold water?

How about compared to the new RN Subs (Astute?)

rickusn

This has been a long time coming.:

Russian Navy to get Russia’s first naval gas turbines - Pravda.Ru

Russian Navy to get Russia’s first naval gas turbines
02.08.2007

Saturn VMF, the daughter company of the Rybinsk based NPO Saturn is ready to deliver first Russian made gas turbines for the Russian Navy. As Yuri Kuvyrkin, the official representative of Saturn informed the correspondent of PravdaRu, one of the two ready engines M75RU is intended for patrol ships, the most demanding niche, where Russian manufacturers expect the quickest returns. M70FRU was designed for small missile ships, air cushion ships, small anti-sub ships, corvettes and light cruisers.

In soviet time Nikolaev based Zorya Mashproject used to specialize on building naval turbines for the soviet Navy. After disintegration of the USSR Russia started the development of replacing programs immediately. In 1992 Russian government awarded NPO Saturn the status of the head organization on designing and making naval turbines.

Today Saturn’s M75RU and M70FRU created on the basis of the industrial gas-turbine engine Saturn GTD-4 are completely adapted for the work in the conditions of the sea environment and can consume also diesel fuel. M75RU has the power of 7000 h.p., M70FRU – 14000 h.p., M90FR – 27500 h.p.

Naval gas turbines have paramount importance for the Russian Navy. According to the public statements of Leonid Ivanov, the Naval Programme Director of Saturn-VMF, at the last Naval Salon in St. Petersburg, the particular properties of the new engines first and foremost concern the coast guards, for whom the high speed of their patrol boats is the key parameter. It has also a great economic value. Over its service life, each patrol boat, as it catches up with a poacher, returns 30 rubles per ruble invested in the construction of the ship. In fact it means a pay off period of about a year.

Aleksandr Burutin, the head of United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK) also stated that building a modern navy, requires guaranteeing the deliveries of the engines it needs. He called the work done by NPO Saturn extremely important.

Russian submarine plants flag at North Pole - Telegraph


This adventure must have cost alot of money. Amazing they can do this but couldnt free their own sub sometime ago. Anyone who thinks the Russians and the Russian Navy(although I dont think this was a naval operation) are toothless may want to reconsider. Just my educatted opinion after decades of being a Russian Navy "watcher.". Theyve been "playing dead" for fifteen years or better. The Russian Bear is now poised to go on a rampage the likes of which the world has never seen IMHO.:

Russian submarine plants flag at North Pole
By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow
Last Updated: 12:36pm BST 02/08/2007



Russia claims North Pole with Arctic flag stunt
Factbox: The Mir deepwater submarines
Russia kick-started the world's last colonial scramble today when a submarine planted a flag under the North Pole to symbolize the Kremlin's claim to the oil-rich Arctic.


One of the Russian submarines in the Arctic Ocean
In an unprecedented and perilous mission, veteran Arctic explorer Artur Chilingarov descended 14,000 feet in a three-man deep sea submersible and dropped a Russian tricolor cast in titanium onto the seabed.

"The landing was smooth, the yellowish ground is around us, no sea dwellers are seen," he said in a radio message to crew members on the surface, according to a Russian news agency.

With Russia's northern rivals, all eager to extend their own Arctic ambitions, looking on uneasily, two Russian ships reached the North Pole after ploughing their way through deep ice for over a week.

They released two mini-submarines, Mir 1 and Mir 2, which arrived at the seabed this morning.

In a nation that, in Soviet times, pioneered Arctic exploration, Mr Chilingarov's expedition has fired the Russian public's imagination.

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But Mr Chilingarov also caused international concern after declaring that the Arctic and the North Pole were Russian.

Global warming has given renewed impetus to the race for control of the Arctic.

Melting ice sheets could open up the fabled North East passage, the quest for which claimed countless sailors' lives, for the first time.

The route, which could dramatically cut the length of a journey from Europe to Asia, could become navigable to commercial traffic within eight years.

The more clement conditions make for an equally tantalizing prospect.

According to some estimates, the Arctic is home to a quarter of the world's untapped energy reserves - now more accessible than they ever have been.

For all Mr Chilingarov's posturing, his expedition is little more than a public relations stunt designed by the Kremlin to attract public support for Russia's long held claim to a 463,000 mile chunk of the Arctic - about half the size of Western Europe.

The Kremlin has long believed the territory belonged to Russia - it was marked as such on Soviet maps from the 1920s.

But in 1997, Russia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, which limits the five nations on the Arctic Ocean Russia, Norway, Canada, the United States (through Alaska) and Denmark (through Greenland) to 200 miles of territorial waters.


Map of the disputed region: Click to enlarge
But under the treaty, the five nations are allowed to file claims to a UN commission for greater territory if they can prove that their continental shelves are geographically linked to the Arctic seabed.

In 2001, Russia became the first country to file a claim, arguing that the underwater Lomonosov ridge was not merely a chain of mountains in international waters but was actually an extension of Siberia's continental shelf.

The commission, however, was not convinced and asked for seismology reports and sonar measurements to support Russia's submission.

After a six week expedition that ended in June, Russia's Institute of Ocean Geology maintained it had a vital breakthrough - a claim that prompted Mr Chilingarov to set off on his patriotic mission.

But the institute warned that Russia was still along way off presenting a credible claim, saying it would not be in a position to do so until 2010 at the earliest.

"It would be far fetched to claim at this point that the evidence we have gathered is conclusive,” said Georgy Cherkashev, the institute's deputy director.

“There is progress in that direction but I would be cautious until the data has been properly processed and analysed.”

Even so, the development has galvanized other Arctic nations into action. Denmark is to submit its own claim and Canada has announced it will build eight armed ships capable of cutting through the ice.

Both countries are also expected to study the Lomonosov Ridge, which runs through Greenland to Canada's Ellesmere Island.

The area is believed to have up to 10 billion barrels of oil.

With the United States and Norway also having filed claims, the prospect for bitter territorial disputes has been raised. Russia, however, remains quietly confident.

The territory it seeks is a triangle running from the country's western Kola Peninsula in the West to the Chukotka Peninsula in the East with the Apex running through the Pole itself.

Even if the sector is not awarded to Russia, it is unlikely any other country could seize it. If Russia is successful, however, its already mighty energy reserves would be given a massive boost - although there is still doubt about the technical feasibility of extracting oil and gas from the Arctic.

Despite growing concerns over the way Moscow uses its energy for political gain, Russian scientists have repeatedly pledged that there is no intention to grab any part of the Arctic.

"A unilateral annexation of the area by Russia is impossible,” said Viktor Posyolov of the Russian Institute of Ocean Geology, which has led the Arctic exploration. “We will strictly abide by the UN convention.”

Feanor

The relevance of a couple of research mini-subs placing a flag on the north pole to the buildup of a Russian carrier fleet eludes me.

ArmchairGeneral

Huh? I know the Udaloy class had gas turbines, and I thought other Russian ships did, too. Did Russia lose their production capability for gas turbines after the USSR collapsed?

rickusn

Feanor here is the title of the thread I started:

Russian Plans/Netherlands difficulties

Not much relevance there either.

I posted two other articles on Russia maritime activitiies of which you mentioned one and question for some odd reason.

For that matter what "relevance" do Gas Turbines have to with "the buildup of a Russian carrier fleet".

None is the answer.

Also the article that mentions the carriers also mentions much,much more on the Russian Navy.

This thread as the title implies is a maritime imformation based thread.

Maybe you have ulterior motives?

For what reason "eludes me".

If you dont like my threads dont read them.

If you have any information to add. Please do.

Or better yet start a thread of your own if you want to discuss the Russian carriers specifically and keep all comments relevant to carriers.

This thread in no way expliciy or implicity stated that it was about Russian carriers and ONLY Russian carriers.

But thinly veiled disparging remarks about my thread and how I choose to expand and expound on it are of no value that is for certain.

Sheesh

rickusn

The Gas Turbines used by the Russians came/come from a factory in the Ukraine.

ArmchairGeneral

I see. Interesting.

tphuang

you can see a listing of their gas turbines here
Gas turbine engines
although some of their power output looks impressive, the T/W ratio on these are far behind that of LM-2500