Does Russia need a "Ukraine"?
“It is very difficult to understand who needs the ship now,” said Alexander Khramchikhin, head of the analytical department of the Institute for Political and Military Analysis, to the Novy Region news agency. - Of course, for our fleet, which has decreased to disgrace, now such a cruiser is already becoming useless. We need to start, so to speak, from below, and not from above, not from cruisers, but at least from frigates. Moreover, these cruisers have a very narrow anti-aircraft focus. They were built solely to combat American aircraft carrier formations. It does not seem to me that for us now this task is at least somewhat relevant. Therefore, it’s hard for me to understand why we need this ship and where to put it if it is built. ”
But the opinion of the former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov: “The ship will not become obsolete even 15-20 in its capabilities. But, of course, it is necessary to apply it in the ocean, in open theaters, not in the Black Sea, not in the Baltic - there is not enough space for it. The ships (of the “Glory” type, to which the cruiser “Ukraine” belongs, - Editor's Note) are very good, fairly well-designed ... The issue of redemption (of “Ukraine” by Russia - Note of the editorial board) stood a long time ago and should finally be decided . If such a decision is made, it is more correct. This is better and two orders of magnitude higher than the Mistral can.
Who is right? In our opinion, this is a rare case when the arguments of both participants in the discussion are equally weighty and deserve attention. Indeed, in about five years, the Russian Navy will not have any ships to guard the water area, that is, small anti-submarine and rocket ships that are designed to protect naval bases, ports and the coast. Why then does he need another ocean strike anti-aircraft cruiser? Moreover, the ability to detect and destroy the enemy from modern American nuclear aircraft carriers is undoubtedly higher than that of the most advanced missile cruisers. In addition, although with creak and malfunctioning, but Russian-American relations are improving. Between the two countries, there are fewer “friction points” that can lead to conflicts.
Cruiser project 1164 "Atlant".
But there are other countries that are building up their military power, especially in the Pacific. And for their containment the cruiser of the project 1164 "Atlant" is the best fit. Therefore it is worth recalling about these ships.
The 1164 project cruisers were created by specialists from the Northern PKB. Their full displacement is 11500 t, an economical gas turbine unit (of the COGAG type) with a heat recovery loop with a total power of 110000 hp. allows you to develop 32-node full speed. The ships are designed to "impart combat stability to the forces of the fleet in remote areas of the seas and oceans and destroy enemy surface ships, including aircraft carriers." Often, sailors simply call them aircraft carrier killers. They are armed with 16K-4 X-NUMX supersonic P-80 "Basalt" reconnaissance-strike anti-ship complex (the first two corps of the series - "Moscow" and "Marshal Ustinov") with a range of 500-KN or 550-P complex -3 "Volcano" (on the cruiser "Varyag"), capable of hitting targets at a distance of 70 km. The cruiser Admiral Lobov was to receive the Vulkan missiles, which after the division of the Black Sea Fleet became known as the Ukraine.
Note that not a single fleet in the world has supersonic long-range anti-ship missiles, similar to the Basalt and the Vulcan. Only this year, the United States began to create long-range supersonic anti-aircraft missiles to combat the potential threat posed by Chinese rocket ships. But when they go into service with the US Navy is not yet clear.
Anti-ship missiles "Basalt" (Sandbox, that is, "Sandbox" - according to the NATO classification) with volley firing can turn almost any surface target into dust. After the start, they accelerate to speed 2-2,5 M. Their flight in the direction is adjusted by the control system "Argon". Then the first rocket in the salvo takes on the role of a leader, rising to a height of 5000 m, and in the passive mode, intercepting the radar signals of enemy ships, it directs the entire "wolf pack" to the target. Information driven by flying at an altitude of 40-50 m above sea level is transmitted in the millimeter range, which is impossible to divert. If the enemy captures the leading missile with its radar, then an active jamming system is activated on it. If the enemy manages to shoot down a missile-gunner by means of air defense-pro, then the next one in the warrant takes its place, and the attack continues. The lead missile distributes targets among the members of the "flock", which allows to achieve high efficiency of defeating group targets. In other words, “basalts” are highly accurate “smart” weapon, acting on the principle of "shot and forget." Equipped with a rocket or special ammunition, that is, a nuclear warhead with a power of 350 CT, or a high-explosive-cumulative warhead with an 500-1000 mass of kg. The enemy ship, having received such a "gift", goes almost into a dispersed state. The rocket itself is protected not only by active interference, but also by easy booking of the most important components and it is not so easy to knock it down.
The missiles of the Moskv cruiser are being charged with missiles of the Basalt reconnaissance and strike complex.
Rocket P-1000 "Volcano" is an improved version of the "Basalt". With the same overall dimensions, due to the use of a more powerful starting and accelerating stage with controlled nozzles, the use of light and more durable titanium alloys, as well as some weakening of armor protection, the firing range was increased to 700 km.
Under the impact - the defensive armament of the "Atlanteans". The 64 rockets of the “Fort” air defense missile system provide for the zonal anti-missile defense of the ship. Two launchers SAM "Osa-M" designed for self-defense. Artillery is represented by a twinned 130-mm AK-130 installation and six 30-mm AU AK-630M. Anti-submarine and anti-torpedo weapons consist of two five-tube torpedo tubes below deck, capable of firing anti-torpedoes from the Vodopad-NK complex, and two RBU-6000. There is a hangar and a helicopter airstrip. The ships have developed electronic equipment and EW facilities. Cruisers have great seaworthiness and maneuverability. Suffice it to say that the diameter of the circulation is 3,5 body length, that is, 655 meters. Of course, the "Atlanteans" - great ships. They created good conditions for crew dwelling. No wonder they were loved by Russian sailors and were able to survive the era of the Russian “turmoil” of the 90-s, when other ships of the newest projects were sent to the scrap.
The cruiser "Ukraine", which was laid in 1983 as the "Komsomolets", and then received the name "Admiral Lobov" - the fourth ship in the series. His "sistershipy" - "Moscow" (formerly "Glory"), "Marshal Ustinov" and "Varyag" (formerly "Chervona Ukraine") - serve in the Black Sea, Northern and Pacific Fleets, respectively. "Admiral Lobov" launched on the Nikolaev shipyard named. 61 of the Communist 11 in August 1990. In 1993, the cruiser was transferred to Ukraine at 75-percent readiness. Since then, virtually every new government in Kiev has taken on an obligation to complete the “future flagship” of the Ukrainian fleet. However, the work was carried out in a sluggish mode, and even stopped for a long time. Finally, by order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 385-p of September 5, 2002 was given permission to sell it.
But without Russian arms and a significant number of components, again Russian-made, it was impossible to complete and sell the cruiser. That is why Kiev began negotiations with Moscow. Depending on the rapidly changing political situation in Ukraine, they were either fired or stopped. At the beginning of 2007, the then CEO of Ukrspetsexport, Sergey Bondarchuk, announced that Kiev and Moscow were continuing the dialogue on the completion and joint sale of the Ukraine-launched missile cruiser to a third country. “This is a very difficult question,” he stressed, “but we are negotiating with Rosobornexport to complete the construction of a cruiser for the customer and sell.”
The cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" strikes "Basalt".
Actually there were two potential customers: India and China. But for the Indian Navy, the ship was not suitable for several reasons. First, it was about a single ship, not a series, which did not suit Delhi. Secondly, the Indian Navy made a choice in favor of aircraft carriers as the main shock forces of the surface fleet. Obviously, the Indians did not like the price of the ship.
China, perhaps with a dumping price, could have been able to incline to a deal. However, Beijing was more interested in long-range supersonic anti-ship missiles than the cruiser itself. Given the fact that the Chinese have an irresistible craving for unlicensed copying of foreign samples of military equipment, such a sale would have resulted in large losses. And not only economic, but also political. The deal would undoubtedly provoke outrage in Delhi and Washington, would sharply worsen Russia's relations with India and the United States. And for Russia itself, the appearance of the Atlanta PLA, and then some of its clones, would be, to put it mildly, undesirable.
As admiral Vladimir Komoyedov confirms, negotiations were also held on the sale of the Russian Navy ship. The former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, of course, was aware of. He gave an interesting detail on how the Russian side put the question: “We can’t say that this cruiser belongs to Ukraine alone. There is the share of Ukraine, as I recall, 17, maximum 20%. Therefore, there is a question about the redemption is not fully ship, and the share - everything else belongs to Russia. " Agree, this is a very important detail.
According to the Ukrainian shipbuilders, the cruiser costs about $ 500 million when the 95% is ready, and its completion will cost $ 50-75 million. I think the first two numbers are greatly overestimated, since the ship actually lacks weapons and a significant part of electronics, not to mention that he has stood for more than 20 for years without movement and proper conservation of mechanisms and aggregates. But the figures for the cost of completion seem to be understated.
According to the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military-Technical Cooperation of the State Duma Committee on Defense Mikhail Nenashev, the readiness of the cruiser "Ukraine" today is 70%, and an unnamed source of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation determines the degree of readiness of the ship in 50%. Therefore, they say, it will take about 50 billion rubles to complete and upgrade the cruiser. The amount is rather big. In the agency RIA News It is estimated that with this money you can buy four submarines of the 636 project or three or four newest corvettes of the 20380 project.
Option expeditionary ship on the basis of "Atlanta".
But the amount of 50 billion rubles, of course, is greatly overestimated, even with all the "packs" and "kickbacks." After all, as Dmitry Medvedev was reported on during a recent visit by the President of the Russian Federation to the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great, the cost of building a new nuclear-powered ship of this class would be about 30 billion rubles (although in this case the price was clearly underestimated). In our case, we are talking about the completion and modernization of the cruiser of a lower displacement, with the usual and already installed on the ship power plant. It seems that some of the Russian representatives lobbying for the purchase of French Mistral-type helicopter carriers deliberately frighten the public and authorities with the bloated cost of the modernization of Ukraine. Against the backdrop of astronomical figures for the "Atlant", a very considerable price for unnecessary Russian Navy amphibious ships of foreign construction seems not so big. But one cannot but agree with the words of Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov that the purchase of the cruiser "Ukraine" in value for the Russian Navy is two orders of magnitude higher than that of the French Mistral helicopter carrier. In any case, this is a real combat unit, not imaginary.
The delegation of the Russian Navy under the leadership of the acting head of the technical department of the Russian Navy, rear-admiral Viktor Bursuk, studied the situation on the cruiser located at the Shipbuilding Plant named after A. Bursuk. 61 Communard. According to preliminary findings, the ship is in good condition and its completion is possible as well as the modernization of electronic equipment. But, undoubtedly, a more thorough revision of mechanisms, pipelines, communications and equipment is required. And then it will become clear how much another Atlant will cost Russia.
Many say that the decision on the possible purchase of "Ukraine" will be of a political nature in connection with Moscow’s policy of strengthening Russia's integration with Ukraine. But, it seems that the economic interest will not be left aside. A number of Ukrainian shipbuilding enterprises are to be incorporated into the United Shipbuilding Corporation. And the fee for "Ukraine" can be an acceptable bonus for their merger with USC. Especially since, as already noted, ships of this type have undoubted advantages. This was confirmed by the recently held exercises "Vostok-2010", which was attended by the Black Sea "Moscow", which made a semicircular illumination in order to be in the maneuver zone. The ship successfully completed its tasks. At the same time, Varyag made a 40 daily cruise in the Pacific Ocean, calling at the American port of San Francisco, where it ensured the visit of President Dmitry Medvedev to the United States. Given the military and political situation in the Pacific, it is advisable to consider the issue of concentrating all cruisers of this type in this theater. Their grouping will allow creating a favorable operational regime for Russia in the Far Eastern waters.
The case of "Ukraine" welded from durable 8-mm steel does not cause concern. Serve him and serve. But the other equipment cruisers will require updates. Back in Soviet times, the Northern PKB developed a version of the modernization of the “Atlants” according to the 11641 project. According to it, the cruisers “October Revolution”, “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov”, “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” and “Varyag” were to be built, as well as the first four hulls should be refitted. The main weapon remained the same (16 "volcanoes", 64 "fort", paired 130-mm artillery AK-130), but the means of defense of the near line and part of the electronic equipment were replaced. Instead of the OSA-M SAM and three AK-630M batteries, it was planned to install the Dirk MASTER. The more sophisticated “Tron” system, which allowed to create a single air defense / missile defense circuit, came to replace the logging system “Lumberjack”. A second helicopter appeared, enhancing the anti-submarine capabilities of the ship. Of course, the introduction of newer weapons and weapons systems is now required.
There is a variant of conversion of the cruiser into the expeditionary landing ship. All missile launchers of anti-ship missiles are cut off, vertical launchers of the Fort are removed, the helicopter deck area and hangar volume are increased, powerful davits for launching landing craft or interceptor boats are installed, and rooms for accommodating marines and special forces are being installed. Of the weapons left paired 130-mm installation for the fire support of the landing and the means of defense of the near line. For service at the pirate coast of Somalia, such a ship can be very useful.
But, of course, you need to count how much it will cost. And is it worth it, as they say, a game of candle. After all, you can give a bonus to the shipbuilding industry of Ukraine by making orders for the construction of new ships and vessels for the needs of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In any case, this topic was touched upon at a meeting of the security committee of the Ukrainian-Russian interstate commission in the Crimean village of Partenit. And it is likely that this option will suit both parties.
PS July 6 the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the abolition of the name "Ukraine", previously assigned to an unfinished missile cruiser. 247 deputies voted for the adoption of the corresponding draft resolution at the minimum necessary 226. In the explanatory note provided by the Government of Ukraine, it is said that the decision will create conditions for “ensuring the development of options for further use” of the cruiser, in particular - for its sale to Russia.
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