For Russia, the situation in the Far East is catastrophic
The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation defends Russia's interests in the region, which has already become the new economic center of the world and very quickly becomes the military and political center. For purely geographical reasons, in case of war, he will be isolated from the other three Russian fleets. Moreover, within the Pacific Fleet itself, Primorskaya and Kamchatka will be isolated from each other. flotilla. At the same time, shipbuilding and ship repair are much less developed in the Far East than in the European part of the country.
What does Russia have in the Pacific Fleet
Today, the Pacific Fleet includes 3 atomic missile submarines (RPK SN or SSBN) of 667BDR Ave. (outdated and soon will be written off), according to 5 of SSGN of 949A and PLA of 971 ave. (Of which 3 is under repair or maintenance) 8 diesel submarines of 877 Ave., Varyag missile cruiser of 1164 Ave. (nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev Ave. 1144 is in conservation and has no chance to get out of it). 1 is a destroyer of 956 ave. (3 is also in conservation for no chance for resuscitation), 4 large anti-submarine ship (BOD) pr. 1155, 8 MPK ave. 1124М, 4 small rocket ship (MRK) pr. 12341, 10 rocket boats Ave 12411, 9 minesweepers, 4 large landing craft (BDK) (1 extremely outdated Ave 1171, 2 Ave 775, 1 Ave 775М). Virtually all of these ships were commissioned in the 1980s. No real update of the Pacific Fleet is expected, except for the 1 Corvette Ave. 20380 - a very unfortunate design for a ship designed for export to developing countries, but for some reason imposed on the Russian Navy. In addition, apparently, it is precisely on the Pacific Fleet that two French misunderstandings will be known, known as the UDC of the Mistral type. However, this is logical. The only conceivable task for these iron boxes as part of the Russian Navy is to use them as transport ships for the transportation of troops from Russia to Russia, i.e. from the mainland to the Kuril Islands.
Impact power of the US PF
Comparison of the Russian Pacific Fleet with other fleets of the region makes a very heavy impression.
American nuclear aircraft carrier "George Washington" in the port of the city of Busan, South Korea. Photo: Jo Jung-ho / AP
If earlier the Atlantic and Pacific fleets of the United States were almost equal in strength to the accuracy of the ship, now priority is given to the Pacific Fleet, it is supposed to have at least 60% of the US Navy in its composition. Today in the US Pacific Fleet: from submarines - 8 SSBNs and 2 SSGNs of the Ohio type (on SSGNs of the 24 SLBM Trident-2, on the SSGNs of the 154 SLCM Tomahawk), 30 of the PLAXNNXX type of the PLNKX type PLNKX. 24 type "Sea Wolf", 3 type "Virginia"); 3 nuclear aircraft carriers of the Nimitz type, 6 cruisers of the Taykonderoga type, 12 destroyers of the Orly Burk type, 33 frigates of the Oliver Perry type, 8 UDC (5 of the Tarawa type, 1 of the Wosp type), 4XUMUM, 5 ship docks - DVKD (1 type "Austin", 4 type "San Antonio"), 6 paratroopers of transport dock - DTD (4 type "Widbee Island", 2 type "Harpers Ferry"). The fleet receives new submarines of the Virginia type, destroyers of the Orly Burk type, DVKD of the San Antonio type, submarines of the Los Angeles type and frigates of the Oliver Perry type, and the last UDK of the Tarava type in the near future and Austin type DVKD. The US Pacific Fleet possesses gigantic strike potential, since all the submarines, cruisers and destroyers are carriers of the Tomahawk SLCM. In addition, from the 5 cruisers and 16 destroyers of the US Navy, capable of solving missile defense tasks, all but one cruiser are part of the Pacific Fleet.
The only rival of the Americans - the Chinese fleet
The only decent opponent of Americans in the Pacific today is the Chinese Navy.
Chinese submarine fleet is the largest in the world. It consists of: submarines - 5 SSBN (1 Ave 092 and 4 Ave 094), 8 PLA (4 Ave 091 and 093) and at least 60 Submarine (up to 10 041 Ave, 8 Ave NNNXXNNXX 636 ATPNNXX ATPNNXX, 2 ATP 636 and 877 ATP 13 ATP) Ave 039 and 5, 035 Ave 13G, 035 Ave 8G, 033 Ave 041, up to 636 Ave 039). All submarines and submarines of pr. 033A, 035EM and 041G are armed with anti-ship missiles. The old submarines of pr. 095 and 043 are decommissioned, instead of them are under construction of submarine of pr. XNUMXА, construction of the submarine of pr. XNUMX and submarine of pr. XNUMX has begun.
The aircraft carrier Liaonin (the failed Soviet Varyag) attracts a lot of attention from outside observers. However, due to the peculiarity of the design (springboard instead of a catapult) and the actual absence of deck aircraft (as long as the entire X-NUMX of the J-4 aircraft is available), it will forever remain an experimental pilot ship, and not a full-fledged combat unit. Real aircraft carriers of their own construction will appear in China no earlier than in 15 years.
The destroyers of the PLA Navy are 25: 2 pr. 956, 2 pr. 956 ”, 3 Ave 052“ Lyuda-2 ”and 052 Ave 2“ Lyuda-052 ”(another ship of the Ave 2 passed to the Coast Guard). All “Lyudy” are gradually being written off, destroyers of the 051С ave are built to replace them (there are still 1 units, that is, there will be a total of 051). Starting with the 2 ship of this series, they no longer carry Russian weapon systems. In particular, the C-051F air defense system with a turret-type PU is replaced by a HHQ-3 with a CIP.
The destroyer "Harbin" during the Russian-Chinese exercises in the Yellow Sea. Photo: Xinhua / AP
At the same time, the construction of “Chinese Ajis”, the destroyers of 052D Ave, was launched, on which a universal UVP on 64 missiles of various classes (SLCM, anti-ship missiles, missiles, PLUR) will be placed. There will be at least 10 units of them in the Chinese fleet (the first 4 are under construction now, of which 3 are already launched). China will become the fourth country in the world (after the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea), which has ships of this class. They will be able to enter both aircraft carrier formations as escort ships and operational groups for independent action in the open ocean, including at a considerable distance from the coast of the People's Republic of China, including attacking coastal targets. This gives the PLA Navy a completely new quality, which the Chinese fleet has never had in modern stories.
Frigates Chinese fleet now has 48, 15, 054, 2 and 054 X.UMX, six different modifications of the 31, NNXXN, 053, NNXX, 10, 053, 3, NNXX, NNXX, NNXX 4 pr. 053H). In addition, two old frigates of the project 2H were handed over to the Coast Guard, one frigate of the same project was converted into an assault support ship (armed with MLRS), one frigate of the project 6HT-H is used as a training ship. The frigates of the 053 Ave. early modifications are gradually being written off, the ships of the 1 Ave are being built (a total of at least 3 will be built).
Along with the strike weapons traditional for the PLA Navy (8 C-803 CRP in container launchers), the 054 Ave ships became the first Chinese frigates having an adequate airtight airtight missile for XHUM-32 (based on the Russian Shti air defense missile system). "). Due to this, these frigates will become universal escort ships that can be used to protect aircraft carriers near their shores and to strengthen destroyers in the open ocean. China already has the largest frigate fleet in the world. Obviously, their number will be maintained at about 16 units with continuous improvement in their quality.
Traditionally, the mosquito fleet is very developed in China. Today it includes 119 missile boats (83 speed catamaran Ave 022, 6 Ave 037-II, 30 Ave 037-IG) and up to 250 patrol boats. A certain sensation of the last year was the massive construction of 056 ships in China. A year ago, nothing was known about them. The first ship of this type was laid in May 2012. Today, 6 such ships are in service, at least 10 are under construction, or are under test. The total number of ships in the series will obviously exceed 20 units (it may even go to 50). Such a pace of construction has no analogues in the post-war history in any country of the world. It is especially impressive given the fact that fairly large ships are being built (displacement of about 1,5 thousand tons, length of 95 m). In China, they are classified as frigates, in foreign sources - as corvettes. For comparison, it can be said that in Russia of years similar in size, displacement and armament of corvettes of 20380 Ave. for 12 (the first one began to be built in 2001), the 3 units were commissioned, i.e. The Chinese rate of commissioning of similar ships in 24 (!) is higher than in ours.
The landing forces of the PLA Navy are great, they include 3 DVKD Ave 071, 30 large and up to 60 medium landing ships. Each DVK can accommodate up to 800 marines and 50 armored vehicles, which can be transferred from ship to shore using airborne air cushion boats and 4 helicopters available onboard the DVND 4.
It is impossible not to note the unprecedentedly high capabilities of the Chinese shipbuilding industry, which it now demonstrates. Currently, 6 destroyers, 4 frigates, at least 9 corvettes, as well as 10 atomic and diesel submarines and at least 1 DVKD, i.e., are being built and completed at shipyards and afloat. at least 30 units of warships only. Such rates of fleet construction are inaccessible even for the USA; there is simply no possibility for comparison with any other country.
Russia is not a competitor and fleets other Pacific countries
In recent years, the Taiwan Navy has lagged far behind the Chinese and has lost the real prospects of competition with it, however, its surface forces are very large. The submarine fleet of Taiwan, consisting of 2 PL of the Dutch 1980-s and 2 PL of the American 1940-s, can be considered non-existent. As for the surface fleet, Taiwan has American XDUMX destroyers of the Kidd type, according to the American 4 frigates of the Oliver Perry and Knox types, 8 French Lafayette frigates, about 6 of rocket corvettes and boats.
The Japanese Navy are among the top five in the world. All of their ships and submarines were built in the country itself, while their weapons are mainly American-made, or produced in Japan under an American license. At the same time, Japan is directly involved in the development of shipboard SAM "Standard". The notorious US missile defense system, in fact, is basically a myth. Its only real-life component is the sea one, based precisely on the standard-type SAM system of various modifications. And, in fact, it is not American, but American-Japanese.
Japanese destroyer type "Congo" during the US-Japan exercises near the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Photo: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force / AP
Japan's submarine fleet consists only of diesel (non-nuclear) submarines. Now in its composition 5 PL of the type “Soryu” (2 is still under construction), 11 of the type “Oyashio”, 1 of the type “Harusio” (still 3 PL of this type are used as training).
All large surface ships of the Japanese Navy are classified as destroyers, which in some cases is rather strange. Among these destroyers, besides the really destroyers, are aircraft carriers (helicopter carriers), cruisers and frigates.
“Destroyers” -controllers - 2 ship type “Hyuga” and 2 type “Sirane”. If the destroyers “Sirane” are really helicopter carriers, then the newest “Hyuuga” are light aircraft carriers in size and architecture, capable of carrying ATVM attack aircraft to 10. However, Japan does not have such planes, therefore, de facto these ships are also used as helicopter carriers.
"Destroyers", in fact, are cruisers - 2 ship type "Atago" and 4 type "Congo". They are equipped with the Aegis system and, because of this, can be an integral part of the sea missile defense component.
Among the destroyers proper, the most modern ships are of three types, in fact, being three modifications of one project: 2 of the “Akizuki” type (2 is still under construction), 5 of the Takana type, 9 of the Muraseme type. There are also older destroyers: 6 of the “Asagiri” type (2 is also used as training ones), 5 of the Hatsuyuki type (3 as training ones), 2 of the Khakadze type.
Finally, “escort destroyers”, i.e. frigates - 6 type ships "Abukuma".
The Japanese Navy also includes 6 missile boats of the Hayabus type, 28 minesweepers, 3 DTD of the Osumi type. The latter have significantly increased the amphibious capabilities of the Japanese fleet, but in general they remain very limited, they cannot conduct serious amphibious operations by the Navy and the Self-Defense Forces as a whole.
The Navy of the Republic of Korea two decades ago consisted of American artillery destroyers built 1940-ies, mediocre own frigates such as "Ulsan" and hundreds of corvettes and patrol boats, designed to fight the huge "mosquito fleet" of the DPRK. To this day, the Republic of Korea has built an excellent ocean fleet, one of the ten strongest in the world, with very powerful strike capabilities and extremely strong air defense.
Thanks to cooperation with Germany, the Republic of Korea in a short time has created from scratch one of the most powerful submarine fleets in the world, consisting of 9 Submarine Ave 209 and 3 Submarine Ave 214. For at least a short time, 12 destroyers of three modifications were built, the last of which (3 destroyer of the “Sajon Tevan” type) is represented, in fact, by the world's most powerful surface combat non-avianos ships. These ships, equipped with the Aegis system, are armed with a UNP on 80. A standard Attack missile system, an UVP on the 32. PLUR "Red Shark", as well as 3х1,5 PU PKRC Heson. All of these missiles, except for the "Standards" - are self-developed, albeit with American influence. The construction of Incheon-type frigates (from 16 to 4, they will replace the UNs 4) has begun, and they will also be armed with the 18 SUNM XYNMU-24. They built 9 DVKD type "Dokdo", superior in their performance characteristics to the European ships of the same class, built more 4 similar ship. At the same time in the Navy remains up to 3 patrol boats and corvettes. New corvettes with rocket armament are being built.
If you go further south, it is impossible not to mention the Thai Navy. They include a light aircraft carrier, 8 frigates (2 American type Knox, 6 Chinese: 4 Ave 053, 2 type Naresuan with Western weapons), 2 training frigate, 7 corvettes and 6 missile boats. Indonesia has 2 German submarines Ave 209, 9 frigates of Dutch construction (one of them recently armed with the newest Russian Yakhont anti-ship missiles), 20 corvettes. As part of the Singapore Navy microscopic - on 6 most modern submarines, frigates and corvettes. Finally, Australia has Collins-type 6 submarines of Swedish construction and 12 frigates - American-type 4 Oliver Perry and 8's own ANZAC-type frigates.
Thus, if the submarine forces of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation are at least among the top five in the Pacific, the surface ones are at the very end of the top ten with chances of even falling out of it due to the rapid growth of the Malaysian and Vietnamese Navy. Of course, not all of the countries we are lagging behind are likely adversaries. Nevertheless, the situation in the Far East is catastrophic. Due to the geopolitical situation, the Pacific Fleet should definitely be the main of our fleets. But it is he who is in the fullest corral, and in Moscow for some reason this is considered the norm. All European fleets and flotilla even a little, but updated. The Pacific Fleet does not receive this. All European fleets and flotilla on their theaters are in the top three, the Pacific Fleet, in general, does not even make it to the top five. But this Moscow does not seem to care.