Russian Navy after 2020: Possible ways to upgrade
Recall attempts to build a so-called. The “Grand Fleet” began at the end of the last century. Adopted in 1881, the program led to certain results, but a significant part of the new ships died during the Russian-Japanese war. Then they returned to the promising idea in the late twenties, but the program was not implemented again, this time because of the impending World War II. In the postwar period, the USSR was able to build a numerous fleet, which has a large number of ships and submarines of various classes and types. This allowed for the construction of naval presence in different regions, but the reduction in the eighties and nineties led to a sharp deterioration of the situation and a gradual decrease in capacity of the Navy.
Currently, the Ministry of Defense and Industry are implementing the State Armaments Program, calculated up to 2020. In addition, the military and industrialists are now forming a new, similar plan that will be implemented from 2016 to 2025 years. In both programs, special attention should be paid to updating the navy. After a long period, during which the fleet did not receive sufficient funding and was constantly reduced, the time came when it became possible to recover losses and lost potential.
We should not forget that the construction and commissioning of new ships will be carried out in parallel with the decommissioning and disposal of obsolete equipment. This factor additionally makes it difficult to update the Navy, since the industry will have to build ships, boats and submarines in an amount sufficient for an equivalent replacement of the equipment to be withdrawn and to increase the fleet's capabilities. Consider plans for updating in the medium term and the main difficulties associated with them.
In the context of the further development of the Russian surface fleet, two projects are most often mentioned: the construction of amphibious ships of the type Mistral and the appearance of a new domestic aircraft carrier. Prospects for the purchase of landing ships from France, it seems, have already been determined. The first two ships became the subject of a lengthy dispute, which is why their further fate is questionable. Nevertheless, there is every reason to believe that the planned purchase of two more Mistrals does not take place due to the unreliability of the supplier represented by France.
Building a new aircraft carrier for the Russian Navy is a more interesting issue. Even during the previous Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that in the current state program of armaments-2020 not provided any costs for the construction of aircraft carriers. Thus, in the best case, the construction of an aircraft carrier starts no earlier than 2020 of the year. In view of such remote periods it can be assumed that such plans are still in the preliminary stages of discussion.
The actions and statements of some shipbuilding organizations add fuel to the discussions. Over the past few years, domestic shipbuilders have repeatedly demonstrated their projects of a promising aircraft carrier for the Russian fleet. In addition, rumors have been circulating for a long time about the future creation of a promising carrier-based fighter based on the T-50 aircraft (the PAK FA program). For obvious reasons, official information regarding the construction of a new aircraft carrier has not yet appeared, which, however, does not prevent specialists and amateurs of military affairs from actively discussing a promising project.
In the interests of the Russian Navy, it is planned to repair and upgrade heavy nuclear missile cruisers of the 1144 Orlan project. At the moment, only one ship of this project remains in service - the flagship of the Northern Fleet, Peter the Great. The remaining cruisers for various reasons were withdrawn in reserve. A few years ago it became known about the planned upgrading at least one of the "eagles". First to repair and upgrade went cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov". Last year he was transferred to Sevmash plant, since last fall the ship has been in the bulk basin of the enterprise.
Before 2018, it is planned to replace many systems and equip the ship with new weapons. According to some reports, "Admiral Nakhimov" will receive new weapons. So, for the attack of surface and ground targets, he will use the Caliber missile system, which will replace the Granit П-700 system. It is planned to use other weapons and systems of new types.
Earlier it was reported that after the cruiser “Admiral Nakhimov” the ship “Peter the Great” would be sent for repair and modernization. The further fate of "Admiral Lazarev" is still unknown. The lead ship of the project, the Kirov, is likely to be disposed of due to the impossibility of a complete repair of damaged units.
The 1164 “Atlant” missile cruisers are also updated. The ship "Marshal Ustinov" is under repair and this year should go to the test. Planned repair and modernization of the Guards missile cruiser "Moscow", which is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. It is planned to replace the weapons and some onboard systems. In the future, it is also possible to upgrade the third Atlant-type cruiser. The flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the cruiser Varyag, was undergoing repairs not so long ago, due to which the timing of its further update is still unknown.
According to some reports, by the end of this decade, the modernization of large anti-submarine ships of the 1155 and 1155.1 projects can begin. As with the Orlans, upgrading these BODs may involve dismantling some of the existing systems and installing new ones. In particular, it is possible to change weapons complex, which will include the latest developments in this field. Navy Command has not yet spoken about his plans for the modernization of the BOD and the 1155 1155.1 projects, which is why so far it appears only in the form of rumors.
In the future, the Russian navy will be forced to write off a certain number of old ships, including those of the first rank, no longer fit for service. For example, in 2015, it is planned to write off the large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" (project 1134B). Last year, this ship underwent repairs and later had to become the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet for a while, replacing the Moskva ship under repair. However, in November last year in several feed compartments "Kerch" there was a fire. A special commission examined the ship and decided that its restoration was not appropriate.
The program of development of the surface fleet occupy a special place new corvettes (patrol near sea zone) project 20380 / 20385 and frigates (patrol far sea zone) 22350 project. The fleet wants to get a total of 15 frigates of the 22350 project and up to 18-20 of the corvettes "20380". It should be noted, the serial construction of patrol vessels has already been deployed and has some success. So, four corvettes of the 20380 project are currently serving in the Baltic Fleet. In the future frigates and corvettes new projects will be distributed among all Russian fleets.
Since the end of the last decade, Russian specialists have been working on a project for a promising destroyer with the code designation Leader. At 2014, the start of development work was planned for the year, and the construction of the lead ship should start as early as 2016. In view of the possible difficulties that may occur during the construction phase, as well as follow-up tests and to correct deficiencies can be assumed that the service of the new ship will begin no earlier than the end of the decade.
It is known about the development of two variants of the new project. The Navy will be offered ships with nuclear and gas turbine power plants. The final selection of these units will be for the military. Characteristics and equipment of promising destroyers, for obvious reasons, have not yet been announced. In this regard, there are the most daring assumptions. There is an opinion that the “Leader” ships as the main strike means will receive not only the “Caliber” missile system, but also some promising hypersonic missile. Also, the ships can get the ship's anti-aircraft version of the S-500.
The current state armament program provides funding for the development of a new project, and the construction costs of the “Leaders” will be included in the next such plan. According to some reports, the Russian Navy can order up to 10-12 destroyers of a new type. Naturally, all the available information about the project "Leader" yet are tentative, since the ship requirements may change, some stages of the project may be delayed, and the command of the fleet can adjust their plans.
Over the past years, active construction of new submarines, which will serve in the Northern, Pacific and Black Sea fleets, has been conducted. Such programs and projects are of particular importance for the development of the Navy and the security of the country, since it is precisely submarines that are one of the elements of strategic nuclear forces. At the moment, the naval component of the nuclear triad consisting of submarine 667BDR "Kalmar" projects 667BDRM "Dolphin" and 955 "Northwind".
After long operation and problems of the past decades, only three Kalmar submarines and six Dolphins remained in the ranks. In recent years, the construction and testing of the head submarine of the 955 project was completed, which opened the way for new ships of this type. At the moment, the Russian Navy has three "Boreas", the last of which was transferred in December last year.
The prospects of the submarines of the 667BDR project are simple and clear: approximately by the end of the decade they should be written off and sent for recycling. The number of drill submarines of the 667BDRM project will also constantly decrease, but until a certain time these ships will remain the basis of the naval component of the nuclear triad. In the future, the fleet should receive at least eight "Boreev", which are intended to replace the old types of submarines.
Until 2020, it is planned to build a series of eight submarines of the 955 and 955А projects. Three ships have already been transferred to the fleet, three more are at different stages of construction. A simple calculation shows that the planned number of submarines of the new type will allow keeping the number of deployed ballistic missiles of submarines at the existing level. Often, an assumption is made about the possible continuation of the construction of "Boreev". To enhance the naval component of strategic nuclear forces, 2-4 submarines of this type can be built. Nevertheless, while about such plans is unknown. Probably, the question of continuing the construction of submarines of the 955 / 955А project will be decided only when preparing a new state armaments program, calculated up to 2025.
To replace existing nuclear submarines with cruise missiles (SSGN) and nuclear submarines torpedo (fee) is being offered only one submarine project. In the foreseeable future, submarines of the 885 "Ash" project should become one of the main underwater "hunters" in the Russian Navy. The armament of these submarines consists of torpedoes, mines and guided missiles. Thus, in terms of the composition of the “Ash” percussion means, the SSGN of the 949A project corresponds to a certain extent. In addition, the presence of torpedoes allows you to replace existing PLAT projects 945, 945A and 971. Used in "Irtish Amphora» 885 project hydroacoustic station should provide high detection performance both surface and underwater targets. This feature of the new SSGNs, in combination with the existing weapons, should lead to a significant increase in their effectiveness in comparison with other types of submarines.
The Russian Navy currently has two dozen nuclear submarines with torpedo and rocket armament. At the same time, the Defense Ministry plans to build only eight “Ash trees”. The lead ship of the project, Severodvinsk, has been serving in the Northern Fleet since last year. All new submarines are built on the updated project 885M. Construction of a planned series to be completed by 2018-20 years.
Known information about the number of available and planned for the construction of submarines suggests that the new "Ash" will not have to completely replace the existing submarines. Their task is to strengthen the submarine grouping of the navy in the short and medium term, as well as to ensure the preservation of the potential of the fleet after writing off obsolete submarines.
Command plans for the further construction of the Yaseni are not fully understood. A few years ago it stated that until 2020 the Navy can not get 8, 10 and new submarines, but construction was approved just 8 submarines. Perhaps, after 2020, the construction of the 885 submarines will continue. We can not exclude the possibility of the appearance of a new upgraded version of the project. In addition, we are aware of the start of work on a new project of the fifth-generation multipurpose nuclear submarine.
Now and in the future it is planned to update the grouping of non-nuclear submarines. Thus, in the interests of the Black Sea Fleet, six diesel-electric submarines of the Varshavyanka 636.3 project are being built. The first two submarines have already been transferred to the fleet, the delivery of the third and fourth is scheduled for this year.
High hopes are pinned on the updated version of the 677 “Lada” project, in which it is supposed to use a promising air-independent power plant. Such equipment will significantly improve the fighting qualities of non-nuclear submarines due to the absence of the need for regular ascent to recharge the batteries. However, the exact dates for the start of construction of submarines with such power plants remain unknown. Probably, such a ship will appear in the Russian Navy only in the next decade.
Against the background of previous decades, the current plans of the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding the development of the navy look more than bold and ambitious. Nevertheless, the funding allocated within the framework of the state armament program allows you to invest in the development and construction of a new weapons and equipment, including ships and submarines. It is quite clear that the implementation of the current plans will be associated with a lot of various difficulties. However, the existing state of the material part of the Navy faces are so serious problems in the future, against the background of the expected difficulty of the state program does not seem a reason for refusal of further work.
On the materials of the sites:
http://ria.ru/
http://interfax.ru/
http://lenta.ru/
http://flot.com/
http://flot.sevastopol.info/
http://russian-ships.info/
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