system, she has a multi-role air defence system and will join the fleet in 2015; the remaining two ships of the contract are likely to be the same. Given limited funding, an inadequate
industrial base and a lack of organisational skills some headline-grabbing claims are hard to place much faith in. The United Shipbuilding Corporation, for example, has claimed that it is designing a nuclear- powered aircraſt carrier with construction starting in 2018 and the ship joining the fleet in 2023. However, Russia’s Defence Minister
Anatoly Serdyukov has stated that Russia had no plans to build carriers in the next 10 years, because the 23 trillion rouble bill is simply too daunting. However, the surviving carrier, RFS Admiral Kuznetsov, will have its air group updated through the purchase of 24 MiG-29K fighters between 2013 and 2015. Similarly, the plan for 14-16 ‘destroyers’,
possibly nuclear-powered, by 2031 seems another a pipe dream, despite claims by navy commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky that the first of class would be finished by 2016. Tey are described as replacing the large anti-submarine ships, destroyers and missile ships, terms which refer to cruisers rather than destroyers, but also as anti-air warfare vessels similar to Aegis ships. Teir planned displacement has been put at 9000-10,000tonnes or 12,000-14,000tonnes depending on the choice of propulsion. In October 2011, United Shipbuilding Corporation received a contract for a feasibility study for an improved Kirov (Project 1144)-class nuclear-powered cruiser. Tis comes as Russia announces plans
to restore all of the surviving Kirovs to the fleet aſter refits and upgrades. In September it was widely reported that the cruisers RFS Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Ushakov were to be upgraded and returned to the fleet and that their sister ship, the Northern Fleet flagship, RFS Pyotr Velikiy, would also be upgraded. Tey will, it is understood, receive new fuel rods for the nuclear reactors, new command systems, Oniks (SS-N-26) supersonic and 3M14 Klub-N (SS-N-30) long-range surface-to- surface missiles, plus a navalised version of the land-based S-400 Triumf (SA-21 ‘Growler’) surface-to-air missile system.
Warship Technology May 2012
What
is
surprising
about this
announcement, which is confirmed by the Russian Defence Ministry, is that Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Ushakov were paid off nearly a decade ago and both seemed destined for the scrap yard while Admiral Nakhimov was laid up. She is reported to be the first ship to be upgraded, more than a decade behind the original schedule and will return to the fleet in 2015, the other two joining her by 2020. It appears the Russian Navy intends to keep these ships in service until 2040, but the problems encountered by India and Russia with the carrier RFS Admiral Gorshkov are a cautionary lesson.
Submarine arm enhancements Meanwhile, the third beneficiary of the Russian Admiralty’s limited funding is the submarine arm, which is being significantly enhanced. Te much-plagued R-30 Bulava (SS-N-X-32 or RSM-54) appears to have overcome its prolonged teething problems, with two being launched, including RFS Yuri Dolgoruky in December. Te following month Moscow announced a production contract, although it is unclear when they will enter service. Te Bulava will equip the Borey (Project 955) class submarines whose first-of-class, RFS Yuri Dolgoruky has conducted almost all the successful tests. Tis unit will become an operational
vessel in the Pacific Fleet this summer and is scheduled to be joined this year by her
sister ship RFS Alexander Nevsky which will join the Northern Fleet, her trials having begun in October 2011. Te third, RFS Vladimir Monomach, is scheduled to be commissioned this year and RFS Svyatitel Nikolay in 2014. The Russian Navy anticipates receiving two Boreys a year to 2018 with the eight ships evenly divided between the Northern and Pacific Fleets. In February Admiral Vysotsky stated that the ballistic submarine fleet would resume ocean patrols in June, and in September stated Moscow plans to build at least 20 strategic submarines by 2023 and claimed some would be based in the Black Sea. Currently the ballistic submarine fleet
conducts fewer than 10 patrols a year, compared with 230 in 1984. Te Boreys will augment the five Delta III (Project 667BDR), six Delta IV (Project 667 BDRM) and Typhoon (Project 941) class RFS Dimitry Donskoy, which conducted the earlier Bulava tests. Two Typhoons, RFS Arkhangelsk and Severstal, remain in reserve at the Northern Fleet’s base in Severodvinsk. Te Defence Ministry stated that they will remain in service to maintain the deterrent or become cruise-missile platforms like the US Navy Ohio (SSGN 726) class. In December 2011, the Ministry admitted it had been considering paying off RFS Dimitry Donskoy, but will retain her to assist with testing new submarines,
A Slava class missile cruiser on exercise. 19
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