For Russia, the Arctic is strategically important. This is easily explained - the region is extremely rich in almost all types of natural resources. The total cost of mineral raw materials in the bowels of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation, according to experts, may exceed $ 30 trillion, with up to 2/3 of this amount accounted for by energy carriers. And the total value of the proven reserves is now estimated at about $ 2 trillion.
The Arctic and its wealth
The Arctic is the northern polar region of the Earth, which includes the outskirts of the continents of Eurasia and North America, as well as practically the entire Arctic Ocean with islands (except for the coastal islands of Norway), as well as the adjacent parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Within the Arctic, today there are territories, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of eight Arctic countries - Russia, Canada, USA (Alaska), Norway, Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Sweden and Iceland. It is Russia that has the maximum length of borders in the Arctic. The length of the Russian Arctic coast is 22.6 thousand kilometers (out of 38.8 thousand kilometers of the Russian coastline). The land areas of Russia in this region have an area of 3, 7 million square kilometers (population - about 2.5 million people). Thus, these territories occupy up to 21.6% of the entire territory of the Russian Federation, but only 1.7% of the country's population live on them.
Back in 2009, Science published a detailed study on the natural resources of the Arctic. According to researchers, there are about 83 billion barrels of oil (about 10 billion tons) under the ice, which is 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil reserves. The volume of natural gas in the Arctic is estimated at about 1550 trillion cubic meters. At the same time, most of the oil reserves lie near the coast of Alaska, and almost all of the Arctic reserves of natural gas are located off the coast of Russia. Scientists note that most of the fuel resources located in the Arctic lie at a depth of less than 500 meters.
The Arctic zone contains most of the Russian reserves of chromium and manganese (90%), vermiculite (100%), phlogopite (60-90%), coal, nickel, antimony, cobalt, tin, tungsten, mercury, apatite (50%), platinum metals (47%), as well as gold (40%). Also in the Arctic zone production is concentrated 91% of natural gas and up to 80% (of all Russian explored reserves) of industrial gas. The importance of the Arctic and Arctic regions for Russian industry and the Russian economy as a whole is enormous.
Prirazlomnaya - an ice-resistant oil platform producing on the Russian Arctic shelf
The strategic importance of the Arctic region for ensuring the defense capability of Russia is determined by the fact that the shortest air routes from North America to Eurasia and back pass through the Arctic. It is for this reason that the most likely exchange of missile strikes (we are talking about a hypothetical scenario) between the United States and Russia will have to pass through the airspace of the Arctic zone and near space above it. Ballistic missiles flying through the North Pole have a minimum flight time. Since the 1950s, such strikes could only be carried out in a nuclear version, but in the 21st century, the possibility of delivering non-nuclear strikes that would pursue strategic goals appeared. For example, the flight time of missiles to Moscow, which can be fired from US attack submarines off the coast of Norway, is no more than 15-16 minutes.
Joint Strategic Command "Northern Fleet"
In December 2014, the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command (USC) was formed specifically to protect Russia's strategic and economic interests in the Arctic, with its headquarters in Severomorsk. The main task of the new formation is to protect the economic interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region - from Murmansk to Anadyr. USC "Northern Fleet" provides unified command and control of military forces and assets in this region. The joint command includes the surface and submarine forces of the Northern Fleet, naval aviation, coastal troops and air defense.
The main core of the Northern Fleet OSK, as you might guess, is the Northern Fleet itself, which is an interspecific strategic association, being, in fact, a separate military district. The fleet includes 38 large surface ships and 42 submarines. The main land striking force of the fleet is the 14th Army Corps, which includes the 200th separate motorized rifle brigade (Arctic) in Pechenga and the 80th separate motorized rifle brigade (Arctic) in Alakurtti, Murmansk region. In addition, the 61st Separate Marine Brigade is directly subordinate to the North Fleet USC. Also in the OSK "Northern Fleet" is the 45th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense, which includes the 1st Air Defense Division (Severomorsk), and the naval aviation of the Northern Fleet. According to the plans announced earlier, in 2018, a second air defense division should be formed as part of the USC.
Strengthening the Northern Fleet
Currently, the Northern Fleet is the most powerful naval formation in the country. It includes 7 out of 10 combat-ready strategic missile-carrying submarines. In 2018, the fleet will be replenished with more than 400 units of modern weapons and military equipment, including five warships and boats, five support vessels, 15 new aircraft and helicopters, 62 anti-aircraft missile and radar systems. Currently, the share of modern weapons in the navy is about 60 percent. At the same time, every year, in the extreme conditions of the Arctic, tests of new and modernized models of weapons and military equipment continue.
Not so long ago, the first combat ship equipped with Caliber cruise missiles appeared in the Navy. We are talking about the lead frigate of project 22350 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov". On July 28, 2018, the Andreevsky flag was raised on the ship, and on September 1, the ship went to the point of permanent deployment in the city of Severomorsk. The frigate's main weapons are 16 Kalibr-NK cruise missiles. Also, the ship is the carrier of the latest Russian air defense system "Polyment-Redut". The ship's crew has already conducted several successful firing operations using a new anti-aircraft missile system, last October 23, 2018 in the Barents Sea. The ship is included in the 43rd division of missile ships. This is the largest and most powerful formation of surface ships of the Russian Navy. It also includes the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser of project 11442 "Peter the Great" and the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of project 11435 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov".
Frigate of project 22350 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov"
In the coming years, the Northern Fleet will include three new atomic missile carriers of Project 955A "Borey": "Prince Vladimir", "Prince Oleg" and "Prince Pozharsky". Also, the fleet will be supplemented by three Project 885 Yasen multipurpose nuclear submarines (cruise missile carriers): Kazan, Arkhangelsk and Ulyanovsk. Also, the fleet will have to receive two more frigates of Project 22350: "Admiral Kasatonov" and "Admiral Golovko".
Recently, the fleet was also joined by a large landing ship of project 11711 "Ivan Gren". The transfer of the vessel to the Russian fleet and the raising of the Andreevsky flag on it took place on June 20, 2018. And on October 22, 2018, the landing ship arrived in Severomorsk, making an inter-fleet transition from Baltiysk to the main base of the Northern Fleet. This ship with a standard displacement of 5000 tons can take on board up to 13 main battle tanks or 36 infantry fighting vehicles / armored personnel carriers and up to 300 paratroopers.
Also in 2021, the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser should return to service. The only Russian aircraft carrier is undergoing repairs and modernization. The repair will extend the service life of the ship by at least 10 years. During the repair work, the main power plant of the ship will be seriously updated, the worn-out boilers will be completely replaced on the aircraft carrier. Also, the ship will receive modern radar and electronic weapons. Also, the aircraft carrier will receive new air defense systems. At the same time, its air group will remain mixed and will consist of light MiG-29K / KUB fighters and heavy Su-33 fighters, as well as helicopters. The main work on the repair and modernization of the ship should take 2, 5 years, another 7 months will be set aside for an impressive set of tests.
Meeting of the large landing craft "Ivan Gren" in Severomorsk / Sergey Fedyunin (Press Service of the Northern Fleet)
In September 2018, the lead patrol ship of the Arctic zone with a displacement of 6,440 tons was launched in Canada. This is the largest ship built in Canada in the past half century. In total, it is planned to commission five patrol ships of this class. Their main task is reconnaissance, surveillance, monitoring the situation in the exclusive economic zone of Canada, patrolling and controlling shipping. The armament of this patrol icebreaker is very modest - one 25-mm automatic cannon, a helicopter and two boats.
A kind of response on the part of Russia to the appearance of such ships in the Arctic is "combat icebreakers" - the more formidable universal patrol ships of the Arctic zone of the ice class of project 23550. The tug, icebreaker and patrol ship in one person has a large displacement, in comparison with its Canadian counterpart, full displacement 8500 tons. The main armament of the ship will be the 76-mm universal artillery mount AK-176MA, the ship will also be able to base the Ka-27 helicopter in the hangar and two Raptor-class high-speed combat boats. In addition, the ship will host an air-cushion vessel of the Manul project. Most likely, the ship will also carry Kalibr cruise missiles. The first ship of Project 23550, named "Ivan Papanin", was laid down in 2017; the Northern Fleet may receive it by the end of 2020.
Arctic "umbrella"
On Kotelny Island, in the center of the Northern Sea Route, a battery of supersonic coastal missile systems "Bastion" is deployed. Outside the radius of their action, including in the area of eternal ice, the naval aviation of the fleet operates. "Bastions" took up military service as part of the coastal missile and artillery brigade in the Murmansk region. Armed with Onyx anti-ship missiles, this complex is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 600 kilometers. In September 2018, this complex, put into service with the 99th tactical group of the Northern Fleet on Kotelny Island (Novaya Zemlya archipelago), was first used during a tactical exercise in the Arctic.
Shooting missile systems "Bastion" of the Northern Fleet
The new Bal coastal missile systems are also being put into service, which are designed to control territorial waters and strait zones, protect coastal facilities and coastal infrastructure, including naval bases, and protect the coast in landing areas. Every year the Northern Fleet receives 4 coastal missile systems "Bastion" and "Ball".
As the troops build up, the air defense of the direction is also strengthened. The Arctic air defense units are represented today by the 45th Air Force and Air Defense Army, which includes a powerful formation - the 1st Air Defense Division. The division includes three anti-aircraft and two radio technical regiments. The Arctic air defense units receive today the modern S-400 Triumph air defense systems and the improved Pantsir-S1 air defense missile systems. For example, the 531st Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Polyarny, Murmansk region) is completely re-equipped with new equipment (two S-400 divisions (12 launchers each) and the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system division (6 units). the number of S-300PM and S-300PS air defense systems.
The 1st Air Defense Division reliably covers the country's Arctic borders from aviation, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles of a potential enemy. Its regiments cover the Kola Peninsula, the Arkhangelsk Region, the White Sea and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Not so long ago, a new anti-aircraft missile regiment was formed as part of the army, which is based on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago (two divisions of the S-300PM air defense missile system (12 launchers each) and one S-400 air defense missile system battalion (12 launchers). plans to create another air defense division in the Arctic were announced, the commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, told reporters about this.
SAM S-300 of the new air defense regiment on Novaya Zemlya
The new division will provide cover for the territory from Novaya Zemlya to Chukotka, ensuring the creation of a continuous radar field. In August 2018, construction began on a new military camp in the village of Tiksi (Yakutia), it is planned to build it in six months. The servicemen of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Northern Fleet will be deployed here. Relying on new stationary air defense bases with their electronic, combat and meteorological capabilities, the Northern Fleet will be able to strengthen its control over the Arctic.
Especially for the Arctic and use in the Far North, the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol is developing a new version of the Tor-M2 air defense system. The Arctic version of this air defense system was designated Tor-M2DT. This installation is capable of operating in 50-degree frost. Especially for operation in the Far North, the complex was placed on the basis of a two-link tracked tractor DT-30PM. This chassis is not only able to overcome any off-road, but also capable of swimming. Development work on the Arctic modification of the "Torah" is planned to be completed by 2020. The firing tests of the experimental complex at the Kapustin Yar training ground in the Astrakhan region were successfully completed at the beginning of 2018. Now air defense missile systems "Tor-M2DT" are waiting for climatic tests and verification of the possibility of airlifting by air. It is already known that after the completion of state tests, the first division with new complexes will enter service with one of the units of the Northern Fleet.
SAM "Tor-M2DT"
New weapons for arctic brigades
Some Arctic units of the Russian armed forces still use simple and efficient means of transportation that are indispensable in the area: skis and even sleds, which harness deer and dogs. At the same time, special equipment is becoming more widespread, which is already sufficient in the troops. First of all, we are talking about two-link tracked all-terrain vehicles "Ruslan", two-link tracked snow and swamp-going vehicles GAZ-3344-20, as well as two-link tracked all-terrain vehicles DT-10PM "Vityaz". This unique model in the version for the armed forces can be equipped with body armor and work completely autonomously. These vehicles have already been tested for reliability and entered service with the Russian Arctic brigades and the marine brigade of the Northern Fleet.
The two-link tracked snow and swamp-going vehicle DT-30PM "Omnipresent" is also becoming more widespread. On its basis, the Tor-M2DT air defense missile system has already been created. Also, this chassis is planned to be used for the installation of 122-mm MLRS "Grad" and 300-mm MLRS "Smerch". These systems will provide Russian Arctic brigades with significant fire superiority over a potential enemy in the Arctic. Already, on the basis of the DT-30, a bakery, a kitchen, a water tank and a fuel tanker have been created, which are also necessary to ensure the supply of troops with everything they need in harsh climatic conditions.
Two-link tracked all-terrain vehicle DT-10PM "Vityaz"
New tanks are also delivered to the Arctic units. By the end of 2018, the rearmament of the 80th separate motorized rifle brigade with T-80BVM tanks should be completed. According to experts, this tank is ideal for operation in the Far North. With their appearance here, the striking power of the Arctic brigades of the 14th Army Corps will increase significantly. After the 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, these tanks will also be received by the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
It was no coincidence that the T-80BVM main battle tank was chosen to arm the Arctic brigades. A very important role was played by the gas turbine engine (GTE) installed on the tanks, which is easier to start in the severe frosts characteristic of this region. At an ambient temperature below -40 degrees Celsius, the operational readiness of such tanks is achieved in a matter of minutes, while warming up the diesel engines of T-72 and T-90 tanks would require at least 30-40 minutes in the cold. It is important that the main type of fuel for T-80BVM tanks is light kerosene, which, unlike diesel fuel, does not turn into paraffin at low ambient temperatures. Among other things, the GTE provides T-80 tanks with unique speed and maneuverability characteristics, accelerating the combat vehicle to a speed of 70 km / h.
T-80BVM
In addition to the updated starter and generator, the T-80BMV tanks are maximally unified with the T-72B3 and T-90. They received a modern fire control system - the Sosna-U fire control system, which has a modern thermal imager, a laser rangefinder, and a target tracking machine. This MSA significantly increases the tank's fire capabilities, the effectiveness and range of destruction of targets, even when using conventional ammunition. Among other things, the T-80BVM tanks will receive the Reflex guided armament complex (KUVT).
Light combat buggies "Chaborz M-3", specially adapted for Arctic conditions, can also find their application in the Arctic. The northern version of such buggies was first demonstrated in March 2018 during an exercise on Franz Josef Land. The rear drive wheels were replaced with tracks, the front wheels were replaced with skis. The buggy has space for three people - a driver and a gunner with a 7.62 mm machine gun, as well as a third crew member who sits just above the rest and can also fire from various types of weapons. On the rear brackets there are places for installing a machine gun or a 30-mm automatic grenade launcher. With a total weight of about 1270 kg, such a car is able to accelerate on roads to a speed of 130 km / h, while having good cross-country ability. The Arctic version of the buggy has advantages over conventional snowmobiles or dog / reindeer sleds.
"Chaborz M-3" for the Arctic
