The capabilities of the Ministry of Defense and the shipbuilding industry do not yet allow to quickly and in large quantities build the necessary ships that meet modern requirements. The way out of this situation is the modernization of existing ships and submarines, providing for the installation of new on-board equipment and weapons. In recent years, a number of combat units have undergone such an update, and the repair program with simultaneous modernization continues. In the very near future, it will give new results, but for now you can familiarize yourself with the successes achieved and plans for the future.
Surface modernization
Perhaps the most interesting at present are the projects of modernization of the aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" and the heavy nuclear missile cruisers of the project 1144 "Orlan". The repair and renovation of the only Russian aircraft carrier began just a few months ago and, for obvious reasons, has not yet been completed. The ship with new systems and weapons will return to service only at the beginning of the next decade. At the same time, the delivery of the missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov", which is now at the dock of the "Sevmash" enterprise, is expected to be delivered to the fleet. Only after the completion of work on this ship will the modernization of the other two "Orlans" begin.
Cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" at the plant "Sevmash"
In 2011, the overhaul of the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov (Project 1164 Atlant) was launched. The Zvezdochka plant restored the technical readiness of the hull structures, the main power plant, the rudder group, general ship systems, etc. The existing electronic devices were replaced with modern ones. For a number of reasons, the completion date has been repeatedly shifted. As a result, in the fall of 2016, Marshal Ustinov passed tests, and a few months later returned to the combat strength of the Northern Fleet.
In 2018, the modernization of another Atlant, the cruiser Moskva, should begin. According to the known data, based on the results of these works, the ship will restore the technical readiness of all main systems, and will also receive modern radio-electronic means. It was also reported about a partial update of the weapons complex. Instead of the existing S-300F anti-aircraft missile system, the newest S-400 will be installed.
An ambiguous situation has developed with the destroyers of Project 956 "Sarych". In the middle of the last decade, when the program for their repair was launched, there were eight such ships in service. Currently, only two destroyers are in service - "Bystry" and "Admiral Ushakov". Four more were decommissioned, one of them was going to be made a museum. Two ships were to be repaired and upgraded.
In 2005, the destroyer Burny came to the Dalzavod enterprise. Due to technical and technological reasons, the repair of this ship was seriously delayed. So, only at the beginning of this decade was it possible to start the process of repairing the main power plant, which had to be dismantled from the ship and sent to one of the adjacent plants. The renovation of Burnoye has not yet been completed. According to the latest reports last year, proposals were being considered to continue repairs or to mothball the ship.
In 2013, the repair of the Nastoichivy destroyer started. According to the published data, the restoration of the power plant and some update of the general ship systems were required. Armament replacement was not proposed. In the foreseeable future, the modernization of the Project 956 ships that remain in service may begin. Also, the possibility of repairing the Fearless destroyer, which has been in reserve since 1999, is not ruled out.
The current situation with the modernization of the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko, the only representative of Project 1155.1, may be a cause for concern. In the spring of 2014, the 35th shipyard accepted this ship for mid-life repairs. Soon it was decided to carry out a serious modernization with the replacement of a significant part of the onboard equipment. According to the latest news, all work and tests will be completed only in 2022-23, and only after that the Northern Fleet will continue to operate the ship.
At the end of last year, the large landing ship "Orsk" of project 1171 "Tapir" returned to the combat composition of the Black Sea Fleet after several years of repair. In 2016, in Baltiysk, repairs began on the Olenegorskiy miner, project 775. According to known data, the projects for the repair and modernization of landing ships provide for the replacement of electronic equipment, but do not affect the armament complex.
Underwater update
The principle of repair with the restoration of technical readiness and replacement of certain systems with modern models is also used in the renewal of the submarine fleet. In recent years, a number of similar projects have been launched, as a result of which the existing submarines should receive new weapons, and with it new combat capabilities.
Submarine "Tula", recently upgraded
At the beginning of 2014, the Project 949A Antey K-266 Orel nuclear submarine from the Northern Fleet docked at the Zvezdochka enterprise to undergo modernization. The 949AM upgrade project provided for the replacement of a number of systems and the installation of new weapons. Instead of the P-700 "Granit" anti-ship missiles, it was now proposed to use the newer P-800 "Onyx". Among other things, this rearmament led to a threefold increase in ammunition. Despite all the measures taken, the repair of the boat was delayed. Its completion was announced only in October last year.
According to the latest plans of the Ministry of Defense, in the foreseeable future, a total of four submarines will be updated under Project 949AM. Now the ships K-132 "Irkutsk", K-442 "Chelyabinsk" and K-186 "Omsk" are being rebuilt at various factories. All required work is expected to be completed in the first years of the next decade. Several other submarines of Project 949A will have to maintain the existing equipment and weapons complex based on the Granit missile.
The Navy has at its disposal two Project 945 Barracuda nuclear submarines. They are also planned to be updated and improved. Since 2013, the K-239 Karp ship has been under repair. Due to the age of the equipment, its restoration requires a lot of effort and time. In addition, the project provides for the replacement of part of the onboard equipment and ensuring compatibility with the Kalibr-PL missile system. As a result, work on the "Karp" will have to be completed only by the end of the decade. Soon after that, the second submarine of Project 945 - K-276 "Kostroma" will arrive at the Zvezdochka plant. Its modernization will continue until at least the mid-twenties.
Almost all of the 11 available nuclear submarines with Project 971 "Schuka-B" cruise missiles will have to undergo repair and modernization. Project 971M provides for the upgrade of electronic equipment and the installation of the Kalibr-PL missile system. The presence of missiles will significantly increase the combat potential of the boats.
Currently, seven Schucks are undergoing modernization at once. Works are carried out at the factories "Zvezda" and "Zvezdochka". The first representative of the updated project was to be the boat K-328 "Leopard", delivered for repairs in 2011. Initially, the delivery of this ship was planned for 2014-15, but the work was noticeably delayed. The lead nuclear submarine of Project 971M, as well as other ships, still remain in the shops and are not ready to continue service. However, the first modernized submarines are planned to be returned to the customer in 2018-19.
In late December 2017, the Northern Fleet received an upgraded strategic submarine K-114 Tula, project 667BDRM. At the moment, this is the last Dolphin-class submarine to be repaired. In the course of recent work, she, like several ships of the same type, received new equipment. The ship has been rearmed and can now use modern Sineva or Liner ballistic missiles. Several weeks ago, the Zvezdochka enterprise started similar work on the K-117 Bryansk nuclear submarine. Thus, all submarines of the 667BDRM project, built in the eighties of the last century, have been restored and updated.
Several years ago, a large-scale modernization program for diesel-electric submarines of Project 877 "Halibut" began. In accordance with the adopted plans, almost a dozen such ships were to receive new equipment, including the Caliber-PL missile system. According to known data, in 2012-17, three submarines underwent the necessary re-equipment and were returned to the fleet. Several more ships are at the shipyards and receive the required equipment. For the time being, other "Halibuts" have to continue their service in the existing configuration. According to various data and estimates, the modernization of 14 submarines can continue until at least the mid-twenties.
Timing and problems
The idea of deep modernization of ships and submarines with the installation of new equipment and weapons looks very interesting and promising in itself. This technique does not require the construction of large and complex hull structures, power plants, etc. The result is an opportunity to save time and money. However, as practice shows, it is far from always possible to obtain the desired savings and expected benefits.
Nuclear submarine "Eagle" during repair
Considering recent and current projects for the modernization of equipment, you can see that almost always ships are returned to service with some delay in relation to the original plans. However, it cannot be denied that - for all the delays and problems - the technology, with very rare exceptions, nevertheless starts service and makes its contribution to the combat capability of the navy.
Such phenomena, which have a negative impact on the development of the fleet, have their own reasons. In the past, the main prerequisite for delaying work was the limited financial capabilities of the customer. Later, the state found opportunities to timely allocate the necessary money to the Navy for the construction of new ships or the modernization of existing ones. Thus, one of the main problems was almost completely resolved.
Nevertheless, as it turned out, even increased defense costs do not allow for construction or modernization in the shortest possible time and in the desired volumes. Now the reasons for the delay are the lack of production capacities, their limited capabilities and organizational problems. Also, a prerequisite for the complication of work on military projects may be the presence of other orders, for the implementation of which it is required to distribute the available forces.
Undoubtedly, programs for the construction and modernization of ships, auxiliary vessels and submarines are faced with one or another problem. Often these problems are manifested in the failure of the established deadlines and the later transfer of the ordered equipment. Unfortunately, all this has a certain negative impact on the development of the navy and its combat effectiveness. In general, the fleet in the current situation retains the required performance and is able to make the necessary contribution to the country's defense capability. However, one cannot fail to notice that in the absence of characteristic problems, the indicators of the Navy would be noticeably higher.
And yet, the process of updating existing ships and submarines continues. Several orders are planned for this year, as a result of which a number of combat units of the surface and submarine fleet will receive new capabilities that distinguish them favorably from other models. Ships and submarines that have undergone modernization, together with new-built equipment, will nevertheless bring the fleet into the desired shape and ensure the protection of the country's sea borders.
