Twenty years of destructive "reforms". This is the axiom of our time, which justifies the delays and insurmountable (allegedly) difficulties in the renewal of the naval personnel of the Russian Navy. A submarine in twenty years and a frigate in nine. There is a complete loss of technology and production culture. We do not know how to build anything, and we will need another … twenty years to restore enterprises and lost personnel. It is advisable to buy another Mistral abroad so that our shipbuilders gain at least some experience in the design and construction of modern ships.
His name was "Eternal"
As you know, the last battleships of the 1st rank (large anti-submarine ship "Admiral Chabanenko" and TARKr "Peter the Great") were transferred to the Russian Navy in 1998-99. The destroyer "Eternal" is not listed among them, although it entered service 7 years later. Now, along with the destroyer "Impressive" (new name - "Taizhou"), the destroyer "Eternal" ("Ningbo") is serving in the Chinese Navy.
Briefly about the important: two missile and artillery destroyers pr. 956-EM, laid down in 2002 and handed over to the customer in 2005-06.
Three and a half years from the moment of laying to entry into service for an ocean-going ship with a gross displacement of 8000 tons! The pace of construction is catching up with the indicators of the Soviet period. Here it is, the great essence of capitalism, in the pursuit of profit, capitalists work miracles.
One of the main drawbacks of the project 956 was considered the lack of opportunities for the permanent basing of the helicopter. The wishes of the Chinese were taken into account in the project 956-EM (export, modernized). In the shortest possible time, the specialists of the Northern Design Bureau corrected the project: the destroyer received a completely changed aft part. The 130-mm artillery mount disappeared, and the ZU90S launcher with the Uragan anti-aircraft complex ammunition store moved to its place. As a result of the rearrangement, enough space was formed in the middle of the hull for a full-fledged helicopter hangar.
The anti-aircraft armament was strengthened by replacing the outdated AK-630 with two modern Kashtan ZRAK modules.
In contrast to the Russian fleet, which is content with the basic modification of the Moskit anti-ship missile system, China was supplied with modernized anti-ship missiles with an increased firing range (Moskit-EM, up to 200 km with a low-altitude flight profile).
Ningbo shoots Mosquito
The destroyers "Taizhou" and "Ningbo", together with two other "Hangzhou" and "Fuzhou" (formerly "Important" and "Thoughtful" - laid down during the Soviet Union, but completed with Chinese money in 1999-2000) constitute a homogeneous strike PLA Navy compound, carrying 32 supersonic anti-ship missiles and 192 anti-aircraft missiles.
Rif-M
The S-300 anti-aircraft system does not need a long introduction.
There are only three shipborne S-300FM air defense systems in the world. The first replaced one of the two S-300Fs aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great (there were not enough funds to replace the second S-300F with the S-300FM).
Two other sets of S-300FM were assembled in the mid-2000s and installed on board the destroyers Shenyang and Shijiazhuang (type 051C).
It is no secret that hull structures make up only a small part of the cost of ships. Along with the power plant, the most complex and expensive element of the ship is its weapon. First of all, long-range air defense systems, which require appropriate means of detecting and controlling fire.
Both Type 051C Chinese destroyers were built in 2006-07.specifically to accommodate a unique anti-aircraft system.
Complex S-300FM aboard the destroyer "Shenyang". In the foreground is the lifting "mirror" of the F1M radar, in front of it are revolving launchers (6 launchers with 8 missiles in each). In the background is a Fregat-class general view radar. All Russian made
What is the difference between the S-300FM and the “ordinary” S-300F, installed on four domestic cruisers?
The difference is in the fire control system. Instead of the 30-ton "Siska" ZR-41, a modern F1M radar with a phased antenna array is used. The firing range has sharply increased (from 90 to 150 km), the density of fire has doubled (simultaneous guidance of up to 12 missiles at six air targets - instead of six missiles at three targets in the ZR-41).
The capabilities of the new FCS made it possible to equip the ships with the 46N6E2 anti-aircraft missile with an increased launch range (up to 200 km) and increased capabilities in the fight against ballistic targets.
Destroyers of type 051C became the first ships of the PLA Navy with zonal air defense systems. Thanks to the Russian S-300FM systems, the Chinese destroyers were at that time the best sea anti-aircraft platforms, surpassing the American Aegis in terms of air defense / missile defense capabilities.
Our pride "Vikramaditya"
Former Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov, now Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
What changed? Everything. During the construction process, most of the elements above the waterline (234 hull sections) were replaced on the ship and the power plant was completely replaced. 2,300 kilometers of cables have been laid. Boilers were replaced and turbines of increased power were installed. The desalination plants have been modernized - now the ship is capable of producing up to 400 tons of fresh water per day. The Indians demanded that all obsolete weapons be dismantled (later, Israeli-made Barak anti-aircraft systems will be installed on the ship). The hangar was rebuilt. In the process of work, the aircraft carrier received a continuous flight deck with an area of 8093 sq. m. To ensure the operation of the wing in the bow there was a take-off ramp with a departure angle of 14 °. To ensure the operation of the wing on board the Vikramaditya, two launch positions with gas bumpers were equipped, a three-cable air guard and an optical landing system Luna-3E were installed. The carrying capacity of the nose lift was increased to 30 tons.
Initially, the contract for the modernization (actually building) of the aircraft carrier provided for the transfer of the ship to the customer in 2008. Of course, this bold schedule was thwarted. The Russians "otwaflili" the Indians a little, twice exceeding the estimate and delaying the transfer of "Vikramaditya" by 4 years. Another year was spent on refurbishment of the power plant, the boiler group of which was out of order during sea trials in 2012.
Well, now all the problems are over. For the second year now, INS Vikramaditya has served in the Indian Navy.
Contrary to all skeptics (“first, learn to build frigates!”), In our harsh fatherland, a real aircraft carrier was built with a length of 283 meters and a displacement of 45 thousand tons! It was built quickly enough: the general course of work took no more than 8 years. The cost of deep modernization of "Gorshkov" amounted to 2.3 billion dollars, which is well within the world standards for aircraft-carrying ships.
Paradox?
As soon as money appears, all questions end. The problem of “lack of capacities and personnel” is somehow solved. Instantly there is a place to build a ship of any size and purpose (how is that? Really? The only place where you can build aircraft carriers is Nikolaev Shipyard, on the territory of Ukraine).
An aircraft carrier and four destroyers, not counting weapons kits for the Indian and Chinese navies, - carrier-based fighters, anti-aircraft complexes “Rif-M”, cruise missiles of the “Caliber” family … This list would not be complete without Indian frigates of the “Talwar” type (project 11356).
The Talvar project was developed on an initiative basis by the Northern PKB on the basis of the patrol boat pr. 1135. Admittedly, the result exceeded expectations. The once successful "Petrel" has turned into a multifunctional combat ship of the 21st century: with stealth technology, solid strike potential and excellent defensive systems for a ship of this class. Objectively, Talvar is the best frigate in existence today. The most balanced and well-armed, at the same time relatively simple in design and cheapest to build.
In the period from 1999 to 2013. six ships of this type were built at Russian shipyards. The average rate of construction of one unit was 4 years from the moment of laying to the commissioning. The first three Talvars were built at Severnaya Verf, the last trinity were built at the Kaliningrad Yantar.
On the same “Yantar”, which for the 11th year has not been able to complete the large landing craft “Ivan Gren” for the Russian fleet. Similar in displacement, but much more primitive in equipment than the Indian Talwar.
It is curious that similar SKR pr. 11356, being built for the Russian fleet in the amount of four units, also turned into long-term construction projects. The lead "Admiral Grigorovich", laid down in 2010, has not yet been transferred to the fleet. In general, there is nothing to be surprised at.
Aircraft carrier, destroyers, Talwars - that's not all.
The invisible part of the list, both literally and figuratively, is 15 submarines of projects 636M and 636.1 for the navies of China, Algeria and Vietnam. All these are modernized “black holes”, elusive diesel-electric submarines of the “Varshavyanka” type with updated systems and weapons. Built in 2002-2015 with an average construction rate of 2-3 years.
Diesel-electric submarine "Sindurakshak" after deep modernization at the shipyard "Zvezdochka" (2013). Under the $ 80 million Russian-Indian contract, Sindurakshak received a new USHUS sonar station, a Porpoise radar, new electronic warfare equipment, a CCS-MK-2 radio communication system, a Club-S guided weapon system (anti-ship and tactical cruise missiles - export modifications of the family of Russian missiles "Caliber"). It is curious that none of the "Varshavyanka" of the Russian fleet has received such a modernization, remaining at the level of the 80s.
As for our sailors, they got “black holes” of a different nature. Mysterious financial schemes in which any funds dissolve.
This is the only way to explain the paradox in which we are building an aircraft carrier for India, while the domestic fleet cannot receive a corvette for nine years (the epic “Perfect” at the Amur Shipyard, lasting from 2006 to the present).
The examples cited eloquently indicate that we have no shortage of technology, production capacity, or personnel.
You can not make claims against the shipyards themselves, the GCC and the suppliers of high-tech equipment. They manufacture products privately with profit and sound judgment. Export helped them to survive in the absence of orders from the Ministry of Defense. While the very entry into the world market partially neutralized the losses caused by the collapse of the Union: now you can openly purchase any technology and find a new supplier of materials and equipment.
The problem lies in a different plane: the budget of the Ministry of Defense is controlled by the Vasilyev-Serdyukovs with obvious consequences for the Ministry of Defense.
