Russia, which occupies a huge territory in Eurasia, cannot but influence the politics and economy of the continent. And although the Russian borders are washed by the waters of three oceans, it cannot be called a maritime power.
A sea power can be called a country that has strong military and merchant fleets and controls sea routes.
To restore Russia's influence in the Pacific region, it is necessary to develop the Russian Far East, build new ports, modernize the existing coastal infrastructure, and strengthen the fleet.
The strategic importance of the Far Eastern region can hardly be overestimated. More than 2 billion people are concentrated on its territory, more than 30 states are located on the coast and numerous islands, which differ in the level of social and economic development. The most influential of these are the United States, Canada, Japan, China and Australia. The Americans, realizing the importance of preserving their influence in this region, are constantly strengthening their presence in the region, supporting the aggressiveness of the military-political blocs of the countries located in this region.
American strategic objects are located in the Pacific Ocean basin, from where an attack on any point in Asia is possible.
The main striking force of Washington in the Far East is the 7th (zone of responsibility - Primorye of the Far East) and 3rd (zone of responsibility - Kamchatka) fleets of the US Navy. Great Britain, France and Japan also maintain military groups in the Pacific Ocean with excellent modern equipment, including offensive and general weapons. The bases of the naval forces, ports and basing points, as well as their radio navigation support, are constantly being improved.
The zone of special strategic interests of the United States in the Pacific Ocean includes Russia and China.
And now the United States will make every effort to control the situation in the region, which has enormous material resources.
In Soviet times, the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Union adequately opposed the US fleets in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Unfortunately, in the 90s, the necessary attention was no longer paid to the Far East, which led to the severing of economic ties with the western regions of Russia, as well as to the disruption of the provision of vital activity in the distant regions of the country. This was reflected in the configuration and maintenance of military facilities.
Today, the Russian government plans to strengthen the country's Pacific fleet. For this, the fleet will receive the latest nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgoruky, the Mistrals purchased in France, missile cruisers Admiral Nakhimov and Marshal Ustinov will be transferred from the North Sea to the Pacific bases. At the moment, the cruisers are under repair, as a result of which all their main components will be modernized.
It is planned that the Mistrals will be based in Fokino, located 130 km from Vladivostok.
So far, the power of the Russian Pacific Fleet exists only on paper: 22 submarines and 49 ships. In reality, most of the surface ships are under repair or officially decommissioned. Since 1991, not a single large ship has entered the fleet. No more than 20 surface ships are in combat readiness.
The state of the ships of the fleet does not allow them to perform combat missions, therefore they are used as guards in defense against pirates (the September raid in the Gulf of Aden by the anti-submarine ship "Admiral Panteleev"). Currently, due to the lack of the necessary weapons, the Pacific Fleet can only protect the water area.
The Mistrals, bought for fabulous money, will not be able to strengthen the potential of the Pacific Fleet, since they are ships not designed to defend the borders. Perhaps they will become a "horror story" for the Japanese.
The Varyag missile cruiser, which is in service, was built in 1989 and most likely has worn out equipment and components.
The leadership of the fleet will never part with another outdated combat ship - the Admiral Lazarev.
Any military expert understands that the Navy needs new destroyers and submarines to accomplish combat missions on the easternmost frontier.
Of the 22 submarines in the Pacific Fleet, six are under repair.
For example, the Omsk and Chelyabinsk submarines (analogs of the Kursk submarine), which everyone proudly calls “aircraft carrier killers,” require not only repairs, but also modernization in accordance with modern requirements for combat submarines.
The sailors are looking forward to the new Borei class submarines: the crews for the Alexander Nevsky and Vladimir Monomakh submarines have already been formed.
The only submarine recently delivered to the Pacific Fleet is being leased to the Indian Navy.
For comparison: the combat strength of the 7th Fleet of the US Navy is known from open sources: 440 aircraft (of which 260 are deck-based), 71 newest ships: 3 aircraft carriers, 5 cruisers, 30 destroyers, 11 submarines, an amphibious ship, 5 amphibious transports, 15 ships technical support.
The 3rd Fleet of the US Navy, whose area of responsibility includes the North Pacific Ocean, includes: 7 cruisers, 2 aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers, 7 frigates, 5 nuclear submarines, 12 landing ships.
