By 2020, the Black Sea Fleet will be replenished with 15 new surface ships, namely frigates, and diesel submarines in a ratio of 60 to 30. This was reported to RIA Novosti by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky. According to him, this year three Project 1135 (b) frigates will be laid down at the Yantar plant in Kaliningrad, and three Project 636 submarines have already been laid down at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg specifically for the Black Sea Fleet.
Admiral Vysotsky also announced the restoration of cooperation with NATO. “Moreover, it is in those areas of activity that are preferable for us and where we find complete mutual understanding. First of all, this is the fight against drug trafficking, exercises for conducting search and rescue operations at sea and, of course, the most important topic now is the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa. In a word, cooperation is going on in all positions, without exception, in all seas and oceans. And this applies not only to the conduct of exercises or calls of ships at foreign ports - it is a global exchange of information.
According to him, the mutual readiness of the parties to come to each other's aid at any time in the event of an emergency situation at sea is very important. “Any NATO rescuer can, relatively speaking, take our crew out of the damaged submarine, and vice versa, we can provide such assistance. Last year, our rescue vehicle boarded British, Polish and German submarines. After all, we have the same standards: the diameter of the emergency hatch on our submarines and theirs is 85 centimeters, even torpedo tubes through which submariners can, if necessary, leave the submarine, and those of the same caliber are 21 inches, or 533 millimeters”, - emphasized Admiral Vysotsky.
He also noted that the topic of basing our ships abroad remains relevant. “This should be done gradually, taking into account the country's capabilities. The first step in this direction is the system of simplified calls at foreign ports. Many states of the world agree to this. We will use this. This is primarily about those countries that have good infrastructure,”said Admiral Vysotsky.
He also reported on the development of the base in Tartus: “It will also develop on the issue of basing heavy ships in it. The first stage is 2012. This is to ensure the minimum necessary measures related to the basing of heavy ships - from a cruiser and higher."
The commander-in-chief also shared information about the construction of the NITKA aviation training complex in Yeisk. It will be completed by the end of 2012.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy also announced that by 2020, as planned, the first aircraft carrier will be built for the Russian Navy: “I am convinced that the construction of an aircraft carrier complex should be carried out outside the state defense order. There should be a separate state program. There is no such program yet. There are only approaches. But I would like to emphasize that no one addressed these issues. Development work is underway. By the end of 2010, the technical design of the ship will be ready with the main performance characteristics …
