Russia continues to implement the State Arms Program, calculated until 2020. One of the main elements of this program is the plan to upgrade the equipment of the navy. Currently, a number of domestic shipbuilding enterprises fulfill government orders and build ships, submarines, boats, etc. of various types. Some of the existing orders were successfully completed last year, and some ships or submarines will be transferred to the fleet in the foreseeable future.
According to available data, during 2015, the Russian shipbuilding industry completed, tested and handed over to customers, including foreign ones, 4 submarines, 2 combat surface ships, 4 units of ships and auxiliary vessels, 2 landing boats in an air cavity, as well as 8 boats of other types. In addition, the fleet received a fairly large number of tugs, service vessels, floating cranes, etc.
Despite all the successes, not all plans for 2015 were implemented on time. So, due to production problems last year, it was not possible to complete tests of two Project 11356 frigates "Admiral Grigorovich" and "Admiral Essen". According to the plans that existed until recently, these ships were to enter the Navy by the end of 2015. Now the delivery of frigates has been postponed to 2016. The available information suggests that the updated plans will not require new changes and will be completed successfully.
Submarine "Krasnodar", project 636.3. Photo Mil.ru
The St. Petersburg shipyard "Admiralty Shipyards" last year handed over to customers four diesel-electric submarines of the "Varshavyanka" family. On July 3, a flag-raising ceremony was held on the B-262 Stary Oskol submarine (project 636.3), which became part of the Black Sea Fleet. On April 25, a boat of the same B-265 Krasnodar project was launched. The tests continued for several months, and according to their results, on November 5, the submarine replenished the submarine forces of the Black Sea Fleet.
It should also be noted that last year the Admiralty Shipyards handed over to the Vietnamese Navy two Project 636.1 submarines, launched in 2014. The boats HQ-185 Khánh Hòa and HQ-186 Đà Nẵng were handed over to the customer by the end of last year.
On December 12, the Black Sea Fleet hosted a flag-raising ceremony on two new small missile ships of Project 21631 Buyan-M. Now the ships "Zeleny Dol" and "Serpukhov", the main strike weapon of which is the "Caliber" missile system, are serving as part of this association.
Small rocket ship pr. 21631 "Zeleny Dol". Photo Mil.ru
On July 4, the Baltic Fleet received the second and third landing craft of project 21820 Dugong - Lieutenant Rimsky-Korsakov and Midshipman Lermontov, built by the Yaroslavl shipyard. These boats are designed to carry up to 3 tanks or 90 paratroopers and move at speeds up to 35 knots.
In 2015, the industry completed several large orders for the construction of special ships and vessels designed to solve specific problems. The new equipment has already entered the fleet and has already begun full-scale work. Moreover, some new vessels even managed to become a cause for concern among foreign experts.
On May 23, the oceanographic research vessel Yantar (project 22010) was included in the Northern Fleet. This vessel carries a set of scientific equipment that allows for various research in all areas of the oceans. A few months after the beginning of the service, the ship "Yantar" set off on the first long voyage, after which a lot of specific publications appeared in the foreign press. It was argued that the Yantar crew was searching for strategically important communication cables and therefore threatened the security of some foreign countries.
Oceanographic vessel "Yantar". Photo Sdelanounas.ru
On July 26, 2015, the Andreevsky flag was raised on the Project 18280 medium reconnaissance ship Yuri Ivanov, which became part of the Northern Fleet. According to reports, this ship received a complex of electronic equipment that allows it to perform various reconnaissance missions. The exact information on this matter has not yet been announced. It is reported that in the foreseeable future, similar ships will be built for the Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea fleets.
On December 11, the Sviyaga floating dock (project 22570) was accepted into the Navy. This dock is designed to carry out various work on the maintenance of ships or submarines, and can also be used for their transportation, including on the inland waterways of the country.
On December 18, the Northern Fleet received a Project 20180TV naval arms transport Akademik Kovalev, built by the Zvezdochka enterprise. The vessel has a cargo area in the stern, and is also equipped with a crane with a lifting capacity of 120 tons. A helicopter landing area is provided.
Patrol boat project 03160 "Raptor". Photo Pellaship.ru
On December 25, the Pacific Fleet was replenished with the Igor Belousov rescue vessel, built according to project 21300C. With the help of a set of special equipment, this ship will be able to provide assistance to surface ships, as well as rescue submarine crews. To accomplish the latter task, the vessel carries the Bester-1 deep-sea vehicle and remote-controlled systems, and is also equipped with a pressure chamber and the necessary medical equipment.
During 2015, the Pella shipyard completed and handed over to the Navy several Project 03160 Raptor patrol boats. Four of these boats were added to the Black Sea Fleet, three more were transferred to the Baltic.
In 2015, the industry was successfully engaged in the construction and testing of various auxiliary vessels. Thus, in January and March, the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, respectively, received one multifunctional port service vessel of project 03180. In June, the Black Sea sailors received the rescue tugboat Professor Nikolai Muru (project 22870). Large hydrographic boats of project 19920 were transferred to the Pacific and Baltic fleets. The Pacific fleet is mastering two floating cranes of project 02690.
The rescue fleet of the Russian Navy has been replenished with a large number of boats of two types. The Baltic Fleet received six Project 23040 rescue boats, and seven Project 23370 multifunctional rescue boats were delivered (3 for the Caspian Flotilla and two each for the Baltic and Black Sea fleets).
Escort tug MB-96, project PE-65. Photo Pellaship.ru
In 2015, the construction and testing of several tugboats of projects 90600, 76609 and PE-65 were completed. These vessels were transferred to the Baltic and Northern fleets. The construction of tugboats for these projects continues.
The Navy received two multipurpose submarines and eight surface ships (excluding support vessels) last year, according to the Defense Department. These deliveries made it possible to raise the share of new equipment in the fleet to 39%. Implementation of new orders and delivery of new ships, submarines, etc. will increase this parameter. In accordance with the tasks set, by the end of the decade, the share of new technology in the armed forces should reach three quarters.
To fulfill the assigned tasks, the construction of a large number of ships, vessels, boats and submarines is currently ongoing. In addition, work began on several new orders last year. The intensity of the work of the enterprises of the shipbuilding industry suggests that by the end of the decade the navy will indeed receive the required equipment. The construction of new ships is facing certain difficulties, but there is every reason to look to the future with optimism.
