Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

kwaigonegin said:

Most of the folks who know how to built carriers live in Ukraine, are very old or dead and to train new generation of dock workers to built a CVN is an immense undertaking.

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Not really . Russia did build INS Vikramaditya almost from the scratch (amount of work was almost the same as building new carrier) and they are refitting Kuznetsov right now. Technical know-how is there (execept for EMALS, but that is new technology anyway ) . It is more of question of resources (i.e. money) and strategic need .

Here is close encounter between USS Ross and Russian Su-24 in Black Sea , clip taken recently

Comments for all new combat vehicles

thunderchief said:

Not really . Russia did build INS Vikramaditya almost from the scratch (amount of work was almost the same as building new carrier)

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Sorry, thunder...but refitting the Vikram was nothing like building a carrier from the keel up. The major structural work was only concentrated on the bow, where they stripped away all of the old weaponry and missile launcher from the foredeck so they could build a ski jump bow. The angled deck was already there. The island was already there. The entire hull was already there. It was nothing like building the ship from the keel-up and it was a very much reduced amount of work. They started in 2004 and were expected to hand over the vessel in 2008. They ended up handing it over in 2014. at more than twice the original cost.

Do not get me wrong...they did some great work...and got it done ultimately, despite the high cost and some of the problems.

But building the carrier from the keel-up it was not. Neither is the overhaul of the Kuznetsov.

The last keel-up carrier that was built for Russia/Soviets, that was actually launched was the Varyag...and it was laid down in 1985...30 years ago. The people who were in their 30s and 40s who did the heavy design and manufacturing/fabrication work are now in their 60s and 70s. Retired and long away from doing that sort of work...and they were in the Ukraine in the first place.

It is going to be extremely expensive and time consuming for Russia to build that expertise and capability back. It can be done...but I certainly do not see it happening in the next 10-15 years short of a massive and fairly quick economic turn around that holds for a long time.

If they started today (which they are unable to do) they might put one in service ten years from now. But they simply can't do that...and every year that passes means that you are going to add ten years to that start date.

@Jeff Head You are basically claiming that Russians could not build large ship from keel up . But they already did that numerous times since break up of Soviet Union . Granted, these are not carriers but tonnage is similar and technology to break ice is nothing to laugh about :


On the other hand, they do have a technology to create STOBAR carrier from existing hull without ski-jump . Let us remind ourselves how did Gorshkov looked few years ago



I'm not saying that Russian shipbuilders could mach speed and efficiency of let's say US shipbuilders , or even British shipbuilders . But they do have people who were working more or less successfully on large ships, not 30 years but few years ago . And they do not live in Ukraine

Fencer buzzing USS ROSS Black sea.

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BY
– MAY 31, 2015POSTED IN: , ,
USS Ross (DDG 71), forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in the .

Ross observed the routine flights of SU-24 aircraft and had no interaction while both operated in international waters. Ross continued on her mission after observing the aircraft return to base. At no time did Ross act aggressively nor did she deviate from her planned operations. The conduct of her crew has been and continues to be professional.

The U.S. Navy operates ships in the Black Sea on a routine basis, consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.

thunderchief said:

@Jeff Head You are basically claiming that Russians could not build large ship from keel up . But they already did that numerous times since break up of Soviet Union . Granted, these are not carriers but tonnage is similar and technology to break ice is nothing to laugh about :

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On the other hand, they do have a technology to create STOBAR carrier from existing hull without ski-jump . Let us remind ourselves how did Gorshkov looked few years ago

I'm not saying that Russian shipbuilders could mach speed and efficiency of let's say US shipbuilders , or even British shipbuilders . But they do have people who were working more or less successfully on large ships, not 30 years but few years ago . And they do not live in Ukraine

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Like Jeff said refitting a ship even an extensive one is not the same as building from scratch. Not even close.... Building a large tonnage ship is also NOT the same as building a 100k carrier.
A ship even bigger than a carrier is relatively easy from a standpoint of know how. Why? Because all the blueprints are there. Dozens of shipyards can probably build 200, 300,000 super tankers or cargo ships but again NOT the same as building a CVN or even a CV.

Building a ship that houses 5000 folks, 100 aircraft with millions of miles of wires, cables etc is no where close to building a ship that holds oil or even a cruise ship with similar amount of passengers.
Also last I check Russia isn't even that good or well known for building supertankers or even mega cruise ships.

Is it possible? Of course it is however like I said not in the next 10 years. 25 maybe if they are cash rich. My post was in respond to the overly optimistic nature of the article. Not saying Russia can never ever build carriers.

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thunderchief said:

@Jeff Head You are basically claiming that Russians could not build large ship from keel up .

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No I am not.

I am simply saying that what they did with the Vikramasitya was nothing like building a full carrier from the keel up.

I am also saying that it will take a long time, with a lot of effort for them to get into a position to build a full CATOBAR carrier from the keel up now.

They may start one now...but it would end up a very long, drawn out disaster. Without spending years building the experience, the infrastructure, and the capability to do so, they simply are in no position to do so now either economically or succssefully.

They know this themselves...that is why they have not started one.

thunderchief said:

But they already did that numerous times since break up of Soviet Union . Granted, these are not carriers but tonnage is similar and technology to break ice is nothing to laugh about

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But that is the whole point of the discussion, thunder. I know they have built some neat ships...I talk about them all the time. But the issue is the CATOBAR carrier theier news report said they were going to build.

thunderchief said:

On the other hand, they do have a technology to create STOBAR carrier from existing hull without ski-jump . Let us remind ourselves how did Gorshkov looked few years ago

I'm not saying that Russian shipbuilders could mach speed and efficiency of let's say US shipbuilders , or even British shipbuilders . But they do have people who were working more or less successfully on large ships, not 30 years but few years ago . And they do not live in Ukraine

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You make my point for me.

I know what the Gorshkov was, and I know what it is now. They successfully converted it...but the vast majority of the ship had already been built back when they did have the capability under the Soviet Union.

Those people are not around any more. The equipment and designs are not applicable to building a CATOBAR carrier...what they built back then was not a CATOBAR carrier like they are talking about wanting. They have never built one of those and launched it.

With the Virkamaditya, they did not build a new carrier...they refurbished an existing one...and it took them the better part of ten years to do so.

Anyhow...I am not dissing the Russian shipbuilders.

They work hard and they are talented in many ways. They simply are not ready right now to seriously build a CATOBAR carrier in a timely fashion. As I say, perhaps 15-20 years from now, if their economy turns around and they can educate, attract and hold the professionals and the industry that can do this...they will.

If they had a truly stupendous turn around and could attract the people, buy the equipment, and establish the framework right now, perhaps it could happen sooner. But it would have to be a truly amazing turn around and it would have to be sustained.

Time will tell.

Russian Large Anti-Ship Vessel Completes Drills in Bay of Biscay

Russian large anti-ship vessel, the , completed a range of combat exercises, including the provision of anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense for a group of ships in the Bay of Biscay.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Russian large anti-ship vessel, the Severomorsk, has completed anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense exercises in the Bay of Biscay, the Russian Defense Ministry's Northern Fleet's press service said Tuesday.

The heavy nuclear-powered GM cruiser Peter the Great of the Arctic fleet seen in the Pacific fleet vessels' sortie for .

"While crossing the Bay of Biscay, the crew of the Russian large anti-ship vessel completed a range of combat exercises, including the provision of anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense for a group of ships, as well as training in rescue operations using [Helix] helicopters," the press service said.

On Monday, the announced that the rescue divers will soon begin training to help nuclear submarine crew "in distress." Earlier this month, the pilots of the Northern Fleet's Su-33 (Flanker) carrier-based superiority fighters carried out exercises on target interception and air combat.

A large-scale snap inspection of the fleet's combat readiness was carried out last month.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the country intends to conduct at least 4,000 military exercises in 2015.

Link:


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Russia mulls construction of 'anti-piracy' ship

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, May 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia could build at least one special-purpose ship to fight sea piracy in the next several years, the has said.

Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko said "special ships and vessels" were needed to ensure safety at sea and deal with sea piracy, which posed the greatest security threat.

He offered no details about its design or equipment but said that such a ship would be part of the , because its area of responsibility includes the Indian Ocean, in particular the Gulf of Aden.

The chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Friday Russia had no plans to beef up its task force in the Gulf of Aden following a pirate attack on a Russian tanker.

"We have no plans to reinforce our deployment," said Gen. Nikolai Makarov, who is also first deputy defense minister.

A SWAT team from the anti-submarine destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov freed the Moscow University tanker and its 23 crewmembers on Thursday. The ship was hijacked by Somali on Wednesday en route from the Red Sea to China.

One pirate was killed and several injured in a 22-minute operation. The were captured, but later released. Makarov said Russia had "no legal grounds for detaining them" as they could not be prosecuted under international or national law.
A Russian special investigations committee spokesman initially said that all the detained pirates involved in hijacking the tanker would be sent to Moscow to face legal proceedings and prosecution.

The Russian task force comprising the RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov, the MB-37 salvage tug and the Pechenga tanker arrived in the Gulf of Aden on March 29 to join the anti-piracy mission in the region.

Somali carried out a record number of attacks and hijackings in 2009. According to the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center, a total of 217 vessels were attacked last year, resulting in 47 hijackings.

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Miragedriver said:

Russian Large Anti-Ship Vessel Completes Drills in Bay of Biscay

Russian large anti-ship vessel, the

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, completed a range of combat exercises, including the provision of anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense for a group of ships in the Bay of Biscay.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Russian large anti-ship vessel, the Severomorsk, has completed anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense exercises in the Bay of Biscay, the Russian Defense Ministry's Northern Fleet's press service said Tuesday.


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The Severomorsk is a Udaloy class destroyer. It was the eight one built. They built thirteen of theses DDGs. 12 Udaloys, all built and commissione between 1980 and 1991. Then they built one Udaloy II, which is an imporved version actually with better anti-surface/shipping capabilities. Itr was commissioned in 1999 and was the last.

Nine are left in service, including the Severomorsk. It is the largest class of destroyers left serving in the Russian fleet.

Here's a nice pic of the Severomorsk: