A Russia without nuclear submarines?
Photo: Barentsphoto.com
Western politicians warn about a new arms race with Russia and note that the country has started the floating of a fourth generation of nuclear powered submarines. In reality, though, the Russian Navy remains cash-strapped and in serious need for modernization. A Russian defence analyst believes the country already in the nearest future is in danger of losing its submarine power.
Over the last 15 years, the Russian Navy has only got 10-12 percent of its promised and required state allocations, journalist Vladimir Gundarov writes in the Nezavisimaya Gazeta. The result is a dilapidated state of the fleet and hardly any new vessels.
In the Soviet period a total of 250 nuclear submarines were built from the late 1950s. About 150 of the vessels were stationed in the Northern Fleet.
Since the collaps of the Soviet Union, only funding for technical maintenance was allocated by the state. That alone is a considerable cost however. For 4th generation nuclear submarines like the “Dmitrii Donskoy” annual maintenance costs amounted to 300 million RUB, while third generation vessels each demanded between 140-180 million RUB per year, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
Only today, Russia for real again invests in its nuclear fleet. The investment come late, however. Many production process connections have been broken and many of the bases and shipyards are in major need of modernization, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
According to federal priorities for the Navy, as laid down in documents like the Marine Doctrine for the Russian Federation until 2020, conditions for enhanced shipbuilding will be facilitated. However, as noted by Mr.Gundarov, the country’s military investments come in line with external threats. And today, several experts argue that Russia does not really need a heavily armed fleet of nuclear submarines.
Head Commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Masorin, says he is positive about the perspectives for his fleet. However, his optimism is not shared by all colleagues. In an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta, former deputy head of the Navy, Vice-Admiral Viktor Patrushev says experiences from the 1996-2005 and 2001-2010 state arms programmes have shown that it is impossible to both keep up with maintenance and develop the fleet. He says that while Russia might be able to build another 2-3 multipurpose nuclear subs by year 2015, but that in the same period 10-20 existing subs in the same category will be taken out of service.
The situation with diesel-run submarines is similar. The Russian General Command has argued that Russia needs 40 such vessels, among them 12 new ones. However, the last years, only one diesel-run sub has been built, and that has not yet been handed over to the Navy because of a major number of technical disorders.
In the Soviet period a total of 250 nuclear submarines were built from the late 1950s. About 150 of the vessels were stationed in the Northern Fleet.
Since the collaps of the Soviet Union, only funding for technical maintenance was allocated by the state. That alone is a considerable cost however. For 4th generation nuclear submarines like the “Dmitrii Donskoy” annual maintenance costs amounted to 300 million RUB, while third generation vessels each demanded between 140-180 million RUB per year, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
Only today, Russia for real again invests in its nuclear fleet. The investment come late, however. Many production process connections have been broken and many of the bases and shipyards are in major need of modernization, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports.
According to federal priorities for the Navy, as laid down in documents like the Marine Doctrine for the Russian Federation until 2020, conditions for enhanced shipbuilding will be facilitated. However, as noted by Mr.Gundarov, the country’s military investments come in line with external threats. And today, several experts argue that Russia does not really need a heavily armed fleet of nuclear submarines.
Head Commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Masorin, says he is positive about the perspectives for his fleet. However, his optimism is not shared by all colleagues. In an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta, former deputy head of the Navy, Vice-Admiral Viktor Patrushev says experiences from the 1996-2005 and 2001-2010 state arms programmes have shown that it is impossible to both keep up with maintenance and develop the fleet. He says that while Russia might be able to build another 2-3 multipurpose nuclear subs by year 2015, but that in the same period 10-20 existing subs in the same category will be taken out of service.
The situation with diesel-run submarines is similar. The Russian General Command has argued that Russia needs 40 such vessels, among them 12 new ones. However, the last years, only one diesel-run sub has been built, and that has not yet been handed over to the Navy because of a major number of technical disorders.
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