Russian Navy

This article is about the modern navy formed in 1992. For the navy from 1917 to 1991, seeSoviet Navy.For the navy prior to 1917, seeImperial Russian Navy.For a history of all Russian navies, seeHistory of the Russian Navy.

Russian Navy
Военно-морской флот Российской Федерации Voyenno-morskoy flot Rossiyskoy Federatsii
Emblem of the Russian Navy
Active	1696–1917 1992–present
Country	Russia
Branch	Navy
Size	160,000 active duty (2023) Approx. 370 active ships
Part of	Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Headquarters	Admiralty building,Saint Petersburg
Motto(s)	"С нами Бог и Андреевский флаг!"(God and St. Andrew's flag are with us!)
March	Quick – "Экипаж—одна семья"(English:The Crew—One Family) Slow – "Гвардейский встречный марш Военно-морского флота"(English:Slow March of the Guards of the Navy)
Anniversaries	Navy Day(last Sunday in July) Submariner's Day (19 March) Surface Sailor's Day (20 October)
Fleet	1aircraft carrier 2battlecruisers 2cruisers 10destroyers 11frigates 80corvettes 11landing ship tanks 60landing craft 18 special-purpose ships 4patrol ships 56patrol boats 45mine countermeasures vessels 8 special-purpose submarines 65 activeballistic missile/cruise missileandattack submarines
Engagements	Russo-Georgian War Anti-piracy operation in Gulf of Aden Russo-Ukrainian War Annexation of Crimea Russian invasion of Ukraine Syrian Civil War
Website	structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/navy.htm
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	AdmiralAleksandr Moiseyev(acting)
First Deputy Commander-in-Chief	AdmiralAleksandr Nosatov
Deputy Commander-in-Chief	Vice-AdmiralVladimir Kasatonov
Insignia
Ensign
Jack
Pennant
Patch
Middle Emblem
Insignia

TheRussian Navyis part of theRussian Armed Forces.It has existed in various forms since 1696. Its present iteration was formed in January 1992 when it succeeded the Navy of theCommonwealth of Independent States(which had itself succeeded theSoviet Navyfollowing thedissolution of the Soviet Unionin late December 1991).

TheImperial Russian Navywas established byPeter the Great(Peter I) in October 1696. The symbols of the Russian Navy, theSt. Andrew's ensign (seen to the right), and most of its traditions were established personally by Peter I.

The Russian navy possesses the vast majority of the former Soviet naval forces, and currently comprises theNorthern Fleet,thePacific Fleet,theBlack Sea Fleet,theBaltic Fleet,theCaspian Flotilla,thepermanent task force in the Mediterranean,Naval Aviation,and the Coastal Troops (consisting of theNaval Infantryand the Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops).

The Russian navy suffered severely with thecollapse of the Soviet Uniondue to insufficient maintenance, lack of funding, and subsequent effects on the training of personnel and timely replacement of equipment. Another setback was attributed to Russia's domestic shipbuilding industry, which was in decline due to the absence of modern hardware and technology.

In 2013, a rise in gas and oil prices enabled a sort of renaissance of the Russian Navy due to increased available funds, which may have allowed Russia to begin "developing the capacity to modernize".In August 2014, Defence MinisterSergei Shoigusaid that Russian naval capabilities would be bolstered with new weapons and equipment within the next six years in response to theenlargement of NATOand the beginning of theRusso-Ukrainian War.

History

Main article:History of the Russian Navy

See also:Soviet NavyandImperial Russian Navy

The Russian Admiralty inSt. Petersburgis famed for its gilded steeple topped by a golden weather-vane in the shape of a sailing ship.

The 1991dissolution of the Soviet Unionled to a severe decline in the Russian Navy.Defence expenditureswere severely reduced. Many ships were scrapped or laid up as accommodation ships at naval bases, and the building program was essentially stopped.Sergey Gorshkov's buildup during the Soviet period had emphasised ships over support facilities, but Gorshkov had also retained ships in service beyond their effective lifetimes, so a reduction had been inevitable in any event.The situation was exacerbated by the impractical range of vessel types which the Sovietmilitary-industrial complex,with the support of the leadership, had forced on the navy—taking modifications into account, the Soviet Navy in the mid-1980s had nearly 250 different classes of ship.

TheKiev-class aircraft carrying cruisersand many other ships were prematurely retired, and the incomplete secondAdmiral Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrierVaryagwas eventually sold to thePeople's Republic of Chinaby Ukraine. Funds were only allocated for the completion of ships ordered prior to the collapse of the USSR, as well as for refits and repairs on fleet ships taken out of service since. However, the construction times for these ships tended to stretch out extensively: in 2003 it was reported that theAkula-class submarineNerpahad been under construction for fifteen years.

Storage of decommissioned nuclear submarines in ports nearMurmanskbecame a significant issue, with theBellona Foundationreporting details of lowered readiness. Naval support bases outside Russia, such asCam Ranh Bayin Vietnam, were gradually closed, with the exception of the modest technical support base inTartus,Syriato support ships deployed to the Mediterranean. Naval Aviation declined as well from its height asSoviet Naval Aviation,dropping from an estimated 60,000 personnel with some 1,100 combat aircraft in 1992 to 35,000 personnel with around 270 combat aircraft in 2006.In 2002, out of 584 naval aviation crews only 156 were combat ready, and 77 ready for night flying. Average annual flying time was 21.7 hours, compared to 24 hours in 1999.

Training and readiness also suffered severely. In 1995, only two missile submarines at a time were being maintained on station, from the Northern and Pacific Fleets.The decline culminated in the loss of the Oscar II-class submarineKurskduring the Northern Fleet summer exercise that was intended to back up the publication of a new naval doctrine.The exercise was to have culminated with the deployment of theAdmiral Kuznetsovtask group to the Mediterranean.

As of February 2008, the Russian Navy had 44 nuclear submarines with 24 operational; 19 diesel-electric submarines, 16 operational; and 56 first and second rank surface combatants, 37 operational.Despite this improvement, the November2008 accidenton board theAkula-classsubmarineattack boatNerpaduring sea trials before lease to India represented a concern for the future.

The strength and quality of the Russian Navy started to improve during the 2010s. In 2012, as part of an ambitious rebuilding effort,PresidentVladimir Putinannounced a plan to build 51 modern ships and 24 submarines by 2020.Of the 24 submarines, 16 were to be nuclear-powered.On 10 January 2013, the Russian Navy finally accepted its first new Borei-class SSBN (Yury Dolgorukiy) for service.A second Borei (Aleksandr Nevskiy) was undergoing sea trials and entered service on 21 December 2013.

A thirdBorei-class boat (Vladimir Monomakh) was launched and began trials in early 2013, and was commissioned in late 2014.As of early 2022, five Borei-class boats are in service, along with threeYasen-classnuclear attack submarines. More vessels of these classes are building along with additionalLadaandImproved-Kilo-classconventional attack submarines. The surface fleet is also being modernized, principally by introducing at leastsix new classes of corvette/offshore patrol vessels,a new class of frigate (theAdmiral Gorshkovclass), as well as new classes of amphibious ships and support vessels. In 2019, total tonnage of the Russian Navy stood at 1,216,547 tonnes.

Invasion of Ukraine and losses

Slava-class cruiserMoskva,sunk in theRussian invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, the Russian Navy took part in theRussian invasion of Ukraine,starting with theattack on Snake Islandat the beginning of the war, at which the Ukrainian defenders told theRussian cruiserMoskva,flagship of the Black Sea; "Russian warship, go fuck yourself",before subsequently being captured by Russian forces.Moskvasunk on 14 April 2022 after a fire broke out and forced the crew to evacuate. The Ukrainian military reported that they hit the ship withNeptune anti-ship missiles,however the Russian military did not confirm this. The ship subsequently capsized and sank while the Russian Navy was attempting to tow her into port. Thesinking ofMoskvais the most significant Russian naval loss in action since World War II.In December 2023, theRussian landing ship Novocherkasskwas also destroyed after being hit by Ukrainian cruise missiles.

On 31 January 2024, Ukrainiansea dronesstruck the RussianTarantul-class corvetteIvanovets in the Black Sea, causing the ship to sink.Two weeks later on 14 February, the same type of Ukrainian sea drones struck and sank theRussian Landing ship Tsezar Kunikov.On 5 March, the patrol boat Sergei Kotov was also lost to sea drones.

Structure

A Naval Spetsnaz frogman

Since 2012 the headquarters of the Russian Navy (Russian Navy Main Staff) is once again located in The Admiralty inSaint Petersburg.Russian naval manpower is a mixture of conscripts serving one-year terms and volunteers (Officers and Ratings). In 2006 theIISSassessed there were 142,000 personnel in the Russian Navy. This personnel number includes the Naval Infantry (Marines) and the Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops. As of 2008 the conscription term was reduced to one year and a major downsizing and reorganization were underway. In 2008, plans were announced to move the headquarters to theAdmiralty building in St. Petersburg,the historic location of the headquarters of the Imperial Russian Navy. The Navy Staff finally relocated there in November 2012.

The Russian Navy is organised into four combat services - the Surface Forces, the Submarine Forces, the Naval Aviation and the Coastal Troops.Additionally the navy also includes support units afloat and ashore. It does not include special forces. TheNaval Spetsnazbrigades are part of theMain Intelligence Directorateattached to the respective fleets and the Counter-Diversionary Forces and Assets (ПДСС) (which are units, protecting the Navy from incursions of enemy special forces) fall within the Coastal Forces.

During the Cold War the Soviet Armed Forces made the distinction between the various naval commands. The main fleets were theNorthernand thePacific Fleet.They were tasked with independent operations on the high seas and for that reason included strategic surface, submarine and air forces, including the country's naval nuclear deterrent. Due to the limited geography of the Baltic and the Black Seas the respectiveBalticandBlack Sea Fleetswere given a more circumscribed role in support of adjacent ground formation (the Main Command of the Troops of the Western Direction inLegnica(Poland) and the Main Command of the Troops of the South-Western Direction inChișinău).

These two fleets were armed with shorter-range weapon systems than the main fleets (diesel-electric submarines,Sukhoi Su-24fighter-bombers and a larger quantity offrigatesandcorvettes). Due to the closed nature of theCaspian Sea(still connected to the Baltic and Black Seas through theVolga Riverand the system of rivers and canals and navigable for ships of corvette size) itsCaspian Flotillahad an even more limited role than the Fleets and played a defensive role supporting the Main Command of the Troops of the Southern Direction inBaku.

With the end of theCold Wara significant reduction in forces followed. Before the2008 Russian military reform,the four fleets were ranked as equal in status to the six Military Districts. With the reform measures going into force the number of Military Districts was reduced and became new Joint Strategic Commands and the four fleets and one flotilla were subordinated to them with status equal to the Ground Forces and the Air Forces armies. Due to Russia's increased interests in the Arctic region and the importance of Russia's western/northwestern maritime defence the Northern Fleet, originally part of the Joint Strategic Command West (Western Military District), on 12 December 2014 became the basis for the newly formed fifthNorthern Fleet Joint Strategic Command.

Submarine and surface forces

Oscar II classcruise missile submarineTomsk

The submarine and surface forces form the backbone of the Navy. The submarines form part of dedicated submarine squadrons and flotillas or part of squadrons and flotillas of mixed composition together with major surface combatants. The Russian Navy retains a rigid structure, whose levels of command could, according to military regulations, be directly equalled to the corresponding ground and air forces counterparts:

Russian Navy organisation

Part of	Fleet unit	Officer commanding	Ground and air forces equivalent	Officer commanding	Notes
General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation	Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (Главнокомандующий Военно-морским флотом Российской Федерации)	Admiral	Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces (Главнокомандующий Сухопутными войсками Российской Федерации) Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces (Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силамиРоссийской Федерации)	Colonel general
	Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander of the Navy (Начальник штаба — первый заместитель Главнокомандующего ВМФ)	Vice admiral	Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy Commander of the Land Forces (Начальник Главного штаба Сухопутных войск — первый заместитель главнокомандующего Сухопутными войсками) Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces (Начальник Главного штаба — первый заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)	Lieutenant general
	Deputy Commander of the Navy (Заместитель Главнокомандующего ВМФ)	Vice admiral/ Lieutenant general(Marines and Naval Aviation)	Deputy Commander of the Land Forces (Заместитель Главнокомандующего СВ) Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces (Заместитель Главнокомандующего ВКС)	Lieutenant general
Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command	Commander of theNorthern Fleet (Командующий Северным флотом)	Admiral	Military District	Colonel general
Eastern Military District	Commander of thePacific Fleet (Командующий Тихоокеанским флотом)
Western Military District	Commander of theBaltic Fleet (Командующий Балтийским флотом)	Vice admiral	Army Air Army	Lieutenant general
Southern Military District	Commander of theBlack Sea Fleet (Командующий Черноморским флотом)
	Commander of theCaspian Flotilla (Командующий Каспийской флотилией)	Kontradmiral	Army Corps	Major general
Fleet (Флот)	Flotilla (Флотилия)	Kontradmiral	Used to correspond to a ground forces or air forcesArmy. Army Corps Air Force of a (specific) Fleet	Major general	Could be separateFlotillaor one forming part of aFleet.For example, the modern dayPrimorskayaMixed Forces Formation (formerly Mixed Forces Flotilla) of thePacific Fleet.
Fleet (Флот)	Operational Squadron (Оперативная эскадра)	Kontradmiral	Army Corps Air Force of a (specific) Fleet	Major general	Naval Task Force. For example, thePermanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.
Fleet (Флот)	Squadron(ships) (Эскадра)	Kontradmiral	Army Corps Air Force of a (specific) Fleet	Major general	A permanent formation, combining several divisions and brigades. Equal to an Army Corps.
Squadron (ships)	Divisionof major ships (Дивизия кораблей)	Kontradmiral	Division	Major general	For example, theBlack Sea Fleet's30th Surface Ships Division or theNorthern Fleet's7th Submarine Division.
Fleet (Флот)	Naval Base (Военно-морская база)	Kontradmiral	Division	Major general	A Naval Base is a command of divisional level, which is subordinated to a Fleet or Flotilla. It provides berthing, supply and repair to the Fleet's main forces, as well as defence against conventional and asymmetric threats. For that reason it includes a Brigade of ships of at least one missile corvette division and one minesweeper division. The base also deploys counter-diversion combat divers and possibly a coastal defence ground formation of marines and coastal artillery. The Naval Base could include a main base location and one or more secondary locations, in which case the secondary locations would deploy a mixed division of corvettes/ fast attack craft and minesweepers.
Squadron (ships) / Naval Base	Brigadeof ships (Бригада кораблей)	Kontradmiral/ Captain 1st rank	Brigade	Major general/ Colonel	Submarine Boats Brigade (Бригадаподводных лодок) includes diesel-electric submarines and is directly subordinated to aFleet. Landing Ships Brigade (Бригада десантных кораблей) includes large landing ships and is directly subordinated to aFleet. Waterborne Area Defence Ships Brigade (Бригада кораблей охраны водного района) normally includes anASWcorvette division and a minesweepers division and is subordinated to aNaval Base. Brigade of Ships in Construction or Repair (Бригада строящихся и ремонтирующихся кораблей) subordinated to aNaval Base.
Division of major ships (Дивизия кораблей)	Divisionof warships of 2nd rank (Дивизион кораблей 2-го ранга)	Captain 1st Rank	Regiment / Air Regiment	Colonel	Increasingly out of use as in modern days warships 2nd class form ships brigades and ships divisions.
Division of major ships (Дивизия кораблей) / Brigade of ships (Бригада кораблей)	Divisionof warships of 3rd rank (Дивизион кораблей 3-го ранга)	Captain 2nd rank	Separate Battalion / Air Squadron	Lieutenant colonel	Division of corvettes.
Brigade of ships (Бригада кораблей) / Naval Base (Военно-морская база)	Divisionof warships of 4th rank (Дивизион кораблей 4-го ранга)	Captain 3rd rank	Separate Battalion / Air Squadron	Major	Division fast craft or minesweepers.
Brigade of ships (Бригада кораблей) / Naval Base (Военно-морская база)	Divisionof warships of 4th rank (Дивизион кораблей 4-го ранга)	Captain 3rd rank/ Captain lieutenant	Separate Company / Separate Battery / Air Flight	Captain	In case of a division of small support craft of a naval base, such as tug boats, fire boats, courier launches etc.
Individual ships
Division of major ships (Дивизия кораблей) / Brigade of ships (Бригада кораблей)	Warship 1st rank	Captain 1st Rank	Regiment / Air Regiment The departments of the Ship's Company are called Combat Units (Боевая часть(БЧ) and correspond to battalions)	Colonel	ballistic missile submarine(submarine nuclear missile cruiser of strategic purpose (РПКСН)) attack submarine(nuclear submarine boat (АПЛ)) aircraft carrier (heavy aviation-carrying cruiser (ТАВКР)) nuclear battlecruiser (heavy nuclear missile cruiser (ТАРКР)) missile cruiser (РК) large destroyer (guided missile destroyer 1st rank (Эсм. УРО 1-го ранга)) largeASWdestroyer (БПК)
Brigade of ships (Бригада кораблей) / Division of small ships (Дивизион кораблей)	Warship 2nd rank	Captain 2nd rank	Separate Battalion / Air Squadron The departments of the Ship's Company are called Combat Units (Боевая часть(БЧ) and correspond to companies)	Lieutenant colonel	diesel-electric submarine (ДЭПЛ) small destroyer (guided missile destroyer 2nd rank (Эсм. УРО 2-го ранга)) missile frigate (guard ship (СКР)) ASWfrigate (largeASWship 2nd rank (БПК 2-го ранга)) offshore patrol vessel large landing ship (БДК)
Division of ships 3rd rank (Дивизион кораблей 3-го ранга)	Warship 3rd rank	Captain 3rd rank	Separate Battalion / Air Squadron The departments of the Ship's Company are called Combat Units (Боевая часть(БЧ) and correspond to platoons)	Major	missile corvette (small missile ship (МРК)) ASWcorvette (smallASWship (МПК)) coastal patrol vessel (small artillery ship (МАК)) seagoing minesweeper (МТ) medium landing ship (СДК) small air cushion landing ship (МДКВП)
Division of ships 4th rank (Дивизион кораблей 4-го ранга)	Warship 4th rank	Captain lieutenant/ Senior lieutenant/ Lieutenant	Platoon	Captain/ Senior lieutenant/ Lieutenant	missile fast attack craft (missile cutter (РКА)) gun fast attack craft (artillery cruiser (АКА)) torpedo fast attack craft (torpedo cutter (ТКА)) anti-submarine craft (guard cutter (СКА)) coastal minesweeper (base minesweeper (БТ)) minesweeping boat (roadstead minesweeper(РТ)) landing craft (landing cutter (ДКА))

Coastal troops

Main articles:Coastal Troops of the Russian NavyandNaval Infantry (Russia)

Russian Naval Infantry during the Vostok Strategic Exercise in theVladivostokarea, 2010

Russian Naval Infantrymen

Coastal Troops include the Naval Infantry and the Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops.

The Russian Naval Infantry are theamphibiousforce of the Russian Navy and can trace their origins back to 1705, whenPeter the Greatissued a decree for an infantryregiment"of naval equipage". Since its formation it has seen action in theNapoleonic Wars,theCrimean War,theRusso-Japanese War,the First and Second World Wars, and the Chechen and Georgian conflicts. Under the leadership ofAdmiral Gorshkovduring the Cold War, the Soviet Navy expanded the reach of the Naval Infantry and deployed it worldwide on numerous occasions, but since thedissolution of the Soviet Unionits role has been greatly reduced.

The Soviet Naval Infantry and their Russian successors have a reputation as elite shock troops. For their black uniforms and ferocious performance in combat in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea regions duringWorld War IIthey received the nickname "The Black Death" (German:der schwarze Tod). The Russian Naval Infantry is a mechanised force, organised in brigades, independent regiments and independent battalions. The 55th Naval Infantry Division of the Pacific Fleet has been disbanded in 2009 and replaced by two separate brigades. Each brigade has a tank battalion, a self-propelled artillery battalion, a self-propelled air defence battalion, mechanised marine infantry battalions, other support units and one Airborne Assault Naval Infantry Battalion (десантно-штурмовой батальон морской пехоты), parachute andair assaultqualified, with the mission to spearhead amphibious landings.

The coastal defence troops of the Russian Navy are conventional mechanised brigades with the main task to prevent enemy amphibious landings. An example of coastal defence troops are those of the Baltic Fleet. With Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declaring independence at the end of the Soviet Union theBaltic Military Districtpractically disintegrated. The massive ground forces formations left landlocked in theKaliningrad Oblastwere transferred from the ground forces to naval command and control. The integration of naval infantry and coastal defence troops is a relatively new tendency from the 2010s in order to simplify the naval command structure and the new Arctic infantry brigades in formation under theNorthern Fleet Joint Strategic Commandfall within that process.

The coastal artillery troops also play a very important role for the Navy. The geography of theBarents Sea,theBaltic Sea,theBlack Seaand theSea of Okhotskas well as theCaspian Seamakes the deployment of shore-based, anti-ship systems in an area-denying role very effective. They deployK-300P Bastion-PsupersonicASCM,3M-54 Kalibrcruise subsonic ASCM andA-222E Bereg-E 130mm coastal mobile artillery systemas well as self-propelledsurface-to-air missilesystems.

The Naval Infantry and Coastal Troops are led by the Deputy Commander for Naval Infantry/Commandant of the Naval Infantry of the Russian Navy,Lieutenant General(NI) Aleksandr Kolpatsenko. Their motto is: "Where We Are, There is Victory!"

Naval aviation

Main article:Russian Naval Aviation

ASukhoi Su-33from the 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment onAdmiral Kuznetsov's flight deck

The first naval aviation units in Russia were formed from 1912 through 1914 as a part of theBaltic Fleetand theBlack Sea Fleet.Since its formation, it has participated in theRussian Civil War,World War IIand in many other conflicts throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia (statement requires source citation). During the Cold War the naval aviation pursued a policy of deploying large numbers of bombers in maritime strike roles to counter theU.S. Navy's extensive fleet of aircraft carriers, by 1989 it operated over 1,000 fixed-wing aircraft with the majority being bombers such as theTu-22M "Backfire"and theTu-16 "Badger".

Since the fall of the Soviet Union however, it has been significantly reduced in size. The Tu-22Ms have been transferred to the Aerospace Forces and since then the combat arm of the Naval Aviation is built aroundSukhoi Su-33s,Mikoyan MiG-29Ks,withSukhoi Su-30sandSukhoi Su-34sreplacing the obsoleteSukhoi Su-24s.

As of 2007, the Russian Naval Aviation consists of the following components:

• Naval missile-carrying aviation
• Shore-basedASWaviation
• Attack(Shturmovik) aviation
• Shore-basedfighteraviation
• Reconnaissanceaviation
• Shipborne aviation (fighters and ASW aircraft)
• Auxiliary air units

Ranks, rates and insignia

Main article:Naval ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation

Officers

The following table of navy ranks illustrates those of the Russian Federation. The rank inRussianis given first, followed by theEnglishtransliteration.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Russian Navy
			Адмирал флота Admiral flota		Адмирал Admiral		Вице-адмирал Vitse-admiral		Контр-адмирал Contre-admiral		Капитан 1-го ранга Kapitan 1-go ranga		Капитан 2-го ранга Kapitan 2-go ranga		Капитан 3-го ранга Kapitan 3-go ranga		Капитан-лейтенант Kapitan-leytenant		Старший лейтенант Starshey leytenant		Лейтенант Leytenant		Младший лейтенант Mladshiy leytenant

Warrant officers and ratings

Warrant officersand rates of the Russian Navy

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Russian Navy
	Старший мичман Starshy michman			Мичман Michman			Главный корабельный старшина Glavny korabelny starshina		Главный старшина Glavny starshina		Старшина 1 статьи Starshina 1 statji						Старшина 2 статьи Starshina 2 statji						Старший матрос Starshy matros				Матрос Matros

Equipment

Ships and submarines

SeeList of active Russian Navy ships

Aircraft

For a more comprehensive list, seeList of active Russian military aircraft § Russian Naval Aviation.

Radars

The Russian Navy uses Podsolnukh over-the-horizon surface wave radar for detection of ships. As of 2019, four radars have been delivered to the coasts of Caspian Sea, Okhotsk Sea, Sea of Japanand Baltic Sea.

Military districts and fleets

The Russian Navy consists of four fleets and one flotilla with all of them subordinated to the newly formed Military Districts-Joint Operational Strategic Commands.

Northern Military District – Northern Joint Strategic Command

Northern Fleet

Main article:Northern Fleet

Major bases and headquarters of the Northern Fleet

Russian Navy sailors onboard the cruiserMarshal Ustinovin a joint exercise of theNorthernandBlack Sea fleets

The Russian Northern Fleet, dating to 1733 but established as a modern formation in 1933, is headquartered atSeveromorskand spread around various bases in the greaterMurmanskarea. It is the main fleet of the Russian Navy and currently comprises

• Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsovaircraft carrier (1 in refit)
• Kirov-class battlecruiser(2, including one in long-term refit/upgrade)
• Slava-class cruiser(1)
• Udaloy II-class destroyer(1)
• Udaloy-class destroyer(3)
• Sovremennyy-class destroyer(1)
• Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate(2, plus one on sea trials in the Baltic)
• Grisha-class corvette(6)
• Nanuchka-class corvette(1)
• Dolgorukiy-class submarine(2)
• Delta IV-class submarine(5)
• Oscar-class submarine(2)
• Yasen-class submarine(2)
• Akula-class submarine(6)
• Sierra-class submarine(2, plus 2 inactive/reserve)
• Victor III-class submarine(2)
• Lada-class submarine(1 on sea trials in the Baltic as of April 2023)
• Kilo-class submarine(4)
• Delta IV-class special operations submarineBS-64 Podmoskovye(1)
• K-239Belgorodspecial operations submarine(1, in an "experimental role" with the Northern Fleet as of July 2022;projected to transfer to the Pacific Fleet in due course)
• B-90Sarovspecial operations submarine(1)
• Losharik(AS-12/or 28/or 31) special operations submarine(1 in refit/repair)
• Delta III-class special operations submarineOrenburg(BS-136)(1)
• Paltus-class special operations mini-submarine(2)
• Kashalot-class special operations submarine(2)

The Northern Fleet also includes patrol ships, mine countermeasures vessels, light amphibious ships and support and logistic ships.

Western Military District – Western Joint Strategic Command

Baltic Fleet

Headquarters of the Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad

Main article:Baltic Fleet

The Baltic Fleet, established on 18 May 1703, is based inBaltiyskandKronshtadt,with its headquarters in the city ofKaliningrad,Kaliningrad Oblast.The Fleet consists of the following units:

• Sovremenny-class destroyer(1 in prolonged refit)
• Neustrashimy-class frigate(2)
• Steregushchiy-class multi-role corvette(4)
• Buyan-M-class corvette(3)
• Karakurt-class corvette(3)
• Tarantul-class corvette(6)
• Nanuchka-class corvette(4)
• Parchim-class corvette(6)
• Kilo-class submarine(1 assigned unit as of 2020)

The Baltic Fleet also includes patrol vessels, minehunters, amphibious ships and support vessels.

Southern Military District – Southern Joint Strategic Command

Black Sea Fleet

Main article:Black Sea Fleet

Some major ships of the Black Sea Fleet, including theMoskva(far left) and theSaratov(second right), inSevastopol,August 2007

The Black Sea Fleet, established on 2 May 1783, is based at the Sevastopol, Karantinnaya, and Streletskaya Bays inSevastopolwhich is also the location of its headquarters, and atNovorossiyskin Krasnodar Kray. The fleet also has various other facilities on theCrimean Peninsulaand facilities in Krasnodar Kray. The Black Sea Fleet's flagship, the cruiserMoskva,wassunkon 14 April 2022 during the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.TheTapir-classlanding shipSaratovwas also scuttled on 24 March 2022 after it was damaged in an attack.The Fleet consists of the following units:

• Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate(3)
• Burevestnik(Krivak)-class frigate(2)
• Steregushchiy-class multi-role corvette(1 deployed in the Baltic as of 2023)
• Buyan-M-class corvette(4)
• Karakurt-class corvette(1, plus one on sea trials)
• Bykov-class corvette/offshore patrol ship(4)
• Tarantul-class corvette(4)
• Bora-class corvette(2)
• Grisha-class corvette(6)
• Kilo-class submarine(1)
• Improved Kilo-class submarine(6 - one vessel reported heavily damaged by Ukrainian attack while in drydock)

The Black Sea Fleet also includes patrol and coastal protection vessels, amphibious ships, and support vessels.

Operational Command South - Tartus

Main article:Russian naval facility in Tartus

Main article:Permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea

The Russian Navy maintains a base under the command of the Southern Military District inSyriaatTartus.The Mediterranean squadron was disestablished soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but a small naval logistics support facility remained there. In January 2017 Russia and Syria signed an agreement, to be valid for 49 years, to expand the Tartus facility with a view to improving the support at Tartus.

On 4 February 2022, naval detachments from the Northern Fleet and Baltic Fleet arrived at Tartus. Large amphibious assault shipsPyotr Morgunov,Georgy Pobedonosets,Olenegorsky Gornyak,Korolyov,MinskandKaliningradwere under the direction of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief AdmiralNikolay Yevmenov.In April 2022 there were around 20 Russian naval ships in theMediterranean Sea.On 11 May it was reported that the flotilla had remained without change since early February. There were 13 ships and 5 support vessels of the four Russian fleets, including 9 attack missile ships. The formation of a "Mediterranean Squadron" of the Russian Navy in February 2022, using the Northern, Baltic, and Pacific Fleets' ships allowed the Russian Black Sea Fleet to return a large number of ships to the Black Sea some time prior to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. On 27 February three days after the commencement of theRussian invasion of UkraineTurkey (who acts as guarantor of theMontreux Convention) decided to ban the passage through the straits of any warships whose homeport is not in the Black Sea.

Caspian Flotilla

Main article:Caspian Flotilla

The Caspian Flotilla, established on 4 November 1722, is based inAstrakhanandMakhachkalawith its headquarters in Astrakhan. The Fleet consists of:

• Tatarstan/Gepard-class frigate(2)
• Buyan-class corvette(3)
• Buyan-M-class corvette(3)
• Tarantul-class corvette(1)

The Caspian Flotilla also includes 4 small artillery ships, patrol and mine warfare ships as well as landing craft.

Eastern Military District – Eastern Joint Strategic Command

Pacific Fleet

Main article:Pacific Fleet (Russia)

The Pacific Fleet, established on 10 May 1731, is headquartered in Vladivostok and based aroundVladivostokandPetropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy.The Fleet consists of the following units:

• Slava-class cruiser(1)
• Sovremennyy-class destroyer(1 inactive since 2005; still reported in refit as of 2020)
• Udaloy-class destroyer(4)
• Steregushchiy-class multi-role corvette(3, plus 1 in sea trials)
• Gremyashchiy-class multi-role corvette(1)
• Tarantul-class corvette(10)
• Grisha-class corvette(8)
• Nanuchka-class corvette(1-3)
• Dolgorukiy-class submarine(4)
• Delta III-class submarine(1)
• Yasen-class submarine(1, plus 1 destined for the Pacific on sea trials in Northern Fleet operational area as of June 2022)
• Oscar-class submarine(5)
• Akula-class submarine(4)
• Kilo-class submarine(6-7)
• Improved Kilo-class submarine(4 plus one on sea trials;the fourth boat was deployed in the Baltic as of November 2022; fifth boat on sea trials - also in the Baltic - as of September 2023)

The Pacific Fleet also includes patrol ships, mine warfare ships, amphibious ships, and support vessels. There are also naval aviation and coastal troops and naval infantry components.

Future and modernization

Further information:Future of the Russian Navy

Lada-classdiesel-electric submarineSankt Petersburg

Russia's military budget expanded from 1998 until 2015, but economic problems including a sharp decline in oil prices led to budget cuts in 2016.Higher expenditure led to an increase in numbers of ships under construction, initially focusing on submarines, such as the conventionalPetersburg(Lada)-classand nuclearSeverodvinsk(Yasen)-class.Some older vessels have been refitted as well.Jane's Fighting Shipscommented in 2004 that the construction programme was too focused on Cold War scenarios, given the submarine emphasis.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, share of modern armament in the Navy has reached more than 50% in 2014.A report from December 2019 estimated the figure at 68%.However, in September 2020 it was reported that the defence budget was to be cut by 5% as part of a shift to social spending and in response the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.The resulting impact of such a cut on Russian Navy modernization plans was not immediately apparent. Likely more significant is the impact of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation after 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2021, Russian Security Council SecretaryNikolai Patrushevreportedly acknowledged that the Russian defence industry “is still dependent on foreign technologies.” The impact ofinternational sanctionson naval procurement projects, given both reduced access to foreign technologies and significant pressure on the defence budget, had yet to be determined.

Admiral Gorshkov-classguided missile frigateAdmiral Gorshkov,commissioned in 2018

AKarakurt-classguided-missile corvette, capable of launchingKalibrorOnikssupersonic cruise missiles

TheSteregushchiy-class corvettes,the lead ship of which was laid down on 21 December 2001, is the first new surface construction since the collapse of the Soviet Union,while the newAdmiral Sergei Gorshkov class frigatesmarks the first attempt of the Navy to return to the construction of large blue water capable vessels.The Russian Navy had been planning to procure a new class of destroyer, the general-purposeProject 21956.The Lider-class has been envisaged as a "green water" vessel and was anticipated to be nuclear-powered.

The project was reportedly suspended in 2020, apparently in favour of the less expensive Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates.The Gorshkov-class vessels have themselves experienced technical challenges and in 2020 it was initially suggested that the larger 22350M variant of that class would not be proceeding.However, it was later reported that design work on both the Lider and the 22350M variant of the Gorshkov-class was in fact moving forward.

Borei-classnuclear ballistic missile submarineAlexander Nevsky

In keeping with the emphasis on strategic forces, the Navy's submarine fleet is being modernized by the acquisition of several classes of strategic and tactical submarines. Up to 12Borei/Dolgorukiy-class SSBNsare planned to replace older classes in both the Northern and Pacific fleets.These are being complemented by newYasenandKhabarovsk-class SSGNs,as well as conventional submarines of theImproved KiloandLadaclasses. However, in terms of the tactical nuclear submarine fleet, it is unclear whether the new Yasen-class, Khabarovsk-class, and potential follow-on models, can be produced in sufficient numbers, and on a timely basis, to replace aging older model nuclear submarines on a one-for-one basis. It has been reported that Russian third-generation nuclear submarines have not been modernized to a level to avoid block obsolescence before 2030.

On 28 April 2010, theUkrainian parliamentratified an agreement to extend Russia's lease of Crimean base facilities to 2042 with an option for five more years, through 2047.Following the invasion and subsequentannexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014,this agreement has been officially invalidated by theRussian State Duma.The Russian Navy has also revealed that the Russia's Black Sea Fleet will receive 30 new ships by 2020 and will become self-sufficient with its own infrastructure in theCrimean peninsula.The fleet will be updated with new warships, submarines, and auxiliary vessels within the next six years. The new ships built for the Black Sea Fleet include threeAdmiral Grigorovich-class frigates(originally six, but two of the remaining three were sold to India and in 2021 it was reported that a third ship would also be sold abroad)and six Varshavyanka-class (Improved Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarines.

On 27 December 2015, state-ownedUnited Shipbuilding Corporationdeclared that by 2019 the company would have the technical ability to build aircraft and helicopter carriers, which came as some surprise to analysts as previously the company had stated carrier-building would not take place until 2025 at the earliest. Russia's only existing carrier, the Soviet eraAdmiral Kuznetsovwill remain in service at least until 2030.

In a May 2017, ten year defence review the development of a new aircraft carrier and nuclear powered destroyers was cancelled in favour of concentrating modernisation efforts on the nuclear triad. Development of a sixth generation SSBN was announced even though the fifth generation Borei class are still under construction as was a fleet of sub-frigate sized surface combatants.

On 14 July 2021, shipyard Sevmash announced that for the first time in decades several nuclear submarines of different projects are undergoing sea trials.In the summer 2021, three nuclear submarines were undergoing sea trials simultaneously:Borei IIclassKnyaz Oleg,Yasen-MclassNovosibirskand modernizedAnteyclassBelgorod.The last time in Russia or Soviet Union nuclear submarines of three different classes were undergoing sea trials was 1993, whenImproved AkulaclassTigr,AnteyclassOmskandSierra IIclassPskovwere undergoing sea trials. The increased intensity of sea trials taking place indicates enhanced shipbuilding in Russian Navy.

On 12 January 2023, The Russian Northern Fleet announced in a press release that the3M22 Zirconhypersonic missile-equipped Admiral Gorshkov Frigate successfully sailed through the English Channel to carry out its assigned duties in the Atlantic Ocean.

Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg

Main articles:Navy Day (Russia)andCulture of the Russian Armed Forces

Passage of warships toKronstadt

Since 2017, by the decree of the President of Russia dated 27 July 2017,the tradition of holding the "Main Naval Parade" in St. Petersburg on the Navy Day has been restored. Prior to 2017, in Soviet and Russian Federation times the previously held annual St. Petersburg Navy Day parade was not so specifically named. The parade is composed of ships and sailors representing the several fleets and the Caspian Flotilla with small ships and submarines in the Neva River and the larger ones arrayed off Kronshtadt in the Gulf of St. Petersburg. It is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of July during theNavy Dayholiday.

Deployments from 2018

The nuclear-powered missile cruiserPeter the Greatduring a naval exercise

Ocean Shield

In the years 2018–2021, the Russian Navy has been organizing central annual naval exercise called Ocean Shield.

Between 1–8 September 2018, Ocean Shield exercise was held for the first time. Unlike 2019 and 2020 exercises, conducted in the Baltic Sea, the first exercise took place in the Mediterranean Sea. 26 ships, 2 submarines and 34 aircraft were included.Among participants were cruiserMarshal Ustinov,destroyersSmetlivyandSeveromorsk,frigatesAdmiral Grigorovich,Admiral Essen,Admiral Makarov,PytlivyandYaroslav Mudry,corvettesVishny Volochyok,Grad SviyazhskandVeliky Ustyugand conventional submarinesKolpinoandVelikiy Novgorod.

The aircraft present included Tu-160 bombers, Tu-142 and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and Su-33 and MiG-29K maritime fighters. This was the largest Russian naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea of the post-Cold War era and the largest Russian post-Cold War naval exercise in the far sea zone. In terms of distant location and number of capital ships participating it's comparable only to June 2021 exercises of the Pacific Fleet off the Hawaii islands.

Organized between 1–9 August 2019, the second Ocean Shield exercise was the exercise with the largest number of participating ships (69 ships, including 49 warships and 20 support ships) in the independent Russia and took place in the Baltic Sea. The 22 known ships of the exercise "Ocean Shield 2019" include cruiserMarshal Ustinov,destroyerSeveromorskand frigateAdmiral Gorshkovof the Northern Fleet, as well as Baltic Fleet's frigateYaroslav Mudry,corvettesSteregushchy,Soobrazitelny,Stoykiy,Boikiy,Passat,Geyzer,Serpukhov,Mitishchi,Chuvashiya,Morshansk,Liven,Urengoy,R-257 and LSTsAleksandr Shabalin,Kaliningrad,MinskandKorolyov,as well as nuclear submarineSmolensk.Other possible participants include ships, participating in the July Naval Parade in St. Petersburg, i.e. frigateAdmiral Kasatonov,corvettesGremyashchyandSovetsk,submarineKronshtadtand minesweepersIvan Antonov,Aleksandr ObukhovandPavel Khenov.

On 3 August 2020, third Ocean Shield exercise started in the Baltic Sea and included Northern Fleet's destroyerVice-Admiral Kulakovand LSTPyotr Morgunovand Baltic Fleet's corvettesSteregushchy,BoikiyandStoikiy.

Combined-fleet exercises

June 2021

In 2021, no usual Ocean Shield exercise was conducted in August or September in the Baltic Sea. However, in June, the Pacific, Northern and Black Sea fleets conducted large-scale exercises. In mid June, four Russian cruisers and four destroyers were simultaneously at sea, or all operational large surface combatants except destroyerSeveromorsk,which was probably the first time in the post-Cold war era. A complex large-scale exercise took place in the central Pacific Ocean, where the Russian Navy conducted possibly the strongest exercise of the post-Soviet era.

It took place prior to the 2021 Putin-Biden summit, similarly to Aport and Atrina exercises that were held in 1985 and 1987 prior to the Geneva and Washington summits of Gorbachev and Reagan to improve Soviet negotiation position. Officially, however, it was stated that the exercise is an answer to the exercise Agile Dagger 2021 of the US Pacific Fleet, employing one third of the operational submarines of the US Pacific Fleet.

In the Barents Sea, cruisersMarshal UstinovandPyotr Veliky,destroyerVice-admiral Kulakovand submarinesKaluga,GepardandDmitry Donskoywere active.

The location of the exercise in the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity of 23°, -170°

Between 7 and 24 June, a large-scale exercise was conducted by the Pacific Fleet in the central Pacific Ocean, being the first post-Cold war Russian naval exercise in that area (minor exceptions being destroyerAdmiral Panteleevtaking part in RIMPAC-2012 exercise and frigateAdmiral Gorshkovsailing near Hawaii in 2019). It included cruiserVaryag,destroyersMarshal ShaposhnikovandAdmiral Panteleyev,corvettesSovershenny,GromkyandAldar Tsydenzhapov,(a) nuclear submarine(s) (likelyOmskandKuzbass) and intelligence shipKareliya.

The exercise started in the central Pacific Ocean on 10 June, and on 21 June the ships 2500 nautical miles southeast of the Kuril islands simulated an attack on the enemy carrier strike group. Prior to that, the ships operated in two groups, sailing at 300 nautical miles from each other, one of them playing the role of enemy. The largest auxiliary ship of the Russian NavyMarshal Krylovalso took part in the exercise and acted as a command ship for the commander of the exercise, rear admiral Konstantin Kabantsev, commander of Primorskaya Flotilla, as well as hospital shipIrtyshand MiG-31 interceptors and Il-38 and Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft.

On 24 June, the final day of the exercise, three Tu-95 bombers, several Tu-22M bombers, escorted by interceptors MiG-31BM and two Il-78 tankers flew to the central Pacific Ocean as well. The Tu-95s delivered conditional strikes against enemy's critical infrastructure and Tu-22M delivered strikes against enemy's conditional carrier strike group together withVaryagandMarshal Shaposhnikov.

An additional destroyerAdmiral Tributswas deployed to the South China Sea, accompanying nuclear submarineNerpa.

On 18 June 2021, the Black Sea Fleet deployed cruiserMoskvato the Mediterranean Sea,which, amid deployment ofQueen Elizabethto the Eastern Mediterranean, took part in an unprecedented anti-ship exercise with bombers Tu-22M and interceptors MiG-31K both deployed to Syria for the first time in May and June. A MiG-31K reportedly fired aKinzhalmissile against a ground target in Syria,while a newest air defence systemS-500was reportedly tested at Khmeymim airbase and obtained a lock on F-35 fighter fromQueen Elizabeth.The exercise included rocket fire 30 km away fromQueen Elizabeth.

January–February 2022

In January–February 2022 large-scale exercise of all Russian fleets took place with some 140 warships and support ships.

In the Northern Fleet it included two task groups. First, cruiserMarshal Ustinov,destroyerVice-Admiral Kulakovand frigateAdmiral Kasatonov,as well as tankerVyazmaand tug SB-406 were deployed to the southwest of Ireland, conducting first Russian post-Cold war naval exercise west of British isles.Second, destroyerSeveromorsk,frigateAdmiral Gorshkov,LSTIvan Gren,nuclear submarineSeverodvinsk,diesel-electric submarineKaluga,corvettesSnezhnogorskandBrest,as well as support ships operated in the Barents Sea.Additionally, three LSTs were deploying to the Black Sea (Olenogorsky Gornyak,Georgiy PobedonosetsandPyotr Morgunov).

In the Pacific Fleet, cruiserVaryag,destroyerAdmiral Tributsand tankerBoris Butomawere deployed to the Indian Ocean, participating in the third Russo-Sino-Iranian naval exercise, first Russo-Chinese naval exercise away from Russian/Chinese coast that took place in the western Indian Ocean and will finally strengthen Mediterranean squadron. Additionally, submarineVolkhovfired a Kalibr missile in the Sea of Japanand two Tu-142 performed flight above the Okhotsk Sea.

In the Baltic Fleet, corvettesSoobrazitelnyandStoykiywere deployed to the Northern Sea,whileZeleny Dol,Mytishchi,Odintsovo,Aleksin,Kabardino-Balkariyawere active in the Baltic Sea.Additionally, three LSTs were deploying to the Black Sea:Korolyov,MinskandKaliningradand intelligence shipVasily Tatishchevto the Mediterranean Sea, where it will monitor three-carrier exercise with CVNHarry Truman,CavourandCharles de Gaullein February 2022.

In the Black Sea Fleet, an exercise was conducted by frigatesAdmiral Essen,Ladnyy,corvettesIngushetiya,Grayvoron,Naberezhnye Chelny,R-60,Yeysk,Suzdaletsand other ships, totally around 20 ships.

Annual exercise

Russia organises a central military exercise for September each year.

During Zapad 2021, in Northern Fleet two surface groups were active:Admiral UshakovandAdmiral Kasatonovin the Barents Sea (along with coastal systems Bal and Bastion-P) andSeveromorskin the Arctic (along with LSTGeorgiy Pobedonosets,tugPamirand tankerSergey Osipov), as well as submarinesOrelandVerkhoturye(along with minesweepersYelnya,Soloyevetskiy,Yunga,YadrinandKotelnichin two groups). In the Baltic Fleet, frigateYaroslav Mudry,corvettesSteregushchyandStoykiyand submarineDmitrovwere active (along with coastal system Bal).

Barents Sea

On 22 February 2021, the Northern Fleet conducted an exercise in which cruiserMarshal Ustinovsailed in Varanger Fjord in the area of the Russia–Norway maritime border, becoming the first Russian warship to do so in the post-Cold War era.Sailing was speculated to be response to the US bombers (B-1B) landing in Norway on the same day for the first time.

Other ships active in the area in January–February 2021 included destroyerSeveromorsk,frigateAdmiral Gorshkovwith the tugAltay,nuclear submarineSeverodvinsk (that launched aKalibr missile),corvettesAysberg,Snezhnogorsk,YungaandBrest,and salvage vesselGeorgiy Titovwith deep-submergence rescue vehicleAS-34.

Atlantic

South of Gibraltar, in September–October 2021 Russian Navy deployed destroyerVice-Admiral Kulakov(along tankerAkademik Pashinand tugAltai) that visited Praia, Capo Verde and performed anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Guinea.It was the first deployment of a Russian warship south of Gibraltar sinceAdmiral Gorshkov's 2019 world circumnavigation.

North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea

In February 2008 a Russian Northern Fleet naval task force completed a two-month deployment in theMediterranean Seaand the North Atlantic which started on 4 December 2007. The operation was the first large-scale Russian Navy deployment to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in 15 years. The task force included theAdmiral Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrierAdmiral Kuznetsov,theUdaloy-class destroyersAdmiral LevchenkoandAdmiral Chabanenko,and theSlava-class guided missile cruiserMoskva,as well as auxiliary vessels. During the operation the navy practiced rescue and counter-terror operations, reconnaissance, and missile and bomb strikes on the (theoretical) enemy's naval task force. Over 40Russian Air Forceaircraft took part in joint exercises with the navy as well.

• In October 2008, a naval task group from theNorthern Fleet,comprising the nuclear-powered missile cruiserPyotr Velikiy,the large ASW shipAdmiral Chabanenko,and support ships, left their homeport of Severomorsk in northern Russia on 22 September and sailed into the northern Atlantic, having covered a distance of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km) in a week. Russian warships were scheduled to participate in joint naval exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in the Caribbean on 10–14 November, in line with the 2008 training program, and in order to expand military cooperation with foreign navies.These exercises actually took place on 1 December.
• 11 October 2008, Russian warships bound for Venezuela, including the nuclear-powered cruiserPyotr Velikiy,put in at the Libyan port of Tripoli for resupply.
• From VenezuelaPetr Velikiyproceeded alone to a port call in Cape Town, South Africa, then participated in the INDRA-2009 exercise off western India, briefly engaged in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, and returned to its homeport of Severomorsk in March 2009. The other ships in company returned to their home base in the Northern Fleet.
• A group ofPacific Fleetships arrived in the Mediterranean Sea on 15 May 2013 having sailed fromVladivostokon 19 March 2013.Admiral Panteleyev,theRopucha-class landing shipsPeresvetandAdmiral Nevelskoy,thetankerPechengaand the rescuetugFotiy Krylovaugmented the Russian Navy's grouping there, and carried out tasks in theBlack SeaandMediterranean Sea.The Pacific Fleet ships practiced activities jointly with forces from other Russian navy fleets and made a number of business calls at ports in the region, including a call atLimassol,Cyprus on 17 May 2013.
• TheBaltic FleetRopucha-class landing shipsKaliningrad,Aleksandr ShabalinandAzovarrived atNovorossiysknaval base on 14 May 2013 having completed their duties in the Mediterranean. The Baltic Fleet ships spent several weeks atNovorossiyskundergoing checks and maintenance and replenishing supplies before resuming their duties in the Mediterranean.
• The Northern Fleet'sUdaloy-class destroyerVice-Admiral Kulakovwas reported to be heading for the Atlantic on 20 May 2013 after completing a visit to Norway. The ship had been taking part in the Russian-NorwegianPomor-2013 exercise and is expected to take on supplies from the tankerVyazmawhile at anchor in theNorth Seabefore undertaking a lengthy voyage in the north eastern regions of the Atlantic Ocean.
• On 1 June 2013, Navy Commander AdmViktor Chirkovsaid that the aircraft carrierAdmiral Kuznetsovis "expected to put out and perform a number of missions in an offshore oceanic zone as part of a group. Northern Fleet naval pilots will perform a number of missions on board this cruiser during the long-range mission." He also stated that the ship's deployment might be as part of a permanent operational group in the Mediterranean. In preparing for the deployment the ships' airwing would not be using the NITKA pilot training facility located in Crimea, Ukraine.
• On 20 October 2016, a Northern Fleet task group headed byAdmiral Kuznetsovwas monitored by a fleet of least eight ships in the English Channel en route to Syria reportedly to participate in the attack on Aleppo. The BritishRoyal Navysent multiple ships including HMSDragonto shadow each warship as the fleet met up with an additional two Russian warships. NATO also tasked its standing naval groupSNMG1to shadow the group and escort it through the Dover Straits towards the Mediterranean.
• On 17 February 2017, the Russian Navy surveillance vessel SSV-175Viktor Leonovwas cruising international waters off the East Coast of the United States.Viktor Leonovis outfitted with a variety of high-tech spying equipment designed to intercept signals intelligence. It first appeared off Delaware and, then moved south of the US submarine base at Groton, Connecticut collecting electronic signals.

Syria

Main article:Russian naval base in Tartus

• Sequentially having lost naval support facility access in Albania, Yugoslavia, and Egypt, in 1971 the Soviet Navy began operating from a leased facility in Tartus, Syria.
• In September 2008, it was reported that Russia and Syria conducted talks about permitting Russia to develop and enlarge itsnaval base in Syriain order to establish a stronger naval presence in the Mediterranean,and amidst the deteriorating Russia relations with the west in conjunction with the2008 South Ossetia warand the plans to deployUS missile defence shield in Poland,it has even been asserted thatPresident Assadhas agreed toTartusport's conversion into a permanent Middle East base for Russia's nuclear-armed warships.MoscowandDamascusadditionally announced that it would be renovating the port, although there was no mention in the Syrian press.
• On 22 September 2008, Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said the nuclear-poweredPyotr Velikiycruiser, accompanied by three other ships, sailed from the Northern Fleet's base ofSeveromorsk.The ships will cover about 15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km) to conduct joint maneuvers with the Venezuelan navy. Dygalo refused to comment on Monday's report in the dailyIzvestiaclaiming that the ships were to make a stopover in the Syrian port of Tartus on their way toVenezuela.Russian officials said the Soviet-era base there was being renovated to serve as a foothold for a permanent Russian navy presence in the Mediterranean.
• In late November 2011,PravdaandReuterswrote that a naval flotilla led by the aircraft carrierAdmiral Kuznetsovwould sail to its naval base inTartusas a show of support for theal-Assad regime.Such a visit is not possible because the lengths of all of Russia's current modern warships exceed the size of the two 100 meter piers located at the Russian leasehold in Tartus. (see next paragraph)
• On 29 November 2011, Army GeneralNikolay Makarov,Chief of the Russian General Staff, said that sending ships of the Russian Navy to the Mediterranean Sea is linked to exercises and not to the situation in Syria. "In the event of necessity, namely to carry out repairs, to take water and food on board and to allow rest for the crews, Russian ships may visit Tartus but in this case this has not been included in the plan of the trip," the Interfax source said. He also noted that the size ofAdmiral Kuznetsovdoes not allow it to moor in Tartus because the port does not have suitable infrastructure, i.e., large enough mooring.

Sudan

• On 23 July 2019, Russia andSudansigned an agreement on establishment of a Russian naval base inPort SudaninKhartoumand, on 1 December 2020, in Moscow. On 25 June 2021, Russian prime ministerMishustinsubmitted the agreement for ratification.On 12 July, Sudan was preparing for ratification too.
• Between 28 February and 2 May 2021, a number of Russian ships called at Port Sudan, beginning with frigateAdmiral Grigorovichin what was the first visit of a Russian warship to Sudan in the modern history. This was followed by corvetteStoikiyand tugKolaon 19 March,signals intelligence shipIvan Khurson 10 April,signals intelligence shipVasily Tatishchevand its accompanying repair ship PM-138 on 2 May.

Algeria

Russia and Algeria hold annual naval exercise at the end of the year.

• Between 16 and 17 November 2021, Russo-Algerian naval exercise was conducted. Russian Black Sea Fleet's frigateAdmiral Grigorovich,patrol shipVasily Bykovand seagoing tug SB-742 took part, as well as Algerian frigateHarrad,training vesselLa Sammamand rescue vesselEl Munjid.

Egypt

Russia and Egypt have held an annual naval exercise at the end of the year since 2015. Usually, the exercise is conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, an exception being 2020, when the exercise took place in the Black Sea. From 3–10 December 2021, another Russo-Egyptian naval exercise, Bridge of Friendship, took place in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Russian task force comprised frigateAdmiral Grigorovich,patrol shipDmitry Rogachevand sea-going tug SB-742.

Caribbean Sea

On 8 September 2008, it was announced that thePyotr Velikiywould sail to theCaribbean Seain order to participate in naval exercises with theVenezuelan Navy.This represented the first major Russian show of force in that sea since the end of theCold War.On 22 September theKirov-class nuclear missile cruiserPyotr Velikiyand the Udaloy class large anti-submarine shipAdmiral Chabanenko,accompanied by support vessels, left their home port of Severomorsk for naval exercises with Venezuela scheduled for early November 2008.On 25 November 2008, a group of warships from Russia'sNorthern Fleetarrived at theVenezuelanport ofLa Guaira.

East Africa: Somali Coast

• On 24 September 2008, the Russian frigateNeustrashimyleft its home base at Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, for counter-piracy operations near the Somali coast.
• From 11 January to 17 March 2009, theAdmiral Vinogradovtook up the counter-piracy mission from theNeustrashimyand upon completion took a course home to Vladivostok by way of a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia 24–28 March 2009.
• From 26 April to 7 June 2009, the Pacific Fleet destroyerAdmiral Panteleyevtook up counter-piracy duties in the Gulf of Aden, having left Vladivostok at the end of March 2009 to relieve theAdmiral Vinogradov.It returned to Vladivostok on 1 July.

Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea

Main article:Cam Ranh Air Base

• On 11 January 2009, Army GeneralNikolai Makarov,Chief of the Russian General Staff, announced that theKirov-class nuclear-powered cruiserPyotr Velikiyand five other ships would take part in exercises with the Indian Navy in late January 2009.
• In 2021, Black Sea Fleet's intelligence shipKildinentered port Oman on 1 November.Besides, in summer, the newly built frigateGremyashchyand Kilo (Varshavanka) class diesel-electric submarinesPetropavlovsk-KamchatskyandVolkhovtransited Indian Ocean on their way from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

East Asia

Since 2012, Russia and China have conducted an annual naval exercise.In even years, they take place off Chinese coast (usually in the Yellow Sea), and in odd years off Russian coast (usually in the Sea of Japan). In 2015 and 2017, in addition to the exercises in the Sea of Japan, additional exercises in the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea, respectively, were held. In 2021, for the first time the exercise surpassed the defensive character as Russian and Chinese warships passed through the Tsugaru Strait between Japanese islands Hokkaido and Honshu.

• On 23 October 2021, Russian and Chinese Navies conducted first ever joint patrol.Five warships of each navy participated, including two destroyers, two corvettes and a command ship. Russian Navy was represented by destroyersAdmiral PanteleyevandAdmiral Tributs,corvettesGromkyandGeroy Rossiyskoy federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapovand tracking shipMarshal Krylov.The patrol group passed through the Tsugaru Strait. Joint Russo-Chinese operations imply readiness of both superpowers to cooperate to limit the power of the American-led order in the Asia-Pacific region.
• From 1–3 December 2021, the first naval exercise between Russia and ASEAN occurred in the Indonesian territorial waters.Russia was represented by destroyerAdmiral Panteleyev,Vietnam by frigateLy Thai To,Indonesia by frigateRaden Eddy Martadinata,Malaysia by frigateLekiu,Singapore by corvetteVigour,Brunei by off-shore patrol vesselDaruttaqwa,Thailand by frigateKraburiand Myanmar by frigateKyansittha,while Philippines joined as an observer.

See also

• History of the Russian Navy
• Future of the Russian Navy
• Russian Naval Academy
• List of ships of the line of Russia
• List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union
• List of Russian Navy cruisers
• List of Russian Navy equipment
• List of ships of Russia by project number
• List of Soviet and Russian submarine classes
• List of active Russian Navy shipsfor current Order of Battle of the Russian Navy
• Russian Hydrographic Service
• Russian torpedoes

Further reading

• Lebedev A.A.To March and Battle Ready? The Combat Capabilities of Naval Squadrons Russian Sailing Fleet XVIII – mid XIX centuries. from the Point of View of the Status of Their Personnel.SPb, 2015.ISBN978-5-904180-94-2.
• Reuben Johnson, "Russian Navy 'faces irreversible collapse,'"Jane's Defence Weekly,15 July 2009, and link to original Russian article atВМФ умрет в ближайшие годы.Nvo.ng.ru (2009-07-03). Retrieved on 2010-09-09.
• "Russia Will Not Build Aircraft Carriers Till 2010."RIA Novosti.16 May 2005. (Via Lexis-Nexis, 27 July 2005).
• "The Russian Navy – A Historic Transition." U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence. December 2015[1]

External links

• Official website