21 February 2020

Russian Navy ocean-going warship numbers to be radically reduced

by Bruce Jones

The number of Russian large ocean-going warships is to decrease significantly by 2027. This development and the prospects for large naval vessel construction were discussed at the end of 2019, at a special meeting of the Naval High Command, local military media disclosed on 14 February.

At the end of the State Armaments Programme (GPV) 2018-2027, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov should remain in operation.

By 2027, the Russian Navy should receive at least six of the latest Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, including this second in class Admiral Kasatonov. (Russian Northern Fleet press service)

The Kirov-class Orlan nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, flagship of the Northern Fleet, and possibly the Atlant-class missile cruisers Moskva (first of class) and Varyag will undergo refits and upgrades.

Russia is troubled by delays to both large naval vessel construction and the acceptance of launched naval vessels that remain undergoing trials and are yet to be commissioned. The delays seem more pronounced than in other navies. As elsewhere, construction capacity has become finite. New yards are being built in the Far East. Further construction capacity was acquired with the annexation of Crimea, but mostly for smaller vessels.

Orders are on the books for the construction of additional Yasen-M nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines and Lada-class diesel-electric submarines. According to sources cited by Flot.com on 14 February, by 2027, the Russian Navy should receive at least six of the latest Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates and probably at least one of the modified Project 22350M series frigates currently under construction.

The number of Russian large ocean-going warships is to decrease significantly by 2027. This developm...

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