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During the last week in July, elements of the Russian Federation Navy occupied the city of St.
Petersburg, Russia. It was not part of a coup but rather preparation for Russia's annual Navy Day, which
took place on the Saturday of that week. Arriving well before the official holiday, ships of the Baltic Fleet
tied up along the Neva River in front of The Hermitage and other Czarist-era palaces for tourists and the
public to admire. At noon each day, a gun was fired from the ancient Fortress of Peter and Paul and was
answered by the 100mm gun on the new RFS STEREGUSCHY (FFG 530). The fortress and the ship
went on to duel, trading shots for several minutes. A festive atmosphere appeared to grip the city with
uniformed sailors enjoying the mid-summer sun as they walked the streets.
Included in the assembled flotilla were a submarine, frigates, an assault ship, an anti-submarine
warfare ship, a training ship and various small craft. However, pride of place went to the
STEREGUSCHY, the first surface ship to join the Russian fleet since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Although called a corvette by the Russians, this ship is anything but a patrol boat. It is the first Russian
ship to incorporate stealth design and uses composite materials to significantly decrease her radar
signature. In addition to her large gun, this ship carries missiles, torpedoes, CIWS and a helicopter.
Moreover, it is designed so that its armament can be altered so as to fit the mission. If this sounds like the
U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, it should - - the Russian ship was expressly designed to counter the
LCS and defend Russia's littorals from such perceived threats.
Besides the STEREGUSCHY, what was particularly striking about the Russian flotilla was that all of
the ships appeared to be in good condition and well-manned. Yes, most of the ships are starting to get on
in years. But this was not the rusting, cannot-go-to-sea navy of the immediate post-Soviet era.
Obviously, the display of these ships was meant to impress but it did not seem to be just a Potemkin
village intended to deceive westerners and the Russian public about the state of the fleet.
Navy Day has been a public holiday in Russia since 1939 and festivities were taking place across
Russia particularly in the ports where the RFN is based. However, since St. Petersburg is the site of the
Russian Admiralty, the St. Petersburg celebrations have a special significance. Accordingly, Admiral
Vladimir Vysotsky, Commander in Chief of the Russian Federation Navy, took the opportunity to speak
to the press during the St. Petersburg festivities about the future of the Russian Navy, which "is one of the
symbols of [Russia's] national character."
Today's RFN "includes the nuclear deterrence forces and the general purpose forces that are quite
powerful and capable to give an adequate response to any threats." However, Admiral Vysotsky, said
while previous modernization programs had given the navy a boost, they were never completed.
Consequently, Russia is embarking on a new modernization program that will make the RFN the world's
second largest navy in 20 years.
"In the future the fleet will have more powerful ships - modern multi-purpose fleet destroyers and
aircraft carriers, as well as vessels of other types. The relevant works have already begun." He foresaw
the construction of "new nuclear-powered strategic missile cruisers, multi-purpose submarines, frigates,
corvettes, landing ships, minesweepers, combatant crafts and supply vessels."
Admiral Vysotsky went on to state that after 2012, Russia would construct five or six aircraft carrier
battle groups to operate with its Northern and Pacific Fleets. "We have designated this a maritime aircraft-
carrying system," i.e., the various elements of the group would be designed to interact with each other as
part of a coherent network integrated with Russia's air force and other defense assets. "Everything should
be included in the system, including aircraft carriers."
Along the same lines, in a departure from previous doctrine in which the navy consisted of highly
specialized units designed for specific missions, new ships will be multi-purpose.
In the near term, Russia will modernize the naval component of its nuclear triad by completing the
three Borei-class ballistic missile submarines that have been under construction for several years. These
ships will be equipped with 16 Bulava (SS-NX-30) ballistic missiles, which can carry up to ten nuclear
warheads, and have a range of about 5,000 miles.
"At present, we are providing sufficient financing for the creation of a fleet of a new-generation
nuclear-powered strategic submarines," Admiral Vysotsky said. "We are now building the YURY
DOLGORUKY, ALEXANDER NEVSKY and VLADIMIR MONOMAKH series of ships, but
modernization will begin with the fourth ship. The renewal of the Borei will be the center of naval strategic
atomic forces of the Russian Navy through 2040."
Some western commentators greeted Admiral Vysotsky's announcements with skepticism. The
RFN has only one aircraft carrier at this time, the ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV, which was built by the
Soviets, has been plagued with problems and which has only gone into service in recent years. The
shipyard that constructed the carrier is in the Ukraine, which is now independent of Russia, and thus new
shipyard facilities would have to be created within Russia to build the new carrier battle groups.
Furthermore, the cost of building six aircraft carriers and their escorts would be astronomical especially
considering that Russia would have to also develop and build the aircraft and weapons systems that these
ships would carry.
However, such criticisms miss the real significance of Vysotsky's comments as well as of the display
put on in St. Petersburg. Regardless of whether Russia can fulfill the specifics of the Admiral's wish-list, it
is clear that Russia's intent is to reinvigorate its navy and make it world class once more.
Re-building
Reinvigorating the Russian Navy reportedly has been a pet project of former Russian President, now
Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. The current Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shares the desire that
RFN be restored "so that Russia would be a maritime and naval power. This work is underway, maybe it
is slower than we would like to do it, but we got down to it for the first time in the last 20 years."
To this end, the Navy will receive a large part of the new Russian rearmament program. Out of
$192 billion allocated for military rearmament, 25 per cent will go into building new ships. Another $6.5
billion is to be spent on the modernization of shipyards.
Indeed, one Russian official reportedly said that Russia is now building as many ships as in the
Soviet days. A series of 40 frigates has been laid down and work on the Admiral Gorshkov-class long
range frigates has resumed after a break of 16 years.
A new nuclear attack submarine of the Yasen-class is reportedly nearing completion. It is predicted
to be even harder to detect than the Akula-class and quieter than the U.S. Navy's Sea Wolf-class. Two
Delta IV-class missile boats have recently been modernized and two more missile submarines repaired.
The first boat of the Borei- class has been floated out and is expected to join the fleet this year.
The reason Russia can embark on these projects is that it is now one of the world's largest oil
producers. This production is not used for internal consumption. Indeed, residents of St. Petersburg
complain of high domestic gasoline prices because Russia’s oil is being sold abroad. Keeping in mind that
lack of money prevented the Soviet Union from matching President Ronald Reagan's rearmament of the
United States and was thus a major factor in the Soviet collapse, Russia's new-found wealth has
significant implications for the West.
Out and About
Russia's intention to restore its navy is apparent not only from its ship building program but by its recent
actions. While Russian ships have participated in exercises with the U.S. Navy and with other Western
navies, the RFN has also engaged in a number of actions clearly intended to re-assert Russian power.
Last year, a Russian submarine planted a flag underneath the North Pole in order to strengthen Russia's
claim to the oil, gas and other minerals which are believed to be in the Arctic. After a 17 year absence,
this year, the RFN deployed surface ships to patrol the Arctic Ocean.
In December 2007, the aircraft carrier ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV engaged in training exercises in
the North Sea near Norwegian oil platforms forcing the suspension of helicopter flights to the platforms.
This was taken as a signal that Russia was willing to use military power to achieve its energy objectives.
Along the same lines, the RFN has resumed patrols around Spitsbergen in an area claimed by
Norway. No such patrols have been conducted since the end of the Soviet Union. Russia asserts that the
patrols are necessary to protect Russian fishermen who have been blocked access to the waters around
Spitzbergen and to safeguard Russian navigation but it was widely believed that the area's energy and
mineral resources are the real objective.
The Arctic has not been the RFN's only area of activity. In December 2007, a Russian flotilla from
the Northern Fleet led by the KUZNETSOV rendezvoused with a flotilla from the Black Sea fleet in the
Mediterranean in order to establish a presence "in key operational areas of the world's oceans" according
to Northern Fleet Vice-Admiral Nikolai Maksimov. No Russian fleet had appeared in those waters for 15
years.
The Northern Fleet flotilla spent two months exercising in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic.
"What is important is that we have arrived [in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean] at a scheduled time and
not just that we appeared there," Admiral Vysotsky said. "We'll do all we can to build up our presence
where Russia has strategic interests. The Northern Fleet will conduct long-distance voyages about once
every six months. These voyages may differ from the recent one. We have enough opportunities and
forums to display Russian naval might."
In a seeming throwback to the Cold War, in 2007, Russia announced that its air force, in co-
operation with its navy, would resume long-range bomber patrols over the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Such flights had not taken place since the end of the Soviet Union. During one such patrol, in
February 2008, a Russian Tu-95 bomber flew about 2,000 feet over the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) in the
western Pacific while another Russian bomber circled the ship. Fighters from the NIMITZ scrambled to
intercept the bombers.
During Russia's invasion of Georgia, elements of the Black Sea Fleet established a blockade of the
Georgian coast refusing to allow even humanitarian supplies through. In an action with the Georgian
Navy, the RFN sank a Georgian missile patrol boat.
Most recently, elements of the Northern Fleet including the nuclear-powered battlecruiser PETER
THE GREAT were dispatched to hold joint exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in the Caribbean during
November 2008.
The Reason Why
The question remains why is Russia investing in a new assertive navy? After all, the Cold War is over
and Russia is seen as a rapidly developing economy. As seen below, there are a number of reasons.
First, there is national pride. Long before the communist revolution, Russia was a great power in
Europe and the Russians are proud of that fact. As Admiral Vysotsky said, the navy is a symbol of the
nation and thus such things as the sinking of the submarine KURSK and the inability of the PETER THE
GREAT to go to sea because it had fallen into such disrepair were painful national embarrassments. Pride
demanded that the navy be restored.
Second, although the country is very insular, Russia has never been content to sit behind its own
borders. Indeed, countries such as the Ukraine and Georgia were made part of the Russian empire
hundreds of years before the Soviets. The fact that these countries were unwilling participants in this
empire can be seen by how rapidly they declared their independence in the 1990s. A revitalized military is
seen as a necessary ingredient to recreating what Russia sees as its traditional spheres of influence as well
as to influence events in Russia's favor elsewhere in the world.
Third, Russia has a fear of encirclement, i.e., of becoming surrounded by enemies. One of the
reasons the Soviets created satellite states in Eastern Europe was to have a buffer between Russia and its
Western enemies. After the loss of an estimated 20 million people in World War II, the Russians did not
want another war on their own soil. Now, with the Eastern European countries and some of the former
Soviet captive states creating western-style economies and joining or applying to join NATO, Russia sees
itself as being encircled by enemies. To some in the west, Russia's concern seems to be Cold War
paranoia. Why can't everyone just be friends now that the communist menace is gone? However, there
is an old Russian saying: "Russia's only real friends are the Army and the Fleet".
Implications for the United States
It is now apparent that Moscow sees the RFN as a tool in achieving Russia's foreign policy objectives,
which are not always consistent with those of the United States. The RFN is not the equal of the U.S.
Navy. However, it does not have to be. Rather, it need only be a significant force deployed selectively in
order to jeopardize U.S. interests.
To illustrate, in the recent invasion of Georgia, Russia was confident enough that the West would not
challenge the RFN to impose a blockade of Georgia. When Georgia attempted to challenge the blockade
on its own, the RFN demonstrated that it was not bluffing. Moreover, its refusal to allow even
humanitarian shipments through the blockade during the fighting demonstrated a high level of ruthlessness
consistent with Russia's overall conduct of the invasion. This sent a message, not only to Georgia, but to
all of the countries in the former Soviet empire that Russia can and will use force to achieve its goals and
that any hope that the United States or NATO will protect them militarily is illusory. Thus, Russia
achieved its immediate goals in Georgia, intimidated the former Eastern block countries, embarrassed the
United States and undermined NATO.
Another example is in the Middle East. As discussed earlier, in the past year, Russia has deployed
ships from the Northern Fleet and from the Black Sea Fleet to the Mediterranean in order to re-establish a
strategic presence. In addition, one of the only Soviet Navy bases outside of the old USSR that Russia
has retained is a technical base at Tarsus, Syria. Recently, Russia has been financing the expansion of the
base and has deployed engineers to that facility so that it will be able to accommodate larger ships. A
permanent Russian presence there would be a challenge to the Sixth Fleet in waters where there has been
no challenge for 15 years. It would also put the RFN just off Israel and re-establish Russia as a major
player in the region. To illustrate, if the base were open to Russia's client state Iran, which purchases Kilo-
class submarines from Russia, questions such as does Iran have a missile with sufficient range to reach
Israel from within Iran's borders would become moot.
There is a timeless strategic maxim: one's military should not be based on speculative assessments of
a would-be enemy's intentions, but rather on his present actions and future potential. Considering the size
of today's U.S. Navy and the actions of the growing Russian Navy and others such as China, the United
States is clearly ignoring that military truism. History teaches that the price of such a mistake is eventually
paid in blood.
It is submitted that the restoration of the Russian Navy makes it imperative for the United States to
increase its shipbuilding program. It is only by having an overwhelming superiority at sea that the United
States can dissuade other nations from using maritime force to achieve their objectives. Such a superiority
is expensive to maintain but war, hot or cold, is more so.
Along the same lines, the shift of naval assets from the East Coast to the West Coast should be re-
examined. Russia has already taken the first steps to challenge America’s dominance of the Atlantic.
Finally, the transformation of the Navy to a force geared for asymmetric warfare should be
reconsidered. While the Cold War may be over, there is still a threat from not insignificant traditional
naval forces.
Consequently, the Navy’s need to adapt to non-traditional roles should not come at the expense of failing
to maintain the ability to prevail in traditional conflicts.
Petersburg, Russia. It was not part of a coup but rather preparation for Russia's annual Navy Day, which
took place on the Saturday of that week. Arriving well before the official holiday, ships of the Baltic Fleet
tied up along the Neva River in front of The Hermitage and other Czarist-era palaces for tourists and the
public to admire. At noon each day, a gun was fired from the ancient Fortress of Peter and Paul and was
answered by the 100mm gun on the new RFS STEREGUSCHY (FFG 530). The fortress and the ship
went on to duel, trading shots for several minutes. A festive atmosphere appeared to grip the city with
uniformed sailors enjoying the mid-summer sun as they walked the streets.
Included in the assembled flotilla were a submarine, frigates, an assault ship, an anti-submarine
warfare ship, a training ship and various small craft. However, pride of place went to the
STEREGUSCHY, the first surface ship to join the Russian fleet since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Although called a corvette by the Russians, this ship is anything but a patrol boat. It is the first Russian
ship to incorporate stealth design and uses composite materials to significantly decrease her radar
signature. In addition to her large gun, this ship carries missiles, torpedoes, CIWS and a helicopter.
Moreover, it is designed so that its armament can be altered so as to fit the mission. If this sounds like the
U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, it should - - the Russian ship was expressly designed to counter the
LCS and defend Russia's littorals from such perceived threats.
Besides the STEREGUSCHY, what was particularly striking about the Russian flotilla was that all of
the ships appeared to be in good condition and well-manned. Yes, most of the ships are starting to get on
in years. But this was not the rusting, cannot-go-to-sea navy of the immediate post-Soviet era.
Obviously, the display of these ships was meant to impress but it did not seem to be just a Potemkin
village intended to deceive westerners and the Russian public about the state of the fleet.
Navy Day has been a public holiday in Russia since 1939 and festivities were taking place across
Russia particularly in the ports where the RFN is based. However, since St. Petersburg is the site of the
Russian Admiralty, the St. Petersburg celebrations have a special significance. Accordingly, Admiral
Vladimir Vysotsky, Commander in Chief of the Russian Federation Navy, took the opportunity to speak
to the press during the St. Petersburg festivities about the future of the Russian Navy, which "is one of the
symbols of [Russia's] national character."
Today's RFN "includes the nuclear deterrence forces and the general purpose forces that are quite
powerful and capable to give an adequate response to any threats." However, Admiral Vysotsky, said
while previous modernization programs had given the navy a boost, they were never completed.
Consequently, Russia is embarking on a new modernization program that will make the RFN the world's
second largest navy in 20 years.
"In the future the fleet will have more powerful ships - modern multi-purpose fleet destroyers and
aircraft carriers, as well as vessels of other types. The relevant works have already begun." He foresaw
the construction of "new nuclear-powered strategic missile cruisers, multi-purpose submarines, frigates,
corvettes, landing ships, minesweepers, combatant crafts and supply vessels."
Admiral Vysotsky went on to state that after 2012, Russia would construct five or six aircraft carrier
battle groups to operate with its Northern and Pacific Fleets. "We have designated this a maritime aircraft-
carrying system," i.e., the various elements of the group would be designed to interact with each other as
part of a coherent network integrated with Russia's air force and other defense assets. "Everything should
be included in the system, including aircraft carriers."
Along the same lines, in a departure from previous doctrine in which the navy consisted of highly
specialized units designed for specific missions, new ships will be multi-purpose.
In the near term, Russia will modernize the naval component of its nuclear triad by completing the
three Borei-class ballistic missile submarines that have been under construction for several years. These
ships will be equipped with 16 Bulava (SS-NX-30) ballistic missiles, which can carry up to ten nuclear
warheads, and have a range of about 5,000 miles.
"At present, we are providing sufficient financing for the creation of a fleet of a new-generation
nuclear-powered strategic submarines," Admiral Vysotsky said. "We are now building the YURY
DOLGORUKY, ALEXANDER NEVSKY and VLADIMIR MONOMAKH series of ships, but
modernization will begin with the fourth ship. The renewal of the Borei will be the center of naval strategic
atomic forces of the Russian Navy through 2040."
Some western commentators greeted Admiral Vysotsky's announcements with skepticism. The
RFN has only one aircraft carrier at this time, the ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV, which was built by the
Soviets, has been plagued with problems and which has only gone into service in recent years. The
shipyard that constructed the carrier is in the Ukraine, which is now independent of Russia, and thus new
shipyard facilities would have to be created within Russia to build the new carrier battle groups.
Furthermore, the cost of building six aircraft carriers and their escorts would be astronomical especially
considering that Russia would have to also develop and build the aircraft and weapons systems that these
ships would carry.
However, such criticisms miss the real significance of Vysotsky's comments as well as of the display
put on in St. Petersburg. Regardless of whether Russia can fulfill the specifics of the Admiral's wish-list, it
is clear that Russia's intent is to reinvigorate its navy and make it world class once more.
Re-building
Reinvigorating the Russian Navy reportedly has been a pet project of former Russian President, now
Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin. The current Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shares the desire that
RFN be restored "so that Russia would be a maritime and naval power. This work is underway, maybe it
is slower than we would like to do it, but we got down to it for the first time in the last 20 years."
To this end, the Navy will receive a large part of the new Russian rearmament program. Out of
$192 billion allocated for military rearmament, 25 per cent will go into building new ships. Another $6.5
billion is to be spent on the modernization of shipyards.
Indeed, one Russian official reportedly said that Russia is now building as many ships as in the
Soviet days. A series of 40 frigates has been laid down and work on the Admiral Gorshkov-class long
range frigates has resumed after a break of 16 years.
A new nuclear attack submarine of the Yasen-class is reportedly nearing completion. It is predicted
to be even harder to detect than the Akula-class and quieter than the U.S. Navy's Sea Wolf-class. Two
Delta IV-class missile boats have recently been modernized and two more missile submarines repaired.
The first boat of the Borei- class has been floated out and is expected to join the fleet this year.
The reason Russia can embark on these projects is that it is now one of the world's largest oil
producers. This production is not used for internal consumption. Indeed, residents of St. Petersburg
complain of high domestic gasoline prices because Russia’s oil is being sold abroad. Keeping in mind that
lack of money prevented the Soviet Union from matching President Ronald Reagan's rearmament of the
United States and was thus a major factor in the Soviet collapse, Russia's new-found wealth has
significant implications for the West.
Out and About
Russia's intention to restore its navy is apparent not only from its ship building program but by its recent
actions. While Russian ships have participated in exercises with the U.S. Navy and with other Western
navies, the RFN has also engaged in a number of actions clearly intended to re-assert Russian power.
Last year, a Russian submarine planted a flag underneath the North Pole in order to strengthen Russia's
claim to the oil, gas and other minerals which are believed to be in the Arctic. After a 17 year absence,
this year, the RFN deployed surface ships to patrol the Arctic Ocean.
In December 2007, the aircraft carrier ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV engaged in training exercises in
the North Sea near Norwegian oil platforms forcing the suspension of helicopter flights to the platforms.
This was taken as a signal that Russia was willing to use military power to achieve its energy objectives.
Along the same lines, the RFN has resumed patrols around Spitsbergen in an area claimed by
Norway. No such patrols have been conducted since the end of the Soviet Union. Russia asserts that the
patrols are necessary to protect Russian fishermen who have been blocked access to the waters around
Spitzbergen and to safeguard Russian navigation but it was widely believed that the area's energy and
mineral resources are the real objective.
The Arctic has not been the RFN's only area of activity. In December 2007, a Russian flotilla from
the Northern Fleet led by the KUZNETSOV rendezvoused with a flotilla from the Black Sea fleet in the
Mediterranean in order to establish a presence "in key operational areas of the world's oceans" according
to Northern Fleet Vice-Admiral Nikolai Maksimov. No Russian fleet had appeared in those waters for 15
years.
The Northern Fleet flotilla spent two months exercising in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic.
"What is important is that we have arrived [in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean] at a scheduled time and
not just that we appeared there," Admiral Vysotsky said. "We'll do all we can to build up our presence
where Russia has strategic interests. The Northern Fleet will conduct long-distance voyages about once
every six months. These voyages may differ from the recent one. We have enough opportunities and
forums to display Russian naval might."
In a seeming throwback to the Cold War, in 2007, Russia announced that its air force, in co-
operation with its navy, would resume long-range bomber patrols over the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Such flights had not taken place since the end of the Soviet Union. During one such patrol, in
February 2008, a Russian Tu-95 bomber flew about 2,000 feet over the USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) in the
western Pacific while another Russian bomber circled the ship. Fighters from the NIMITZ scrambled to
intercept the bombers.
During Russia's invasion of Georgia, elements of the Black Sea Fleet established a blockade of the
Georgian coast refusing to allow even humanitarian supplies through. In an action with the Georgian
Navy, the RFN sank a Georgian missile patrol boat.
Most recently, elements of the Northern Fleet including the nuclear-powered battlecruiser PETER
THE GREAT were dispatched to hold joint exercises with the Venezuelan Navy in the Caribbean during
November 2008.
The Reason Why
The question remains why is Russia investing in a new assertive navy? After all, the Cold War is over
and Russia is seen as a rapidly developing economy. As seen below, there are a number of reasons.
First, there is national pride. Long before the communist revolution, Russia was a great power in
Europe and the Russians are proud of that fact. As Admiral Vysotsky said, the navy is a symbol of the
nation and thus such things as the sinking of the submarine KURSK and the inability of the PETER THE
GREAT to go to sea because it had fallen into such disrepair were painful national embarrassments. Pride
demanded that the navy be restored.
Second, although the country is very insular, Russia has never been content to sit behind its own
borders. Indeed, countries such as the Ukraine and Georgia were made part of the Russian empire
hundreds of years before the Soviets. The fact that these countries were unwilling participants in this
empire can be seen by how rapidly they declared their independence in the 1990s. A revitalized military is
seen as a necessary ingredient to recreating what Russia sees as its traditional spheres of influence as well
as to influence events in Russia's favor elsewhere in the world.
Third, Russia has a fear of encirclement, i.e., of becoming surrounded by enemies. One of the
reasons the Soviets created satellite states in Eastern Europe was to have a buffer between Russia and its
Western enemies. After the loss of an estimated 20 million people in World War II, the Russians did not
want another war on their own soil. Now, with the Eastern European countries and some of the former
Soviet captive states creating western-style economies and joining or applying to join NATO, Russia sees
itself as being encircled by enemies. To some in the west, Russia's concern seems to be Cold War
paranoia. Why can't everyone just be friends now that the communist menace is gone? However, there
is an old Russian saying: "Russia's only real friends are the Army and the Fleet".
Implications for the United States
It is now apparent that Moscow sees the RFN as a tool in achieving Russia's foreign policy objectives,
which are not always consistent with those of the United States. The RFN is not the equal of the U.S.
Navy. However, it does not have to be. Rather, it need only be a significant force deployed selectively in
order to jeopardize U.S. interests.
To illustrate, in the recent invasion of Georgia, Russia was confident enough that the West would not
challenge the RFN to impose a blockade of Georgia. When Georgia attempted to challenge the blockade
on its own, the RFN demonstrated that it was not bluffing. Moreover, its refusal to allow even
humanitarian shipments through the blockade during the fighting demonstrated a high level of ruthlessness
consistent with Russia's overall conduct of the invasion. This sent a message, not only to Georgia, but to
all of the countries in the former Soviet empire that Russia can and will use force to achieve its goals and
that any hope that the United States or NATO will protect them militarily is illusory. Thus, Russia
achieved its immediate goals in Georgia, intimidated the former Eastern block countries, embarrassed the
United States and undermined NATO.
Another example is in the Middle East. As discussed earlier, in the past year, Russia has deployed
ships from the Northern Fleet and from the Black Sea Fleet to the Mediterranean in order to re-establish a
strategic presence. In addition, one of the only Soviet Navy bases outside of the old USSR that Russia
has retained is a technical base at Tarsus, Syria. Recently, Russia has been financing the expansion of the
base and has deployed engineers to that facility so that it will be able to accommodate larger ships. A
permanent Russian presence there would be a challenge to the Sixth Fleet in waters where there has been
no challenge for 15 years. It would also put the RFN just off Israel and re-establish Russia as a major
player in the region. To illustrate, if the base were open to Russia's client state Iran, which purchases Kilo-
class submarines from Russia, questions such as does Iran have a missile with sufficient range to reach
Israel from within Iran's borders would become moot.
There is a timeless strategic maxim: one's military should not be based on speculative assessments of
a would-be enemy's intentions, but rather on his present actions and future potential. Considering the size
of today's U.S. Navy and the actions of the growing Russian Navy and others such as China, the United
States is clearly ignoring that military truism. History teaches that the price of such a mistake is eventually
paid in blood.
It is submitted that the restoration of the Russian Navy makes it imperative for the United States to
increase its shipbuilding program. It is only by having an overwhelming superiority at sea that the United
States can dissuade other nations from using maritime force to achieve their objectives. Such a superiority
is expensive to maintain but war, hot or cold, is more so.
Along the same lines, the shift of naval assets from the East Coast to the West Coast should be re-
examined. Russia has already taken the first steps to challenge America’s dominance of the Atlantic.
Finally, the transformation of the Navy to a force geared for asymmetric warfare should be
reconsidered. While the Cold War may be over, there is still a threat from not insignificant traditional
naval forces.
Consequently, the Navy’s need to adapt to non-traditional roles should not come at the expense of failing
to maintain the ability to prevail in traditional conflicts.
THE BEAR IS BACK
ST. PETERSBURG’S VERSION OF FLEET
WEEK GIVES AN INDICATION AS TO
WHERE THE
RUSSIAN NAVY IS HEADING.
BY RICHARD H. WAGNER
(Originally published by the Navy League of the United
States, New York Council in The Log, Summer 2008).
ST. PETERSBURG’S VERSION OF FLEET
WEEK GIVES AN INDICATION AS TO
WHERE THE
RUSSIAN NAVY IS HEADING.
BY RICHARD H. WAGNER
(Originally published by the Navy League of the United
States, New York Council in The Log, Summer 2008).
| Its all about ships and more |
Right: Russia’s
answer to the
Littoral Combat
Ship, the corvette
STEREGUSCHY
was the centerpiece
of the Navy Day
festivities. Below
left: A Ropucha-
class assault ship.
These ships are
designed to
transport tanks as
well as 225
Marines. They are
equipped with
57mm guns and
surface to air
missiles. Below
right: The frigate
NEUTRASHIMY.
Bottom: A Kilo-class
submarine at
Kronstadt.
answer to the
Littoral Combat
Ship, the corvette
STEREGUSCHY
was the centerpiece
of the Navy Day
festivities. Below
left: A Ropucha-
class assault ship.
These ships are
designed to
transport tanks as
well as 225
Marines. They are
equipped with
57mm guns and
surface to air
missiles. Below
right: The frigate
NEUTRASHIMY.
Bottom: A Kilo-class
submarine at
Kronstadt.
A Kilo-class submarine during the St.
Peterburg Navy Day celebrations
2008.
Peterburg Navy Day celebrations
2008.