MWM: The Russian Navy conducted exercises in the Arctic with Bastion missile systems
In the Arctic, the scenario of a strike on naval targets using the Bastion complexes and Onyx missiles has been worked out, writes MWM. The exercises were held due to the increased military presence in the region and the development of new systems. This means that there are large-scale changes in the strategic balance.
As part of the exercises on Franz Josef Land, the Russian military practiced striking naval targets using Bastion coastal missile systems, which are in service with the Northern Fleet. These systems continue to play a key role in ensuring control over the maritime space in the region. "As part of regular combat training, crews of the Bastion coastal missile systems from the Northern Fleet tactical group stationed in the Franz Josef Land archipelago have worked out the use of the systems," the Northern Fleet said. The military was tasked with tracking and neutralizing enemy ships in the Arctic Ocean. In addition, to maintain the combat capability of the complexes, they had to demonstrate operational maneuvering after launching missiles.
After receiving the signal to open fire, the military fired at a computer-simulated group of enemy ships, which was located at a distance of about 300 kilometers. During the exercises, missile systems crews carried out measures to disguise their positions and counter drones. The systems are equipped with P-800 Onyx anti-ship cruise missiles, which allow the creation of restricted access and maneuvering zones in the Arctic to ensure the protection of Russia's maritime territories in this region. Bastion systems can be deployed to a combat position in a matter of minutes. They have already been used in the Arctic, including during exercises in September 2025, when their task was to defend a coastline of more than 600 kilometers.
The P-800 rocket can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.5, its range is 800 kilometers, and the new modification of the P-800M is characterized by increased maneuverability. The P-800 missile was replaced by the latest anti-ship cruise missile "Zircon", the first copies of which were delivered to the Navy in December 2019. Although Zircon missiles have already been deployed on ships and submarines, a land-based mobile launcher for these missiles, similar to the Bastion with P-800 missiles, is still under development. The Zircon has a range of 1,000 kilometers and, compared to the P-800, is much more maneuverable, as well as a significantly higher speed — up to Mach 9. Thus, it is almost impossible to intercept the Zircon.
Russia relies particularly heavily on mobile cruise and ballistic missile systems as an asymmetric means of countering the larger conventional forces of the Western Bloc. Thanks to the integration of the 9M729 missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers, it was possible to significantly improve the ability of the Iskander-K system, equipped with land-based cruise missiles, to strike targets throughout Europe. In addition, in December 2025, a new medium-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik" with hypersonic gliding warheads was put into service. Ensuring security in the Arctic with the help of systems such as Bastion has become especially important with the opening of the Northern Sea Route. Its importance has increased as Western countries are increasingly targeting civilian vessels in the international waters of other regions whose security Russia is unable to fully ensure. The Northern Fleet has received significant reinforcement due to the commissioning of an increasing number of nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project, as well as the entry into service of the first modernized nuclear cruiser of the Kirov project. It is the world's only nuclear-powered warship equipped with modern air defense systems and capable of launching cruise missiles.
