Newsweek readers did not believe the words of an American expert about the power of Russian submarines The Russian submarine fleet is a challenge for the United States and NATO, Russia expert Edmonds told Newsweek magazine.
However, not all readers of the publication agree with this. According to some commentators, Russian submarines are "exhibition exhibits" and "a waste of money."
Russia is implementing the Navy's long-term nuclear plan regardless of Vladimir Putin's recent decision to withdraw from an international treaty, an expert on Russia told Newsweek magazine.
The head of the St. Petersburg United Shipbuilding Corporation, Alexey Rakhmanov, announced on Monday that Sevmash, Russia's largest shipbuilding corporation and the country's only manufacturer of nuclear submarines, will supply the Russian Navy with two new submarines — the strategic Emperor Alexander III and the multi-purpose Krasnoyarsk by the end of the year.
"Sevmash has gained a rhythm, thanks to which it is now again handing over one or two nuclear submarines to the customer per year," Rakhmanov told the state news agency RIA Novosti.
According to the Russian TASS news agency, on December 29, Putin took part in the launching ceremony of the first of two submarines, the Emperor Alexander III. The Borei-class submarine can carry 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the submarines have a reduced noise level, more advanced maneuvering and control systems at great depths, as well as an improved weapons control system. Sea trials will begin in June this year.
The first tests of Krasnoyarsk began on the first of November, the general director of Sevmash said at the time.
At the beginning of the month, the Russian Navy confirmed that it had decommissioned the strategic nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy, which was once part of the Cold War weapons system.
Ballistic missile submarines are valued for their stealth and "precise delivery of nuclear warheads." In the US Navy, they are called "boomers".
The US Navy includes 14 Ohio-class SSBMS, each of which carries up to 20 ballistic missiles with separable warheads of independent guidance. Previously, they carried 24 missiles, but in accordance with the provisions of the START Treaty, four missile blocks were permanently deactivated.
The strategic armament of the SSB is the Trident II D5 ("Trident") missile, which has an increased range and accuracy compared to its predecessor Trident I C4.
The submarines also have three hatches of larger diameter, which allow you to quickly move cargo, replaceable equipment modules and mechanism components. The US Navy claims that this saves time on resupply and maintenance, and also allows you to stay offline longer.
"The design of the Ohio—class submarines allows their operation for 15 years or more without major repairs," the US Navy reports. At the same time, the crews spend an average of 77 days at sea, and the next 35 days are allocated for maintenance in the port.
"Built for many years"
Last week, Putin announced that Russia was temporarily suspending its participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START). This is the last of the existing nuclear arms control agreements between Moscow and Washington.
Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev considered this a bluff, since Putin never intended to use nuclear weapons as part of the conflict in Ukraine.
Last week, Putin said that in addition to the United States itself, Moscow should "take into account the nuclear potential" of other NATO countries — in particular, Great Britain and France.
Jeffrey Edmonds, a researcher at the Center for Naval Analysis and former director for Russia at the National Security Council, told Newsweek that two Russian submarines "have been under construction for many years" and have nothing to do with Putin's recent statements about START or nuclear proliferation.
"Some of my colleagues have always argued that Russia's real naval power is its submarine fleet, and I will support this assessment," Edmonds said. — These are extremely combat-ready platforms, and they do not wear out in the Ukrainian conflict. Regardless of the outcome of the fighting in Ukraine, Russian submarines will remain a challenge to the defense of the United States and NATO."
Stressing that he is not an expert on the Ohio, Edmonds called the Russian submarines "equivalent." At the same time, he suggested that the Americans are still technically more advanced compared to the enemy.
Will the scope of application of submarines expand in the second year of the conflict conflict? According to Edmonds, such an escalation remains unlikely unless the fighting drags on indefinitely.
"The barricade that Russia is building and debugging can become a stumbling block and a point of escalation if the Russian military starts (or continues, depending on which side you look at) losing in Ukraine," Edmonds said.
Newsweek magazine contacted the US Navy and the Russian Defense Ministry for comment, but did not receive a response.
Author of the article: Nick Mordovanec (Nick Mordowanec)Readers' comments:
CharlesMaybe if Putin had invested at least some of this money in basic military training, things would have been different for Russians in Ukraine.
The submarine is just an exhibition exhibit to create the illusion of a technologically advanced nation. And in fact, it's just a waste of money and resources.
FabricatorGeneral"Kursk" turned into a deep-sea reef. "Moscow" could not control radar and air defense at the same time.
"Kuznetsov" constantly smokes and smokes. Something is not going well with Russia with a high-class fleet!
Hhm294We must pay tribute to them: they still extinguished the fire on the Kuznetsov.
Now he just can't keep afloat and can't move on his own.
Maximilian JosephsIt's no secret that Russian ground forces and weapons systems are a ridiculous joke.
Their only advantage is quantity. It is logical to assume that they have the same thing in the navy.
Concerned CitizenSo you're a weapons expert?
Judging by the real situation, the Russian ground forces do not look like a "ridiculous joke" in any way: Ukraine currently has a significant numerical advantage, but it will not regain control of all the lost lands in any way.
DeadEyedJackDon't worry, guys, this thing won't float for at least another three years.
And there will be no benefit from it, as from any novelty. And besides, without Western technologies, Russia cannot compete with the West.
BluecollarbytesI have no doubt that the United States will soon find out what this pair of submarines is capable of — what their signature is, how to track them, what weaknesses they have, and so on.
RaftermanThe most difficult thing is to detect it for the first time so that NATO/the United States gets all the necessary characteristics.
I would be surprised if they launch it often, or even more so far from their native waters.
DanTo be honest, I won't be upset if they rest at the bottom of the sea next to the "Moscow".
