During the sudden maneuvers, the Pacific Fleet tested the protection of the peninsula from air and sea strikesDuring the completed surprise inspection of the Pacific Fleet, the updated Kamchatka defense system was tested for the first time, the readiness of all forces based there, including submarines, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia.
In recent years, Russia has radically strengthened the protection of the peninsula. New air defense systems, coastal defense units, and modern warships have appeared there. The test of the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet took place against the background of a visit to Moscow by Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu. According to experts, the coincidence of these two events is hardly accidental and should demonstrate to the United States and NATO the emerging configuration of interaction between Russia and China.
Passed the check
During the maneuvers of the Pacific Fleet, the updated Kamchatka security system was tested, sources told Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry. It has shown high reliability and efficiency in protecting the coast from both air and sea strikes. Also, for the first time, the possibility of all submarines leaving bases on the peninsula was tested, their protection was worked out along the entire route to the specified areas.
Kamchatka is an essential element not only of the defense system of the Far East, but also of the national security of the whole of Russia. In particular, strategic forces are located on the peninsula. Work to strengthen its protection was carried out for several years: the boundaries of sea, air and land defense were created.
The maneuvers of the Pacific Fleet took place against the background of the visit to Moscow of the Minister of Defense of the People's Republic of China, Colonel-General Li Shangfu. On the eve of his meeting with the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu. The Russian minister noted that Moscow appreciates the fact that shortly after his appointment to this position, Li Shangfu chose Russia as the first country for his trip.
The Chinese Defense Minister confirmed that Russia was not chosen for his first foreign visit by chance: the trip is intended to demonstrate to the outside world the high level of development of Sino-Russian relations. And in addition — a firm determination to strengthen the strategic interaction of the Armed Forces of China and Russia.
— As you know, elections are coming soon in Taiwan. And China is very afraid of US interference in Taiwan's internal affairs and elections," Inna Vetrenko, head of the Department of Management and Social Technologies at the Northwestern Institute of RANEPA, told Izvestia. — It is already known that one of the candidates is loyal to the Government of the People's Republic of China and stands for the integrity of Chinese statehood. And in order to show that China has very militarily prepared allies, the Chinese paid special attention to these exercises. This is the message of the United States and NATO that the configuration of interaction between the two countries is developing in the region. I don't know to what extent the visit of the Chinese Defense Minister to Russia during the exercises is not accidental. Perhaps this is done specifically to give a synergistic effect to these informational occasions.
TOPH Update
In the post-Soviet period, the Pacific Fleet did not receive new ships and weapons systems for a long time. However, in recent years Moscow has been paying attention to this area and strengthening the defense of Kamchatka.
Today two divisions of submarines are based there. The 25th includes missile submarines with intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the 10th — multipurpose submarines with cruise missiles and torpedoes. To date, four of the newest strategic missile carriers of the Borey project are serving on the peninsula: Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh, Prince Oleg and Generalissimo Suvorov, which was accepted into the Navy on the eve of 2023.
In the autumn of last year, the Novosibirsk Project 885M attack submarine arrived at the Pacific Fleet. She became the first modern attack submarine in Kamchatka in the last quarter of a century. In February, Izvestia reported that it was planned to form a new division of submarines in Kamchatka. It will be armed with two submarines — Belgorod and Khabarovsk, as well as a support vessel. The construction of the coastal infrastructure for the ships is already being completed.
The basis of the ground grouping on the peninsula is the 40th Separate Marine Brigade. She is considered the heir of the 22nd Rifle Division of the famous commander of the Red Army Vasily Chapaev. In addition, the 50th Separate Coastal Defense Regiment is located in the region. Also responsible for the defense of the coast is the 520th separate coastal rocket and artillery brigade, which is armed with the Bastion and Bal missile systems.
The integrated air defense control system protects the locations of submarine strategic missile carriers from air strikes. It tracks any targets in real time — hypersonic aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, etc., and then distributes the targets between the firing means.
The aviation component of the Kamchatka defense is represented by the 317th Mixed Aviation Regiment. They have a special structure, unlike other aircraft parts. The regiment consists of a MiG-31 and MiG-31BM fighter squadron; a mixed squadron with Il-38N and Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, An-12 and An-26 transport aircraft; two helicopter squadrons with Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-8, Ka-27 and Ka-29; and a squadron unmanned aircraft from the Orlan-10 UAV.
The regiment's tasks are air defense of the northeastern borders of Russia, conducting anti—submarine operations, in particular, when creating a protected bastion in the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as supporting the actions of coastal troops in remote Arctic territories.
Two years ago, the modernization of the military part of the Yelizovo airfield near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky began on the peninsula. The plan provides for the construction of special concrete shelters for aircraft, updating the communication system, navigation and landing.
Organizationally, the forces in Kamchatka are divided between the Joint Command of Troops and Forces in the Northeast and the Command of Submarine Forces.
— The peninsula is quite well fortified and protected, — military historian Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia. — Various submarines are deployed there, including new ones. The aviation part is actively developing, upgraded MiG-31BM aircraft are coming. There are enough Bal and Bastion missile systems. The land units are being strengthened. And new ships are coming.
Checked at sea
A sudden check of the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet forces began on the morning of April 14. Warships and support vessels of the Pacific Fleet left their bases and began deploying to designated areas of the Japanese, Okhotsk and Bering Seas. They performed combat training tasks as part of shock, anti-submarine strike and minesweeping groups, as well as detachments of amphibious ships.
On April 15, the crews of two MiG-31BMs, which took off from Yelizovo airfield in Kamchatka, worked out the interception of a conditional enemy who tried to violate the airspace of the Russian Federation. Its role was performed by the Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft of the Naval Aviation of the Pacific Fleet. The pilots fired electronic missiles at the target, and then engaged in a training battle with fighters covering an enemy bomber.
On the same day, the crews of IL-38 and IL-38N, also based on the peninsula, conducted a naval reconnaissance and worked out the search for submarines of a conditional enemy. Radar stations and sonar search facilities were used to search for underwater targets.
On April 18, the Ministry of Defense showed footage of several nuclear submarines going to sea from the Vilyuchinsk base in the south of Kamchatka at once. In particular, the submarine missile cruisers of project 955 "Borey", multipurpose attack boats of projects 885 "Ash", 971 "Pike-B", as well as 949A "Antey" were caught on video. A detachment of submarines went out under the cover of the security ships to the specified areas and began diving.
On April 17, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin on the course of the maneuvers. The Head of State highly appreciated the first stage of the exercises. He noted that although the Ukrainian direction remains a priority in the issue of the use of the Armed Forces, no one has removed the tasks of developing the Navy, especially since its individual components can be used in any direction.
Alexey Ramm
Roman Kretsul
