We went into formation: what replenished the Russian Navy in 2023

Reforms have begun in the shipbuilding industry to increase the efficiency and pace of implementation of the state defense order

The Russian Navy continued to actively upgrade its combat personnel in 2023, despite the existing problems with import substitution and sanctions pressure. During the year, St. Andrew's flags were raised on two nuclear submarines and four surface ships. The Baltic Fleet received the Naro-Fominsk MRK and the Lev Chernavin mine defense ship, and the Black Sea Fleet received the Mercury corvette. The Pacific Fleet includes two nuclear—powered submarines - the Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk. The Admiral Golovko missile frigate will serve in the Northern Fleet, which will receive hypersonic Zircons. Large-scale changes have begun in the shipbuilding industry this year, designed to increase its efficiency and the pace of fulfillment of the state defense order.

The pace has not decreased

The pace of renewal of the Russian Navy has not decreased compared to 2022. Then the Navy also received six surface and submarine ships. New combat units are gradually replacing those that were built back in Soviet times. They, in turn, are put into conservation.

The last ceremony of raising the St. Andrew's flag on new Navy ships in 2023 took place on December 25 in St. Petersburg with the participation of Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu. Flags were raised on the missile frigate Admiral Golovko, the small missile ship Naro-Fominsk and the mine defense ship Lev Chernavin. In his speech at the ceremony, the Russian President stressed that the country's shipbuilding industry is now on the rise and the pace of construction in the interests of the Navy will only increase.

The Lev Chernavin mine defense ship during the launching ceremony on the territory of the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. April 14, 2023

Image source: Photo: TASS/Valentin Egorshin

"Now five frigates, eight corvettes, 13 small missile ships and more than 50 other ships of various classes are in various stages of readiness on the stocks, near the embankments of Russian shipyards — now they are standing and working on them," Vladimir Putin said.

According to the President, it is planned to build three Borey-A nuclear-powered submarines and five Yasen-M multipurpose nuclear submarines and six diesel submarines by 2027. An order has been placed for the construction of patrol ships in the Arctic zone, including to ensure the safety of navigation along the Northern Sea Route.

Improving efficiency in shipbuilding

According to Izvestia's source in the shipbuilding industry, the large-scale plans announced by the president and the Minister of Defense regarding the expansion of the shipbuilding program are related to the revision of the management system and enforcement of the state defense order in the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). In August, the corporation came under the control of VTB Bank, and former VTB top manager Andrey Puchkov took over the post of CEO of the structure.

— Since August, all enterprises included in the structure of the USC have passed a global audit. Weaknesses, redundant management chains and costs have been identified, and organizational and staff measures have begun. The new CEO of USC plans to replace all plant directors who do not fulfill plans for the state defense order and show large losses in the coming months, the source told Izvestia.

The solemn ceremony of raising the naval flag of the Russian Federation on the nuclear submarine "Emperor Alexander III" at JSC PO Sevmash. December 11, 2023

Image source: Photo: TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev

At the end of 2023, the media reported on the planned replacement of the directors of the St. Petersburg Severnaya Verf and the Kaliningrad shipbuilding plant Yantar. Both companies are building surface ships for the Russian Navy. On December 12, the head of Admiralty Shipyards, an enterprise that builds non—nuclear submarines for the Navy, was replaced by Andrei Bystrov.

A source of Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Navy is generally satisfied with underwater shipbuilding, but there are many shortcomings in the construction of surface ships for the Navy, the deadlines for the delivery of units are constantly postponed.

— As an example, I can cite the small rocket ship "Tempest". It was launched back in 2018. It was planned to raise the flag in 2023, but the deadlines have been postponed several times, this is due to the elimination of shortcomings. We hope to accept him into the Navy at the beginning of the year," the officer said.

According to Izvestia's interlocutor, the new missile ship will serve in the Baltic Fleet.

In total, more than 220 surface ships and submarines are currently serving in the combat strength of the Russian Navy. Despite the extensive shipbuilding program, a significant increase in the strength of the Russian Navy is not expected in the next five years. New ships and submarines are being built to replace Soviet-built units that have almost completely served the established service life and are obsolete.

Andrey Krasnobaev