Russian Navy’s Number of Operational Ships to Decline by Next Year

Tugboats in the Turkish Straits tow Marshal Ustinov, a Slava-class cruiser.

By 2027, the Russian Navy should receive at least six of the latest Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, including this second in class Admiral Kasatonov reported Russian newspaper Avia.Pro.

The number of Russian large ocean-going warships is to decrease significantly by 2027. This development and the prospects for large naval vessel construction were discussed at the end of 2019, at a special meeting of the Naval High Command, local military media disclosed on 14 February.

The loss of PD-50 Dry Dock means Russia can no longer maintain large oceangoing vessels in the coming years.

Admiral Kuznetsov is on fire.

At the end of the State Armaments Programme (GPV) 2018-2027, the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will no longer be put to service so does nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will be out of action.

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov on PD-50 Dry Dock

The Kirov-class Orlan nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Velikiy, flagship of the Northern Fleet, and possibly the Atlant-class missile cruisers Moskva (first of class) and Varyag will undergo refits and upgrades.

The Russian Navy maintenance activities took place in Ukraine since Soviet-era, Ukraine supplied most of Russian Navy’s marine propulsion and gas turbines. The legacy missile cruiser can no longer operate without maintaining a supply chain from Ukraine. Ukraine’s embargo on Russia had a devastating effect on Russian Naval fleet.

Russia is troubled by delays to both large naval vessel construction and the acceptance of launched naval vessels that remain undergoing trials and are yet to be commissioned. The delays seem more pronounced than in other navies. As elsewhere, construction capacity has become finite. New yards are being built in the Far East. Further construction capacity was acquired with the annexation of Crimea, but mostly for smaller vessels.

Orders are on the books for the construction of additional Yasen-M nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines and Lada-class diesel-electric submarines. According to sources cited by Flot.com on 14 February, by 2027, the Russian Navy should receive at least six of the latest Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates and probably at least one of the modified Project 22350M series frigates currently under construction.

Naval amphibious forces will be supplemented by two improved Ivan Gren-class landing ships. They should also be joined by two Universal Landing Ships to be laid down by the Zaliv shipyard in Crimea in May 2020.

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