Russian Navy - News and Analysis

October 26 A Su-27 fighter aircraft was scrambled to intercept several NATO aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft are reported as a German P-3C Orion Maritime patrol aircraft and a US U-2S reconnaissance aircraft. The Su-27 escorted both aircraft until they turned away from Russian airspace, after which the Su-27 fighter aircraft was recalled to its airbase. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 100 cadets have returned to Kaliningrad after completing a training course on board of the training ship RFs Smolny. The cadets, were embarked between October 3rd and 22nd. During this time, the RFS Smolny sailed from Sevastopol towards Kronstadt. The  future officers of the watch practiced their navigation skills, including astronomical navigation, as well as navigation in restricted waters. [ 1 ] Engineers of the armed forces in Kaliningrad reportedly defused several unexploded munitions dating back from the Second World War. A 203mm artillery shell was foun...

Between October 16th and 19th, 2020, the Caspian Flotilla was involved in a combat readiness check which involved four of its main surface combatants. In total, six surface vessels, seven aircraft and a total of 400 servicemen were involved in this combat readiness check. [ 1 ] The four surface warships were identified as the two Gepard class frigates RFS Dagestan and  RFS Tartarstan, and the Buyan-M class corvettes RFS Uglich and RFS Veliky Ustyug. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] An additional two support ships sailed out and escorted the surface task force. These support ships provided emergency rescue services and logistical support if needed. The names of these two warships were not reported by Russian sources. TASS agency reported that all four warships were capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles. It should be pointed out that only the RFS Dagestan was modified to carry Kalibr cruise missiles instead of the original eight KH-35 anti-ship cruise missiles. [ 4 ] The remaining three vessel...

October 19 Russian training ship RFS Smolny has passed through the Danish Strait and entered the Baltic Sea. The vessel is on a training cruise between Sevastopol and Kronstadt. She carries around 250 naval cadets on board who are gaining practical experience at sea. The vessel is scheduled to stop in the port of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad on Wednesday October 21st. [ 1 ] October 20 The first batch of 20 new recruits have been assembled at the military commissariat of the Kaliningrad region. These recruits are the first of among 1.000 conscripts called up in the autumn draft. Most of these recruits will join the various naval vessels and coastal defense units of the Baltic Fleet while 10 will serve in the Presidential Regiment of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation with another 20 recruits joining the fourth research and production company at the Yantar Baltic shipyard. [ 2 ] October 21 The airborne training for around 100 reconnaissance officers serving in the a...

Over the past years there have been sporadic and mostly symbolic deployments of Russian surface warships in the North Sea. These deployments project a limited amount of military power into a NATO controlled environment and thus pose a limited military threat to its alliance members. Instead, these deployments rather serve a symbolic purpose, as to remind NATO and the world that Russia has the capabilities to project power into the North Sea and into Europe. These deployments first serve to maintain a certain status quo and a balance against NATO deployments in the Baltic Sea where Russia seeks to maintain a position of strength. They also serve a certain propaganda purpose as these deployments are often noticed by and mentioned in Western news bulletins who usually give the appearance that NATO forces were captured by surprise and are thus vulnerable. For NATO however, these sporadic Russian deployments in the North Sea can serve as an opportunity to counter Russia's influence eith...

  October 12 Russia's Baltic Fleet responded against the creating of the United Kingdoms carrier task force by conducting anti-surface missile drills in the North Sea. Steregushchy class corvettes RFS Steregushchy and RFS Stoyky carried out simulated missile strikes against a simulated carrier task force from an unknown position in the North Sea. Both corvettes launched Uran anti-ship missiles during this drill. According to Russian sources, both corvettes succeeded in hitting their targets. Both ships also used electronic jamming during the missile strike. Following the missile drill, both corvettes held additional drills such as joint navigation, ship-to-ship communication, damage control and defending against sabotage. [ 1 ] October 13 Russian sources report that large scale tactical exercises have come to an end at the Kaliningrad Region. Over the summer period, the armed forces at Kaliningrad have been increasing their training and conducted several tactical exercises at the b...

October 05 A Su-27 fighter aircraft was scrambled to intercept a R-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft of the German Navy and a Swedish Air Force's Gulf Stream reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Both aircraft were approaching Russian airspace when the decision was made to intercept them. Once these aircraft turned away from Russian airspace, the Su-27 returned to base. [ 1 ] [ 4 ] Specialist troops of the radiation, chemical and biological (RCB) units of the Baltic Fleet disinfected military offices in Kaliningrad Region. According to Russian sources, the servicemen processed the internal premises of the reception and technical commission of the Baltic Fleet, the regional assembly point and areas around the buildings on the territory of military enlistment offices in nine cities in the Kaliningrad Region. A special solution was used, consisting of a 1.5% aqueous solution of 2/3 calcium hypochlorite for the treatment of buildings and premises where conscripts are t...

October 01 Baltic Fleet: Live firing exercises were held on the Pavenkovo training ground where the marines of the Baltic Fleet have been active since the beginning of the week. The live firing exercises included firing small arms, anti-tank weapons and artillery as well as the weapon systems mounted on the BTR-82As. Aside from live firing exercises, the marines also trained in mobile operations, both offensive and defensive, and the interaction between the marines and supporting artillery units. [ 1 ] October 02 Baltic Fleet: The battalion sized group of Baltic Fleet Naval Infantry have returned to their barracks in Baltiysk following a 120km night-time march from the training grounds in Pavenkovo. [ 2 ] October 05 Caspian Flotilla: Artillery units of the Caspian Flotilla Naval Infantry held a live firing training on the Adanak training ground in Dagestan. Over 200 marines with 40 pieces of military equipment were involved in the training. The artillery pieces used during the...