Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-30 Weekly Brief The deployment of the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa remains unknown. The submarine arrived at the naval base at Tartus together with the rescue tug Sergey Balk. The submarine will most likely stay in port to allow the crew some rest and recuperation. It is unclear if the submarine will continue her transit towards the Pacific Fleet together with the Sergey Balk or if she will spend a combat patrol of several months in the Eastern Mediterranean. The lack of Russian submarines available suggests the latter. The departure of the fleet oiler Yelnya limits the operational support for the task force. It seems unlikely with only one fleet oiler available that the task force will deploy ships in the Red Sea though it could rely on the harbor facilities at Port Sudan to support such a deployment. Daily Events December 27 Rescue tug Sergey Balk was located 30 nautical miles south of Akrotiri during the afternoo...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-22 Weekly Brief Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean though it is unknown how long this submarine will remain in this area. The submarine is intended to join Russia's Pacific Fleet but so far, no rescue tug or fleet oiler of the Pacific Fleet have been spotted heading to the Mediterranean. It is possible that the Ufa will remain in theatre for three to six months to provide submarine capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean until another Improved Kilo class submarine can be send to relief the Ufa. Daily Events December 16 The AIS signal of rescue tug Sergey Balk was reported just west of the Strait of Gibraltar and heading eastwards into the Mediterranean. The rescue tug is escorting the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa which is transiting towards the Pacific Ocean [ 1 ]. December 19 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the corvettes Merkury and Orekhovo...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-15 Weekly Brief The majority of the task force was active during the beginning of the week with the Steregushchy class corvette Merkury at sea as well as the Mom class intelligence collection vessel Kildin. Around the same time, frigate Admiral Grigorovich completed her exercise with the Algerian Navy and prepared to return back to the Eastern Mediterranean. Arrival of the Kaliningradneft class fleet oiler Kama strengthens the logistic support of the task force and could make it possible for some of the warships to deploy into the Red Sea though so far, no direct indications for an out of area deployment were reported through OSINT. Daily Events December 10 Satellite imagery of the port of Tartus revealed the presence of the Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuevo and the fleet oiler Yelnya. Also present was the weapons runner Ursa Major [ 1 ]. December 11 Admiral Grigorovich is finishing up its port visit at Algiers havin...

    The shipyard  Komsomolsk-on-Amur, located in Russia's far east, has received a license to develop, produce, test, install, maintain and repair weapon systems and military vessels. Among the licenses was also the promise that the shipyard will start building Project 22350 frigates, better known as the Admiral Gorshkov class [ 1 ]. Up until now, production of the Admiral Gorshkov class took place at the Severnaya Verf at Saint Petersburg though production has been slow. By allowing the construction of Admiral Gorshkov class frigates at the  Komsomolsk-on-Amur shipyard, the Russian Navy will not only modernize it fleets faster but also give more autonomy and independence to the support of the Pacific Fleet.  The decision to build Admiral Gorshkov class frigates at  Komsomolsk-on-Amur is not new as the shipyard has already started to invest in modern construction sides, certification of the work force and is in the process of finishing the construction...

Task Force Composition As reported by OSINT at the morning of Dec-09 Weekly Brief The Russian Navy strengthens its ties with Algeria by taking part in a joint naval exercise focuses on search and rescue operations. This would be the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine that vessels of the Mediterranean task force took part in a joint naval exercise instead of deterring NATO warships in the eastern Mediterranean. Buyan-M class corvette Orekhovo-Zuyevo has once again departed at sea, most likely in response to Western warships operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. The vessel is escorted by the Amur class repair vessel PM-82 which provides logistic support. Meanwhile, a task force composed of the Improved Kilo class submarine Ufa, the fleet oiler Kama and the rescue tug Sergey Balk has been making its way towards the Mediterranean. The submarine is intended for the Pacific Fleet and will pass the Mediterranean during her interfleet transit. All three vessels are located at ...