Russian Navy - News and Analysis

Summary Currently, only one Tsirkon launch took place with the frigate RFS Admiral Gorshkov conducting a flight test on July 19. This launch was not part of the state trails. New NOTAMs for a possible testing period are in effect between August 20 to 25 but these are more likely related to a new test launch of the nuclear powered 9M730 Burevestnik missile. State trails are expected to start during the summer though at this point, the tests will start in August instead of the previously reported period at the end of July. Through the use of NOTAMs, at least two possible testing periods were identified during the second half of July, but no launches took place in both periods. This could either be caused by bad information provided to Russian press agencies or unexpected problems regarding the missile itself. Several additional NOTAMs were in effect throughout August but so far, no new launches were reported. The first upcoming launch has so far been reported against a target located on ...

The project 545 Laika class nuclear attack submarine was first announced on a Russian Defense exhibition in December 2019. Although the submarine was not officially confirmed as the newest class in the Russian nuclear submarine fleet, many analysts have speculated over the use and purpose of the Laika class in the Russian Navy. The Laika class is speculated to be a cheaper alternative to the Project Pr.885/885M Severodvinsk class submarine (NATO reporting name ‘Yasen’). Rather than being a direct competitor to Severodvinsk class, the Laika class is considered to operate in conjunction with the Severodvinsk class. Being a cheaper brother to the Severodvinsk class, the Laika will most likely be used to replace the existing fleet of Russian nuclear attack submarines such as the Project 945 Barrakuda and Project 945A Kondor, (NATO reporting names 'Sierra I’ and ‘Sierra II’ respectively) and Project 971 Shchuka-B (Nato reporting name ‘Akula’) classes. Laika class submarine - imag...