Defense
Defense spending will grow
despite economic problems
The solemn ceremony for the nuclear
powered submarine "Vladimir Monomakh" took place in Severodvinsk on
December 19th. Soon, the ballistic missile submarine will sail the Barents Sea. (Photo: Sevmash)
Russia’s defense sector gets guarantees
that expenses are confirmed despite economic meltdown. On Friday, yet another
brand new strategic missile submarine joined the Northern fleet.
December 20,
2014
“The nuclear shield of our homeland is
updated with this modern, worthy, beautiful, powerful vessel.”
With these
words, Russia’s Deputy chief of the Navy, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Vedotenkov
honored the crew lined up on top of “Vladimir Monomakh”
during the solemn ceremony in Severodvinsk on Friday, the portal of the Sevmash yard reports.
“Vladimir Monomakh” has the naval number K-551 and is
the third Borey-class submarine to join the navy since President Vladimir Putin
announced a massive rearmament afterentering office for his third term in 2012.
The submarine
is of the 4th generation nuclear powered SSBN and carries 16 intercontinental Bulava-missiles tipped with
nuclear warheads.
The hoisting
of the St. Andrews flag on December 19th coincided
with the 75thanniversary of the Sevmash yard, the shipyard that
has built the “Vladimir Monomakh” and 131 of the
other Soviet and Russian nuclear powered submarines.
Sharp
increase in nuclear warheads in Barents Sea
The Borey-class submarines will be the mainstay of the naval component of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent, said to be replacing the Delta-IV class subs. So far, however, there are no signs of withdrawing the Delta-IV-class submarines from active service. A modernizing program is underway, with most of the six Delta-IVs already upgraded and patrolling in the Barents Sea for the Northern fleet.
The Borey-class submarines will be the mainstay of the naval component of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent, said to be replacing the Delta-IV class subs. So far, however, there are no signs of withdrawing the Delta-IV-class submarines from active service. A modernizing program is underway, with most of the six Delta-IVs already upgraded and patrolling in the Barents Sea for the Northern fleet.
As long
as the Russian Northern fleet’s six Delta-IV class
submarines still are in active service, the numbers of nuclear warheads in the
Barents Sea increase by between 100 and 160 for each of the new Borey-class
submarines that sets sail. By the end of 2014, the numbers of strategic nuclear
warheads in the Barents Sea have not been so high since the peak of the Cold
War in the late 80ies when both Delta-class submarines and the even larger
Typhoon-class were sailing Arctic waters.
In October, BarentsObserver reported that the latest data exchange on nuclear weapons held by
Russia and the United States shows the first Post-Soviet increase in numbers of
strategic warheads sailing the Barents- and White Sea. The numbers were
likely somewhere between 100 and 200 new warheads. With “Vladimir Monomakh” in service, the figures will be
even higher.
Construction
of yet another missile sub starts next week
Like the two first Borey-class submarines “Yury Dolgoruky” and “Aleksandr Nevsky”, also the “Vladimir Monomakh” will be based at the naval base in Gadzievo northwest of Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula. Next year, the “Aleksandr Nevsky” is said to be transferred to the Pacific fleet.
Like the two first Borey-class submarines “Yury Dolgoruky” and “Aleksandr Nevsky”, also the “Vladimir Monomakh” will be based at the naval base in Gadzievo northwest of Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula. Next year, the “Aleksandr Nevsky” is said to be transferred to the Pacific fleet.
The next two
Borey-class subs, “Knyaz Vladimir” and “Knyaz Oleg” are currently under construction in
Severodvinsk. Knyaz is Russian for Prince.
Construction
of the sixth submarine in the class, to be named “Knyaz Suvorov” will
start on December 26 the Sevmash yard annonced on Friday.
Defense
spendings will grow 40 percent
Also on Friday, ending a week of extreme turbolense in domestic economy, Russia made it clear that military hardware funding will continue.
Also on Friday, ending a week of extreme turbolense in domestic economy, Russia made it clear that military hardware funding will continue.
Deputy Head
of the military industrial commission board, Oleg Bochkarev told TASS that state expenditures for the defense sector will not change
regardless of the economic conditions.
”The state defense order market bacomes
more and more popular. It is guaranteed and confirmed with funds. Besides, the
President has made it clear that defense expenditures would not change
regardless of economic conditions,” he said.
Russia’s volum of defense orders for
2017 will grow more than 40 percent as compared to 2014, and in 2015 it will
grow with more than 20 percent.
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