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New generation nuclear submarine successfully launched in Russia
Published: 15 June, 2010, 16:18
Edited: 18 June, 2010, 07:34
Dmitry Medvedev (R) delivers a speech in the northern Russian town of Severomorsk on June 15, 2010 at the "Sevmash" shipyard (AFP PHOTO / RIA-Noovosti / Kremlin / Vladimir Rodionov)
(10.3Mb) embed videoTAGS: Military, Russia, Vehicles, Modernization
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev traveled to the northwest of the country on Tuesday to join in the launch of a new generation nuclear submarine.
The ceremony of launching the submarine of the fourth generation “Severodvinsk” has been held at the Sevmash defense shipyard.
The construction of this submarine began in 1993, but due to the financial setbacks that Russia experienced in the late 1990s, the project was deferred. The submarine was completed just recently.
The Severodvinsk general-purpose submarine is unique, and there are plans to build six more similar submarines in Russia.
At the launch ceremony, Dmitry Medvedev said that this is only the first step in the modernization process of the Russian Navy.
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This submarine seems to be quite a technical achievement if it lives up to its potential: however, I suspect it would only serve as an impressive, but expensive, showpiece for Russia I wonder who is the opponent for this submarine? It certainly will not be the forces that have a potential to destabilize Russia in the near future, such as the radical Islamic movement, or the illegal Asian and African immigrants who will eventually flood into Russia, since they have no maritime commerce or navies. Nor, will this submarine assist Russia to combat the Islamic terrorism in the Caucasus. If the submarine was developed to counter USA, then, why is Russia even assisting America in its conquest of Afghanistan?
25 years ago this would not have been a big PR event for political leaders and bureaucrats like it is today. Because 25 years ago the Soviet Navy would deploy at least 5 new Submarines into service every year. That was then, today just constructing a new Submarine in Russia takes up to 17 years, a process normally lasting no more than 3 years. The reason is simple, financing for the Russian Navy is still limited(shipbuilding and repair receive less than 1 Billion USD every year), even with high Oil prices the Russian Government refuses to fund the Military(sufficiently). Ironically during the 1990's Economic Crisis the Russian Navy received more ships and submarines than in the last 10 "stable" years. When compared to major NATO countries Russia is far behind in new Warship production today, the Americans deploy a new Virginia class Submarine into service almost every year, while for Russia this will be the 1st Submarine of similar design and purpose built so far. If 25 years ago NATO struggled to maintain parity in Submarine numbers with the USSR, today Russia is scrapping those same Submarines inherited from the USSR, and this process is being funded by such historically "neutral" countries like the USA and Japan. Which means today Russia is slowly losing its once mighty Submarine fleet, and by 2020 Russia may have fewer Submarines than France. This is because most of the Submarines built in Russia in the last 10 years were exported(sold to other countries), including the recently completed "Nerpa"(will join the Indian Navy), and only 4 entered or will enter service with the Russian Navy.