War Zone – Three Russian Navy amphibious warfare ships departed the Baltic Sea, headed toward the Atlantic Ocean, as tensions continue to surround Moscow’s build-up of troops and equipment around its borders with Ukraine. A separate flotilla of three Russian landing ships had previously been the cause of recent alarm in Sweden, which sent additional forces to the island of Gotland, in the Baltic, in response to the increased Russian maritime activity in the region. 

Barents Observer – The unique research station will conduct its first expedition this year, the country’s natural resource minster says.

Barents Observer – Both the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet will over the next years get new powerful icebreaking vessels. They are needed for our “active development of the Arctic,” the Navy argues.

TASS – Russian Navy’s corvette Provorny may be restored in 2026 after it sustained damages in a fire ten days ago.

(Thanks to Alain)

CNN – While ground effect vehicles fell out of favor in the past few decades, the concept has been experiencing a resurgence of late.

RUSI – The prospect of greater Russian involvement in the war in Ukraine raises questions about the possible role of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and how it could support Russia’s Ground Forces.

USNI News – Tensions between Washington and Moscow are rising with a marked increase in competition in the undersea domain, as Russia continues to invest in a fleet of specialized submarines.

Barents Observer – Both the “Arktika” and “Sibir” have been on sea trials in the Gulf of Finland this week, while construction work on the “Ural”, “Yakutia” and “Chukotka” continue according to schedule.

War Zone – The countermeasure could confuse certain missiles during a conflict and obscure activities from some surveillance capabilities.

Business Insider – Russia’s neighbors on the Caspian Sea have been building up their naval capabilities. Russia remains the dominant military in the region, but that advantage is diminishing. The countries there have taken steps to manage disputes, but future points of tension are visible.

CIMSEC – The Moskva-class represented the largest and most obvious failure of the helicopter cruiser concept. Their weapons were inflexible and their air group too small, compounded by horrible seakeeping. Beyond the failings of the design itself, their doctrinal role was made obsolete before the first ship commissioned. While the proposed ‘Modern Moskva’ avoids these failings, the concept does not address the problems which doomed all helicopter cruisers. Efficiently operating large numbers of aircraft requires as much flight deck as possible. Surface combatants require deck space for weapons and sensors. Trying to combine the two requirements yields a ship that does neither well. A ‘Modern Moskva’ finds itself in a position of being larger and more expensive than a normal surface combatant, but wholly worse than a carrier at flight operations.

War Zone – Zircon missiles and Russia’s super quiet Yasen class submarines could be a significant combination, but questions remain about the weapon’s maturity.

USNI News – The Russian Navy continues to develop how it intends to deploy its latest strategic weapon – a bus-sized torpedo tipped with a nuclear warhead.

AP – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday launched the construction of new nuclear submarines and other warships, part of a sweeping military modernization effort amid tensions with the West.

Naval News – Russia’s secretive special survey ship Yantar raises eyebrows when she appears off Western shores. She has previously been noted conducting operations off Syria, in the Persian Gulf and off Americas. And elsewhere. Now she is off the coast of Ireland, loitering in the vicinity of underwater internet cables.

RUSI – Projections indicate that the coming decade will see more Russian submarines capable of carrying more cruise missiles, while NATO’s corresponding capacity will be constricted.

Naval News – Russia is rapidly modernizing its cruise-missile submarine fleet. At the same time, the U.S. Navy is building larger and more capable versions of the Virginia Class which carry more missiles. How do the latest submarine classes compare in terms of weapons load?

War Zone – The Danish Navy described the situation as “dramatic” as the submarine Orel drifted towards its territory following an unknown propulsion malfunction.

CIMSEC – A variety of factors, including the long range capabilities of modern artillery, the evolution of drones and missiles, together with the need for stand-off and distributed lethality, have combined to make space in the world’s navies for a great comeback of helicopter cruisers.

1945 – James Holmes asks how to make sense of this flurry of air and sea activity?

BMPD – It is reported that on June 25, 2021, for the first time, a large diesel-electric submarine B-602 Magadan (factory number 01616) of project 06363, built for the Russian Navy in St. Petersburg at Admiralty Shipyards JSC (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC – USC), was released for factory sea sea sea. This is the third of six Project 06363 submarines under construction for the Pacific Fleet. (In Russian)

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Belgorod will bring new capabilities to the Russian Navy. To be operated on behalf of the secretive Main Directorate of Undersea Research (GUGI), the submarine may be central to Russia’s intelligence gathering capabilities. Yet she also carries a new strategic weapon, known as Poseidon.

Military Informant – (Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Russia has provided more details about its recent sea and air drills conducted in the central Pacific, which included mock attacks on a simulated aircraft carrier strike group.

War Zone – The head of U.S. Northern Command says that Russia’s Yasen class submarines are set to present a “persistent proximate threat” to the United States.