Russian navy's massive maneuvers test global waters and West's resolve

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Navy had begun strategic maneuvers in the Pacific, Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Caspian Sea. The official statement noted that the exercises will involve 400 warships, including submarines, and 90,000 soldiers.

According to PAP, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the maneuvers, the readiness of the Russian Navy's command to direct force groups, the comprehensive use of precision weapons, and the expansion of cooperation with the naval forces of partner countries will be tested. The maneuvers may be a way to show the West that the Russian Navy, despite reports to the contrary, is still in good condition. It is worth recalling that similar maneuvers involving about 300 ships took place at the end of July.

The Russians once again did not disclose which units are taking part in the ongoing maneuvers. It is possible that these include flagship ships of the Russian Navy, such as the nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Pozharsky. Launched on February 3, 2024, at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, it is the eighth Borei-class submarine and the fifth improved Borei-A subtype. These submarines are about 558 feet long and have a submerged displacement of approximately 26,000 tons. Their primary armament is the intercontinental ballistic missile R-30 Bulava, each of which can carry up to ten nuclear warheads.

The Knyaz Pozharsky will serve in the Northern Fleet, and its main base will be Gadzhievo on the coast of the Barents Sea. Borei-class submarines also have an advanced propulsion system that is more efficient due to the use of a pump-jet propulsor instead of a conventional propeller. These units are designed to carry out combat patrols in the northeastern part of the Barents Sea and under the far north's ice cover, allowing them to operate in extreme Arctic conditions.

The Russian Navy also has other advanced units, including the outdated but symbolic aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. Although it has been in a repair shipyard for years, Moscow has announced plans to build its successor, which will follow the concept of American ships. The new aircraft carrier will be a large CATOBAR-type unit with nuclear propulsion. The Russians intend to use a design developed back in the 1980s for the Soviet Navy, allowing for a faster construction pace.