The draft of Russia’s Navy Development Strategy is set to be completed by 2025. It is currently undergoing revision in the Russian Maritime Board, as reported by the Chairman of the Board, Nikolai Patrushev. This initiative stems from the directive by the Russian President issued in summer 2024. Experts believe the core of the strategy should focus on accelerating timelines and increasing the construction volume of combat vessels and submarines.
Navy Development Strategy Preparation
The Maritime Board of Russia is finalising the Navy Development Strategy. A working group of representatives from relevant agencies and organizations has been formed to complete the project by 2025, as confirmed by the Marine Board’s press office.
"In the context of rising threats from the U.S. and its allies, a new profile of the Navy must be developed to confront contemporary challenges, including experience from the special military operation," Patrushev said on November 13 while visiting the Caspian Flotilla, the maritime element of the Southern Military District.
He added that the modern Navy should evolve as an integrated combat system with strike, support, and maintenance subsystems. This formation depends on the capabilities of related industries such as shipbuilding, engineering, and machine tool manufacturing.
Patrushev recalled that at a meeting on Navy development held in late June 2024, the Russian President addressed several key issues, including the slow construction of vessels, pricing regulation in shipbuilding, and the development of Russian-made components and equipment. The federal budget has allocated a substantial increase in funding for the construction of new Navy vessels, which will be reflected in the state arms programme.
The priority areas for the Navy are the production of competitive domestic naval products and ensuring series production of vessels.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Maritime Board highlighted the need for unmanned underwater and surface vessels, considering recent experiences in military operations.
"Naval drones offer clear advantages, such as eliminating crew loss risk, carrying payloads for various purposes, high manoeuvrability, and speed. In addition to new naval technology, proven technology will continue to be used," the presidential aide noted.
Key Elements of the Navy Development Strategy
The Navy Development Strategy will outline anticipated maritime threats and the necessary responses and resources to counter these threats, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to "Izvestia."
Boltenkov believes the main points of the strategy should include accelerating the construction of amphibious ships, ocean-zone ships, frigates, and modernizing existing vessels.
"We also need to continue building Project 885 nuclear submarines. While we are relatively well off with ballistic missile submarines, our attack submarine fleet is lagging. The strategy will likely emphasize increased construction of ships and attack submarines. Additionally, building minesweepers remains important due to increased underwater threats," he said.
Military expert Viktor Litovkin stressed that the document should focus on further developing Russia's strategic nuclear fleet, including both ballistic missile and multipurpose submarines.
"We need to build nuclear-powered missile cruisers, torpedo boat destroyer, and corvettes. It’s also vital to bolster our shipbuilding industry to support this," he added.
Captain 1st rank Vasily Dandykin agreed on the need to shorten ship construction timelines and increase production volumes. He also emphasized the importance of incorporating AI and unmanned surface drones as a separate development track.
Another area is developing naval aviation as an independent branch and reconnaissance aviation within the Navy.
"Naval aviation development is in demand," Litovkin argued. "Aircraft carriers is still debatable, but Russia needs carrier strike groups. We currently lag behind major countries. Brazil and Spain have them, yet a nation with one of the world’s strongest armies doesn’t have."
According to Litovkin, drones are crucial for the special military operation, though their necessity in future scenarios is uncertain.
"One nuclear-armed Poseidon torpedo is designed for nuclear deterrence. Drones are vital for conventional forces, armed conflicts, and ensuring security of the Northern Sea Route. In the future, we won’t engage the U.S. with drones in warfare; an exchange of nuclear strikes. Hence, other areas are more strategic," he added.
Regarding areas needing enhanced focus, experts mentioned the Arctic, the Far East, and the Baltic region, which Boltenkov described as "a possible future battleground, as all surrounding countries are now NATO members."
Source: iz.ru
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