The commander of the Baltic Fleet (BF), Vice Admiral Viktor Liina, in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper said that tests of small missile ships of project 22800 Karakurt and project 21631 Buyan-M will begin in the near future.

Also, as the military leader said, the modernization of the Neustrashimy patrol ship of project 11540 is being completed.

“Ship builders have launched and are preparing for testing small missile ships of project 22800 Karakurt and 21631 Buyan-M.

In addition, in the naval training grounds of the fleet, the Neustrashimy patrol ship is completing a set of tests after modernization.

After their completion, the patrol ship will return to the combat composition of the fleet and continue to perform tasks in accordance with its intended purpose as part of a formation of surface ships, ”Liina said.

The Baltic Fleet is an operational-strategic formation of the Navy, based in Baltiysk (Kaliningrad Region) and Kronstadt.

The Baltic Fleet includes ships, submarines, auxiliary and search and rescue vessels, naval aviation, coastal troops, air defense units, logistic technical and special support units.

"Latest Achievements"

The commander of the Baltic Fleet did not specify the number of RTOs of project 22800, which the operational-strategic association of the Russian Navy should receive.

Earlier, the press service of the Western Military District reported that the Kozelsk combat ship would enter the Baltic Fleet.

To date, three RTOs of the Karakurt type are serving in the Baltic Fleet: Mytishchi, Sovetsk and Odintsovo.

Project 22800 ships belong to the river-sea class, that is, they are capable of carrying out combat missions both on the high seas and in inland waterways.

"Karakurt" is designed to destroy critical objects in the coastal zone and the destruction of enemy surface forces.

It can carry eight cruise missiles on board.

Depending on the need, Caliber missiles with a maximum range of 1.4 thousand to 2.6 thousand km or Onyx anti-ship munitions capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 300 km are loaded into launchers.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, in the future, Karakurts will be able to use reduced modifications of the hypersonic Zircon.

For independent effective provision of air defense, the Karakurt is equipped with the Pantsir-M anti-aircraft missile and artillery system (ZRAK).

This air defense weapon can hit all types of air targets at a distance of up to 20 km and at an altitude of up to 15 km.

The developer of RTOs of project 22800 - TsMKB "Almaz" - refers his brainchild to the ships of a new generation.

According to the enterprise, "Karakurt" has absorbed "all the latest achievements in the field of high-precision weapons, self-defense equipment, air defense and military shipbuilding."

From the data of the press service of the Western Military District, it follows that, in addition to Kozelsk, the Baltic Fleet should be replenished with the Grad combat ship, related to project 21631 Buyan-M.

According to Izvestia, the Baltic Fleet will receive another second such RTO under the name Naro-Fominsk.

  • Small rocket ship of project 21631 in the waters of the Neva

  • RIA News

  • © Alexander Galperin

The construction of ships of project 21631 is carried out in Tatarstan at the Zelenodolsk Plant named after A.M.

Gorky".

The Buyan-M combat platform, like the Karakurt, is the carrier of the Caliber in the amount of eight units.

In addition to well-proven missile weapons, RTOs are equipped with the A-190 100 mm artillery mount, the Gibka turret launcher, and the AK-630M-2 Duet complex.

In addition to the new ships, the Baltic Fleet is to receive an improved Project 11540 Neustrashimy patrol ship. This ship was built in the late 1980s.

It is assumed that after modernization, its capabilities will increase significantly.

In particular, a new combat information and control system (CICS) appeared on the Neustrashimy, including electronic computing equipment and a set of automated tools.

The ship was also equipped with a modern combat artillery control post, a radar station for monitoring the air and surface situation, and a digital navigation station.

Mainly "Fearless" is designed to deal with the enemy's submarine fleet.

Its arsenal includes modern sonar systems, depth charges and missile and torpedo weapons.

In addition, the Ka-27 helicopter is used for anti-submarine missions.

In an interview with RT, military expert Alexander Khrolenko noted that the command of the Russian Navy is paying great attention to updating the surface component of the Baltic Fleet.

“A worthy place in the Baltic Fleet is occupied by surface ships.

It receives both new missile and upgraded ships.

Their importance will only increase due to the anti-Russian actions of NATO member countries,” Khrolenko said.

Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the Nezavisimoe Voennoye Obozreniye newspaper, believes that an increase in the number of BF ships equipped with Kalibr will seriously strengthen the defense potential of the entire north-west of the European part of Russia.

In a RT commentary, the expert said that it was missile weapons that were the most important factor in deterring the North Atlantic Alliance.

  • MRK project 22800 "Mytishchi" of the Baltic Fleet

  • globallookpress.com

  • © MOD Russia

“New ships entering the Baltic Fleet are carriers of long-range Caliber.

From their bases, they can hit targets in Scandinavia and NATO member countries.

The more carriers of these missiles in the Baltic Fleet, the stronger our military potential will be, ”says Litovkin.

The expert also recalled that Iskander operational-tactical complexes (OTRK) were deployed in the Kaliningrad region.

The range of ammunition of this system reaches 500 km, while they are practically invulnerable to air defense systems.

“In the current situation, it is important that the missiles of the Iskander and Caliber complexes can also be equipped with nuclear warheads.

NATO and their allies cannot ignore the consequences if aggression is committed against our country,” Litovkin stressed.

In the area of ​​responsibility

From Viktor Liina's interview, it follows that the Baltic Fleet is accelerating the pace of training of military personnel, including in the far sea zone.

Since the beginning of this year, formations and military units of the army Baltic Fleet have carried out more than 2,000 combat training events.

In general, according to the Commander of the Baltic Fleet, compared to the period of the previous year, the planned intensity of the fleet's combat training increased by 42%.

“Surface ships and support vessels have traveled about 100,000 nautical miles.

Attack, minesweeping and amphibious ship tactical groups have been prepared.

Currently, several ships of the fleet are successfully solving assigned tasks in the far sea zone,” Liina said.

Also, as the commander of the Baltic Fleet said, during the past winter, the raid of naval aviation crews increased significantly, and Forpost and Orlan-10 drones began to be used more widely.

In mid-May, the training camp for ship commanders began in the Baltic Fleet in order to achieve a "high level of individual professional readiness."

“During the training, the officers will study the peculiarities of the international situation in the area of ​​responsibility of the Baltic Fleet, the composition, organization, basing and combat capabilities of the naval forces of the NATO countries,” the press service of the Western Military District said earlier.

According to experts, the combat training program of the Baltic Fleet takes into account the challenges and threats posed by NATO member countries.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Western bloc has significantly increased its military and intelligence activities in the region.

In addition, the North Atlantic Alliance continues to expand to the east.

On May 18, the ambassadors of Sweden and Finland submitted applications for joining the bloc to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who promised an accelerated integration of these countries.

  • Coastal complex "Bastion" of the Baltic Fleet

  • globallookpress.com

  • © MOD Russia

According to Dmitry Litovkin, the United States will begin to heavily arm the new members of the bloc.

In this regard, Russia will have to strengthen the Baltic Fleet groups stationed in the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions.

“The situation in Ukraine has shown that the United States can literally flood the country with all sorts of weapons.

Therefore, it seems to me that against the background of Finland and Sweden joining the bloc, Russia should pay more attention to increasing the capabilities of the Baltic Fleet, ”said Litovkin.

According to Alexander Khrolenko, in the coming years the potential of the strike forces of the Baltic Fleet and its air defense capabilities will be strengthened.

“Now the Baltic Sea will be surrounded on all sides by NATO countries.

The Russian leadership is well aware of this.

I think that the modernization of missile ships will take place.

Also, the Baltic Fleet will be strengthened with additional air defense systems and coastal complexes,” Khrolenko summed up.