Viktor Chirkov News

Russia is making moves to revive and increase the size and scope of its Black Sea submarine fleet, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated. Project 636.3 Varshavyanka diesel-electric submarines that will sequentially join the Russian Black Sea Fleet will help revive full-fledged submarine forces in Novorossiysk already next year, Russia’s Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Viktor Chirkov said. He stated during a meeting with the Main Naval Command in Saint Petersburg on Monday that he believes that the submarine fleet will be "revived" and ready for action by 2016. The Russian Black Sea Fleet will have a group of submarines possessing the long-range and autonomous cruising capacity, modern armament systems and effective radio-technical and navigational complexes.

Russia is expected to finish the construction of a submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula by the end of October. "Upgrades to the Russian Navy’s ballistic nuclear missile submarine (SSBN) base in the Pacific could be completed by October, Russian Navy chief Adm. Viktor Chirkov said," says USNI News. The improvements to the Russian Navy’s boomer base on the Kamchatka peninsula will include improvements that will allow the operation of the new Project 955 Borei-class submarines. “The system for basing the Borei-class strategic submarines in Kamchatka is moving along according to schedule and the work will be completed by October 1 of this year,” Chirkov said in the Sputnik news service.

Russia is going to complete building a series of seven Yasen-class nuclear submarines by 2023, says Vladimir Dorofeyev, CEO of the Malakhit Marine Engineering Design Bureau. According to previous reports, the state armaments program for the period until 2020 envisaged construction of 8 Yasen class submarines. In addition, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Viktor Chirkov said that after that the series would be continued. "In accordance with the state armaments program, the project to build a series of 7 submarines will be completed after 2023," Dorofeyev said. It is believed that the Yasen-class vessels are the “stealthiest submarines” in the world. The submarines will be 13.5 meters wide, 119 meters long and 9.4 meters high.

Russia has launched the fourth of its Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines. Admiralty Shipyards - a Russian defense company - held a ceremonial launching for its newest Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines. According to the company’s website, the commander of Russia's Navy, Viktor Chirkov, attended the ceremony. Dubbed the Krasnodar, the vessel is the fourth of a planned six upgraded Kilo-class subs Russia is constructing under Project 636. Novorossiysk, the lead submarine of the series, was delivered to the Russian Navy in August 2014, followed by delivery of Rostov-on-Don in December the same year. The third vessel, Stary Oskol, has passed state trials, while the last two submarines named Veliky Novgorod and Kolpino are currently under construction.

Russia’s Sevmash shipyard will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its next generation Project fifth Yasen-M multirole nuclear submarine, the Arkhangelsk, on March 19. The Yasen-class subs are touted as the most advanced nuclear-powered multipurpose underwater craft in the Russian Navy. According to local media reports, the Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov has ordered that the submarine be named Arkhangelsk. This missile carrier will become the fifth Yasen Project multirole nuclear submarine, developed by St. Petersburg's Malakhit naval design bureau. Designed by Rubin Marine Equipment Design Bureau and built by Northern Machine Building Enterprise (Sevmash shipyard)…

NATO will pay more attention to the situation in the Arctic, reports Arctic-Info, citing the alliance's Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Rasmussen explained that this is, in particular, due to the effects of climate change. At the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session in Vilnius, Rasmussen recalled that warming in the Arctic region will actively develop shipping and more production of natural resources, which in his opinion may create more friction between various countries in the Arctic. Russia has actively increased its military presence in the Arctic. At the end of March, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, said that Russia will increase strategic grouping of nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence in the Arctic. Source: Arctic-Info

Sang, speaking to the Voice of Russia radio station ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, stressed that the port would not be a Russian military base. But he also said that Cam Ranh would be used to help develop “military co-operation” between the two former Cold War allies. Sang also said Hanoi was planning to develop the capacity to provide maintenance services to any foreign ship docking at Cam Ranh, a former Soviet naval base. Russia currently has only one foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union – in Tartus, Syria. But officials say the base is little more than a re-fuelling stop for Russian warships. Russia’s naval chief, Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, confirmed that Russia was in talks on obtaining naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam and in the Seychelles.

Russia will begin building new aircraft carriers after 2020 in a major boost to Moscow's ability to deploy air power abroad. If the plans reach fruition, it would be a major boon to the Russian navy, which currently fields only one aging aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. The Kuznetsov, part of the navy’s Northern Fleet, was built in 1985 and has been scheduled to undergo a major overhaul. Another former Russian carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, was sold to India in 2005, refitted and renamed the Vikramaditya and is currently undergoing sea trials in the Barents Sea.

Severnaya Verf shipyard, a part of United Industrial Corporation (OPK), launched the first serial corvette Soobrazitelniy. The project of this corvette was designed by Almaz, central design bureau (St.Petersburg). The corvettes intend for functioning in the nearest sea area and fighting with surfaces ships and submarines and also for military operations. The first ship of this series of ships was Stereguschiy, built in October 2008 and intended for Baltiysky fleet. “This ship is technically equipped and capable to search…