US attacks the Arctic
The Arctic may in the coming years become the arena of military confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance, led by the United States of America. There are many reasons for this.
Firstly, the North is the shortest path between the United States and Russia, and therefore, during the Cold War, serious groupings of troops were created in the Arctic of the USA and the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the military potential of the young Russian Federation fell sharply, the infrastructure was abandoned, and Washington reduced its military presence in the Arctic. Secondly, the Arctic shelf is a storehouse of natural resources, primarily hydrocarbons. Thirdly, due to the melting of the northern ice, the significance of the Northern Sea Route is increasing, the cargo flow through which is growing year by year.
Realizing all this, the Russian leadership, starting in 2014, created the Joint Strategic Command "North" to protect economic interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region. The Ministry of Defense was instructed to strengthen the state border, restore the network of Soviet military airfields and the air defense system. On the instructions of President Putin, the Ministry of Defense has created a system for basing surface ships and submarines of a new generation; the command "North" now has 39 ships and 41 submarines at its disposal. He also has subordinate forces of the Aerospace Forces, naval aviation and land units.
In 2018, the Arctic Air Defense Division will be formed, by 2020 13 Soviet military airfields should be restored, to which the Su-24, Su-34, Su-25, MiG-31 aircraft and new helicopters will be deployed. By 2019, the Russian air defense system in the Far North will be completed.
Moscow’s activity in expanding its infrastructure in the Arctic did not go unnoticed by Washington. Recently, the US Coast Guard commander said that his agency was ready to expand its presence on the Northern Sea Route, ostensibly, to assist ships in distress. Note that the Coast Guard is one of the five types of troops of the United States of America.
When asked whether NATO can confront Russia in the Arctic, the Commander-in-Chief of Forces in Europe answered shortly:
Judging by some estimates, the gap is about 10 years. To overcome this gap, the United States and its allies will have to invest huge amounts of money. The priority in the development of the Arctic component of the US Navy will be the submarine fleet and aviation. Washington plans to build 29 new Virginia and Columbia-class nuclear submarines. The United States will have to build its own icebreaker fleet. By 2020, obsolete F-16 fighters deployed in Alaska will be replaced with the latest F-35s. Norway buys the latest American fighter jets, Canada acquires drones. The US plans to prepare its own navy for “contingency management” in the Arctic until 2030.
Apparently, it will soon become hot in the Russian North.
Firstly, the North is the shortest path between the United States and Russia, and therefore, during the Cold War, serious groupings of troops were created in the Arctic of the USA and the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the military potential of the young Russian Federation fell sharply, the infrastructure was abandoned, and Washington reduced its military presence in the Arctic. Secondly, the Arctic shelf is a storehouse of natural resources, primarily hydrocarbons. Thirdly, due to the melting of the northern ice, the significance of the Northern Sea Route is increasing, the cargo flow through which is growing year by year.
Realizing all this, the Russian leadership, starting in 2014, created the Joint Strategic Command "North" to protect economic interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic region. The Ministry of Defense was instructed to strengthen the state border, restore the network of Soviet military airfields and the air defense system. On the instructions of President Putin, the Ministry of Defense has created a system for basing surface ships and submarines of a new generation; the command "North" now has 39 ships and 41 submarines at its disposal. He also has subordinate forces of the Aerospace Forces, naval aviation and land units.
In 2018, the Arctic Air Defense Division will be formed, by 2020 13 Soviet military airfields should be restored, to which the Su-24, Su-34, Su-25, MiG-31 aircraft and new helicopters will be deployed. By 2019, the Russian air defense system in the Far North will be completed.
Moscow’s activity in expanding its infrastructure in the Arctic did not go unnoticed by Washington. Recently, the US Coast Guard commander said that his agency was ready to expand its presence on the Northern Sea Route, ostensibly, to assist ships in distress. Note that the Coast Guard is one of the five types of troops of the United States of America.
When asked whether NATO can confront Russia in the Arctic, the Commander-in-Chief of Forces in Europe answered shortly:
We lag behind
Judging by some estimates, the gap is about 10 years. To overcome this gap, the United States and its allies will have to invest huge amounts of money. The priority in the development of the Arctic component of the US Navy will be the submarine fleet and aviation. Washington plans to build 29 new Virginia and Columbia-class nuclear submarines. The United States will have to build its own icebreaker fleet. By 2020, obsolete F-16 fighters deployed in Alaska will be replaced with the latest F-35s. Norway buys the latest American fighter jets, Canada acquires drones. The US plans to prepare its own navy for “contingency management” in the Arctic until 2030.
Apparently, it will soon become hot in the Russian North.
Information