Why Russia should give a second life to atomic "Orlan"

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The Russian Navy is going through hard times. Its surface component is frankly weak, and the program for the construction of large ships in the far sea zone has actually been stopped. All this happens against the backdrop of a growing global economic crisis, which tend to end in a big war.

The clouds are gathering, and our Navy needs its trump cards "here and now" in order to somehow change the balance of forces at sea.



Recently it became known that the Leader project destroyer construction program with a nuclear power plant and a modernized, increased displacement version of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate was stopped. It’s expensive and difficult, one “Leader” could manage the treasury in the amount of about 100 billion rubles, and frigates are a serious problem with engines. Recall that the destroyers were supposed to be one of the few carriers of Zircon hypersonic missiles, on which we have made a big bet. Everything, a bit rate.

However, this is not the end. There is a difficult, but quite working option with the modernization of atomic missile cruisers of the Orlan project. What could mean the appearance of such a ship at the head of a naval formation?

At firstThe nuclear cruiser is able to take on the well-deserved role of the flagship and headquarters of the compound, thanks to a modern information management system.

SecondlyIts powerful arsenal will make it possible to launch massive missile strikes against both sea and ground targets.

Thirdly, the presence on board the cruiser of anti-aircraft missiles of super long range will provide protection against the AUG air wing of a potential enemy, its jamming aircraft and AWACS.

That is, one "Orlan" at the head of the formation of Russian ships radically increases its strike potential and defensive stability. Well, it looks very solid as a demonstrator of our fleet. Most importantly, these ships do not need to be built; they are already available.

Four such unique ships that have no analogues in the world inherited from Russia of the USSR. The only one in service is Peter the Great, the flagship of the Northern Fleet. The second, "Admiral Nakhimov," is now in deep modernization. The third, Admiral Ushakov (Kirov), was sentenced to disposal. The latter, "Admiral Lazarev", is disabled and with a dismantled power plant awaits the decision of its fate in the Far East. Information about his future fate is extremely contradictory.

The Pacific Fleet is the weakest, and it will have to act, in which case, where the Navy of the United States, China and other countries of the Asia-Pacific region dominate. With all due respect to the cruiser Varyag, the same Admiral Lazarev at the head of the Pacific Fleet would have looked preferable. The problem is that his future fate is a big question. They want to revive it, then quickly dispose of it.

The arguments in favor of sending the cruiser to scrap sound in current realities are not very convincing: it is expensive, it’s better to build several frigates with these funds. Well, how are things going with the construction of new frigates and missile destroyers, we mentioned above. They are not and are not expected in the foreseeable future. The modernization of one "Orlan" is estimated at 100 billion rubles, one "leader" would cost the budget the same amount. But there are no "Leaders" and there will not be, but "Lazarev" and "Ushakov" are, the hand of the "optimizers" has not reached them yet.

In our realities, it would be advisable to give a second life to the Orlan project at least until our shipbuilding industry begins to stamp large surface ships at the speed of the Chinese comrades. 100 billion rubles for a unique warship capable of operating in the distant sea zone - is it a lot or a little? Probably not such a great price for increasing the combat capabilities of the Russian Navy, especially since the money will go to the domestic defense industry, and not to some treasure.

Another question is where to repair these ships. The production facilities are busy, and to drag in the tugboat "Lazarev", deprived of the power plant, from the Far East to Severodvinsk is a difficult story. However, options have appeared. As you know, the Zvezda shipyard was opened in Primorye, where giant ice-class tankers and icebreakers will be built for the needs of the oil and gas industry. The queue for them is scheduled for years to come, but the demand for energy in the foreseeable future may decline due to the global economic crisis.

If the state had the will to revive the Eagles, the Star could receive an order to modernize the cruisers.

But will this will appear?
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18 comments
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  1. +1
    12 May 2020 16: 36
    Before you build new ships, you need to know the goals for which these ships will be directed. You can bomb other people's territories from submarines and aircraft. It seems that Russia is not going to capture Africa, Australia and America. And for the amphibious assault, you can build, for starters, 1 helicopter carrier per fleet.
    1. +4
      12 May 2020 17: 29
      As my grandfather, senior midshipman, submariner and diver used to say, "Before starting up the diesel engine, sit on the oars and test the can. Maybe you can get to the shore faster by oars!"
      1. +1
        14 May 2020 10: 06
        Before starting the diesel, sit on the oars and test the can.

        Here since the nineties, diesel engines in the country were turned off and then on oars, on oars. laughing It’s also easier, the noise doesn’t bother anyone and the owners saved money for new yachts.
        Give more oars made of wood! good
    2. +4
      12 May 2020 21: 47
      Without an escort, of the new, at least frigates, helicopters can only be loaded on suicide bombers and suicides, there will be no sense in them. Without an escort, any UDC is a large easy target! Building UDC now, letting the cart go in front of the mare!
      1. +3
        13 May 2020 11: 17
        I agree, the first one needs a clear strategy for the near and long term. While we see throwing on the construction of ships even of the second class ... The main strategy and weapons, the ship, only a means and a carrier ...
  2. 123
    +1
    12 May 2020 16: 37
    If the state had the will to revive the Eagles, the Star could receive an order to modernize the cruisers.

    Zvezda is loaded with orders for years to come. Novatek is begging for permission to purchase a dozen gas carriers in Korea, justifying the acute shortage and inability of Zvezda to build everything at once. As for the cruiser itself, while the modernization of "Admiral Nakhimov" is underway, they will finish approximately in 2022-2023, next in turn is "Peter the Great", even if things go faster with it, it will still be at least 2-3 years. After that, we can already talk about "Admiral Lazarev", by that time workers who have experience after two ships will be released, perhaps the equipment will be useful. If it is stupid to put the Admiral Lazarev for repair at the Zvezda shipyard right now, the repair will take many years. That is, until 2025, the issue can not be raised.
    The problem is sucked out of one's finger, either this is an attempt to prevent the construction of gas carriers and tankers and lobbying for the transfer of part of orders to overseas shipyards, or just a desire to once again poke on the topic of what stupid power we have.
    1. 0
      12 May 2020 16: 46
      Quote: 123
      The problem is sucked out of one's finger, either this is an attempt to prevent the construction of gas carriers and tankers and lobbying for the transfer of part of orders to overseas shipyards, or just a desire to once again poke on the topic of what stupid power we have.

      Yes, they took and prevented the construction of gas carriers ... isn’t it yourself funny?
      Move there, over the hill, like Michelson himself would not mind, if that. wink
      As for the rest, the government itself is doing an excellent job. smile
      1. 123
        +3
        12 May 2020 17: 16
        Yes, they took and prevented the construction of gas carriers ... isn’t it yourself funny?

        What's so funny? A place in the dock will be taken for several years, count how many other ships can be built during this time. The approximate price for the link:

        https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/news/2019/02/12/793880-stoimost-gazovozov

        Move there, over the hill, like Michelson himself would not mind if that

        Naturally, he does not mind. Yes The law is such that ships should be built at a domestic shipyard, therefore, it will be more expensive and all planned for years to come. And then there is the opportunity to circumvent the law and, as a result, save. It is possible that the topic in the media is exaggerated with the money of citizen Michelson.

        As for the rest, the authorities themselves are doing very well

        This is your subjective opinion, how much it corresponds to reality is a big question. winked
  3. 0
    12 May 2020 17: 46
    Yes, because Russia has no friends, except for its army and navy - in general, people in uniform !!!
    1. +1
      14 May 2020 10: 16
      Russia has no friends except its army and navy - in general, people in uniform !!!

      That was probably the problem with the USSR, everyone thought that the army and the navy would protect them, but they just made him friendly. You give each turner and locksmith a shoulder strap, there will be more friends. drinks
  4. -4
    12 May 2020 19: 37
    ... Russia must give ...

    It’s true, to whom I owe, I would forgive everyone ...

    In fact, 4 factors:
    No engines.
    No money, but hold on.
    Already promised 2 UDC, they barely scraped together ...
    New World Cups have already been promised for something, now I don’t remember .... And each Championship is like a ship or two at a cost ....
  5. +7
    12 May 2020 21: 38
    I rarely agree with Marzhetsky, but here he is right, with only one amendment. The oldest (Kirov) will still have to be sent to the scrap. Firstly, it is the oldest and worn out, and secondly, on the fresher (Lazarev), back in Soviet times, a gearbox flew, and there is nowhere to take a new one, production has long been lost. So there is nothing left to do but put the oldest of the Orlans for spare parts, the remaining 3 of the newest are cheaper and more necessary to recover than to dispose of, since the Russian fleet is extremely in need of battle-worthy ships of 1,2 ranks, and today the Russian Federation is in battle-worthy the state of the cat cried. The cruiser could provide air defense of the whole compound, or significantly strengthen the air defense of any military base or port, and with its long-range, heavy anti-ship missiles, it can create a threat to any detachment of enemy warships. The cruiser is able to fight with the enemy’s nuclear submarines, as it carries anti-submarine missile torpedoes on board. Shark-type submarines also should not be scrapped, not in those days. They need to be repaired and converted into carriers of the Caliber and Onyx-M cruise missiles, including those with a nuclear warhead.
    1. 0
      13 May 2020 15: 43
      Quote: Sapsan136
      I rarely agree with Marzhetsky, but here he is right, with only one amendment.

      Thanks for the support.
      But I will clarify that disagreeing with my other points does not mean that I am wrong in them. smile
      1. +2
        14 May 2020 22: 04
        Quote: Marzhetsky
        Quote: Sapsan136
        I rarely agree with Marzhetsky, but here he is right, with only one amendment.

        Thanks for the support.
        But I will clarify that disagreeing with my other points does not mean that I am wrong in them. smile

        You give inaccurate information about the cancellation of the construction of ships of the far sea zone (22350) and ships of the far ocean zone (22350M). Also, the Northern Design Bureau did not stop the work on the development of frigates (essentially destroyers) of the project 22350M.

        According to the source, in the first series the fleet will receive four frigates of the Admiral Gorshkov type with 16 universal vertical launch installations for missiles. Of these, the lead “Admiral Gorshkov” as part of the Northern Fleet, the first serial “Admiral Kasatonov” is preparing to join the Navy, two more are under construction.

        The second series of frigates based on project 22350 with 24 vertical launch launchers will also consist of four frigates, two of which were laid last year, two more are planned to be laid in the near future.

        And, finally, the third series will be made up of frigates of the modernized project 22350M with an increased displacement up to 8 thousand tons and 48 universal missile launchers. How many ships will be in the third series is not yet known, but we are talking about the construction of two to four modernized frigates.

        The completion of the entire series of frigates based on project 22350 is planned in the early 2030s.

        Meanwhile, it became known that the Northern PKB did not stop work on the development of frigates of project 22350M. Previously distributed information about the abolition of plans to create a ship is not true, said a senior naval source.

        Now we are talking about the decision by the customer on the timing of the development of a technical project. The coordination of all documents and the subsequent allocation of funds takes some time. The situation is resolved in the working order.

        - he said.

        https://topwar.ru/170807-rossijskij-vmf-poluchit-tri-serii-fregatov-proekta-22350.html

        Moreover, on each of the above ships there is a UKKS, from which Zircon is launched. Just somewhere it can accommodate 16, somewhere 24, and somewhere in the future 48 RCC Zircon.
  6. It is necessary to create the Polar Fleet in order to defend the Northern Sea Route from amers.
    1. 0
      14 May 2020 10: 33
      So it will probably be soon.
      The Polar Fox will come to the Northern Fleet and a new, compact and more efficient Polar nanoflot will appear that has no analogues in the world. wink
  7. +2
    14 May 2020 21: 40
    ... the program for the construction of large ships in the far sea zone has actually been stopped.

    Recently it became known that the Leader project destroyer construction program with a nuclear power plant and a modernized, increased displacement version of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate was stopped.

    Lying. Ships of the far sea zone of project 22350 are being built. The ships of the far ocean zone of the 22350M project will begin to be built approximately in 2022 after they prepare the 22350M project itself. According to recent statements of the design bureaus themselves involved in the creation of the 22350M, work on this project does not stop. But the Leader refused the project.

    Recall that the destroyers were supposed to be one of the few carriers of Zircon hypersonic missiles, on which we have made a big bet. Everything, a bit rate.

    A primitive attempt to manipulate. Zircon is launched from UKKS of the same frigate 22350, and generally from any ship that has UKKS, including RTOs, corvettes of projects 20380,20385. Also Zircon will be able to launch projects 885M from submarines and upgraded Anteev
    949AM. Well and 1144 Admiral Nakhimov after modernization. In addition, there is the Dagger and its carrier Mig-31K, X-32 and its carrier Tu-22M3.
  8. +1
    14 May 2020 21: 47
    Here in the arsenal of which ships will Zircon stand.

    The deputy minister said that the Zircon will enter the troops approximately at the turn of 2020 and 2021, and specified where exactly the new cruise missiles will be deployed:

    Zircon is intended for arming nuclear submarines of projects 885, 885M, 949AM, surface ships of projects 22350, 23560, as well as re-equipment of the cruiser 1144.2 Admiral Nakhimov.

    The first tests of the latest hypersonic weapons were successfully completed in December last year. Shooting was carried out from the Admiral Gorshkov surface ship. In 2020, other frigates of project 22350, as well as nuclear submarines, will take part in the tests of Zircon.

    https://topwar.ru/171019-nazvany-sroki-prinjatija-cirkona-na-vooruzhenie.html