Russian Navy relies on drone carriers

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Suddenly. As reported a few days ago TASS With reference to its sources in the military-industrial complex, our navy may acquire a kind of "newest multipurpose platform" equipped with drones of light and middle classes. There is no specifics, however, according to fragmentary data, an image of something is emerging that strongly resembles the future Turkish "drone carrier". Apparently, the Kremlin was seriously concerned about the strengthening of the Turkish Navy and decided to give its "answer to Erdogan."

The fact that unmanned aviation is a very promising direction does not cause the slightest doubt. Yes, UAVs are seriously inferior in performance characteristics to manned fighters, attack aircraft and bombers, however, they are cheaper in production and subsequent maintenance, their loss can be quickly replenished, unlike the death of a professional pilot, they can perform a very wide range of tasks - from reconnaissance and issuing data for target designation missiles and aviation to direct strike functions.



This is especially important in the navy. Today, 11 US Navy AUGs undividedly own the World Ocean, and soon it will become 12. Contrary to the common and unjustified philistine notion, the carrier strike group with its carrier-based fighters and attack aircraft, AWACS aircraft for reconnaissance and targeting missiles of destroyers and URO cruisers, as well as multipurpose The submarine from the escort order is a terrible force that can sweep away everything in its path. Many countries, including Japan, Great Britain, China, South Korea, France and Turkey, are striving to possess aircraft carriers and the undoubted advantages that they give their naval forces.

And here it becomes noticeable that the further development of the aircraft carrier fleets went in two directions. For the United States and its allies, which have full-fledged carrier-based aircraft, drones are just an additional bonus that expands the capabilities of carrier-based aircraft. The Pentagon does not need separate "drone carriers" as such. The situation is different for countries that are at odds with Uncle Sam.

So, left without American F-35B fighters, Ankara was forced to revise the concept of its first universal amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu (L-400). The Turkish UDC will be equipped with the Bayraktar TB3 mid-range strike drones, as well as the heavier new generation jet UAVs called MIUS. Ukraine will help Ankara in their production with the supply of aircraft engines, which we will discuss in detail told previously. This is a forced measure, but it is Turkey that will become the first country in the world to have a "drone carrier". Apparently, the promising Turkish aircraft carrier will also be equipped with unmanned carrier-based aircraft. Yes, it will be far from the F-35B, it is difficult to imagine an air battle with an enemy fighter, however, UAVs can be used for reconnaissance and patrolling, launching missile strikes against sea and ground targets, as well as for anti-submarine warfare.

As the saying goes, a drone carrier is better than no aircraft carrier. Apparently, the same reasoned in our military department. According to TASS, work has already begun in this direction:

We are currently designing a multipurpose platform for the Navy, which will carry on board a significant number of tactical drones and unmanned vehicles with reconnaissance capabilities ... Ship-based unmanned and autonomous systems will ensure their tactical use in the coastal zone and in the open sea.

Sounds good, but how can it all look in our reality, when shipyards are overloaded with orders, and ships are being built and repaired for almost decades? What kind of "multipurpose platform" could it be?

The most logical solution seems to be the transformation into "drone carriers" by analogy with the Turkish TCG Anadolu (L-400) of two Russian UDCs of project 23900, which are currently being built at the Zaliv plant in Kerch. Ships may actually appear by the end of the decade. The Mitrofan Moskalenko will become the new flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, and the Ivan Rogov will go to the Pacific Fleet, where, possibly, it will also become the flagship when the aging cruiser Varyag is fully modernized.

This is a simple and understandable way of obtaining two "drone carriers" for the Russian Navy at once. By the time both UDCs are launched, an appropriate fleet of reconnaissance and strike drones of light and medium classes should have been created, which was mentioned in TASS. However, curious details flashed in the message.

In particular, information was sounded that this "multipurpose offshore platform" will be equipped with a catapult for launching a UAV, as well as an aerofinisher. In truth, these are not attributes of a universal amphibious assault ship, but of a real aircraft carrier. For horizontal take-off and landing of a mid-range drone, which is essentially a small plane, you will still need a sufficiently long take-off deck. You need a place for a catapult and aerofinishers. In addition, it must be borne in mind that there is always a pitching at sea, which complicates the process of operating aircraft, whether manned or unmanned. So far, it has only been possible to effectively compensate for this negative factor by increasing the size of the ship. No wonder the American "Nimitz" with a displacement of under 100 thousand tons.

What do we have in the bottom line? In reality, the Russian Navy can get two "drone carriers" by the end of the decade only by re-equipping both UDCs of project 23900. What the TASS source in the shipbuilding industry hinted at is very much like an aircraft carrier, which we, as you know, "do not need for nothing." Is the RF Ministry of Defense finally ripe for an appropriate decision? But then it is not clear why build a new ship in the size of an aircraft carrier exclusively for UAVs, although we, unlike the Turks, have our own carrier-based fighters? What is this, some kind of echoes of a hidden hardware struggle for the future of the "forbidden" aircraft carrier? But then where will this "multipurpose platform" be built, if there seems to be no free production capacity for ships of this class?

In general, there are too many questions to be answered.
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  1. -3
    16 December 2021 13: 39
    our navy may acquire some kind of "newest multipurpose platform"

    What indicates that the Navy is betting on something. Have you started mass production of such platforms? In the word "maybe"?

    Apparently, the Kremlin was seriously concerned about the strengthening of the Turkish Navy and decided to give its "answer to Erdogan."

    And how was such concern materially expressed?

    By the time both UDCs were launched, an appropriate fleet of reconnaissance and strike drones of light and medium classes should have already been created, which was mentioned in TASS

    For 10 years, it is unlikely that it will be possible to create a connection of new drones. Orlan-10 for the naval did not enter. Small for sea meteorological conditions, a weak motor. This means that we need a heavy-type UAV. heavy type must be ready to carry out full-fledged factory and state tests. Otherwise, the implementation of the idea will drag on for many years, and will become unmanageable for the treasury.
    1. -3
      16 December 2021 13: 55
      What indicates that the Navy is betting on something. Have you started mass production of such platforms? In the word "maybe"?

      - Yes, there is time to scatter drones; but there is time to collect drones ...
      - But, here's the trouble:
      - It's time for Russia to collect drones - it's time to "collect drones" - and it (Russia) - it turns out - so they (drones) and "did not scatter" ... - So - and ... and ... and collect it turns out - there is nothing ... - Alas ...
      - My plus ...
      1. -2
        16 December 2021 14: 03
        It will be especially difficult to create UAVs analogous to the American Triton. And UAVs of marine design will require materials and an engine that are resistant to sea air and high humidity. A compact radar with AFAR, satellite communications, and an economical reliable engine will be required.
        1. -2
          16 December 2021 14: 16
          You will need a compact radar with AFAR, satellite communications, and an economical reliable engine.

          - What for ...
          - Here ... here ... here .., someone "isofat (isofat)" - a cool "video example" in a "similar topic" led ... - To this "example" - another couple of cartoons (anime) add - and all problems will be "solved" ... - by themselves ...
          - My plus ...
      2. +1
        16 December 2021 16: 03
        It looks like a kind of "Field of Miracles" with the participation of the military-industrial complex, let's see who gets the winnings.
        And about "collect", the application has already been received. It turns out that the Ukrainians have squeezed some "Soviet assets". Maybe the rest of the former should be asked to bring unaccounted for and not surrendered assets to the next "field of miracles", there will be something to play and something to talk about. Thirty years later, the timing was ripe and overripe. Previously, there was no time for everything, start-up capital was stolen and divided.
  2. 1_2
    0
    16 December 2021 13: 57
    KA-52 will be based on the UDC, they can be turned into a UAV, it is capable of carrying two anti-aircraft missiles x-35, the missile range is 250 km, the radius of ka52 is 250 km, a total of 500 km is the radius of damage with cheap x-35, and expensive Onyx zircons can be placed on the UDC. range 600-800 km
    1. -3
      16 December 2021 14: 06
      Helicopters on the UDC can be used routinely, on a massive scale, only if there is an aircraft carrier in the squadron. Helicopters are easy prey for shooting, for MANPADS, for enemy aircraft. One ship's air defense is not enough for the successful use of helicopters.
      1. +1
        16 December 2021 14: 49
        And we are told that aircraft carriers are unnecessary crap smile
        1. -3
          16 December 2021 15: 04
          You can talk about different things. There is an imbalance in the Russian naval construction. It looks more like a hasty emergency plugging of holes, walking
          in the tail of events. In such a situation it is difficult to talk about the strategy of the development of the fleet. The aircraft carrier is an element of such a strategy, as well as reconnaissance, strike aircraft, SSBNs.
          1. 1_2
            0
            16 December 2021 16: 13
            the aircraft carrier is easily drowned by Ross diesel-electric submarines nuclear submarines. Amer aircraft carriers have been conventionally drowned a hundred times, even Swedish and German submarines
            1. -4
              16 December 2021 16: 39
              Conventionally, communism was built several times. And 25 million high-tech jobs, and Portugal overtook in terms of living standards, and won all in Karabakh, in the former SAR.
            2. 0
              16 December 2021 19: 26
              This is ridiculous. You just played computer games.
      2. 1_2
        -3
        16 December 2021 15: 42
        why an aircraft carrier? helicopters will launch PKR missiles with a range of 250 km at ships, drown US destroyers in one salvo
        1. 0
          16 December 2021 19: 27
          Here is an example of blatant incompetence and inadequacy of judgment. laughing
          1. 1_2
            +1
            17 December 2021 00: 21
            an expert from you as an Orthodox gunnerminer, I wrote to both of you that the air troughs are easily destroyed by submarines, only submarines can stealthily approach the AUG from satellites, of course they will not use UDC against AUG, nevertheless, UDC helicopters are capable of sinking Russian destroyers with X-35 missiles not having air cover in the oceans and seas. when it comes to airborne landing, the UDC, having on board Calibers from tiao (or on board accompanying frigates of corvettes) is capable of destroying airfields within a radius of 2500 km
  3. 0
    16 December 2021 15: 09
    Quote: gunnerminer
    An aircraft carrier is an element of such a strategy, as is reconnaissance, strike aircraft, and SSBNs.

    Yes, I know that.
    1. -4
      16 December 2021 15: 28
      The overwhelming majority of respected visitors to the resource do not know. Unfortunately.
      1. 0
        16 December 2021 15: 31
        I have devoted a whole series of articles to this issue for some time. So, they know, but some continue to deny the obvious, preferring to stay in a world of illusions, where we all the US Navy AUG are easily drowned with "Zircons" while drinking beer. request
        1. -4
          16 December 2021 16: 34
          Zircon is just ammunition. To effectively defeat a designated target, you need to provide and fulfill a whole list of conditions that dear readers do not even suspect. Not through their fault.
  4. 0
    16 December 2021 17: 46
    Maybe he can't, Anonymous from Tass said something ...

    IMHO, they just repeat after the evil foreigners. The Indians recently announced - and ours need to be told ...

    lately so often ...
    1. 0
      16 December 2021 19: 26
      And what kind of structure is TASS?
      1. 0
        17 December 2021 00: 13
        Provocative question.
        does not decide anything and is not responsible for anything.

        For example, in Tass: https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1325017
  5. -1
    16 December 2021 17: 52
    List of countries by military spending in 2020 according to the SIPRI Fact Sheet [1]
    Place
    in 2020 Place
    in 2019 Country Spending,
    bn $ Change to
    previous year (%) Change over
    2011 ÷ 2020 (%) Share of GDP
    countries (%) Share of expenditures
    in the world (%)
    1 1 USA 778,0 4,4 -10 3,7 39,0
    2 2 China 252,0 1,9 76 1,7 13,0
    3 3 India India 72,9 2,1 34 2,9 3,7
    4 4 Russia 61,7 2,5 26 4,3 3,1
    5 6 UK 59,2 2,9 -4,2 2,2 3,0
    Russia plans to allocate 2021 trillion rubles for national defense in 3,1, 2022 trillion rubles in 3,2, and 2023 trillion rubles in 3,1. This is stated in the explanatory note to the draft budget for this period. Excerpts from the document are cited by TASS.

    You know, you can, of course, dream and fantasize. But with such a military budget, don't you think that it will be enough only for the salaries of the Serdyukovs and Shoigu? And who will build and manage these UAVs is the salary due? I already wrote that 2021 thousand specialists left Russia in 50. For us to build something advanced, we need advanced and educated cadres, not relatives!
    1. 0
      6 January 2022 02: 54
      You know, you can, of course, dream and fantasize. But with such a military budget, don't you think that it will be enough only for the salaries of the Serdyukovs and Shoigu? And who will build and manage these UAVs is the salary due? I already wrote that 2021 thousand specialists left Russia in 50. For us to build something advanced, we need advanced and educated cadres, not relatives!

      Consider the main thing better
  6. 0
    6 January 2022 02: 51
    Quietly and unnoticed, the UAV fleet in Russia has become the second largest after the United States. This greatly increases the capabilities of weapon systems. For example, the Forpost drones in service with the RF Armed Forces have seriously expanded the capabilities of the Bastion and Bal coastal missile systems.