What is the total missile salvo Russia is capable of producing in the Black Sea region
Against the backdrop of the aggravation of relations between NATO and Moscow, as well as the ongoing threats from the West against Russia, it became interesting to find out what conditional total missile salvo is capable of firing at ground targets by certain units of the RF Armed Forces gathered in the Black Sea region. This is especially relevant in the light of the major exercises of the Russian Navy scheduled for February 13-19 in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.
In the first minutes of a modern war, the main striking force will not be tanks, but missiles, which will destroy enemy command posts, communications centers, air defense systems, warehouses, airfields, bases and critical infrastructure of the enemy. Naturally, for obvious reasons, we do not take into account strategic nuclear forces, tactical nuclear weapons, as well as air defense systems and aviation ammunition, which cannot even be approximately calculated. This study is purely theoretical and does not pose any threat to Russia's neighboring countries.
The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is armed with 6 Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarines, each of which has 4 torpedo tubes for launching Caliber missiles. Moreover, each diesel-electric submarine carries 6 "Caliber", i.e. after the launch of the first four missiles, the TA is reloaded and two more ammunition is sent in pursuit. In total - 36 Caliber missiles, but we will take into account only 24.
Each of the three Project 11356R Black Sea Fleet frigates is equipped with 8 launchers, each of which can contain one Kalibr missile. In total - 24 missiles. Four small missile ships of the Black Sea Fleet of project 21631 "Buyan-M" each have 8 launchers - a total of 32 missiles. In addition, 3 small missile ships of a similar class and 1 MRK project 11661K "Gepard" of the Caspian flotilla also have 8 launchers each - this is a total of 32 missiles. Moreover, the frigate "Admiral Fleet Kasatonov" of project 22350 of the Northern Fleet, which is due to enter the Black Sea on February 15, has 16 launchers, one missile each.
In total, the marine surface and underwater components have the ability to launch 128 missiles of the Caliber family. We do not take into account submarines, including nuclear submarines, missile cruisers and other ships that will be on duty in the Mediterranean or Caspian Seas for the period of the exercises mentioned.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation also have 13 brigades (12 launchers) and 1 division (4 launchers) with two versions of the Iskander OTRK. Iskander-M - with two 9M723 quasi-ballistic missiles and Iskander-K - with two R-500 cruise missiles. Probably, 11 brigades and 1 division are now concentrated in the European part of the Russian Federation. This is a total of 272 missiles, if we talk about one salvo, i.e. without reloading.
The RF Armed Forces also have the Bastion DBK. Recently in Crimea it was transferred an additional number of these coastal missile systems. The Black Sea Fleet has 3 brigades with the Bastion DBK. In the brigade, 12 launchers for 2 missiles. This is a total of 72 missiles. There are also DBK "Bal", they, like the DBK "Bastion", can strike not only at sea, but also at ground targets. In the region there are 2 brigades with DBK "Bal". The brigade has 4 launchers for 8 missiles each. In total, these are 64 missiles.
Thus, in the Black Sea region, Russia can fire a volley of 536 missiles at a time against ground targets. And this is not counting reloading, and only from the noted means of destruction.
- Photos used: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation