Red Banner Northern Fleet - Composition
The Russian Northern Fleet underwent significant changes since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since the end of the Cold War the total number of ships in the Northern Fleet declined by 40%, with many ships placed in reserve status. As of 1996 the fleet provided home ports for thirty-seven nuclear submarines, twenty-two other submarines, forty-seven principal surface combatants, and ten coastal and smaller ships. The naval aviation contingent included a complement of twenty Su-39 fixed-wing aircraft and ten antisubmarine warfare helicopters on board the Admiral Kuznetsov , which heads the air defense of the Barents Sea. Shore-based naval aviation included 200 combat aircraft and sixty-four helicopters. The Northern Fleet has two naval infantry brigades, one coastal defense regiment, and an air defense missile regiment.
As of 2018 the NF included almost the entire naval component of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation - five strategic missile submarine cruisers (SSBNs) of project 667BDRM (another under repair), the only remaining heavy SSBN of project 941 (used to test new weapons), the main SSBN of project 955 A large part of the Russian multipurpose nuclear submarines (NPS) is deployed here: the lead and so far the only one in the Navy of project 885, three projects 949A, two projects 971 (four more under repair), two projects 945A (two more nuclear submarines of project 945 under repair, moreover almost n avernyak without a chance to return from it), one project 671RTMK (two more under repair, also with almost no chance of returning), six special forces submarines. There are also four diesel-electric submarines (DEPLs) of project 877 (another one under repair).
The Northern Fleet includes both of the largest surface ships of the Russian Navy. This is our only aircraft carrier of project 11435 Admiral Kuznetsov (now under repair) and the only nuclear missile cruiser of project 11442 Peter the Great. Another nuclear-powered cruiser of project 11442 (“Admiral Nakhimov”) is under repair with modernization, after which he may go to the Pacific Fleet. In addition, as part of the Federation Council there is a cruiser of project 1164 “Marshal Ustinov”. Other large surface ships of the Northern Fleet are one Project 1155 BOD (three more and one Project 11551 ship under repair) and one Project 956 destroyer.
Light forces include six small anti-submarine ships (MPC) of project 1124M (two of them are based on Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region) and two small missile ships (MPC) of project 12341.
Mine-sweeping forces include two marine minesweepers (one of projects 12660 and 266M), five base minesweepers of project 12650 (another one under repair), two raid minesweepers of project 1258 (both based in Severodvinsk).
The landing forces include three large amphibious ships (BDK) of Project 775 (another one under repair), one of Project 11711 (Ivan Gren, then the newest SF ship) and four Project 1176 landing craft.
The Admiral Kuznetsov’s naval air group includes the 279th (14 Su-33K fighter aircraft, 5 Su-25UTG combat training aircraft) and the 100th (19 MiG-29KR fighter and 4 MiG-29KUBR fighter aircraft) regiments. Also, a coast-based squadron equipped with Su-30SM fighter-bomber is being formed as part of the 279th air regiment (now there are two aircraft of this type). The Navy coastal aviation also includes the 2nd air group (Kipelovo airfield in the Vologda region, 17 Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft), the 3rd air group (Ostafyevo airfield in the Moscow region, 17 transport aircraft), the 403rd mixed air regiment (Severomorsk, about 20 anti-submarine, special and transport aircraft, up to 40 anti-submarine and multi-purpose helicopters).
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