Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet to get first new warships since 1991

Iran Press TV

Fri Jul 19, 2013 8:47AM GMT

The Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet is due to receive new warships in 2014, reportedly for the first time since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, commanders say.

"Rather large-scale deliveries of new equipment, new warships to the Pacific Fleet will start in 2014," said Rear Admiral Sergei Avakyants in a Thursday interview with Rossiya 24 television network, as cited in a RIA novosti report.

According to Admiral Avakyants, the last time the Russian naval fleet received a new warship dates back to 1991.

The Russian military is further cited as stating that at least one of the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers being built for the Russian navy in France will be deployed with its Pacific Fleet.

The development has reportedly provoked concerns in Japan. The two countries have territorial disputes over Kuril Islands in the North Pacific Ocean.

Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry has further announced that one of its first Borey-class ballistic missile submarines will be commissioned into service with the Pacific Fleet following the much anticipated deployment by the end of 2013, the report adds.

Additionally, the report adds, the Russian military is also building several Steregushchy-class corvette warships for the Pacific Fleet at its Amur shipyard in Russia's Far East with the estimated delivery date of 2014-2015.

Russia's Pacific Fleet currently includes the Varyag missile cruiser, four Udaloy-class destroyers, a Sovremenny-class destroyer and dozens of submarines, including five Delta III-class ballistic missile submarines.

The new additions to the Russian naval fleet comes following plans announced by the US military to drastically increase its naval presence in the Asia Pacific region.

This is while China is also reasserting itself as a major military power, concerned about growing US presence in the region amid its continuing conflict with US-backed Taiwan as well as territorial disputes with Japan, another US ally.

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