Russland amfibiske evne mot 2020 - kapasiteter og operasjonskonsept

The purpose of this report is to give an overview of the amphibious assets of the Russian Navy, including the naval infantry and the amphibious warfare ships, and to discuss how Russia’s ability to conduct amphibious landing operations may evolve in the period up to 2020. Special attention is devoted to the implications of ongoing acquisitions, particularly the Mistral class amphibious assault ships, and trends in Russia’s conceptual thinking on the topic of amphibious operations. Today, the Russian Navy’s four fleets – the Northern, the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Pacific – operate around 20 large landing ships of the classes Ropucha and Alligator, in addition to a similar number of small landing craft, which are also found in the Caspian Flotilla. The Baltic Fleet also operates two air-cushioned landing craft of the Pomornik class. The Russian naval infantry, including the units based on the Kola Peninsula, regularly conduct landing exercises in their respective fleet areas. Judging from the way in which exercises are conducted, Russia still wants to have the ability to carry out amphibious landings against hostile, defended shores. A factor of potential significance to Russia’s future amphibious capability is the ongoing acquisition of two, and possibly more, helicopter-carrying amphibious assault ships of the Mistral class, built in France. These are expected to be delivered in 2014–2015 and will most likely be based on the Russian Pacific coast. The new vessels of the Mistral class may eventually make it possible for Russia to conduct not only beach landings, but also “over the horizon” operations. At the same time, there are many indications that Russia’s conceptual thinking and approach to the topic of amphibious operations has undergone few changes in the time that has passed since the end of the Cold War. The country’s current efforts to revitalize its amphibious capability should not be a major source of concern for Russia’s neighbors in Northern Europe.