By 2020, Ukraine plans to double Military-naval forces (naval forces of Ukraine). Such statements in the past year it was possible to hear from the government and from senior military officials. Three-quarters of the fleet, the state lost in 2014 as a result of Russia’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula with the Ukrainian Navy bases and ships, boats and auxiliary vessels. That is, doubling the current composition of the fleet (and it now has about 40 combat and support units) will mean the output is only half the numerical strength of naval forces of Ukraine on the eve of Russian aggression.
Of course, ships, boats and vessels which will become part of the Ukrainian fleet will be new, modern, efficient, whereas half of the available units in need of repair. But still, and in 2020 the Ukrainian Navy will remain one of the weakest on the Black sea, which in certain circumstances may turn into a theater of operations. Because almost all recharge will be a combat boat. In particular, according to the commander of naval forces of Ukraine Vice-Admiral Igor Voronchenko, this year the fleet should be four armored type “Gyurza-M”, two assault boats of the type “centaur” and one ship of special purpose.
In addition to boats, the naval forces of Ukraine planned to introduce multi-purpose Corvette “Vladimir the Great”, which is based in Nikolaev. But, according to the chief of the General staff of the armed forces General of the army Viktor Muzhenko, Ukraine does not produce weapons systems for ships of this class. New Corvette for the Ukrainian Navy could be built in 3-4 years, said Muzhenko, however, it is necessary either to speedily develop and start producing the right weapons, or somewhere to buy it. Meantime, produce only combat units for boats, capable of providing artillery fire, firing rockets and protection from air attacks.
Though it is strange: according to the information that in the early 2000s I received from competent persons, had already developed a unique missile system, ground based and shipborne, from which the Black sea was virtually no protection and that it was possible with one salvo to destroy or incapacitate even a missile cruiser or light aircraft carrier. But then this development, like others, was not required to Kuchma’s regime, and now, apparently, the designers of this project have long been retired…
So, we have a third over the last hundred years, the attempt of the Ukrainian state to build a Navy (the previous subjects devoted to the article “the Ukrainian Navy is the sea: the first attempt” and “the Ukrainian Navy is the sea: second attempt”).
Today the naval forces of Ukraine frigate “Hetman Sahaidachny” (flagship), the Corvette “Vinnitsa”, missile boat “Pryluky”, six artillery boats, command ship “Donbass”, small prospecting ship “Pereyaslav”, medium landing ship “Yury Olefirenko” and about 30 ships and boats of the software. Also include the Ukrainian Navy brigade and several separate battalions of Marines and other ground parts.
It is necessary to compare the Ukrainian Navy with the fleets of other black sea States. The numerous figures describing the composition of certain fleets, may seem too heavy to understand, however, is the case when without numbers is impossible — they often speak for themselves.
So: neighbouring Romania had 4 frigates (including 2 British ones), 4 corvettes, 6 missile boats, 5 of mined ships, 1 mothballed submarine, a helicopter group (including 3 of the deck of the helicopter IAR 330 “Puma”), a marine battalion, a group of underwater saboteurs, 2 division of river ships on the Danube (including the division artillery ships-monitors). In General, the current Romanian fleet consisted of 16 warships, 20 assault boats, 16 auxiliary ships. The reserve was 60 ships and boats. The plans of Romania to purchase for the Navy of 4 multi-purpose missile corvettes, 4 minesweepers and a support vessel.
Bulgaria had 4 frigates, 2 corvettes, 3 missile boats, about 20 combat support ships (minesweepers, landing ships, mine layers, torpedo and artillery boats). Also, the Navy of Bulgaria have a squadron of ASW helicopters Mi-14.
Much more powerful is the fleet of Turkey. Now in its roster there are 13 submarines, 18 frigates, 8 corvettes, 15 aircraft and 33 helicopters. The total number of warships, ships of auxiliary fleet and boats is about 300 units. In this case, the Turkish authorities have committed to doubling the Navy in the next 10-15 years and on their qualitative re-equipment. 100% new ships will be built at Turkish naval factories, partly in German, partly for their own projects.
Already built and put into the fleet 2 newest Corvette type “Hell”, 2 being built at the Istanbul naval shipyard, 4 more ordered to private companies, the completion date of the series 2024.
Last year’s German project ‒ the first submarine series of 6 similar boats. This boat, named “Pirireis”, should enter the fleet in 2020.
Construction is scheduled from 4 to 8 frigates with powerful weapons of the type TF-4 2000 and several smaller frigates of TF-100.
In Istanbul rapidly completed 2 new large tank landing ships of the “Bayraktar”, which should be included in the fleet for 2017.
Last year President Erdogan of Turkey took part in solemn launching of construction in Tuzla near Istanbul UDC (amphibious assault ship) “Anadolu”. The project is developed by Turkish experts together with the Spanish company “Navantia” on the basis of the UDC, “Juan Carlos I”. This ship will carry air group of 6 decked fighter-bombers F-35B, 6 percussion and 8 transport helicopters, along with the 4 to 6 assault boats, a few boats control and up to 20 amphibious armored vehicles. In addition, Erdogan announced Turkey’s intention to build an aircraft carrier, which will be based in the Mediterranean sea.
Experts note that in case of execution of the program of building a fleet around 2025, Turkey will enter the top ten States with the strongest fleets, and then, if you have enough resources to build a second UDC type “Anadolu” will be released on 8th place in the world.
Now the Russian black sea fleet. Since all Russian, according to the poet, “no common measure” (although “yards” is the Russian measure of length), the black sea fleet ships kept the Soviet classification. However, we will translate it in the global. So: in the Navy missile cruiser “Moscow” (flagship), 6 frigates (one completes the state tests), 12 corvettes (plus 1 launched), 7 submarines, 5 missile boats, 7 large amphibious ships, 5 landing craft, 4 medium reconnaissance ship, 5 anti-sabotage boats, 7 minesweepers and a few dozen ships and boats software. And in addition — the powerful forces of the marine corps, and several brigades and regiments of coastal defense, assault and reconnaissance and anti-submarine regiments. You should pay attention to the large amphibious capabilities of the black sea. By 2020 it is planned the inclusion of the black sea fleet of about 20 units and support vessels. In addition, Russia keeps captured in the Crimea Ukrainian ships: 5 corvettes, 2 minesweepers, a submarine, a ship, a large amphibious assault ship and 2 unfinished Corvette high degree of readiness in Feodosia.
To all this we add the quasi Abkhazia (in reality a Russian protectorate), which has, according to media reports, several military boats, including the missile, and patrol. And while it bears no legal responsibility for the actions of its fleet (which are, incidentally, almost exclusively persons with Russian passports — in fact most of the inhabitants of this territory have Russian citizenship). To cut to scrap its combat units to Abkhazia is not going to.
As for Georgia, after the 2008 war it was forced to disband its not too powerful Navy, and lost most of their composition — less than 5 combat boats and 2 small landing ships, donated by Bulgaria and referred to the border patrol.
And if the fleets of NATO’s aggressive actions can not be expected, on the part of Russia such actions were before the occupation of the Crimea. Remember the capture of sea infantry of the black sea fleet lighthouses not only in Crimea but also in Genichesk, and exit in 2008 from the Northern Bay of Sevastopol by the Russian squadron for the attack on the Georgian coast, despite the ban by Ukrainian authorities. And after the occupation of Crimea, the black sea fleet is active against Ukraine, in particular covering the illegal exploration by Russian companies of oil and gas deposits on the Ukrainian black sea shelf (for example, not so long ago Russian snipers fired at the Ukrainian Navy diving ship “Pochaiv”). Therefore, even doubled compared to the current fleet are unlikely to be able to protect the Ukrainian coast from a serious attack — max from landing reconnaissance and sabotage groups under the guise of multiple boats if the Black sea will begin again, “hybrid” war. So you need as quickly as possible to maximize impact of the aviation group and coastal defense systems to protect itself from possible attacks of the main forces of the black sea fleet of Russia.
In General, it should be clear: the third attempt to build a workable Ukrainian Navy is crucial, and success in this field depends on the fate of Ukraine as the black sea powers. Of course, optimal for achieving national security for Ukraine would be joining NATO. In fact, if Georgia and Ukraine were members of the Alliance, the aggression from the Russian side, even the “hybrid” would be unlikely. But to proceed follows from the current geopolitical realities, because of the need for mobilizing the Ukrainian economy for the needs of defense.
