Mediterranean style: Russian Navy ships demonstrated their capabilities

The intensification of hostilities in Syria has drawn attention to the combat capabilities of the permanent operational formation of Russian ships and submarines in the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, during exercises in this water area, the frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko for the first time fired hypersonic Zirkon missiles. What is included in the composition and what are the combat capabilities of the Russian Navy grouping in the Mediterranean Sea - in the material "Izvestia".

Russian Navy exercises in the Mediterranean Sea

The Navy and the Air and Space Forces have completed the exercises held in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, reported in the Russian Defense Ministry. They involved more than a thousand servicemen, 10 ships of various classes, 24 airplanes and helicopters.

The crew of the Ka-27 helicopter of the frigate "Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Gorshkov" practicing tactical methods of search and tracking of submarines

Photo: RIA Novosti/Russian Ministry of Defense

Such a grouping of troops can independently solve a wide range of tasks - from anti-submarine defense and anti-ship warfare to supporting landing operations or organizing strikes deep into the territory of a potential enemy. At the same time, the ships can issue target instructions to long-range aircraft that will operate from airfields located on Russian territory.

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During the exercise, the Russian military fired sea-based cruise missiles Onyx, Zirkon and Kalibr, hypersonic aeroballistic missile Kinzhal from the MiG-31I carrier aircraft, as well as supersonic cruise missile of the Bastion coastal missile system. All launches were successful. The basis of the Russian grouping in the Mediterranean Sea today consists of three ocean-class ships: these are two frigates of Project 22350 "Admiral Gorshkov" (the lead ship of the project series) and "Admiral Golovko", as well as a frigate of Project 11356 "Admiral Grigorovich" (the lead frigate of the project).

The frigate "Admiral Grigorovich"

Photo: Izvestia/Alexander Polegenko

The Russian connection of ships in the Mediterranean Sea is capable of affecting the whole of Europe in the event of a major conflict, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.

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- During the recent exercises, we demonstrated our capabilities to the potential enemy," the expert noted. - Military sailors still have tasks to counter terrorist groups in Syria. The ships' cruise missiles have repeatedly launched precision strikes against them. The presence of ships in the Mediterranean Sea has always been given special attention: geopoliticians called this region the soft underbelly of Europe, implying that from there it is possible to control large territories on the continent with missile forces. The USSR had a famous Mediterranean squadron operating there, which was succeeded by the current combination of ships.

First launch of Zircon from the frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko

For the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, the leaders of the Russian group of ships in this region - frigates Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko - performed firing of hypersonic Tsirkon missiles. One more point: for the first time, video footage of these launches was published, which makes it possible to get a more accurate picture of the Zircon missile's design and, accordingly, to assess its technical and combat capabilities. Many experts noted that the missile was shown in all its glory for a reason - it can be regarded as another signal to our potential adversaries. A more detailed picture gives a more accurate assessment of the missile's capabilities and increases the awareness of the complexity of its interception.

Launch of a Kalibr cruise missile from the Northern Fleet frigate Admiral Golovko

Photo: RIA Novosti/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

In fact, from the ship's launcher comes a missile with a slightly larger diameter than the Kalibras and Oniks we are already accustomed to, with a powerful solid propellant launch motor that looks more like a rocket's first stage. Aerodynamic surfaces are folded, and they are not particularly needed at the initial stage of flight. The task of the first stage is to maximize the acceleration of the rocket when it is put on a ballistic trajectory toward the target. The rocket goes up into the thinner layers of the atmosphere. Then the first launch stage is shot off, small wings are opened, and the main marshaling stage begins to work, which accelerates the rocket to hypersonic speeds of Mach 10.

In the final section of the flight "Zircon" descends into the dense atmosphere and can perform maneuvers both in search of a target and to evade the working air defense and missile defense systems of the enemy. The speed remains hypersonic, and a maneuvering missile with such flight parameters is unrealistic to shoot down. The hit of "Zircon" even in a large ship will almost certainly take it out of the battle: the ship, even if not sink, it will deal with its own survivability and will cease to participate in the sea battle. This is why such missiles are sometimes called anti aircraft carrier missiles. They can hit even the most protected modern ships - aircraft carriers.