In its report submitted in June 2018, the British Defense Committee estimated that the resurgence of the Russian submarine threatwould require the rapid increase in the number of anti-submarine frigates and maritime patrol aircraft implemented by the Royal Navy, estimating that it would be necessary to have at least 5 additional specialized Type31 ASW frigates, and 'at least 6 additional P8 planes.
This observation is today shared by Admiral James Foggo, commander of NATO naval forces. According to him, the Russian submarine fleet has significantly increased its volume, with 12 attack submarines entering service since 2014, as well as in quality, with the new Iassen nuclear attack submarines and conventional submarines. Lada and Improved Kilo. In addition, Russian crews have gained in quality and toughness, to the point of being today capable of thwarting the defensive devices implemented by NATO.
Thus, during Western strikes against Syrian chemical installations, two Russian conventional 636.3 (Improved Kilo) submarines allegedly prevented a British Astute-class submarine from participating in the strikes and firing its Tomahawk missiles. Likewise, the Russian authorities “leaked” in 2017 a series of photos of US buildings attributed to an OSCAR-type submarine which, obviously, managed to get too close to US strategic units. Navy.
The American decision to urgently launch the FFG / Russian submarine.
Indeed, the US Navy had not anticipated the return of a significant potential submarine threat, and had concentrated its efforts towards a fleet with significant projection, anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile firepower, with the Alreigh Burke and Zumwalt destroyer programs, and low-intensity operations, with the Littoral Combat Ship concept. The intermediate segment, until then composed of OH Perry and Knox frigates, was abandoned, the US Navy believing that its attack submarines and maritime patrol aviation would be sufficient to deal with all threats of this type.
However, today, between the efforts led by Russia to reconstitute a leading submarine force, and those led by China to catch up with its technological delay in this area, the threat is indeed back, and exceeds the capabilities of the US Navy.
The return of conventional submarines to the Russian arsenal should also be noted. Although these submarines had never disappeared as was the case in the American, British and French navies, replaced by nuclear submarines, today they represent the majority of new submarines entering service in the Russian Navy. And this is not a simple economic calculation.
Indeed, these small submarines are known to be very discreet, especially at low speed, much more advantageous than a nuclear submarine, making them difficult to detect by maritime patrol aviation, especially when they operate at medium altitude like the P8, not allowing the use of the magnetic anomaly detector.
In addition, these Lada and Improved Kilo submarines now have the capacity to fire Kalibr cruise missiles, allowing them to strike targets more than 1500 km away, significantly extending their range of action, while at the same time the batteries of these submersibles have also made significant progress, increasing their diving autonomy.
By exploiting NATO's weaknesses in ASW such as its dependence on air power with its access denial devices, and by taking a marked advantage in terms of armored force, the Russian General Staff does not apply Are there no asymmetrical warfare doctrines in place of conventional warfare?