The Kazan nuclear submarine and the Gorshkov frigate: the Russian weapons anchored in Cuba that have set off alarms in the United States

The Kazan nuclear submarine and the Gorshkov frigate: the Russian weapons anchored in Cuba that have set off alarms in the United States

The Russians are already in Cuba. Three ships and a nuclear submarine of the Russian Navy have arrived this week to the port of Havana as introduced. The Cuban authorities solely spoke that the “go to corresponds to the historic pleasant relations” between each international locations, however the Russian naval detachment has traveled to the Caribbean to take part in maneuvers and will stay there till June 17.

As defined by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan They carried out an train that had as its goal a missile assault in opposition to a bunch of enemy ships. The ships have simulated by pc an offensive in opposition to maritime targets situated greater than 600 kilometers away.


The Russian ship Admiral Gorshkov.

The United States considers that the Russian naval presence in the Caribbean is Putin’s response for having given permission to Ukraine to make use of Western weapons in opposition to targets inside Russian territory. Since they set sail on May 17 from the Northern Fleet naval base in Severomorsk, the ships have been monitored by NATO forces.

In addition to the Gorshkov and the Kazan submarine, the fleet oil tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker have sailed to Caribbean lands. They carry Zircon nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missileshowever the Cuban Government assures that “none of the ships carry nuclear weapons, so their stopover in our nation doesn’t symbolize a menace to the area.”

Nuclear submarine

The Ok-561 Kazan is a Yasen-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine of the Russian Navy. It is the second ship of the venture; The first was launched in 1993 and this one, the one that now arrived in Cuba, in 2017. The submersible is known as after the metropolis of Kazan and is at the moment He is deployed with the Russian Northern Fleet.

It shouldn’t be the largest submarine in the Russian arsenal, however It worries the US and NATO as a consequence of its stealth and assault capability. The Yasen class are silent ships, troublesome to trace, closely armed and able to attacking land and sea targets with little or no discover.

Image of a Russian nuclear submarine.
Russian nuclear submarine.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Their traits fundamentals are:

  • Length: 120 meters
  • Beam: 13 m
  • Draft: 94 m
  • Displacement: 8,600 tons
  • Crew: 64
  • Armament: vertical missile launchers suitable with Kalibr and Oniks anti-surface cruise missiles and 10 533mm torpedo tubes

The Kazan’s first crew was shaped in March 2016 as a result of the submarine was to be commissioned in 2017. But there have been delays. Finally, Ok-561 didn’t depart the development corridor till March 2017.


The arrival of Russian navy ships to Cuba has unleashed a new episode of tension between Washington and Moscow.

Once launched into the water, it started sea trials on September 24, 2018. Plans have been for it to hitch the Russian Navy in 2019, however the forecast failed once more as a consequence of technical issues with its management programs. He Kazan’s deployment was delayed till late 2020.

The assessments, which included firing of 3M-54 Kalibr and P-800 Oniks cruise missiles, have been accomplished in December of that 12 months. With its commissioning date, what there was was an advance. The deliberate one was July 2021, but it surely was really put into service on May 7 of that 12 months.

Admiral Gorshkov Frigate

The Russian ship Admiral Gorshkov.
Admiral Gorshkov.
Albert Estapé Vila | AP

The Admiral Gorshkov Class is the Russian Navy’s newest effort to rebuild massive ships able to working in distant sea and ocean areas. These frigates are named in honor of Admiral Sergei Gorshkov.


Illustration about the Cuban missile crisis

Construction started in 2006. The preliminary venture was to construct twelve models. In 2017, the deputy commander of armaments of the Russian Navy, Vice Admiral Viktor Bursuk, said that they wanted at least 15 frigates of this sort. However, at the second solely Four have been constructed and solely three are energetic. There are 4 different frigates in the means of being made in the shipyards.

Their traits are:

  • Length: 135 meters
  • Beam: 16.4 m​
  • Draft: 4.5 m​
  • Displacement: 4,550 tons (5,200 absolutely loaded)
  • Speed: 29.5 knots
  • Autonomy: 4,500 nautical miles at 14 knots (30 days)
  • Crew: 179
  • Armament: P-800 Oniks and 35M4-1 Kalibr cruise missiles, 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missiles and a Ka-27 helicopter

The first Admiral Class frigate left the launch dock in October 2010. The ship was solely 40% full and then started to be geared up. The first frigate of the class was not in service till July 2018, Admiral Gorshkov (which is now in Cuban waters).

The Admiral Kasatonov was launched in December 2014 and entered service in July 2020. A 3rd, the Admiral Golovko It was launched in 2020 and started sea trials in November 2022. Its commissioning was latest: December 2023.

The frigate Admiral Isakov was to have been delivered at the finish of 2022. The Admiral Amelko, Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Yumashev and Admiral Spiridonov are below development.

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