MOSCOW. April 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Navy should be fielded with at least 300 ships of various types, in order to provide Russia with maritime defense, including coastal patrols and patrols of maritime fishing areas in the national economic zone, Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Kuroyedov, told Interfax- Military News Agency on Friday.
"In order to discharge its tasks, including maritime border protection, the Navy would be well-off with a combination of corvettes with a displacement of 1,400-1,800 tonnes and frigates, with their number being enough to provide at least one vessel for every 100km. Thus, given the emerging political and economic environment, the strength of the Russian Navy could total about 280-300 ships of major types," Kuroyedov said.
He noted that at the same time the overall number of ships would amount to about 30% of the strength of the Soviet Navy of 1991. "However, I believe that under the circumstances Russia will still preserve the status of one of the world's leading naval powers," he said.
He also said that the Russian Navy Command had developed major concepts, defining the short- and the long-term composition of the Navy. "I believe, that we have managed to solve this most difficult problem," Kuroyedov said.
"The proposals worked out are based on a shift from the concept of building a navy, capable of countering a specific considerably more economically developed enemy, to the concept of establishing a navy, the state can afford," he emphasized.
"The strength of the Russian Navy being established will be considerably inferior to that of the Soviet Navy, but the new navy will employ high tech systems, and have a more sophisticated infrastructure. It will also shift its focus from beefing up power to employing information-related C2 and target designation systems, aimed at increasing the hit probability of its weapon systems," Kuroyedov said.
He noted that the Russian Navy Command had also managed to scrap a number of ill-though-out decisions, adopted by the Russian authorities since January 1992, which had envisioned reducing the Navy and its combat strength. "These decisions resulted in an intensive reduction of the Russian Navy, which might have shrunk down to 130-140 ships, if efficient steps had not been taken," he underlined.
"In order not to allow such a catastrophic reduction of the Navy, we have developed major concepts, defining the short- and the long-term composition of the Russian Navy. On the whole the Command has managed to solve this most complicated problem," Kuroyedov said.