30.11.2009
Source:
Weakening of naval capability poses a real threat to Russia's national security, said to RIA Novosti Admiral Popov, head of the Federation Council's board on national maritime policy and former North Fleet Commander.
The presentation of expert and analytic review "Russian Security-2010" was held in Moscow some time before. There was Popov's article "Navy and national security of Russia" published there.
"In 90-ies some events happened which fundamentally changed social and economic situation in Russia and the world's geopolitical forces posture in whole. That dreadfully reflected on naval capabilities of our country, inchoated an array of negative trends and created real threat to Russia's national security", said Mr. Popov.
According to him, the following things constitute real danger to Russian Navy today: intensification of international pressing on Russia with a view to push out its active maritime activities, limitation of Russia's access to resources of World ocean, permanent deployment of US and NATO ship formations in the regions suitable for effective launches ballistic and cruise missiles against Russian territory.
"Considering length of our sea borders, square of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Russian Navy faces an immense in its significance mission on protection of Russia's national interests at sea", the admiral said.
Nowadays the Navy practically has no new combat ships of main classes, underlined Popov. Arms and weapons, control systems, maintenance and logistic support systems have become obsolete. According to the experts, Russia's sea power yields two times to Sweden and Finland at the Baltic, three-four times to Germany, two times to Turkey at Black Sea, five-six times to French and British Navies and twenty-thirty times to the US Navy.
"In the Far East we have three times less surface ships than Japan does", added the admiral.
