17.03.2011
"The Russian Navy is moving again", said US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead answering the question about his assessment of former cold war opponent during Senate Appropriations Committee's session, reports Navy Times.
"The Russian Navy still has great ambition, still has great pride", added Roughead.
As for the admiral, breakup of the Soviet Union significantly weakened the Navy; most shipbuilding programs were frozen or dragged out.
"That has stopped in recent years", said Roughead. As for him, improvement of Russian economy leads to growing capabilities, including shipbuilding ones.
Russia's coming acquirement of French-designed
Mistral class amphibious ships indicates of rising interest in naval operations, added the head of US Navy.
According to Roughead, Russian Navy will now begin to rebuild itself, expand its capabilities, and operate more widely.
"I believe we should work closely with the Russian Navy to see where we can work together", concluded the admiral.
