Baltic Fleet will not be reinforced – MoD

21.01.2010
Baltic Fleet's surface, submarine and aviation components will not be reinforced in response to deployment of American SAM systems Patriot in Poland, informs RIA Novosti referring to representative of Russian Ministry of Defense.

Neither strength nor tactical composition will change because of missile deployment in Poland; all rearmament and modernization activities at Russian fleets are conducted up to schedule, specified the source.

Russian Navy's top-ranking official previously said to RIA Novosti that Baltic Fleet would be reinforced by precision weapons in connection with the U.S. intentions to deploy Patriot battery in Poland at 100 km from Russia's Kaliningrad region. In particular, Baltic fleet would be allegedly reinforced by corvettes with long-range cruise missiles; submarine component might be reinforced with diesel subs of available projects refitted for missile systems and Lada-class subs being under construction, said the Navy's official.

First battery of SAM system Patriot is expected to be deployed in Poland late March 2010, according to US-Poland Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) signed on Dec 11, 2009.

Main purpose of SAM system Patriot is interception of ballistic missiles. The system is capable to hit low-flying targets as well; for example, cruise missiles, helicopters and UAVs. Patriot was developed in 1969 and commissioned into US Army in 1981. It is capable to detect and identify over 100 aerial targets, simultaneously track 8 of them, launch and guide up to 3 missiles per target. Intercept range is 70 km, intercept altitude is 24 km. According to Jane's, over 172 Patriot systems were produced in all. Patriot was supplied to China, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Spain.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: SAM system Patriot (tcappsbct.com)