Russian navy in show of strength with 26 new ships this year
Russia’s navy will deploy a total of 26 new ships this year including four carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, President Vladimir Putin said on 29 July as the country celebrated Navy Day with a show of strength.
‘In total in 2018 the navy should get 26 new warships, motor boats and vessels including four warships with Kalibr cruise missiles,’ Putin said in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg, Interfax news agency reported.
Kalibr missiles fired from Russian ships in the Mediterranean and the Caspian have been used as part of Moscow’s military intervention in the conflict in Syria in support of President Bashar al Assad.
The navy has already this year taken in eight new ships, Putin added.
The commander of the Black Sea fleet, which is based in Crimea’s port of Sevastopol, Vadm Alexander Moiseyev said six new vessels including missile ships would be inducted by the end of the year, Interfax added.
Putin reviewed the annual naval display on the Neva River in Saint Petersburg with 39 warships carrying out manoeuvres.
He told the 4,000 servicemen taking part that the navy ‘is making a weighty contribution to the fight with international terrorism.
‘Of course we will continue measures aimed at strengthening and developing the navy, boosting equipment,’ Putin said.
The Navy Day celebrations also included a parade in Russia’s Syrian base of Tartus in the Mediterranean for the second time, involving five ships and the Kolpino diesel submarine, the defence ministry said on Facebook.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign]()
ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign
A six-ship home order, agreements with Saab, Naval Group and Babcock and spare yard capacity underpin the group’s first Euronaval bid for smaller European navies.
-
![Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes]()
Euronaval 2026: Red Cat’s Blue Ops follows USV demand from Asia to the Andes
With its B-26 USV in full-rate production, Blue Ops is seeking to turn overseas interest into orders through a combination of lower operating costs, UAV integration and local manufacturing.
-
![Euronaval 2026: ‘I want to sell 31 Type 31s by 2031’ - CGO maps Babcock’s global push]()
Euronaval 2026: ‘I want to sell 31 Type 31s by 2031’ - CGO maps Babcock’s global push
Chief growth officer Sir Nick Hine tells Shephard how Babcock is lining up New Zealand, Chile, Denmark and the US for its Arrowhead 140 frigate, speaks on the hybrid navy offer and talks AUKUS.
-
![Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion]()
Euronaval 2026: Baltic breakthrough powers Saildrone’s next European expansion
Denmark’s doubled deployment, Mediterranean smuggling routes and Norwegian composite hulls show where uncrewed surveillance demand is heading, while British funding remains unclear.
