Any review of recent naval events is inevitably dominated by the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Although largely a land-based conflict, hostilities have encompassed a significant maritime element. This was, perhaps, most vividly demonstrated by the destruction of the cruiser Moskva – flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet – in mid-April 2022. She was the first major warship lost at sea since the Falklands War some 40 years previously, and her demise served to highlight deficiencies in a supposedly revitalised Russian Navy.
Although the Russian fleet has not had a good war, it remains a potent force that continues to pose a significant threat to members of the NATO alliance. This is particularly true of its underwater arm, which has received priority for investment in new equipment in recent years. Russian submarines have played an important role in conducting cruise missile strikes on Ukrainian targets and would be prominent in any future wider maritime conflict. Recent designs, such as the new Project 885 Severodvinsk series of nuclear-powered boats, can also be equipped with Tsirkon hypersonic weapons, further enhancing their potential.
Despite the Russian Navy’s higher profile, it is the navies of the Asia-Pacific region that continue to dominate new warship, the first Chinese aircraft carrier to be fitted with catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) equipment.
