- US military leaders have warned that Russia’s Severodvinsk-class subs are operating near US coasts. Severodvinsk-class subs have a mix of stealth and striking power that worries US and NATO navies. Events in Ukraine appear to validate Russia’s ambitions, and NATO’s concerns, about those subs. A year of renewed fighting in Ukraine has depleted and embarrassed Russia’s air, ground, and naval forces, but one component of Russia’s otherwise struggling military — its submarines — still worries US commanders.
Submarines are a relative bright spot in Russia’s recent naval modernization efforts, especially the Severodvinsk-class subs that US officials say are hard to detect and capable of striking important targets in Europe and the US. Despite the high-profile loss of the guided-missile destroyer Moskva, the Black Sea Fleet flagship, in April, Russia’s navy remains “largely intact” and continues “to do what we’ve always seen” it do, Rear Adm. Michael Studeman, commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, said at an Intelligence and National Security Alliance event on January 11. “But they have more advanced capabilities with their Severodvinsk SSGN. There are three of those out there now and they’ll be building more,” Studeman said, using an acronym referring to nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines. Russia plans to build nine Severodvinsk-class subs, which it calls the Yasen class, and may add more in the future. Those subs are “very, very advanced,” have “multi-mission capabilities,” and are increasingly active, Studeman said.
“They have started doing patrols in the Atlantic, holding the United States at risk in some of their patrol areas, and they recently moved one into the Pacific,” Studeman added. “So there’ll be a dual-flank challenge for the United States in trying to track and hold accountable where those submarines are and what they’re doing.”