The Russian Empire and, afterward, the Soviet Union, were primarily land-based powers until the coming of the Cold War. The massive arms race, which accompanied this ideological standoff, saw the Soviet Navy rise rapidly to equal footing with its rival superpower, the United States.
When
the USSR dissolved, the majority of the old Soviet Navy went to Russia.
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union and economic woes, Russia
inherited a vast navy second only to the United States in strength and
firepower. Recent years have seen much of the fleet docked and maintenance
decline. Still, should the need arise, Russia could muster a formidable
array of weaponry to take on any enemies. Over 270 surface ships and about
160 submarines remain in the Russian fleet, though some are rusting in
port, to the alarm of neighbors such as Norway and Japan who watch
nuclear-powered vessels crumble along nearby coasts. Future military
cutbacks are planned to create a smaller but still technologically
superior naval force. These planned cutbacks have been met with fierce
resistance by the Russian military leadership. The Navy, however, is not a
high priority in the Russian government's military restructuring, and thus
finds it hard to compete with other service branches for the dwindling
arms funds.
Major Combatants
Surface Ships
Sub-Surface Aircraft