Russia establishes a new Arctic air squadron to protect the Northern Sea Route

The squadron, with a core of Su-34 fighters, could be based on the Kola Peninsula, near Finland and Norway.

By Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer July 19, 2019
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Sukhoi Su-34 bombers drop bombs during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2018, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 4, 2018. (Maxim Shemetov / Reuters file photo)

The Northern Sea Route needs better protection, Russia argues, as it boosts its military presence in the region. New armament and military infrastructure has been made operational across the country’s vast Arctic coast. Radars and other radio-electronic equipment have been installed and missile systems and other advanced armament deployed. More is on its way.

The Northern Fleet has been given the leading role in the development and a new strategic command, the Sever, was officially established in 2014. At its disposal are several new and updated bases, a string of new powers and some of the country’s most advanced armament.

Including air capacities.

A new Arctic air squadron is now in the making, which is also to be managed by the Northern Fleet. The core in the new squadron will be the Su-34, a multi-purpose fighter, newspaper Izvestia reports.

The new aircraft, officially included in the Russian Air Force in 2014, has a range of up to 4,500 kilometers without refueling and can consequently take practically the whole Northern Sea Route under efficient control, the military planners argue.

The Su-34 is believed to be able to operate autonomously over large areas and hit targets with high precision at distances up to 260 kilometers. It will be equipped with the Kh-35U, a powerful turbojet supersonic cruise missile capable of eliminating major ships.

The new Arctic fleet of the Su-34 might be based in Monchegorsk, a military expert tells Izvestia. The town, located in the central part of the Kola Peninsula just about 100 kilometers from Finland and Norway, already houses a fleet of aircraft Su-24M and Su-24MP.

Several more airstrips across the Arctic will be at the disposal of the new squadron. Over the last years, Russia has invested in a number of new bases along the Arctic coast and in the Arctic archipelagos.

When fully developed, the Northern Fleet will have a well-developed network of military air bases in the region, stretching from the Kola Peninsula in the west to the Chukotka Peninsula in the east. The high Arctic bases includes also Nagurskoye in Franz Josef Land, Rogachevo in Novaya Zemlya, Temp in the New Siberian Islands and Tiksi on the Laptev Sea coast.

The air bases are supported by the best of Russia’s radars and surveillance early-warning systems. In May this year, the Northern Fleet reportedly confirmed that it has completed its new Center for Radio-Electronic Warfare. The center includes two Murmansk-BN systems, as well as the Krasukha and Divnomorye systems.

The powerful Murmansk-BN system has been deployed in Severomorsk, Kola Peninsula, and in Kamchatka, and is capable of covering the whole area of the Northern Sea Route. The range of the Murmansk-BN is 5,000 kilometers and up to 8,000 kilometers in good weather condition. In addition comes the Krasukha-2 and Krasukha-4 systems that have been deployed in new military bases in Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya, New Siberian Islands and in Chukotka.