Ch. 10: Global Challenges - Russia

Understand U.S. and other Western Allies' involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

US and allies have imposed sanctions on Russia and supported Ukraine with monetary aid and modern military equipment

Describe the goals of the State Armament Program (SAP)

2011-2020

• Russian armed forces will be provided with over 400 modern land and sea-based

  inter-continental ballistic missiles

• 8 strategic ballistic missile submarines and 20 multi-purpose submarines

• 50+ surface warships

• 100 military spacecraft

• 600+ modern aircraft including 5th-generation fighters

• 1000+ helicopters

• 28 regimental kits of S-400 air defense systems

• 38 battalion kits of Vityaz missile systems

• 10 brigade kids of Iskander-M missile systems

• 2300+ modern tanks

• 2000 self-propelled artillery systems and vehicles

• 17000+ military vehicles

Comprehend Russia’s current national strategy, including its evolving relationship with the U.S.

• traditionally prioritize post Soviet region and West

• actively pursue foreign relations on global scale

• One of 5 members of UN security council, member of group of eight until 2014, member of BRICS

• leading oil and gas exporter and second largest major weapons exporter in the world

• U.S. and Russia have gone through negative and positive periods for most of history

• Since 2014, U.S. has imposed sanctions on more than 520 individuals and entities

Understand recent Russian military action and modernization efforts.

• bilateral partnerships around the world, main partner being China

• improved capabilities exhibited by Russian military over past several years

• Russia pursued ambitious modernization program as steadily increased defense spending, at least until 2016

• Goals of SAP: over 400 ICBM, 50+ surface warships, 100 military spacecraft, 600+ modern aircraft, etc.

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Admiral Kuznetsov Class Aircraft Carrier

• ski-jump catapult, 1001ft in length

• intended to support and defend strategic missile-carrying subs, surface ships, and naval missile-carrying aircraft

• 18x SU-33 fighters, 6x MIG-29K fighters, 4x KA-31 helos, 2x KA-27 helos

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Sovremenny Class Destroyer

• 2 4-cell anti-ship missile launchers installed port and starboard

• anti-ship and anti-aircraft guided missile destroyer primarily tasked with anti-ship warfare, providing air and sea defense

• 1x Ka-27 series helo

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate

• black search radar located behind main super structure, 409ft in length

• air defense, escorting other warships and anti-sub warfare

• 1x Ka-27 anti-sub warfare helo OR 1x Ka-31 airborne early warning helo

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Borei Class Submarine

• crew: 107

• propulsion: nuclear

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Yasen Class Submarine

• newest and most advanced Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile subs

• projected to replace Russia’s soviet-era nuclear attack subs

• crew: 64 total

• propulsion: nuclear

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Akula Class Submarine

• series of nuclear-powered attack subs (SSNs)

• double hull system composed of inner pressure hull and outer “light” hull

• crew: 73

• propulsion: nuclear

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: Varshavyanka Class Submarine

• improved version of Kilo class subs, featuring advanced stealth tech, extended combat range and ability to strike land, surface, underwater targets

• displace 3100 tons, speeds of 20 knots, and dive to 300 meters

• anti-shipping and anti-sub operations in relatively shallow waters

• crew: 52 total

• propulsion: diesel-electric

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: SU-35 Flanker-E

• single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable aircraft

• top Russian air-superiority fighter in service

• pinnacle of 4th-gen jet fighter design

• most common Russian fighter to conduct intercepts against U.S. Military reconnaissance aircraft conducting operations

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: SS-N-26 Strobile

• supersonic anti-ship cruise missile

• advantages: OTH firing range, “fire and forget”, flexible trajectories, high supersonic speed, full harmonization

Be familiar with Russia’s military capabilities: SS-N-27 Sizzler

• surface ship, sub-launched and airborne anti-ship and coastal anti-ship, land attack cruise missiles and anti-submarine missiles

• can be launched using VLS

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: April 2016

Pair of Russian Su-24 fighter jets performed several low-altitude passes on Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: February 2017

Multiple Russian SU-24 “Fencer” fighter jets and an Il-38 sub-hunting quad-engine aircraft buzzed the U.S. Navy destroyer USS PORTER (DDG 78) in the Black Sea.

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: January 2018

A Russian Sukhoi SU-27 “Flanker” fighter jet came within five feet of an EP-3 Aries before crossing through the U.S. aircraft’s flight path

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: November 2018

Russian fighter jet flies dangerously close to a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: June 2019 (a)

Russian Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jet harassed a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol plane over the Mediterranean Sea.

Know recent military interactions between the U.S. and Russia: June 2019 (b)

USS Chancellorsville comes close (50-100ft) to collision with Russian destroyer Admiral Vinogradov

Understand U.S. and other Western Allies' involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

• United States and other U.S. aligned world powers have imposed sanctions on Russia and supported Ukraine with large amounts of monetary aid and modern military equipment

• 47 different countries have provided military

  equipment and supplies to aid Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion began.

• U.S. has committed over $75B in aid

Know the geographic location of Russia relative to China, Ukraine, the South China Sea and Iran.