Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command Explained

Unit Name:Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command
Native Name:Объединённое стратегическое командование «Северный флот»
Start Date:1 December 2014
Type:Military district
Command Structure: Russian Armed Forces
Garrison:Severomorsk
Disbanded:1 March 2024[1]
Current Commander:Admiral Alexander Moiseyev
Commander1 Label:Final Commander

The Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command (Russian: Объединённое стратегическое командование «Северный флот»|Ob'edinyonnoye strategicheskoe komandovanie (Severn'y Flot)), was a military district of the Russian Armed Forces, with its jurisdiction primarily within the northern region of European Russia and the Arctic Ocean.[2] [3] [4]

The Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command was the third largest military-administered district by geographic size. It contained four federal subjects of Russia: Arkhangelsk Oblast, Komi Republic, Murmansk Oblast, and Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Additionally, the command contains most of Russia's islands in the Arctic Sea, including those located in federal subjects not within the district. The command's main aim was to concentrate all military responsibility over Russia's territories in the Arctic as well as secure all Russian interests and power projection in the region.[5]

The command was headquartered in Severomorsk, and its former military commander is Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, who held the position since 3 May 2019.

In October 2023 a decree was prepared to strip the Northern Fleet of its special status as a military district.[6] In early 2024, it was announced that be subsumed into the wider, newly reconstituted Leningrad Military District. On 26 February 2024, by decision on President Vladimir Putin's, the Leningrad Military District was separated from the Western Military District as a separate military-administrative unit of Russia, abolishing the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command, effective on 1 March.[7]

History

The Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command was established on 1 December 2014 when it was split off from the Western Military District, initially as Russia's only joint military command to give greater autonomy to the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet.[2] [3] [4]

The military command was given the status of a military district on 1 January 2021, according to a Decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 5 June 2020.[8] The decree established the Northern Fleet as a "joint territorial formation" of the Russian Armed Forces, performing the functions of a military district. Accordingly, the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk Oblasts, Komi Republic, and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug were removed from the area of responsibility of the Western Military District and placed under the Northern Fleet.[9]

Bases

Airfields and ports on several islands, which were last used by the Soviet Union, will be re-opened: the 'Temp Air Base' on (Kotelny Island) in New Siberian Islands, Rogachevo Air Base on Novaya Zemlya and the Nagurskoye Air Base in the Franz Josef Land archipelago. In addition, a new naval base on Wrangel Island was to be built, using prefabricated modules.

In addition, at least seven airfields on the continental part of the Arctic Circle will be opened or re-opened, with Tiksi in Yakutia expected to house the bulk of the Arctic air force. Other continental airfields include Naryan-Mar Airport, Alykel Airport close to the city of Norilsk and Mys Shmidta and Ugolny Airport, both located in Chukotka.[10] [11]

Units

Naval Forces

As of 7 January 2015, the commander of the Northern Fleet reportedly envisaged a series of coordination-improving tasks, including submarine underwater operations, assigned to cruise vessels.[12] Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov also said that a specialised training centre will be set up for servicemen performing military service in the Arctic Region in 2015.[13]

See: Northern Fleet Order of Battle.

Ground forces

The Coastal Troops of the Northern Fleet (Береговые войска Северного флота) are the fleet's ground combat element. They include marines, coastal motor rifle infantry and coastal anti-ship missile and artillery elements. The principal brigades of the Corps consist of 2 Arctic motorized infantry brigades:

Coastal Troops of the Northern Fleet (Береговые войска Северного флота) [14] [15]

The two arctic motor rifle brigades are expected to accomplish coast patrolling missions, protect sites and territories on the coast of the northern seas and the Arctic Ocean, support and escort ships sailing along the Northern Sea Route, and demonstrate the military presence in the Arctic.

According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, an Arctic motorized rifle brigade is, as of October 2014, under formation in the Murmansk Oblast, near the Norwegian border, while the second brigade is scheduled for 2016 to be stationed in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.[31]

Air and air defence forces

The 45th Air and Air Defence Forces Army is the principal air force formation assigned to the Northern Fleet. As of 2021, fighter units consist of several regiments with a combination of MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, Su-33 and Su-34 fighter and strike aircraft. Additional Anti-submarine, ISTAR and transport aircraft and helicopters are also deployed within the Air Army. The 40th Mixed Aviation Regiment, flying Backfire bombers, is also deployed within the Northern Fleet operational area but remains under the command of Russian Long-Range Aviation Forces.

Air defence elements are said to consist of Pantsir-S1 missile and artillery systems, which have been put on duty on the Kotelnyy Island of the New Siberian Islands archipelago in 2014. The deployment of intermediate and long-range air defence systems in this area has also been planned.[32]

The command involved was the 1st Air and Air Defence Forces Command, including the 531st, 583rd, and 1258th Air Defence Regiments, the 331st and 332nd Radio-Technical Regiments, with other units stationed in Murmansk, Chukotka and Arkhangelsk Oblasts.[33] Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev said in an interview that by 2017 the Tiksi airport complex will be operational, and it will be garrisoned with upgraded MiG-31 interceptors.[34] [35]

A number of redesignations from 2014 changed the apparent order of battle. Air and Space Defence Brigades were changed back to the familiar nomenclature of Air Defence Divisions, and thus the 1st Air Defence Division (Russia) was reformed. The 1st Air and Air Defence Forces Command returned to the previous title 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army. In January 2016, Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu announced that the Northern Fleet 45th Air and Air Defence Army (Северного флота) had been formed in December 2015.[36] The force includes the 1st and 3rd Air Defence Divisions, and at least 6 other aircraft regiments, including the 100th and 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiments,[37] and the 73rd Anti-Submarine Squadron Long Range of Tupolev Tu-142s.

Composition

According to a report from the Institute for the Study of War, in March 2018 the command comprised:[38] [39]

Northern Fleet

45th Air Force and Air Defense Army

See main article: article and 45th Air and Air Defence Forces Army.

1st Air Defence Division

3rd Air Defence Division

The 3rd Air Defence Division was formed in 2019 and became operational in 2020. It is responsible for the air defence of the arctic.[46]

Leadership

From the command's formation in December 2014 to December 2020, it has been accustomed to have the serving commander of the Russian Northern Fleet as commander of the leadership of the Joint Strategic Command as well. By January 2021, after the transition from military command to district, the leadership was upgraded to the level of the Military District commander.

Commanders

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-03-18 . Путин воссоздал Московский и Ленинградский военные округа - Газета.Ru Новости . 2024-03-17 . Газета.Ru . ru.
  2. News: Keck. Zachary. Russia to Establish Arctic Military Command. 8 January 2015. The Diplomat. 21 February 2014.
  3. News: Russia's Defense Ministry establishes Arctic Strategic Command. 8 January 2015. TASS. 1 December 2014.
  4. News: Russian military forming drone squadron for Arctic reconnaissance. 8 January 2015. TASS. 13 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Joint Strategic Command. GlobalSecurity. 8 January 2015.
  6. https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-8-2023#_edn6bca4fc347414e21584e9d4483deff9d1
  7. Web site: 2024-03-18 . Путин воссоздал Московский и Ленинградский военные округа - Газета.Ru Новости . 2024-03-17 . Газета.Ru . ru.
  8. Web site: Северный флот станет пятым военным округом России с 2021 года. armstrade.org. 2 September 2020.
  9. News: . 1 January 2021. Северный флот России получил статус военного округа. ru. Interfax.
  10. Web site: New drone squadron protects Russian interests in the Arctic. The Siberian Times. 2015-11-23. 2017-02-08.
  11. News: Russia Builds New Arctic Military Base. 9 January 2015. The Moscow Times. 8 December 2014.
  12. News: Russian Arctic Strategic Command year will perform a number of tasks. 8 January 2015. Getinews. 8 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109152432/http://www.getinews.com/news-9290958-Russian-Arctic-Strategic-Command-year-will-perform-a-number-of-tasks.html. 9 January 2015. dead.
  13. News: Sharifulin. Valeriy. Air force and air defence army for Russia's Arctic to be in place 2015 — General Staff. 9 January 2015. TASS. 29 December 2014.
  14. Web site: 2019-09-08. Калининград войсковые части вмф - Гуру в законе. 2022-01-20. guruvzak.ru. ru-RU.
  15. Web site: Береговые войска ВМФ России - 13 Августа 2015 - Новости и публикации - ВОО МП "ТАЙФУН". 2022-01-20. mptaifun.ru.
  16. Web site: Степовой. Алексей Рамм, Алексей Козаченко, Богдан. 2019-04-19. Полярное влияние: Северный флот получит статус военного округа. 2020-10-16. Известия. ru.
  17. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jJOZV20Mhqt3mvD230PrlQAj7ojlcdFx/view Russian Armed Forces OOB
  18. Web site: Russian Military Forces: Interactive Map. 2021-09-05. GFSIS. en-US.
  19. Web site: bmpd. 2017-04-22. В составе объединенного стратегического командования "Север" сформирован 14-й армейский корпус. 2020-12-04. bmpd.
  20. Web site: Андреев. Алексей Рамм, Евгений. 2017-04-13. Защиту Заполярья усилили с суши. 2021-09-05. Известия. ru.
  21. Web site: Wade. Jonathan. 26 November 2015. Russia's Joint Strategic Command North (JSCN). 1 July 2016. The Sentinel.
  22. Web site: 80 Арктическая ОМСБр, в/ч 34667, Алакуртти - 27 Августа 2015 - Новости и публикации - ВОО МП "ТАЙФУН". 2022-01-20. mptaifun.ru.
  23. Web site: bmpd. 2018-05-06. Модернизированные танки Т-80БВ морской пехоты Северного флота. 2021-09-05. bmpd.
  24. Web site: Настин. Павел. 2018-09-25. Береговой ракетный комплекс "Бастион" развернули на острове Котельный в Арктике. 2021-09-05. Телеканал «Звезда». ru.
  25. Web site: Крецул. Роман. Рамм. Алексей. 7 April 2021. Дали "Бал": Севморпуть получит новые береговые комплексы – Под их прикрытием морское судоходство в Арктике станет еще безопаснее. 4 September 2021. Izvestia.
  26. Web site: Ракетный дивизион провел учения на острове Земля Александры. 2021-09-05. Российская газета. 24 April 2020 .
  27. Web site: Береговые ракетные комплексы "Бастион" прикрыли Арктику. 2021-09-05. Российская газета. 19 November 2019 .
  28. Web site: Отряды ПДСС ВМФ России. 2021-09-05. Яндекс Дзен Блогерская платформа. en.
  29. Web site: Отряды ПДСС ВМФ СССР и РФ: история и современное состояние. 2021-09-05. Яндекс Дзен Блогерская платформа. en.
  30. Web site: Новый отряд по борьбе с морскими диверсантами создан на Северном флоте. 2021-09-09. ИА «Оружие России».
  31. News: Russia to Form Arctic Military Command by 2017. 9 January 2015. The Moscow Times. 1 October 2014.
  32. Web site: Ragno. Fabio. RUSSIA: UN COMANDO PER LE FORZE AEREE DELL'ARTICO. Analisi Difesa. 9 January 2015. it. 6 January 2015.
  33. Web site: Arctic Move: Russia Gets Its Own NORTHCOM. The XX Committee. 12 September 2014 . 8 January 2015. . See Michael Holm, 21st Air Defence Corps; 1258th appears to be a typographical error for the 1528th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.
  34. News: Lystseva. Marina. Russia to base interceptors, front-line warplanes at Yakutia airfield from 2017. 9 January 2015. TASS. 15 October 2014.
  35. News: Sorokin. Donat. Upgraded MiG-31 interceptors to cover Russia's Arctic, other strategic directions — source. 9 January 2015. TASS. 30 December 2014.
  36. News: В России появилась 45-я армия ВВС и ПВО Северного флота. 29 January 2016. Interfax. ru. In Russia, there is 45th Air Force and Air Defence Army of the Northern Fleet. 29 January 2016.
  37. By December 2018 the 100th Regiment appears to have been transferred back to Severomorsk-3 on the Kola Peninsula; https://iz.ru/824716/roman-kretcul-aleksei-ramm/snova-v-nebo-v-morskoi-aviatcii-poiavitsia-polk-geroi
  38. Web site: Russia's Military Posture: Ground Forces Order of Battle. Catherine Harris . Frederick W. Kagan . March 2018. www.criticalthreats.org. 30 March 2020.
  39. Web site: Updated Russian Order of Battle (Russian Military News).
  40. Web site: 2008-02-25. Северный флот. 2021-09-08. www.kommersant.ru. ru.
  41. Web site: Козаченко. Алексей Рамм, Алексей. 2019-02-05. Северная МиГрация: в Арктике будет создан истребительный авиаполк. 2021-09-09. Известия. ru.
  42. Web site: bmpd. 2019-12-03. На Северном флоте восстановлены два авиационных полка. 2021-09-09. bmpd.
  43. Web site: Крецул. Роман. 25 December 2018. Снова в небо: в морской авиации появится полк-герой: Минобороны увековечит имя знаменитого палубного летчика Тимура Апакидзе. 9 September 2021. Известия іz.
  44. Web site: bmpd. 2016-01-15. Сформирован 100-й отдельный корабельный истребительный авиационный полк. 2021-09-09. bmpd.
  45. Web site: Орденоносный зенитный ракетный полк ПВО Северного флота отметил 70-летие : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации. 2021-09-09. function.mil.ru.
  46. Web site: Степовой. Алексей Рамм, Алексей Козаченко, Богдан. 2019-04-16. Северный морской пуск: Арктику защитят С-400 и системы "Панцирь-С". 2021-01-01. Известия. ru.
  47. Web site: Степовой. Алексей Рамм, Алексей Козаченко, Богдан. 2019-04-16. Северный морской пуск: Арктику защитят С-400 и системы "Панцирь-С". 2021-09-09. Известия. ru.
  48. Web site: Analysis: New Russian army air defense unit on combat duty for Arctic Region - Part 2 weapons defence industry military technology UK analysis focus army defence military industry army. 2021-09-09. www.armyrecognition.com.
  49. Web site: Говорова. Алиса. 2019-09-16. Россия развернула С-400 в Арктике. 2021-09-09. Известия. ru.
  50. Web site: bmpd. 2019-12-11. Новый зенитный ракетный полк в Тикси и продолжение перевооружения Войск ПВО. 2021-09-09. bmpd.
  51. Web site: Строительство военного городка для соединения ПВО Северного флота в Тикси выполнили на 95%. 2021-09-09. ТАСС.
  52. Web site: 2017-01-26. Арктика превращает Су-34 в "стратега", опасного для Америки - Статьи - Армии и войны - Свободная Пресса. 2021-09-05. svpressa.ru. ru.