"The swift military buildup of the Baltic Fleet is a natural response on Russia's part to NATO's aggressive ambitions in the region, increased war-gaming, Baltic air policing, anti-Russian sentiments and spy fever," defense analyst Alexander Khrolenko wrote for Sputnik.
Seven NATO member states, comprising Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland, have four destroyers, 26 frigates, nine corvettes, eight minesweepers, 16 missile boats, 10 patrol boats and 16 diesel submarines in the region, he added.
"And still NATO can only dream about dominating the Baltic Sea," the analyst noted. "The Baltic Fleet has in its arsenal three cutting-edge diesel submarines, one destroyer, six patrol ships, six fast attack guided missile craft, six anti-submarine warfare corvettes, 12 missile boats, four large amphibious assault ships, two small amphibious assault ships, six coastal minesweepers and nine inshore minesweepers. This operational-strategic Navy division is one of the most advanced in terms of its composition in Russia."
The Baltic Fleet has returned to strategically important areas of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. For instance, the Yaroslav Mudryy frigate has ensured safety of navigation in the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean Sea for nearly a decade. The Neustrashimy-class frigate is capable of protecting a naval task force from subsurface and above-water threats. The ship is designed to search, locate and track submarines, carry out strikes against other ships, support land-based troops and assist landing operations.
The Baltic Fleet has been reinforced by the Steregushchiy class of corvettes, with four vessels, comprising the Steregushchiy, Soobrazitelnyy, Boikiy and Stoikiy, already in service. This is the newest class of corvettes in the Russian Navy which boasts stealthy capabilities. In addition, the Baltic Fleet has received the upgraded Buyan-class corvettes outfitted with advanced Kalibr-NK cruise missiles.
Russian forces deployed to Kaliningrad, where the Baltic Fleet is headquartered, include the K-300P Bastion-P and the 3K60 Bal coastal defense missile systems, the Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile complex, as well as the S-300 and S-400 missile defense systems.
"The Baltic Fleet celebrates its 314th birthday on May 18. Like three centuries ago, an opponent, or an unfriendly military bloc to be more precise, has posed a threat to this force," Khrolenko said, referring to NATO. "On May 8, war-games featuring approximately 9,000 service personnel and military hardware of the alliance were launched in Estonia, the largest military exercise in the country's history. Almost simultaneously, NATO drills were also kick started in Poland. These war-games simulate a hybrid war with Russia, of course."
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