On the 309-th anniversary of Baltic Fleet (BF), recently appointed Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Viktor V. Chirkov made some statements regarding prospects of the fleet he used to head before.
"Development of Baltic Fleet will continue in all directions set out by defense ministry's programs", Viktor Chirkov said. As for him, "improvement of the fleet's infrastructure [construction of military camps, modernization of BF main harbor – Baltiysk Naval Base, renovation of naval airfield in Chkalovsk] will go on. Works on those objects are in progress. In particular, dredging of the Baltiysk harbor has been already started so it will be possible to provide stationing of prospective ships and submarines there".
In addition, the new naval chief announced further progress in the fleet's social affairs: "I will have in view housing provision issues of Baltic mariners all the time".
"In fact, new ships and submarines began to join the fleet. Test basis for trials is unique in the Baltic, its capabilities will develop as well", Chirkov stated.
"Another specific issue is that the whole Navy's scientific potential is concentrated in St. Petersburg which is also located in the Baltic Fleet area of responsibility. This is a substantial factor indicating self-sufficiency of Baltic Fleet as a military force", pointed out the officer.
Answering the question about completion of large landing ship Ivan Gren in Kaliningrad, Chirkov expressed the feeling that such ship would strengthen surface fleet of Russian Navy: "Thanks to stable financing, the ship was completed. Numerous technical solutions were applied so that Ivan Gren must not be considered simply as a landing ship. Her capabilities are much wider making possible to use the ship in ocean zone".
Speaking of the Baltic Fleet's general role in national security system, VADM Viktor Chirkov said that "Baltic Fleet is called to enhance security of Russia's maritime activity in the northwestern region. Also, the fleet's ships used to and will perform their duties far beyond area of responsibility being regularly deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Aden".
Russian Navy command assigns another important role to Baltic Fleet. It is strengthening of friendly ties with navies of Baltic countries in order to respond to new maritime threats together and maintain stability in the region. "With this end in view, Baltic Fleet will continue its participation in various joint exercises like BALTOPS, Open Spirit, FRUKUS, and so forth", concluded Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov.
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