Russia’s Losharik Spy Submarine to Return to Sea Amid Growing Undersea Warfare Capabilities
Following a fire incident in July 2019 that resulted in the loss of 14 sailors, Russia’s AS-31 submarine, known as Losharik, underwent extensive repair work for five years. The highly classified submarine is now set to make a comeback and undergo sea testing in June, according to Russian media outlets. The return of Losharik will contribute significantly to strengthening Russia’s special task force dedicated to undersea warfare, known as the General Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI).
Undersea warfare involves military and intelligence operations carried out at great depths beneath the ocean’s surface. This form of combat is shrouded in secrecy and involves activities like installing eavesdropping devices on undersea fiber optic cable systems and sabotaging enemy infrastructure. Currently, only Russia has made undersea warfare a top priority, while the US lags behind in this area.
Russia possesses several deep-diving submarines models, including Losharik, Paltus, X-Ray, and Kashalot. All these submarines are powered by nuclear energy and equipped with a pressure-resistant solid titanium shell. Losharik’s case is reportedly made from a series of titanium spheres for enhanced pressure resistance. On the other hand, the US Navy only has one submarine capable of executing diverse undersea missions – the USS Jimmy Carter launched in 2004. However, with its end of operational life approaching, Congress has approved funds for a new Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine to maintain undersea combat capabilities.
Despite efforts by the US Navy to bolster its undersea warfare capabilities, it still falls short compared to Russia’s fleet due to its lack of smaller deep-diving submarines like Losharik, Paltus, X-Ray, and Kashalot. This discrepancy puts the US at a disadvantage in this critical area of modern naval warfare and highlights the need for further investments and strategic planning to close the gap with Russia’s undersea warfare capabilities.
The return of Losharik marks an important milestone in Russia’s efforts to become a dominant player in deep-sea warfare. With its advanced technology and capabilities in place, Russia aims to surpass the United States as a leader in this area of naval strategy.
