By Elena @Adobe Stock
In a recent analysis for War on the Rocks, Nurlan Aliyev highlights Russia’s growing use of research vessels as sophisticated intelligence-gathering platforms targeting NATO’s undersea infrastructure. These ships, disguised as civilian research vessels, are equipped with advanced surveillance technology, allowing them to operate near critical subsea energy and communication cables, raising fears of covert espionage and sabotage. The Irish Sea incident, where the Russian vessel Yantar was intercepted while deploying drones near vital cables, underscores the growing security threat. While Russia’s fleet is aging and faces modernization challenges due to sanctions and a heavy reliance on outdated vessels, its deep-sea capabilities continue to pose a significant risk. Aliyev also notes the increasing naval cooperation between Russia and China, further complicating NATO’s efforts to safeguard its maritime assets. As Russia faces difficulties modernizing its fleet, its ambitions beneath the waves remain a pressing concern for global security. Aliyev writes:
Russia wields a formidable capability to target NATO’s undersea infrastructure in critical regions such as the Baltic, Barents, and North Seas, as well as across the world’s oceans: its “research” vessels. These are ostensibly civilian ships used for scientific exploration that double as intelligence-gathering platforms. Equipped with advanced surveillance technology, these ships often operate near critical undersea infrastructure, raising concerns about covert espionage and sabotage capabilities under the guise of academic study.
Though this threat is making headlines in Europe today, it is far from new.
A recent incident in the Irish Sea brought this danger into sharp focus. The Russian research vessel Yantar, infamous for its deep-sea operations, was intercepted by the Irish navy while reportedly deploying drones near vital subsea energy and internet cables. This is just the latest chapter in a series of provocative activities by Russian “research” vessels, fueling mounting concerns over the security of NATO’s undersea lifelines.
These vessels are more than they seem. Armed with cutting-edge surveillance tools, they have the potential to sever undersea cables and cripple energy and communication networks. Yet, even as Russia flexes its maritime muscles, its research fleet faces pressing modernization challenges.
Worse still, Russia’s ambitions extend beyond research ships. Reports suggest that tankers like the Eagle S, part of the so-called “dark fleet,” are being outfitted for espionage. If true, this marks a chilling escalation — transforming ordinary commercial vessels into covert tools of sabotage. […]
At first glance, Russia appears to have an impressive fleet of research vessels, but most were built in the 1970s and 1980s and they will soon be decommissioned. Since the 2010s, both Russian civilian and navy research vessel fleets have faced the same significant challenge: the need for modernization. Although Russia has been building new vessels since the 2010s, sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, the cut-off of cooperation with foreign shipbuilding companies, and the heavy workload on local shipbuilders have hindered progress in updating the fleet. Even before 2022, only small and large hydrographic vessels had been renewed, and in quantities far smaller than the number being decommissioned. In 2017, the Ministry of Defense’s report on the state of Russia’s national security in maritime activities stressed the dire condition of research vessels operated by the Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations, Roshydromet, and Rosnedra. The report described these fleets as being in a “catastrophic and critical state.” It noted that the average depreciation of the fleet exceeded 80 percent, the average vessel age was 34 years, and the technical condition of most vessels was assessed as unsatisfactory. The report warned that the remaining research vessels “may completely cease operations in the coming years,” potentially halting all expeditions monitoring Russia’s internal sea waters and territorial sea. […]
Since the Soviet era, Russia has maintained a research vessel fleet that serves civilian, research, and military purposes. While the Soviet Union once boasted one of the largest research fleets in the world, its collapse left Russia struggling to maintain and modernize its aging fleet. Today, this fleet, though diminished, remains a key element of Russian naval strategy, particularly in the realm of deep-sea intelligence and sabotage. […]
Russia is also deepening its naval cooperation with China, potentially as a means to bolster its capabilities. Recent joint exercises in the Gulf of Finland included scenarios simulating mine-laying operations by an enemy force. Russian and Chinese vessels practiced detecting and destroying these minefields, along with search-and-rescue operations and combat support. Around the same time, a Russian navy research vessel was accused of violating Finland’s territorial waters, highlighting Moscow’s persistent provocations.
These actions have prompted NATO to enhance its own maritime capabilities to counter Russian aggression, particularly in key regions such as the Baltic, Barents, and North Seas, as well as the Arctic. While the Russian navy continues to demonstrate significant expertise in deep-sea operations, its research fleet is aging rapidly, with many vessels nearing the end of their operational lives. Modernizing this fleet will be critical if Russia intends to sustain its ambitions beneath the waves.
Read more here.
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