Russia starts massive naval drills: NATO's fleet power assessed

The Russian Federation has commenced large-scale exercises involving over 300 ships and 20,000 sailors. The goal of the manoeuvres is to test the functioning of command organs in specific operational zones of different fleets participating in troop movements. How does the NATO fleet compare in light of these Russian actions?

Around 420 ships (of various types) are currently in service with the Russian Navy. Over 300 of them, which operate daily in the Northern, Pacific, Baltic Fleets, and the Caspian Flotilla, were set to embark on extensive exercises during which the army intends to train with "comprehensive combat exercises." The manoeuvres aim to improve the detection, identification, and attack of targets simulating small surface and air objects.

Although the Russian Federation's current exercises are one of many that Moscow has carried out over the years, the number of ships may raise curiosity about how the Russian naval forces compare to the equipment at NATO’s disposal.

According to data collected by the statista.com portal, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has a significantly more extensive naval fleet in terms of numbers. The United States alone has over 470 ships at its disposal. In second place is Sweden, with over 350 ships, followed by Italy, with a navy based on over 300 vessels. The total in NATO forces amounts to over 2,850 military ships, nearly seven times more than the Russian Federation. Let's look at a few exciting units that NATO has at its disposal.

The USA owns the unit that demands the most attention within NATO. We are referring to the most advanced design of its type in the world, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) aircraft carrier, which is also the largest such equipment in the world.

CVN 78 is 333 metres long, 41 metres wide, and nearly 80 metres high. It accelerates to a speed of about 30 knots (56 km/h) and can accommodate 4,600 people. Developing this giant could have cost up to €17 billion—all to create a modern unit capable of carrying F-35 and F/A-18 fighters, as well as early warning and electronic warfare aircraft.

The CVN 78 aircraft carrier is also equipped with a set of modern electromagnetic catapults. This solution can operate continuously and, consequently, handle launching aircraft around the clock. Compared to previously used steam catapults, the new technology reduces the ship's weight and space.

Noteworthy units in NATO service also include HMS Daring (D32), a destroyer operating under the British flag, as well as the French submarine Le Triomphant (S616). The first of these, the British D32, is a relatively new unit that entered service in 2009.

The main task assigned to HMS Daring is to protect aircraft carriers and amphibious forces from air threats—weapons that are among the most common on the modern battlefield. This protection is provided by the Sea Viper system, which uses SAMPSON and S1850M radars combined with Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles (weighing 310 and 510 kilograms, respectively). Additionally, the stealth properties of HMS Daring make it significantly harder to detect while in motion.

Le Triomphant (S616) is another weapon through which the French incorporate nuclear weapons (carried by M51.3 ballistic missiles on the S616) into NATO's arsenal. Le Triomphant is a submarine that, when submerged, has a displacement of over 14,300 tonnes and it reaches nearly 140 metres in length. The power for this unit comes from a K15 nuclear reactor with a pressurised water system with power output of 150 megawatts.

This valuable component of NATO’s nuclear deterrent can carry 16 M45 or M51 missiles with 6-10 TN75 thermonuclear warheads each. Its arsenal also includes 533-millimetre torpedo tubes used for attacking underwater targets.

Regarding nuclear submarines, we should also mention the United Kingdom, which, being an island nation, has significant opportunities to deploy a strong navy around its borders. This navy primarily relies on Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, which have been in service since the late 1990s. The British have four of these machines, each carrying up to 16 UGM-133 Trident II ballistic missiles. According to their military rules, at least one Vanguard submarine must permanently be stationed in British waters.

The number of ships in NATO's service is constantly changing because allied nations are continuously improving their fleets. The same can be said for the Russian Federation, which, however, is systematically being weakened due to the war in Ukraine.