11 Strongest Navies in The World: 2017 Rankings

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3. Military-Maritime Fleet of the Russian Federation

Aircraft carrier – 1
Nuclear submarine – 38
Amphibious assault ship – 1
Conventional submarine – 23
Cruiser – 4
Destroyer – 15
Frigates – 6

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, its once-proud navy was reduced to a bunch of rusting hulks dotting the beaches of naval bases on the shores of the fallen empire. But things have changed since the 1990s and new Russia is again asserting its naval power, with their only aircraft carrier parked in the Mediterranean in support of Syrian operations. Although things aren’t going perfectly (Russians have lost two aircraft due to malfunctioning arresting gear on the aging vessel), it is a far cry from the usual image of the Russian Navy. New submarines are slowly entering the service, with 3 new Borei class SSBN and the lead ship of Yasen class attack submarine already displaying the Russian naval jack. The Russians also sail Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great) battlecruiser, the largest surface combatant ship in the world. New improved Kilo and Lada class conventional submarines are also being built and introduced to the Russian fleet. The exact number of active submarines is hard to determine, due to classified intel and also due to the Russian practice of keeping inactive ships in service, in order to pay the crew. Russian Navy was poised to receive two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships from France, but sanctions imposed due to the annexation of Crimea put a stop on that purchase and ships ended up in Egyptian Navy instead. Sounds like Rusia once again has one of the strongest navies in the world.

11 Strongest Navies in The World: 2017 Rankings

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