A leading U.S. defense scholar from the United States Naval Academy has highlighted a growing threat from modern Russian submarines, describing them as a serious concern for American maritime security. He shared his assessment during an interview featured in a prominent news magazine, underscoring how Western observers are recalibrating their assessments of undersea warfare capabilities in a broader strategic context.
The expert pointed out that while the People’s Republic of China maintains a larger navy with strong air and surface warfare capabilities, Russia presents a distinct and potentially more disruptive challenge in the realm of submarine operations. He emphasized that underwater warfare requires a different playbook, where stealth, endurance, and the ability to project power from under the surface can alter deterrence dynamics in ways that other forces cannot replicate.
According to the analyst, the deployment patterns of Russian submarines, including notable vessels like the Severodvinsk class, have drawn attention from Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters to the waters off North America. This visibility is part of a broader strategy that seeks to demonstrate reach and operational readiness, even as submarine patrols and patrol areas are adjusted in response to evolving naval doctrines and alliance expectations.
The scholar noted that the Western intelligence and defense communities are closely monitoring any movements by such submarines near the U.S. coastline, as well as in key strategic corridors around the Mediterranean and adjacent sea lanes. The emphasis is on understanding how these platforms could complicate anti-submarine warfare and contribute to broader strategic signaling in European and global balance-of-power calculations.
Recent naval developments have included the commissioning and deployment of advanced Russian ballistic missile submarines. In late December of the previous year, the launch of a strategic missile submarine, designated Emperor Alexander III, captured attention at the highest levels of Russian leadership and military planning. President Vladimir Putin attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance Moscow assigns to its undersea deterrent capabilities. In parallel, a vessel of a similar design, the Generalissimus Suvorov, was integrated into the combat structure of the Russian Navy, signaling a continued focus on reinforcing underwater reach and strategic deterrence in a challenging security environment.