Overview of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s Role
The Pacific Fleet stands as a core component of Russia’s Navy and Armed Forces, dedicated to safeguarding national security in the Asia-Pacific region. Its mandate today includes deterring or blunting naval assaults on Russian forces, supporting the defeat of advancing enemy formations, and maintaining secure coastal corridors. It also ensures sea-based troop redeployments and the uninterrupted flow of maritime logistics aligned with military needs.
These objectives are pursued through coordinated actions with the Eastern Military District. The fleet is prepared to neutralize enemy naval groups impacting defending forces, execute amphibious operations, provide fire support for land troops, disrupt enemy transport, contest amphibious landings, control sea lanes, and sustain material movement by sea.
The Fleet in a Modern Context
Today the backbone of the Pacific Fleet comprises more than 70 ships, ranging from diesel-electric submarines with missile and torpedo capabilities to a missile cruiser. The current combat-ready units of the fleet include vessels of corvette class and higher, listed here for completeness of the order of battle:
Missile cruiser project 1164 Varyag (commissioned 1989);
Three large anti-submarine ships (multipurpose frigates): Marshal Shaposhnikov (1986), Admiral Tributs (1986), Admiral Panteleev (1992);
Four corvettes of project 20380: Perfect (2017), Loud (2018), Aldar Tsydenzhapov (2020), Sharp (2022);
Project 20385 Rumbling corvette (2020);
Five large landing ships: Nikolai Vilkov (1974), Oslyabya (1981), Admiral Nevelskoy (1982), Peresvet (1991), Vladimir Andreev (2023);
Strategic missile submarine Kalmar project 667BDR K-44 Ryazan (1982);
Five strategic missile submarines of Borey and Borey-A projects (955/955A): K-553 Generalissimo Suvorov (2022), K-552 Prince Oleg (2021), K-551 Vladimir Monomakh (2014), K-550 Alexander Nevsky (2013), Emperor Alexander III (2023);
Five nuclear submarines with Antey cruise missiles (Project 949A and M): K-456 Tver (1992), K-150 Tomsk (1996), K-186 Omsk (1993), K-442 Chelyabinsk (1990, modernized 2023), K-132 Irkutsk (1988, modernized 2023);
Two multipurpose nuclear submarines (project 885M) with Yasen-M missiles: K-573 Novosibirsk (2021), K-571 Krasnoyarsk (2023);
Two multipurpose nuclear torpedo submarines “Pike-B” (project 971): K-419 Kuzbass (1992), K-295 Samara (1995, modernized 2023);
Five diesel-electric submarines “Halibut” (project 877): B-394 Nurlat (1988), B-190 Krasnokamensk (1992), B-187 Komsomolsk-on-Amur (1991), B-494 Ust-Bolsheretsk (1990), B-464 Ust-Kamchatsk (1990);
Five diesel-electric submarines of project 636.3: B-274 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (2019), B-603 Volkhov (2020), B-602 Magadan (2021), B-588 Ufa (2022), Mozhaisk (2023).
Most fleet units were built in the Soviet era and have undergone varying degrees of modernization. The timing of their introduction into service highlights the need for ongoing renewal and modernization across the Pacific Fleet.
Pacific Fleet Compared with Neighbors
Directly comparing the Pacific Fleet with other regional navies is not a simple task. The PLA Navy has a rapid shipbuilding cadence and a growing fleet that has evolved from coastal capability to a formidable ocean-going force. The Chinese fleet includes a large number of destroyers and frigates, with a displacement and scale that surpasses some individual components of the Pacific Fleet. In several categories, the gap remains significant, particularly in auxiliary and newer surface and submarine classes.
When contrasted with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Pacific Fleet faces a sizable edge for Japan in surface warfare, with a modern mix of helicopter carriers, destroyers, frigates, and submarines. The South Korean fleet has transformed substantially, with many ships built domestically and a broader mix of destroyers, frigates, and corvettes.
In regional terms, the Pacific Fleet remains a capable force, yet the overall assessment indicates clear room for modernization to keep pace with regional developments. A direct comparison with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific underscores a superior advantage for the U.S. in current dominance and global reach.
Prospects for the Pacific Fleet
Between 2024 and 2028, the Pacific Fleet plans to receive a diverse mix of capabilities, including:
Three frigates of project 22350: Admiral Chichagov (2025), Admiral Amelko (2027), Admiral Yumashev (2026);
Two project 20380 corvettes: Grozny (2024), Bravy (2025);
Four project 20385 corvettes: Vigorous, Diligent, Reasonable and Fast (2024-2027);
Two large landing ships: Vasily Trushin (project 11711, 2024), Ivan Rogov (project 23900 universal landing craft, 2028);
Two multipurpose nuclear submarines (project 885M) with Yasen-M missiles: Vladivostok (2025), Perm (2026);
One diesel-electric submarine project 636.3 Yakutsk (2025).
The outlook is solid but regional competitors are advancing rapidly. There is an understanding that the Pacific Ocean must be modernized to meet new operating demands, with an emphasis on expanding carrier-level capabilities, amphibious formations, and coastal infrastructure resilience.
Some observers argue that bold steps are needed to realize these ambitions, yet the 21st century is shaping up as the Asian century, making the Pacific Ocean a central theater in future military planning.