6th Fleet Focus: Russian Submarines Training Off Norway

Yesterday we got word that Norway was deploying its Ula class submarines towards the Barents Sea to observe Russian Navy activity. Scanning the Russian papers the only Russian Navy activity discussed over the past few months in the Northern Fleet had been CV operations, which in itself is a rare thing. Today however, we get word of increased Russian submarine training for the Northern Fleet off the Norwegian coast.

Sources in the Norwegian Armed Forces confirm that Russian submarines have intensified training activities in areas outside the Norwegian coast. Orion aircrafts have dropped listening equipment to find the vessel.

According to Aftenposten, the Norwegian Armed Forces do not want to comment on the information. However, Deputy Defence Minister Espen Barth Eide confirms that Russia has stepped up military activities in the North both in the air and under water. He also confirms that the Russian subs have operated in “sensitive areas” along the coast. He does still not want to dramatize the situation. -They are not doing anything illegal. They want to signal that they are interested in important areas and that they have military capacities, he says.

The submarine activities come amid a surge in Russian military flying in the area. According to Aftenposten, the Norwegian Air Force has identified 74 Russian aircrafts the last half year.

Russia currently has about 20 submarines in operation in the Northern Fleet, based on several sites along the Kola Peninsula.

The Norwegian's have their hands full. Most of the modernizations of the Ula class have been central to operating in warmer climates and features to enhance the submarines performance during long patrols. The advantage of the Norwegians however is they are very well trained.

While conditions are much different than the cold war, it should be noted there are several territorial claims in the region not recognized by the other side. This can lead to tense moments, as it can be perceived that one side is in fact in violation of the others territory. So much for that "Law of the Sea" thing in dealing with territorial claims...

For the most part, the disputes since the end of the cold war have been limited to illegal fishing, but with increased military activity there are reasons to be concerned. Given the recent *cough* subpar *cough* record of Russian submarine safety, the potential for accidents is already high, a bit of cat and mouse off the Norwegian coast can be both a good and dangerous thing.