Russian Northern Fleet started a submarine detection exercise in the Arctic.

The Northern Fleet sailors started an exercise in detecting a simulated enemy’s submarines on the border between the Barents and the Norwegian seas. In the course of the exercise it is planned to launch torpedoes and throw bombs, the Fleet’s press service reports.

Grisha-class corvette (Picture source: Wikipedia)

"The Northern Fleet antisubmarine forces started a massive exercise in neutralizing a simulated enemy’s submarine threat in the middle sea zone. Two search-strike groups of ships comprised of the Kola Flotilla’s and White Sea Naval base’s combined forces of small antisubmarine ships Brest, Snezhnogorsk, Yunga, and Onega entered the border area between the Barents and the Norwegian seas. According to the press service, on the exercise the ships’ crews will search for submarines in cooperation with the Northern Fleet’s Il-38, Tu-142 aircraft, and submarines.

Also, the sailors and pilots will practice the search for and detection of the underwater enemy, tracking and maintaining contact with him before compelling to surface, countering an attack and destruction of the enemy submarine. "At the final stages of the exercise the crews of antisubmarine ships and aircraft will launch torpedoes and throw bombs," the report says.

A ministry source specified that the exercise, held in the international waters of the Norwegian and the Barents seas, will last several days. "Some areas, where the combat exercise is taking place, are closed to civilian navigation," the press service says.

Also, a source at the Fleet said that during the exercise the crews of MiG-31BM fighters of the Northern Fleet’s separate combined aviation regiment successfully provided air cover for Tu-142 and Il-38 antisubmarine aircraft. "The flights for searching for simulated enemy’s submarines were conducted in the international airspace over the Barents and Norwegian seas’ waters. The MiG-31 crews escorted the aircraft and practiced aerial dogfight techniques," the report says.

According to the press service, six crews performed flight missions all of which proceeded in adverse weather conditions. "A total of 18 pilots and navigators used the MiG-31 fighters to perform the training missions. They have flown nine flights, staying over 10 hours in the air and covering a distance of more than 12,500 km," the report says.

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