Russia Launches Massive "Ocean-2024" Naval Exercise Across Multiple Seas
Russia initiates its largest naval drill since Soviet times, involving 90,000+ personnel, 400+ vessels, and 125 aircraft. The exercise spans multiple seas and oceans, showcasing military might.
Russia has commenced its most extensive naval exercise since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, demonstrating its maritime capabilities across multiple bodies of water. The "Ocean-2024" drills, which began on September 10, 2024, are set to continue until September 16, 2024, encompassing a vast geographical area.
Russian defense officials reported that Tu-160 strategic bombers conducted flights over the Barents and Norwegian seas as part of this large-scale operation. These supersonic aircraft, capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons, play a crucial role in Russia's long-range attack capabilities.
The exercise involves an impressive array of military assets:
- Over 90,000 military personnel
- More than 400 naval vessels
- 125 aircraft
This massive deployment spans several major water bodies, including:
- Parts of the Pacific Ocean (the largest and deepest ocean on Earth)
- The Arctic Ocean (the world's smallest and shallowest major ocean)
- The Mediterranean Sea
- The Baltic Sea (bordered by nine countries)
- The Caspian Sea (the world's largest inland body of water)
The scale of "Ocean-2024" surpasses any Russian naval exercise conducted in the past 33 years, since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. This demonstration of naval power comes at a time when Russia maintains the world's second-largest navy in terms of total fleet size, second only to China.
These drills likely aim to simulate various combat scenarios and test the readiness of Russia's naval forces, which are divided into four fleets and one flotilla. The inclusion of strategic bombers in the exercise highlights the integration of air and sea capabilities in modern warfare strategies.
As the exercise unfolds, it's worth noting that the Russian Navy traditionally celebrates its annual Navy Day on the last Sunday of July, showcasing its maritime prowess to the public. However, "Ocean-2024" represents a more comprehensive and militarily significant display of naval strength across multiple strategic waterways.
