Russian submarine hits targets in Syria

WASHINGTON — Russian media reports that a Russian diesel-electric submarine operating in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday launched Kalibr cruise missiles(pictured below) at targets in Syria. 

The Rostov-on-Don(pictured below), commissioned early this year, is the second unit of the Project 636 Vashavyanka-class of diesel-electric submarines, an improvement on the Project 877 Kilo class. The submarine, built at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg, is one of six Project 636 subs built or under construction for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

 

DYI Comments:  Why would Russia use a sub that as a weapons platform is far less efficient as compared to surface ships or air power?

1.)  Play to the Russia citizens that all forms of naval power is effective, and no country will deny Russia access to the worlds oceans.  That Russia is a world naval power.

2.)  To assure Assad of Syria that Russia is serious in maintaining him in power.

3.)  To show off live fire demonstration in actual combat for potential weapons sales to foreign governments.

Point three is the most serious for the Russians as 20% of her employment is in the arms business. With Russia's economy slipping into a worsening recession due to the fall off of commodity prices a bright spot in manufacturing would be welcomed in Moscow.

The sub is there for primarily for military sales.

DYI