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Washington (AFP) – Russia is boosting its submarine combat capabilities by directly confronting US forces in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, a major US admiral warned.
Admiral James Foggo, who heads the command of NATO's Allied Joint Force in Naples, said Russia was investing heavily in its submarine fleet and wanted to create an "asymmetrical" threat to the United States. United States and NATO.
While the Russian Navy knows it can not compete at the level of aircraft carriers and larger surface ships, "it continues its research and development and recapitalizes the underwater domain," Foggo told reporters. of the Pentagon.
"They see it as a challenge, and this challenge concerns the US Navy and the US submarine force."
According to Foggo, the Russians currently have six Kilo-class diesel-electric attack submarines in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
When asked if the navy knew where all Russian submarines were at any given time, Foggo, who was commanding an attack submarine, declined to say.
"I can tell you that we have an acoustic benefit and we will continue to do so," he said, referring to listening technologies that allow mariners to locate submarines.
Foggo said he feared that the Russians could not fire with Kalibr cruise missiles that "they're launched from any sea in Europe … can reach any of the capital cities of the world." ;Europe".
He also referred to NATO's upcoming military exercises in Norway, which will be the largest exercise of its kind since the Cold War.
This exercise causes the troops to fend off "an opponent who crosses the border of a NATO ally," Foggo said.
"There is a strong dissuasive message here."
