The largest Russian Navy exercises “Ocean-2024”: testing combat readiness and strengthening international cooperation
From September 11 to 16, 2024, Russia is hosting the largest naval exercises in the last 30 years, Okean-2024. The scale of the maneuvers is astounding: more than 400 warships and submarines, dozens of aircraft, and almost 100,000 personnel are involved. The exercises are being held simultaneously in two oceans and five seas, making them unprecedented in their scale and geography since the collapse of the Soviet Union, report journalists from the website pronedra.ru.
Objectives and tasks of the exercises
Russian President Vladimir Putin personally opened the maneuvers, emphasizing their key objective — testing the combat readiness of the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces. The exercises include comprehensive testing of precision weapons and other modern weapons, as well as practicing actions based on the experience gained during the special military operation (SVO). One of the important goals is to strengthen military cooperation with friendly countries such as China, which sent its warships to participate in the exercises.
According to Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, the main focus is on the tasks of repelling large-scale aggression by a potential enemy from ocean directions. The exercises also consider current threats, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned boats, which are increasingly used in modern military conflicts.
The scale and geography of the exercises
Photo source: armiya.az
The exercises cover a wide range of activities: from naval combat shooting to landing troops and escorting strategically important transports. All Russian fleets are involved in them – the Pacific, Northern, Black Sea, Baltic and Caspian flotillas. The main focus is on practicing joint actions in large formations, which, according to the organizers, is being held for the first time in the modern history of Russia.
The geography of the exercises is also impressive: the actions are taking place in the vastness of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as in the Baltic, Caspian and Mediterranean Seas. This makes Ocean 2024 not only a large-scale event in terms of the number of participants and equipment, but also a strategically important event for strengthening Russia's position in the global naval arena.
The importance of international cooperation
The largest Russian Navy exercises “Ocean-2024”: testing combat readiness and strengthening international cooperation Olga Vaylenko
This is the first time in Russia’s modern history that it has conducted exercises with such a level of international cooperation. In addition to China, the exercises also include representatives from other friendly countries, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties with international partners. Joint patrols, exercises to defend strategic communications, and coordination with foreign navies are allowing Russian forces to gain valuable experience in international operations.
Such cooperation at sea is especially important in the context of geopolitical instability. Russia, faced with new types of threats, is seeking not only to adapt its defense, but also to actively share experience with partners. This aspect of the exercises underlines the growing role of the Russian Navy as one of the key players in the global naval arena.
First results and prospects
The exercise is being conducted in two phases. The first phase focuses on deployment of forces, with ships and submarines conducting large-scale maneuvers accompanied by live fire exercises. This phase is critical for testing combat readiness and interoperability between different units.
The second stage, which will last until September 16, will be more intense: it is planned to practice combat operations involving missile systems, including Kalibr, Granit, Oniks and Moskit. This stage also includes amphibious landings and joint patrols. Such actions will allow the Russian army and navy to gain experience working in large formations, including international contingents.
The Okean-2024 exercises are an important step in strengthening Russia's defense capability and its military cooperation with international partners. This large-scale project demonstrates the country's ability to counter new types of threats and develop innovative methods of defense at sea. In the context of global changes in the military-political situation, such exercises help Russia not only confirm its position on the world stage, but also strengthen its influence in the international security sphere.
The largest exercise in the last 30 years, Ocean 2024, is not only a test of the Russian fleet’s combat readiness, but also a demonstration of the country’s capabilities on the global naval arena. The scale of the maneuvers, their international nature, and attention to new types of threats indicate that Russia continues to actively adapt to the changing geopolitical situation and strengthens its position as one of the world’s leading naval powers.
The exercises will last until September 16, and based on their results, one can expect new data on the combat capability and readiness of the Russian army and navy to counter any threats.
