What weapons are stirring up the Arctic?

Arctic is considered to be a place of rich natural resources. Therefore, the race to the North Pole is attracting more and more special guests.

Global climate is warming, Arctic glaciers melt, huge potential economic benefits in the Arctic are increasingly prominent. It is predicted that in the near future, the Arctic may melt into a strategic maritime route from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Therefore, the war of interests in the Arctic between related countries began to tend to 'meet with melting ice' . Top 'noise weapon travelers' stir up the Arctic.

Russian strategic bomber "hard-working"

For the Arctic sky, this is a very hardworking guest, moreover a 'guest' who does not consider himself a guest.

From August 2007 until now, Russia regularly regulates strategic bombers to patrol the air in international waters in the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, often used as bombers. Tu-95 Bear (Bear), Tu-160 BlackJack bomber (Pirate Flag) and Tu-22 long-range bomber.

As a long-range bomber often seen in the Arctic sky, Tu-95 has since been born, the predestined fate is inseparable from the North Pole.

Tu-95 strategic bomber

The aircraft began to be researched in 1951, first tested in 1954, commissioned in 1956, the former Soviet bomber capable of flying through the Arctic, conducting Strategic nuclear bombing.

In addition to the strategic attack, Tu-95 is also used for shooting, electronic reconnaissance, maritime patrol and anti-submarine missions.

Its biggest feature is a long journey, which can fulfill certain strategic mission requirements; but slow speed, not suitable for flying at altitudes below 3000m. Low self-defense ability. But all that did not reduce its enthusiasm anywhere, until one day it met the American F-22 Raptor.

Raptor and Bear first competed on November 22, 2007. New US F-22 stealth aircraft were deployed in Alaska for the first time to block Russian Russian long-range Tu-95H strategic bombers flying to the North Pole to patrol. As the world's most advanced stealth fighter, the F-22 can use 8 air-to-air missiles to attack enemy aircraft within 50 km, with Tu-95H slow, master weak to bomb the ground and spy on the air, it is difficult to fight.'The hero' Bear doesn't want to lose, turned his head back.

Faced with the challenge from the F-22, the Russians could only find ways to improve the radar's reconnaissance ability on long-range bombers and long-range air defense radars. The disadvantage of the F-22 is that it is too short, only about 4000 km, it is difficult to leave the base to the deep sea in the air. Once the Russian long-range bomber infiltrates the ocean sky, the American F-22 can only 'see and sigh' (impulsive force).

The submarine 'perfect area'

So far, the Arctic is the 'forbidden zone' that submarines are always looking forward to. On July 26, 1958, the US ordered the nuclear submarine Nautilus to successfully cross the Arctic. Subsequently, in November 1959, the former Soviet K-3 nuclear submarine operated for the first time in the Arctic, establishing the latest record to submerge to 260 nautical miles of ice.

Since then, the Arctic is a good place to ambush for submarines: There are ice sheets in the Arctic that shield, no need to worry about anti-submarine helicopters or rivals on the board. heaven like an airplane. Under the ice waiting for time, aside from the enemy's strategic nuclear submarine, nothing could threaten them. Furthermore, for ballistic missile launches, the Arctic's surrounding area could also be said to be a flawless area, because submarines could reach the sea according to the plan that could not be detected, at the same time. can shorten missile flight time to the target.

Delta class strategic nuclear submarine

On July 13-14, Russia successfully launched two Sailing missiles from Delta nuclear submarine and hit the target. Before the launch, US reconnaissance methods could not detect the presence of Russian submarines.

As the 'spine' of the Russian nuclear force, Delta class submarines rely on the principle of missiles of any size, equipping such submarines. Owned by the Strategic Arms Restrictions Treaty between the US and Russia, 27 ships have been 'retired' , only 16 are in operation, and in 2008 there were only 5 D-IIIs and 6 D- IV also works.

In it, the nuclear submarine equipped with Delta-IV class ballistic missiles was repaired and named K-18 Carelia, handed over to Russia's Northern Fleet in 2010. Through this repair, The operation time of this vessel will last 10 years, while improving correspondingly on tactics and technical features.

The Northern Fleet is one of four large naval fleets of the Russian Navy, the most important maritime force operating in Russia's Arctic Ocean, possessing a fleet of warships powered by the Navy's largest nuclear engine. Russia, including nuclear attack submarines, nuclear submarines equipped with ballistic missiles and nuclear cruisers. Of these, seven Delta-class ballistic nuclear submarines can conduct strategic deterrent operations for the entire Arctic region.

'Giant Arctic Beast' runs through the ice

Running on the Arctic Ocean, the Russian icebreaking fleet always makes others feel small. At least the British fleet, America felt this.

Perhaps it was an uncontrollable feeling, urging the US to begin work to prepare for the establishment of an icebreaking fleet since 2008. Commander of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Allen then declared : " We are losing our competitive position globally, Russia will complete its plan to build icebreakers powered by new generation nuclear engines, which can ensure Russia owns many icebreakers. heavy after 2020 ".

Arctic-class nuclear icebreaker

The largest nuclear icebreaker in the world, Russia's Arctic (or Arctic) icebreaker can be said to be a real 'Giant Arctic' , 134m long, 30m wide, filling water 23,000 tons, installing 2 nuclear reactors, can be used in the Arctic deep water, the largest ice breaking thickness is 2.8 m.

Ice breakers powered by Arctic-class nuclear engines have repeatedly participated in Russian Arctic expeditions, one of which is the biggest controversial event on August 2, 2007, Russia flagged under the North. Ice Ocean at the northernmost point.

The latest sources said that before 2020, Russia will continue to build 6 icebreakers to bring to the North Pole, in which 3 ships run by nuclear engines.

Arctic turmoil because of Tireless nuclear submarine

It's also an icebreaker, but the British Tireless nuclear-powered submarine is much less effective.

4 hours 20 minutes on March 21, 2007, when conducting joint exercises with American submarines under ice in the waters around the North Pole, the front compartment of Tireless nuclear submarines, the British Navy suddenly burst, 2 people died, 1 seriously injured. After that, the Tireless submarine broke the Arctic and emergency ice layers floating on the sea surface.

Fortunately, the Arctic ice in the place of the incident is not too thick, so the submarine can promptly clear ice. In addition, this explosion did not detonate the surrounding torpedo and cruise missile Tomahawk, otherwise the consequences were unpredictable.

Tireless nuclear submarine

One of seven Trafalgar-class submarines, Tireless nuclear submarine was launched in 1985, 85.4 meters long, 9.8 meters wide, with a maximum underwater speed of 32 knots. It has five torpedo tubes, capable of launching Swordfish heavy torpedoes (Swordfish) and underwater Tomahawk cruise missiles.

According to the Ministry of Defense's statement, just having enough food on board, the Tireless nuclear submarine can run indefinitely. From the Mediterranean to the North Atlantic, each has the presence of Tireless everywhere.

But the disaster that followed this ship was equally outstanding. In 1996, the Tireless nuclear submarine was put on maintenance, and by 1999 it was finished. A year later, a pipeline of a nuclear reactor on the Tireless was leaked, it had to anchor in Gibraltar for a year to maintain and worry tens of millions of locals worried about leaking leaks. Nuclear rust and road protests.

In 2003, after remodeling, when the patrol in the North Pole, the Tireless train hit an unspecified object, which could be an iceberg, causing the vessel's cabin to be damaged, Tireless was forced to return to the base. just to maintain.

The "water" of contemporary transport aircraft joins the Arctic exercises

In the Arctic, there are people who like to flag, someone who likes to break ice, some who like to practice. From 2007 'Arctic Operation 8000 km' in 2007 with 24 soldiers to the August 2011 large-scale 'Polar Bear' exercise, recently announced, Canada's 'Polar Bear' exercise as held once a year. Accordingly, equipment weapons will follow the group to the North Pole.

The "Three Musketeers" exercise is a program in a large-scale 'Polar Bear' exercise, including equipment such as the C-130 Hercules multi-purpose tactical transport aircraft, strategic military transport aircraft C-177 Globemaster, CF-18 Hornet fighter.

C-130 Hercules transport aircraft

Since the beginning of production in 1955 to date, Lockheed's C-130 Hercules is considered a transport aircraft currently in use with the longest and most productive life. The biggest design feature of C-130 is to satisfy the practical needs of tactical air transport, so it is suitable for carrying out air transport tasks.

This type of aircraft is single-winged, 4-engine, has a large storage compartment in the tail. Such arrangements laid the foundation for the design standards for medium-sized transport aircraft, after which most medium-class transport aircraft did not escape this framework. Large numbers of heavy transport aircraft are similarly designed. So, say C-130 is the 'water creature' of contemporary transport aircraft, it doesn't say anything.

C-177 Globemaster transport aircraft

C-177 Globemaster III developed by McDonnell Douglas, has reconciled both strategic and tactical air transport capabilities, is a transport aircraft that can simultaneously be suitable for strategic missions - single tactics Most in the world today, can transport a large amount of materials to directly refuel in the air all over the world, can save / land at regular airport frontline by taking / lowering Ultra-short super wings, taking charge of the logistics department for forces in the front line.

During the rehearsal of "Three Musketeers" , CF-18 Hornet was well known, but unfortunately aging. The type that can replace the CF-18 Hornet is an unmanned fighter aircraft or a combined attack fighter. This issue is becoming a hot topic for Canadian military and academic circles.