After its stay in the bay of Havana, the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov carried out various maneuvers in the Atlantic Ocean with the aim of detecting submarines, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Disseminated via the social media platform Telegram and reported by Reuters, the document details that the exercise involved deploying a reconnaissance helicopter to perform "search and tracking tactics" more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the ship.
The aircraft made five landings on the frigate's deck, the same vessel that docked in the port of Cuba's capital on June 12, alongside the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, after conducting a "high-precision missile weapons" exercise in the Atlantic. Since the beginning of the month, the naval squadron of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet has been practicing the use of high-precision missiles through computer simulations and training to repel air attacks, maneuvers that have been monitored by the United States as the squadron was near the coast of Miami, Florida.
Shrouded in controversy, the stay of the Russian Navy flotilla in Cuba lasted for five days and included the tanker Pashin, the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker (SB-131), and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov. At that time, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the visit was in line with the "historic friendship relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation" and adhered "strictly to the international regulations of which Cuba is a state party." They also noted the absence of nuclear weapons on the vessels and asserted that their presence did not pose a threat to the region, although it prompted the deployment of several warships and an anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft by the United States to track the flotilla's course.
Key Aspects of the Russian Frigate's Atlantic Drills
In this section, we address some common questions regarding the recent maneuvers of the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the Atlantic Ocean following its visit to Cuba.
What was the primary objective of the Russian frigate's maneuvers in the Atlantic?
The primary objective was to detect submarines through various search and tracking tactics performed by a reconnaissance helicopter.
Which ships were part of the Russian Navy flotilla that visited Cuba?
The flotilla included the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, the tanker Pashin, and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker (SB-131).
Did the Russian vessels carry nuclear weapons?
No, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there were no nuclear weapons on the vessels.