As previously reported by World Stage, Today the Russian frigate “Almirante Gorshkov” arrived in Cuba and the nuclear submarine “Kazan” is expected to arrive in Cuban port on Wednesday, accompanied by a tanker and a tugboat. This action appears to be a show of force, with the aim of “destabilizing” the United States by placing Zircon missiles in Cuba, using two of Russia’s most modern ships.
The United States has responded to this Russian maneuver with a vigilant but not overly concerned attitude. The situation is tense, as Russia has positioned its newest ships near the US fleet. However, one must also consider how this action could influence Russia’s allies.
Although this is not the first time that Russian Navy ships have visited the Caribbean country, some point out that this time it would be the visit with the largest number of naval units of its type in years.
By deploying its Zircon missiles in Cuba, which has not publicly endorsed Russian actions in Ukraine, the Kremlin appears to be assessing the terrain. Despite Cuba’s neutrality, Ukrainian analysts point out that Cuba does not prevent the recruitment of mercenaries for Russian forces. Therefore, Russia likely seeks to use this naval visit as a strategic gesture to exert influence in Cuba.
Cuba, an exotic destination for the Russian Navy
Cuba’s current arsenal includes several hundred T-62 and PT-76, although these models are more than 60 years old and the total combat vehicles barely exceed 400 units. Regarding artillery, Cuba has approximately 1,700 systems, most from the second half of the 1940s and 1960s. Cuban air defense is based on S-75 and S-125 systems, some improved with T-55 chassis, and their Combat aviation has five MiG-29 and MiG-21, the technical status of which is uncertain. It also has 12 Mi-35 helicopters and 20 Mi-8 helicopters, with unknown operational status.
At first glance, Russia could consider Cuba as a source of mercenaries for its conflict in Ukraine, given that the naval technologies appear to be from the Fidel Castro era. However, during the USSR, Cuba acted as a representative in Moscow’s conflicts in Africa, therefore future cooperation on this continent is to be expected, mainly due to the latest events in Libya and Niger on the part of Russia.
Characteristics of the weapons deployed by Russia
The 3M22 Zircon, also known as Tsirkon, is a hypersonic cruise missile developed by Russia, designed to be launched from ships and submarines, offering versatility in naval warfare. This missile is part of Russia’s effort to modernize its military capabilities and maintain a strategic advantage.
Although the dimensions of the Zircon have not been officially revealed, it is estimated to be between 8 and 10 meters long and have a diameter of approximately 0.6 to 0.7 meters. It uses a scramjet engine, which allows it to reach speeds of up to Mach 9, significantly reducing the reaction time of enemy defenses. It can maneuver at high speeds and fly at altitudes between 30 and 40 kilometers, with inertial navigation and active radar localization, ensuring high precision.
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Source: Bulgarian Military
