In recent years, the Russian Navy has announced a series of shipbuilding plans and modernized various types of ships in active service, not only to enhance its traditional anti-ship, air defense and anti-submarine capabilities, but also to equip it with long-range ground strike capabilities by installing "caliber" cruise missiles, and even to give some ships the ability to launch "Zircon" hypersonic missiles.
For now, the Russian Navy is still in a continuous recession, and in the absence of sufficient capital investment and the shrinking military shipbuilding industry, this situation is difficult to change in a short period of time. Previously, the Russian Navy has made efforts to make up for some of its shortcomings by purchasing equipment such as the legal "Northwest Wind" amphibious assault ship, but with the occupation of Crimea in 2014, whether it is the purchase of advanced Western ships, or the introduction of Western advanced technology or key components, it is impossible to achieve it again.
The 2 "Northwest Winds" purchased by Russia are now Egyptian
Under these circumstances, some Russian analysts have explored whether it is possible for the West to buy advanced ships or critical systems from China instead of the East in the field of introducing advanced naval vessels. After all, the rapid development of the Chinese Navy in recent years is obvious to all, and the Russian Navy is particularly concerned. Previously, the Russian shipbuilding industry has purchased equipment such as naval diesel engines (which seem to have been completely banned recently) from China, and even some analysts have suggested buying the hull and power system of the 054 frigate, and then installing Russian-made weapons, electronic equipment and command systems to make up for the shortcomings of the Russian Navy's large surface warships.
Now, russian analysts are optimistic about the purchase of Chinese-made special auxiliary ships of the Navy, including integrated supply ships, hospital ships and dock landing ships. But the problem is that these suggestions basically come from analysts, the Russian Navy and the Kremlin have never made a formal statement, for Sino-Russian military cooperation, the Kremlin seems to be accustomed to one-way export of advanced technology and equipment, for reverse imports, there are many concerns, including can be exported and inconvenient to export.
In fact, from the perspective of Russia's military shipbuilding industry alone, there are huge difficulties in buying any type of large and medium-sized military ships from China. In contrast, the Russian military shipbuilding industry is facing problems such as shrinking scale, loss of personnel, and unsatisfactory technology and quality control, not to mention the continuous delay in delivery and frequent accidents.
However, if you really buy large and medium-sized surface ships made in China, not to mention the stubborn conservatives and powerful interest groups in the Russian military shipbuilding industry, from the perspective of industry development alone, the purchase of Chinese products means that the Russian military shipbuilding industry has lost limited military orders, and for the shrinking Russian military shipbuilding industry, without these military orders, it will make its operating rate more miserable, whether it is for the continuation of technology or the retention of talents, it is extremely unfavorable. The Kremlin also needs to consider the development or problems of Russia's military shipbuilding industry, which is also the fundamental reason why many governments know that their own ships have high quality and high prices, but still continue to inject capital into their own military shipbuilding industry.