The Russian Navy: A Historic Transition

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union inDecember 1991, Russia inherited the majorityof the former Soviet Navy, including its afloatassets, naval bases, and an extensive networkof shore facilities.The immediate post-Soviet period was fraughtwith major difficulties as the Soviet Navy firstbecame the Commonwealth of IndependentStates CIS Navy and finally transitionedto the Russian Federation Russian NavyRFN. These early years were marked byorganizational disarray and financial neglect asthe Russian leadership focused on the prioritiesof national transformation from the frameworkof the totalitarian and socialist Soviet state intoa fledgling democracy embracing a marketeconomy. During this time of troubles,most naval programs were either suspendedor halted altogether. Only efforts to improvecommand and control systems and lessexpensivenew design work continued to bepursued.