Controversy over claims of Russian nuclear submarine approaching US naval base

Sergey Starshinov, commander of the Russian nuclear submarine squadron in Gadzhiyevo, said on March 17 that a Project 971 Shchuka-B attack submarine had approached a US military base without being detected by any surveillance systems. However, this statement has sparked controversy among Western military analysts, according toSofrep.

Mr. Starshinov affirmed that the Russian submarine still ensures professionalism in its operations and does not violate US territorial waters, only operating in international waters. Military expert Alex Hollings said that if Starshinov's statementTo be precise, the Shchuka-B is likely to appear just 12 nautical miles off the US coast.

Starshinov's claim is considered questionable, especially since the Russian Defense Ministry has not provided any evidence to support it. The US military has no way to confirm or deny this claim.

Even if the Russian submarine is detected, the US side will likely keep the information secret to avoid revealing identification and response plans. The Pentagon is unlikely to reveal submarine detection technology, especially when the Shchuka-B is still operating in international waters and respecting freedom of navigation.

Analysts say there are two possibilities in this case. First, the Russian submarine succeeded in approaching the US military base without being detected, ready to launch a surprise attack when necessary. The Shchuka-B is one of Russia's most modern and quietest submarine classes, making it suitable for such a secret mission.

This shows the failure of a series of submarine tracking measures developed by the US, including the Persistent Living Underwater Sensor (PALS) or the Anti-Submarine Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program, as well as the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) located in the Atlantic Ocean.

The second possibility is that the approach to the US naval base never happened and this was just a trick by Russia. The incident of the Shchuka-B submarine approaching the US coast was announced not long after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new generation of strategic super weapons, including the devastating torpedo in the Status-6 project. The announcement that the submarine approached the US base without being detected seems to be a propaganda move to emphasize the power of the Russian navy under Mr. Putin.

Although Russia’s claims are still questionable, its submarines have always posed an existential threat to the US. Through this incident, the Russian military likely sent a very specific message that the US is still a potential target of Russia’s nuclear forces, expert Hollings emphasized.