Sentimentality Is Understood ...

 ... but this is filled with overstatements. 

S-3 Viking sub hunter has a warning for Russia’s navy

States the author and continues with ... triviality: 

The S-3 Viking left frontline service years ago, but its record stalking Soviet submarines still hangs over today’s naval standoffs in the North Atlantic and Arctic. As Russia leans harder on undersea power to challenge NATO sea lanes, the Viking’s history reads less like nostalgia and more like a pointed reminder of what a dedicated carrier-based sub hunter can do to a fleet that underestimates it.

The reason this piece is a) trivial and b) therapeutic is simple: ANY submariner in the world knows that the WORST enemy of any sub, be it Russian, American, Chinese (especially Chinese) or British with French is ASW/Patrol aircraft. The truism goes--if you see the P3 Orion/P8 Poseidon/Il-38N in periscope--you are dead. Vikings were excellent ASW aircraft, deeply respected both in the US Navy and by Russians. But here is the trick, once long-range anti-shipping missiles entered the fray the issue of Flaming Datum grew in significance because as of 2025 even with Jet-powered aircraft such as S-3 Viking was or P-8 Poseidon is--you need to still get low and slow to allow MAD to search for any kinky signature. And as you might understand everything revolves around Operational Sweep which say ASW helicopters (the only ASW aircraft available for ASW duties on carriers) cannot provide in the times when your Datum is many hundreds kilometers away. Here is a very crude explanation of the POD (Probability Of Detection) depending on Operational Sweep. 

And here is a reminder (again), that in modern conditions, the Flaming Datum (a position from which enemy sub can launch at Carrier Battle Group) could be removed from the US Navy force up to 1,500 kilometers--this is the area of 7 million square kilometers. Nothing today can ensure security of any NATO's fleet in the open ocean against the carriers of P-800 Onyx (1,000 + km range) and 3M22 Zircon (1,500 km range). And I will remind you AGAIN--this is how search area looks like:

Good luck, especially considering NATO's air defense systems. Correct, Russians looked at the "warning" and decided to change not just rules of ASW chess, but simply change the chessboard. That is why Sergei Lavrov yesterday stated what I was stating for the last 11 years. As per S-3 Vikings--excellent ASW jets for their time, a feared and respected enemy:

I know some of my friends will have a sentimental moment. We all do once in a while.