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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 10, 2010 11:31:22 GMT -5
Russian Black Sea Fleet to have fewer personnel, better weapons - defense ministry.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet will deploy fewer personnel but have better weaponry in the future, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday citing the defense minister.
"The defense minister said the number of Black Sea Fleet personnel ... would be fewer than the current 24,000," said head of the Federation Council's committee on defense and security Viktor Ozerov.
"We are certainly interested in new weaponry for the Black Sea Fleet," Ozerov cited Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov as saying at a meeting with lawmakers in the Russian parliament.
Russia and Ukraine recently signed an agreement extending the lease on the Russian Black Sea Fleet base in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017.
Russian President Dimitry Medvedev has already instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to prepare a plan for the development of the Sevastopol base, which plays a key role in ensuring Russia's presence in the Black Sea region and the Mediterranean.
According to some Russian naval sources, the Black Sea Fleet could receive up to four frigates and four diesel-electric submarines in the next five years.
MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 11, 2010 13:09:20 GMT -5
Somali Pirates Release 'Asian Glory', Kidnapped Bulgarian Sailors.
Novinite.com
Diplomacy | June 11, 2010, Friday
Somali pirates have released the hijacked UK-owned ship “Asian Glory”, whose crew includes 8 Bulgarian sailors.
The news has been revealed by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, and has been confirmed by the ship operator, UK company Zodiac, and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
The cargo vessel was set free by its Somali pirate hijackers around noon on Friday, local time. The Asian Glory has set sail for Oman escorted by a British naval ship.
The exact conditions under which the pirates have agreed to release the vessel have not been released. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has not provided any information about the condition of the Bulgarian sailors.
In May, unconfirmed reports by relatives of the Ukrainian crew members said the Somali pirates had taken away the Asian Glory captain, Veliko Velikov, who comes from Bulgaria’s Varna, and the rest of the crew had not seen him since March 6.
The "Asian Glory" was hijacked on January 1, 2010, almost 1 000 km off the coast of Somalia, with 10 Ukrainians, 8 Bulgarians, 5 Indians, and 2 Romanians on board. It was loaded with 2 405 cars from South Korean shipped from Singapore to Saudi Arabia.
After the release of the eight Bulgarian sailors from Asian Glory, and the recent release of the St. James Park tanker, where five Bulgarians were held in captivity for more than four months, only the 15-member all Bulgarian crew of the Bulgarian-flagged ship MV Panega remain in the hands of the Somali pirates.
Reports of EUNAVFOR Somalia over the past few months said the pirates might have used the Asian Glory as a mother ship for hijacking operations because the vessel was spotted several times in the open seas off the Somali coast.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 15, 2010 16:58:08 GMT -5
Vid, rt.com/Top_News/2010-06-15/nuclear-submarine-severodvinsk-launch.htmlNew generation nuclear submarine successfully launched in Russia. RussiaToday.com 15 June, 2010, 16:18 Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev traveled to the northwest of the country on Tuesday to join in the launch of a new generation nuclear submarine. The ceremony of launching the submarine of the fourth generation “Severodvinsk” has been held at the Sevmash defense shipyard. The construction of this submarine began in 1993, but due to the financial setbacks that Russia experienced in the late 1990s, the project was deferred. The submarine was completed just recently. The Severodvinsk general-purpose submarine is unique, and there are plans to build six more similar submarines in Russia. At the launch ceremony, Dmitry Medvedev said that this is only the first step in the modernization process of the Russian Navy. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 18, 2010 12:59:38 GMT -5
New Russian nuclear submarine will not enter serial production - paper. A fourth-generation Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine that was floated out on Tuesday is too expensive for serial production, a business daily said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in the northern port of Severodvinsk to attend the official float-out ceremony. The construction of the Severodvinsk, the first Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, began in 1993 at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. Russia planned to float out the submarine on May 7 to mark the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945. Russia's Vedomosti daily said the price of the strategic project was kept secret, but the estimated cost reached $1 billion. Mikhail Barabanov, the editor-in-chief of Moscow Defense Brief magazine, said the submarine's cost was too high to make it viable for serial production. Barabanov told Vedomosti that the U.S. Navy did not produce a large number of advanced Sea Wolf submarines, similar to the Severodvinsk vessel, since they were too expensive. Instead of these, they use cheaper and unsophisticated Virginia-class submarines. The expert said the Russian Navy would probably replace the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine with a more affordable analogue. Barabanov said the second Yasen (Graney) class submarine Kazan was the most probable alternative to the Severodvinsk submarine. Russian experts expect Graney-class submarines to boost the Navy's operational effectiveness and combat capabilities. Graney-class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km), with conventional or nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets. The submarine's armament includes 24 cruise missiles and eight torpedo launchers, as well as the mines and anti-ship missiles. MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) Large Infographic, en.rian.ru/images/15925/52/159255294.jpg |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 23, 2010 19:05:41 GMT -5
Russia floats out 2nd frigate for Indian Navy.
A Russian shipyard took out of dry dock on Wednesday the second of three frigates being built for India's Navy, a Yantar spokesman said.
The ceremony for the Tarkash frigate in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad was attended by senior Russian and Indian military and civilian officials.
The first of three Project 11356 frigates, named the Teg, was floated out last November. The third frigate, Trikand is due to be delivered in 2011-12.
The warships will become modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006.
The new frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.
KALININGRAD, June 23 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 25, 2010 16:41:15 GMT -5
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 26, 2010 8:22:01 GMT -5
Polish Navy salutes new admiral.
IAR/PAP
25.06.2010 11:24
Admiral Tomasz Mathea was appointed the new Admiral of the Fleet of the Polish Navy. He will replace Admiral Andrzej Karweta who died in the presidential plane crash near Smolensk.
Mathea, who previously served as a deputy chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, received the nomination from acting president Bronislaw Komorowski during an official ceremony at the Belvedere.
“The ceremony closes a tragic chapter opened at the moment of the Smolensk tragedy,” said Komorowski, hinting at the tragic death of the previous commander of the Polish Navy, Admiral Andrzej Karweta, who was killed in the presidential plane crash near Smolensk on April 10.
Admiral Mathea stressed that the appointment to the post marks the peak of his career. (mg/jb)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 28, 2010 11:34:10 GMT -5
Russian naval task force to resume anti-piracy mission off Somalia in July.
A task force led by the Admiral Levchenko destroyer will arrive in the Gulf of Aden on July 3 to resume the UN anti-piracy mission near Somalia, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
The previous task force was led by the Udaloy-class guided-missile destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov that took part in liberating the Russian Moscow University tanker hijacked on May 6.
"The task force also includes the Olekma tanker and the tugboat SB-36 of Russia's Black Sea Fleet," the statement said.
The Russian Navy has maintained a presence off the Horn of Africa with warships operating on a rotation basis. Russia joined international anti-piracy efforts off the Somali coast in October 2008.
MOSCOW, June 28 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 29, 2010 5:21:25 GMT -5
New commander to lead Russian Black Sea Fleet from August.
Vice Adm. Vladimir Korolyov will be appointed commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in August, a spokesman for the Russian Navy said on Tuesday.
Korolyov, currently a deputy commander of the Northern Fleet, will replace Vice Adm. Alexander Kletskov, who is due to retire in August.
"The official appointment of Vice Adm. Korolyov is scheduled for August this year," the spokesman said.
Russia's Black Sea Fleet is stationed in Ukraine's port of Sevastopol under a lease agreement. Moscow and Kiev recently signed a deal extending the lease on the fleet's base in Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017.
President Dimitry Medvedev has instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to prepare a plan for the development of the Sevastopol base, which plays a key role in ensuring Russia's presence in the Black Sea region and the Mediterranean.
Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said last week that Russia's Black Sea Fleet will be reinforced with 15 new combat ships and diesel-electric submarines by 2020.
MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jun 30, 2010 8:40:21 GMT -5
Pacific Fleet ships join military drills in Russia's Far East.
Combat ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet started on Wednesday a series of drills in the Sea of Japan as part of the Vostok-2010 strategic exercises in Russia's Far East.
"Ships from the Pacific Fleet are carrying out missions to ensure favorable operational conditions in the Primorye joint task force's zone of control and are also conducting tactical drills in [the Sea of Japan]," said Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet.
The flagships of the Northern and Black Sea fleets, the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser and the Moskva missile cruiser, have also joined the exercises.
The Russian Armed Forces started on Tuesday large-scale Vostok-2010 military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East. The drills, which involve at least 20,000 troops, up to 70 warplanes and 30 warships, will continue through July 8.
Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, stressed on Monday that the drills were not aimed against any one country.
Russia holds Vostok strategic command-and-staff exercises every two years. More than 8,000 troops took part in Vostok-2008.
MOSCOW, June 30 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jul 31, 2010 4:17:08 GMT -5
Russian Navy conducts flight training aboard US ship.
A moment of historic international cooperation at sea took place aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) on July 22.
A Russian Navy KA-26 "Helix" helicopter from the Udaloy I-class Russian destroyer RS Serveromorsk (DDG 619) conducted interoperability deck landing training on board Mount Whitney, developing and solidifying techniques and procedures to a new level.
"I wanted to give both the Russian aircrew and Mount Whitney flight deck crew an experience with each other's procedures and equipment," said USS Mount Whitney Commanding Officer Capt. Karl Thomas. "As we continue to work closer together, this type of cross-training will make us a stronger cohesive team."
Mount Whitney has several qualified landing signals enlisted (LSE) including Military Sealift Command (MSC) civil service mariners and Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Detachment 1.
"This was a great opportunity and experience," said Anthony Brooks, an MSC civil service mariner boatswain's mate and an LSE flight crewman. "Even though this was my first encounter with this country and the type of helicopter platform, I am fortunate to bring four years of experience to the deck plates to make it a smooth evolution. All country partnerships are vital in today's military mission and readiness is always essential."
"I am glad many members of the crew took advantage of the opportunity to witness this unique helicopter, and its very nimble and capable flight characteristics," said Thomas. "This was certainly one of the many highlights of FRUKUS exercise 2010, and a great example of interoperability and teamwork."
FRUKUS, which stands for the participating countries – France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – is a naval exercise focusing on strengthening maritime partnerships and improving interoperability and overall communication between the nations.
Mount Whitney is currently on its scheduled deployment in support of FRUKUS exercise 2010. Mount Whitney is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship homeported in Gaeta, Italy, and operates with a hybrid crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners.
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Sylvia Nealy, USS Mount Whitney Public Affairs
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Post by TsarSamuil on Aug 3, 2010 7:26:12 GMT -5
Russian aircraft carrier blueprint to be ready by yearend - Navy chief.
A technical design for a new-generation aircraft carrier will be ready by the end of the year, the head of the Russian Navy said on Monday.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said several organizations were working on the warship's design, including the Severnoye and the Nevskoye design bureaus.
He said it was too early to say what the new aircraft carrier will look like or what its specifications will be.
"Not even with regard to its displacement. The designers have been given a number of requirements. If they manage to pack everything into a matchbox, they are welcome," he said.
Some Navy experts believe the future aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered with a displacement of 50,000-60,000 tons.
The admiral said the Russian Navy needs carrier battle groups.
"If, for example, we do not have an aircraft carrier in the North, the battle capability of the Northern Fleet's guided-missile submarines will be reduced to zero after Day One because the submarines' principal adversary is aviation," he said.
Vysotsky stressed that a special state program was needed for an aircraft carrier to be built.
MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Aug 3, 2010 7:27:05 GMT -5
Russian Navy to base warships at Syrian port after 2012. Russia's naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said on Monday. "Tartus will be developed as a naval base. The first stage of development and modernization will be completed in 2012," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said, adding it could then serve as a base for guided-missile cruisers and even aircraft carriers. The Soviet-era facility is operated under a 1971 agreement by Russian personnel. Since 1992 the port has been in disrepair, with only one of its three floating piers operational. According to Navy experts, the facility is being renovated to serve as a foothold for a permanent Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in November 2009 Russia would increase its naval presence in the world's oceans. Moscow announced in 2007 that its Navy had resumed and would build up a constant presence throughout the world's oceans. Once one the world's most powerful forces, the Russian Navy now has few ships regularly deployed on the open seas. MOSCOW, August 2 (RIA Novosti)  ---------- Russia's Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser makes port call in Tartus, Syria. visualrian.ru/en/site/feature/55710/  ---------- |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Aug 3, 2010 7:37:22 GMT -5
INFOGRAPHICS (large), Pyotr Veliky – flagship of the Northern Fleet 10:00 30/07/2010 en.rian.ru/infographics/20100730/159998365.htmlThe Pyotr Veliky is the last of the four heavy nuclear-powered missile cruisers constructed under project 1144 Orlan. The Russian Navy 13:23 29/07/2010 en.rian.ru/images/15999/20/159992080.jpgThe Russian Navy comprises the Northern Fleet, the Russian Pacific Fleet, the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Russian Baltic Fleet and the Russian Caspian Flotilla. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Aug 3, 2010 8:48:20 GMT -5
Bulgarian Navy Set to Discard Submarine Force.
Novinite.com
Defense | July 23, 2010, Friday
Bulgaria’s armed forces will most likely do away with their submarine unit, according to Defense Minister Anyu Angelov.
According to the Minister, the life of the only operational Bulgarian submarine “Slava” (i.e. “Glory”), has expired, and it will probably be retired in the coming months which will mean shutting down altogether Bulgaria’s submarine force.
“Calling it a submarine force is too strong because any such unit must include at least two vessels. As you know, we have only one submarine. Its life has expired, and thus the submarine component of the Bulgarian Navy probably won’t exist any more,” declared the Defense Minister in Varna where he observed the international naval drills call “Breeze/Sertex 2010.”
Bulgaria’s submarine force was formally set up as an individual unit during World War I, in 1916. After the end of the war, however, it was shut down as part of the provisions of the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine of 1919 in which the Allies banned Bulgaria from having submarines.
In 1954, the Soviet Union gave Bulgaria three submarines, and in 1958, two more. The Slava submarine was one of the two presented in 1958 and just turned 42. Even though it is deemed operational, it is in a deplorable condition and can only go under water for short intervals of time.
The only other Bulgarian submarine that was operation in the recent years was the Nadezhda (i.e. “Hope”); it has practically been retired for ten years because it lacks a battery. At the beginning of 2009, the Bulgarian Navy considered turning it into a museum.
The mid 1980s, and especially 1983-1985 were the “height” of the Bulgarian submarine force with four fully operational submarines. Two of them were retired immediately after the fall of the communist regime in 1989 because of lack of funds.
In August 2009, the Bulgarian Navy celebrated with an open-door day 55 years since the restoration of its submarine force (see picture).
In 2007, the general staff of the Bulgarian Navy promised that its modernization strategy will provide for purchasing two new submarines, the first of which was supposed to arrive in Varna in 2012. However, these plans have seen little development.
Speaking in Varna on Friday, Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Angelov declared that the army, the air force, and navy must restructure in a way that would allow them to carry out their tasks in spite of any temporary budget constraints.
He revealed that in changes in the structure of the three types of armed forces will be made public in September, and that they will be decided by the commanding staffs of each of these.
“The three types of military forces will continue to exist because they feed the battle spirit of the Bulgarian Army,” Gen. Angelov said.
He also mentioned that the Bulgarian Navy was still supposed to receive three more Panther helicopters from the government’s much troubled procurement deal with Eurocopter. In his words, Bulgaria’s has already paid 60% of the price, and will now pay the remaining 40% as the 2010 Revised State Budget Act is entering into force, and will provide the necessary funds.
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