Missiles, Radar & ☢ Nuclear Weapons.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia unveils evidence on missile that US claims violates INF Treaty, Washington snubs briefing.

RT.com
23 Jan, 2019 14:14

The Russian military presented evidence contrary to the US claim that Moscow possesses a missile which violates the terms of the INF Treaty. The Americans had been invited to the event but apparently were not interested.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was signed by the US and the USSR to denuclearize the European continent. The treaty bans ground-based missiles with a range between 500km and 5,500km – plenty of which had been deployed by both sides of the Cold War by the time it was signed. The US is about to scrap it, citing alleged violations by Russia.

Despite claims from Washington, the American move is motivated by America’s self-interest, not anything done by Russia, told journalists on Wednesday Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. He took part in a joint conference with top generals from the Russian Defense Ministry, meant to provide extra details about the missile, which the US claims are in breach of the INF. The diplomat stressed that complaints from Washington are simply a pretext to walk away from the deal, which the current US leadership no longer wants.

“The recent events make it obvious that some forces in the US are not interested in allowing us to overturn through technical expert dialogue the erroneous – or even fabricated – information, which could resolve this issue once and for all. Hyping up this problem was not done to simply resolve it, obviously.”

Speaking alongside Ryabkov was General Lieutenant Mikhail Matveevsky, the commander of the Russian Missile and Artillery Troops, who went into details about the 9M729 missile, the one that the Americans claim to be violating the agreement. Washington says it has intelligence data, which prove that the projectile was tested several years ago for a range banned by the INF. But apparently, it was not interested in evidence from Russia, since no American experts were sent to the event, according to Ryabkov.

The missile, Gen. Matveevsky said, is an upgraded variant of the 9M729, a cruise missile launched by the Iskander-M launcher. Compared to the older version, the 9M729 has a heavier, more powerful warhead, and a more accurate but bulkier targeting system. This required increasing the missile’s length and the size of its transport and launch container.

The size increase made it incompatible with the launcher used for the 9M728 version, so the defense ministry had a new launcher developed for it. It is bigger and carries four 9M729 missiles, compared to two for the 9M728 variant. He showed diagrams of both weapons for comparison.

The increased size had an impact on the range of the 9M729, which is not only below the threshold of the INF, but also about 10km lower than that of the 9M728. The bigger missile can fly up to 480 km, and was tested to that range during a major military exercise in 2017, the official said.

Gen. Matveevsky stressed that the 9M729 is a solid-propellant missile that is sealed in its container at the plant and can not be modified in the field.

As for the US claim that one test of the missile breached the terms of the INF, Matveevsky assured the intelligence was wrong. The launch pad, from which the supposedly violating launch was made, is used by other branches of the Russian armed forces to test their weapons. Those include long-range strategic missiles, the tests of which are conducted with prior notifications of the US, as is required by the transparency rules between the two countries. The general provided statistics for test launches conducted from the site between 2008 and 2014 for reference.

The journalists were also given a chance to compare the 9M728 and the 9M729, which were displayed in their containers, and inspect the 9M729 launcher. According to Ryabkov, US military inspectors were offered a chance to take part in the Wednesday event, but Washington chose to ignore it. US officials reportedly said there was no sense inspecting the Russian missile since the Russian side refused to allow opening it up and seeing its classified internal structure.

The diplomat reiterated Russia’s own complaints about US actions, which Moscow sees a violation of the INF, including the use of intermediate-range target missiles during tests of ABM weapons. Russia believes that the INF has to be preserved, Ryabkov added, but stressed that it will not destroy its stockpile of 9M729 missiles, as demanded by the US.

The US indents to withdraw from the INF on February 2, after last-ditch talks in Geneva failed to resolve the stand-off.

[TsarSamuil]

US withdraws from INF Treaty in 180 days – Pompeo.

RT.com
1 Feb, 2019 13:38

Washington has suspended its participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said, adding that it may return to the agreement in 180 days if Moscow meets its demands.

“The US… suspends its obligations under the INF Treaty effective February 2,” Pompeo told journalists during a briefing.

He also said that Washington will notify Russia and other states that it fully withdraws from the accord in six months.

Pompeo repeatedly blamed Moscow for this development while accusing it of “brazenly” and “shamelessly” violating the agreement. He also once again issued an ultimatum to Moscow.

“If Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance with the treaty within the six-month period by verifiably destroying its INF-violating missiles, their launchers and associated equipment, the treaty will terminate,” he said.

At the same time, he still claimed that the US “is hoping that we can put our relationship with Russia on a better footing.” However, he said that Moscow should change its course from what he called “destabilizing activity not only on this issue but on other issues as well.”

Russia has repeatedly rejected the allegations concerning its perceived violation of the treaty. Most recently, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that many pieces of 'evidence' that the US has put forward to support its accusations against Russia were in fact “fabricated.”

Moscow also took an unprecedented step in terms of transparency and unveiled extra details about the missile, which is still under development in Russia, at a public event in late December. The US claims the missile is in breach of the INF Treaty. The Americans, who had been invited as well, did not appear at the event.

Signed by the US and the USSR back in 1987, the INF Treaty has been a cornerstone of European security for years. The agreement banned ground-based missiles with a range between 500km and 5,500km – plenty of which had been deployed by both sides in the Cold War at that time.

Over recent years, the US has been accusing Russia of violating the accord by building missiles it prohibited – something that Moscow vehemently denied.

[TsarSamuil]

Putin greenlights creation of hypersonic mid-range missile as US suspends INF Treaty.

RT.com
2 Feb, 2019 09:58

Russia will start developing a new type of mid-range missile as it suspends the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). The decision comes in response to the US halting its participation in the agreement.

"I agree with the proposal… to create a ground-based hypersonic mid-range missile," President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with the nation’s defense chief and foreign minister on Saturday. He also endorsed the army’s suggestion to make a ground-based model of the Kalibr cruise missile, which is currently fitted on planes, warships, and submarines.

However, if Moscow acquires short and mid-range missiles, it won’t deploy them in Europe or “other regions of the world” unless Washington does it first, Putin explained.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained that making the new weapon will be a “retaliatory measure” against the US, which he said has already been developing its own short and mid-range missiles, “in real breach” of the INF Treaty.

Russia’s foreign affairs chief, Sergei Lavrov, also stressed that Washington acted in “direct violation” of the 1987 deal. Among other ways, it has been done by deploying Mk 41 launchers in Europe as part of the US missile defense program. The launchers are “absolutely capable” of carrying mid-range Tomahawk missiles and that can be done easily and “without modification.”

Putin announced earlier that Russia is halting its participation in the INF Treaty. This was done in response to a six-month suspension of the agreement by Washington.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banned all ground-based missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500km, as well as their launchers. The US threatened to scrap the deal, unless Moscow stops testing and deploying its 9M729 missiles, which Washington claims exceed the permitted range. Russia denied the accusations, maintaining that the tests were done in strict accordance with the agreement.

[TsarSamuil]

Ukraine's new Neptune cruise missile is far from being God of Sea.

Mikhail Khodarenok, military commentator for RT.com. He is a retired colonel. He served as an officer at the main operational directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
12 Feb, 2019 13:23

Ukraine's new cruise missile, the Neptune, widely promoted by Kiev, is nothing but 'a lightly-modernized variant' of the Russian-made Kh-35 anti-ship missile, writes the National Interest. But that's not the only issue with it.

First, let's take a look at the missile at question. The Neptune is a Ukrainian subsonic low-altitude anti-ship missile designed to destroy vessels with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons, as well as hit ground targets. The Neptune – developed by Ukrainian manufacturer Luch Design - can be launched from ships, coastal missile systems and combat aircraft.

Ukraine's Navy plans to use the anti-ship missile as the primary weapon of its promising Vespa missile boats. However, the construction of the actual craft to carry the missile is still at the planning stage. The Neptune was unveiled at the international Arms and Security exhibition in Kiev back in 2015, and was created based on the designs of the Soviet Kh-35 anti-ship missile. The initial tests were conducted on March 22, 2016.

According to the National Interest, an American magazine, the missile has a range of just under 300 km and is equipped with a 150-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead. With a cruising speed of Mach 0.8 to Mach 0.85, the Neptune also boasts a new inertial guidance system and active radar seeking.

Kiev believes that the cruise missile can provide Ukraine with a deterrent against Russia in the Sea of Azov, the magazine writes.

But how well does the Neptune meet the requirements of modern-day warfare? The Neptune being a 'reincarnation' of the Kh-35 does not require any further discussion. It is an indisputable fact, and there is no need to go looking for a Soviet 'fingerprint' in Ukraine's new weapon – the link is far too obvious.

There is, however, a number of other facts to look at and interesting conclusions to be made. In Soviet times, the Kh-35 was never really at the center of attention. Back then, the country prioritized the development of cruise missiles that could sink a nuclear-powered strike carrier. In this context, the Kh-35 looked modest, if not harmless. The missile was clearly unsuitable for use against enemy aircraft carriers, and the principal 'commissioner' – the Soviet Navy, that is – was less enthusiastic about sinking all other enemy ships, which could well be achieved with the Kh-35.

In fact, the Kh-35 was a kind of a counterpart to the US Harpoon anti-ship missile, developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Soviet missile was conceived and created around the same period. The missile was a result of the technological achievements of the 1970s – which means that restarting its production would be a relatively easy task for modern Ukraine.

Today, this type of missile does not represent any serious achievement in the field of guided weapons, and neither is it a technological breakthrough of any kind. By its characteristics, it is significantly inferior to modern Russian missiles of a similar class.

Moreover, this missile is optimized for cost-effectiveness rather than for combat capabilities. By its very design, it is relatively easy-to-make and inexpensive. This is the reason why the navies of so many countries in the world keep similar missiles in service – examples would include France's Exocet missiles and the aforementioned Harpoon missiles (even in its earliest iterations). One could say that the Kh-35 fills its niche on the market as a tool that has a number of combat applications.

It should be noted though that anti-air defense on modern warships is extremely robust, multi-layered and effective. It could easily shoot down a missile like the Neptune, and do so from afar, without much effort or any cunning tactical maneuvers.

In other words, first-rate naval forces of the world – which are not known to cut corners in order to save a buck or two – would consider a missile like this neither a threat nor a useful investment. Things like higher cruising speed are much more in demand today.

The thing is, the Kh-35-type missile has a lot of other potential uses – and in this respect it could well remain viable for at least fifty more years. One could easily imagine a hypothetical scenario in which, say, a missile boat of one state opens fire on a cargo ship of a different state and hits it, successfully completing a combat operation. Besides, it would be unreasonable and wasteful to use a heavy anti-ship missile (which costs at about $5 million) to achieve the same goal.

That is why the Kh-35 and its alternatives remain a sort of a mass consumer product on the modern anti-ship weapons market. They do not possess remarkable speed, have no stealth capabilities and are not equipped with any fancy tactical system that allows a swarm of missiles to link up with one another and change formation depending on the situation.

In other words, the Kh-35-type missiles are a fairly simple design, which is why Ukraine's technological expertise is more than enough to start its mass production. This part is quite obvious.

The question is, though, what kind of targets is Kiev going to aim at? If it intends to fire at a warship or a detachment of warships equipped with modern anti-air systems, then the effect would be, obviously, close to nil.

Then again, exactly what is Ukraine going to use as a platform to launch its Neptune missiles from? At the moment, Kiev has no ships capable of carrying a missile launcher of this class.

One could consider the possibility of Ukraine using its aircraft as carriers for the missiles, but that leads to the issue of having to integrate an anti-ship missile system into a Ukrainian plane. To say this task would be difficult is an understatement. Also, it is not clear which types of Ukrainian planes can even house a missile like that. Basically, Kiev would have to carry out a whole new research and development project. This, in turn, opens up another set of issues. For example, Ukraine currently does not have any aircraft with an open avionics architecture. This means that Kiev would have to significantly alter the design of the prospective carrier.

At this point, it should be noted that there is not a single type of aircraft without an open avionics architecture that has had a Kh-35 missile integrated into it. Of course, it is theoretically possible to rig the aircraft with the missile system in some primitive, crude way, without connecting it to the onboard radar.

But that would raise yet another issue: what distance from the target would allow for an effective launch of the missile in a combat situation? In this case, the carrier aircraft would have to get so close to the target ship that it might lead to visual detection. If that happens, the aircraft could be easily destroyed by the ship's anti-air system. Which leads us back to the question – what is the point of having this type of an anti-ship missile?

That is not to say that, as a missile, the Neptune would be useless. However, when marketed as a complete and operational weapons system that would create some fundamentally new opportunities for Ukraine's armed forces, it looks severely underwhelming.

As a ground-based missile system, the Neptune could still be used in counter-amphibious assault operations, preventing the enemy from landing on Ukrainian shores. And this is something the potential adversary would have to take into account. But in terms of naval operations, one could hardly imagine a use for the Neptune right now.

That said, in this day and age Kiev prefers not to formulate any meaningful answers. Or analyze any problems. Or even raise these sorts of questions.

[TsarSamuil]

Poland buying $414mn of US rocket artillery to ‘guarantee its security’

RT.com
14 Feb, 2019 05:12

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s calls to “strengthen resistance” against Russia has resonated with Poland’s leadership, as the country signed a $414-million deal to purchase an American weapons system.

A product of Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, the M142 HIMARS is capable of launching both rocket artillery and tactical ballistic missiles with an estimated operational range of 480km. Along with the US Army and Marine Corps, HIMARS is presently operated by the UAE, Jordan and Singapore. In 2017, the US reportedly deployed the systems in southern Syria to protect its base in Al Tanf.

Poland has repeatedly turned to the US to complete the country’s military modernization program. Warsaw has already signed contracts with Washington to buy more drones, Black Hawk helicopters, and most notably the Patriot air-defense system which alone cost a staggering $4.75 billion. The country justified the military splurges with the unsurprising refrain of “Russian aggression.”

The HIMARS purchase was formalized on Wednesday in the presence of another top US official – Vice-President Mike Pence, who came to Warsaw for a conference on the Middle East.

The deal comes amid reports that the US is going to increase its military deployment in Poland. In a statement on Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed that the two countries are “continuing discussions,” but stressed that “no agreements have been reached.”

Last year, it was reported that Poland offered to pay $2 billion to build ‘Fort Trump’ – a permanent base for American troops in the country intended to deter the supposed Russian threat.

Moscow has repeatedly criticized the US deployment of troops and components of its missile-defense shield on Polish territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the Polish proposal to host a US base “a sovereign decision,” but warned that “the consequences for the general atmosphere” in Europe would be “obvious.”

[TsarSamuil]

No limits for 'Russian Tomahawks'? What we know about Moscow’s new nuclear cruise missile.

RT.com
17 Feb, 2019 10:09

Russia’s new nuclear cruise missile has entered the final stage of development following reports of successful tests. Officials say Burevestnik ('Storm Petrel') will have "unlimited" range and can outmaneuver any known defenses.

The missile’s nuclear power unit was successfully tested back in January, Russian media reported on Friday, citing sources. This "crucial" stage of testing "confirmed" that the reactor allows the missile to travel to an "unlimited range."

The military didn’t officially confirm the story, and it is not clear where and when the test reportedly took place. The videos released by the missile’s development team earlier showed how the engineers, dressed in all white and wearing safety masks, were carefully examining the prototype at an undisclosed location. The weapon itself was partially covered in the footage.

The weapon’s ambitious concept was unveiled by President Vladimir Putin during his State of the Nation address last March. The 9M730 Burevestnik, known as SSC-X-9 Skyfall under its NATO reporting name, is designed as a nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed intercontinental cruise missile capable of traveling "unlimited distances." It is even able to circle around the globe for days, if required.

The military says that its ability to traverse virtually any distance will be coupled with an equally astounding "unlimited ability to maneuver." It will make the missile extremely hard to intercept while penetrating an enemy’s defenses.

If the weapon becomes fully operational, Moscow will be able to launch missiles "from the Asian mainland, program them to cross the Pacific, go around South America, and penetrate US airspace from the Gulf of Mexico," Popular Mechanics wrote earlier this week.

Last week, Washington DC-based publication the Diplomat reported that the missile went through a "partially successful" test on January 29 at a site in southern Russia. The report, which cited US government sources, noted that "no country to date" has deployed a nuclear-powered cruise missile due to "engineering challenges" and safety concerns.

If successfully deployed, Burevestnik will indeed be unprecedented, given its features and capabilities. At the same time, its purpose is somewhat similar to the US long-range Tomahawk naval cruise missiles, except that their maximum range is limited to 2,500km (1,550 miles).

The Russian missiles' 'sister' project, the Poseidon nuclear-powered drone submarine, will undergo its sea trials this summer, the sources told local media. The project reportedly underwent successful nuclear power unit testing as well. Earlier reports suggested that the drone, which was described as a large nuclear-capable torpedo, would be able to travel at a speed up to 200kph (125mph) and dive as deep as 1km.

[TsarSamuil]

"Like a Knife Through Butter": New Russian "Zircon" Hypersonic Missiles Will SHRED Through NATO.

Vesti News
Feb 22, 2019



Now, we/ll discuss the military part of the address. Experts are commenting on the most advanced weapons which the president spoke about yesterday, such as Zircon the hypersonic missile.

[TsarSamuil]

Тop Anchor Kiselev: New Zircon Hypersonic Missiles Can Hit Every Single Important US Command Center!

Vesti News
Feb 25, 2019



Vladimir Putin raised the issue of justice in the final part of his Address to the Federal Assembly, devoting it to security. It was about international justice, meaning that only equal security is fair. And since the United States has decided to unilaterally withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and is going to deploy such missiles in Europe, Putin made it clear what dangers such a step poses for Russia, given that such missiles will be able to reach Moscow within 10-12 minutes.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia suspends INF Treaty with US - Kremlin.

RT.com
4 Mar, 2019 14:00

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree enacting Russia’s suspension of the INF Treaty, a move that was announced after a similar decision by the US. The weapons control agreement was set to expire in less than six months.

Russia is putting on ice the Cold War-era agreement, which resulted in significant demilitarization of the European continent. The US will be formally notified about the decision.

The INF Treaty may be revived if the US “eliminates its earlier violations of its obligations” under the deal, according to the decree published by the Kremlin on Monday. Otherwise it will simply expire and cease to exist.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty came into force in 1988 and banned both the Soviet Union and the US from developing and deploying land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. The agreement was signed to de-escalate tensions in Europe, where both countries had dozens of such missiles deployed, posing a risk of an accidental nuclear exchange. The missiles only needed minutes to reach their targets, leaving a very small window for the other side to decide whether a detected attack was a real one, requiring immediate retaliation, or a false positive.

The preservation of the agreement had been under threat for over a decade, with both sides complaining about the other not fully complying with its terms. The US claimed that Russia had secretly developed a missile that violated the INF – an accusation that Moscow denies.

Russia had two major complaints. One is that the US’ use of intermediate-range missiles in the development of anti-missile technology still meant that it was deploying and testing banned missiles.

The other was that the creation of AEGIS Ashore, a ground-based version of the naval system, which can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles in addition to missile interceptors. The US insists that AEGIS Ashore launchers in Romania and Poland are purely defensive, but Moscow sees them as potential launching pads for an attack on Russian territory.

Last year, the Trump administration announced that unless Russia destroys its stockpiles of the missile that the US claims to be in violation of the treaty, Washington would withdraw from the INF. With negotiations failing to resolve the situation, the US announced its formal suspension of the treaty in early February.

Russia said it would do the same and accused the US of duplicity, saying Washington was using its claim about the Russian missile as a pretext to abandon the deal, which it no longer finds convenient.

Moscow says it has no intention of building and deploying intermediate-range, nuclear-capable missiles on its land, unless the US does so first. But if it does, Russia has both the technology and the production capacity to respond swiftly and restore parity in nuclear forces, President Putin warned in his latest State of the Nation address. He warned that Russian missiles would target not only American missiles in Europe, but also “centers of decision” from which an order to deliver a strike against Russia may be issued.

[TsarSamuil]

This mosquito stings like hell: Watch Russian sailors hone SUPERSONIC missile-firing skills.

RT.com
5 Apr, 2019 11:22

The crews of two guided missile corvettes of the Russian Black Sea Fleet tested their skills during a test-fire of their primary weapon, the supersonic anti-ship missile P-270 Moskit.

The Tarantul-III-class corvette Ivanovets and her sister ship R-60 took part in a naval exercise, which included a successful missile attack on a target some 55km away, according to a report by Zvezda TV, the official news channel of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The 500-ton, 56 meter-long ships are part of the legacy corvette fleet that remains in service in three of the four Russian fleets.

The P-270 Moskit (“mosquito” in Russian) ramjet supersonic missile is the primary armament of the model, meant to destroy enemy warships up to 90km away. The projectile flies close to the surface to avoid early radar detection and relies on its high speed and rapid maneuvers during the final phase to beat the target’s anti-missile defenses.

A Tarantul-class corvette carries four such missiles, each of which has 150kg of explosives in its warhead – enough to sink a 20,000 ton ship on a good hit. During exercises a dummy is commonly used, so that the accuracy of the attack can be assessed.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia Upgrading Soviet-Era Grad Multiple Launch Rocket Systems - Manufacturer.

MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE 12:52 25.05.2019

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) Grad, which was developed in the Soviet Union, is being upgraded to the level of new-generation Tornado-G systems, the deputy general director of Russian ammunition manufacturer Techmash, Aleksandr Kochkin said.

"Not so long ago, new Tornado-G MLRS was put on duty. Its operations are automated as much as possible. Today, on the basis of the scientific and technical backlog, which was obtained while creating this system, a project is being implemented to modernize the BM-21 Grad to the level of Tornado-G," Kochkin said.

Earlier in May, Kochkin said that the Russian Armed Forces had received the first batch of modernised Tornado-S.

In late 2018, Russian Land Forces Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleg Salyukov said that Tornado-S systems with improved range and firing accuracy and an expanded choice of high-performance missiles were planned to be delivered to the troops.

The field 122-millimeter divisional MLRS BM-21 Grad is designed to destroy open and sheltered manpower, unarmored vehicles and armored personnel carriers in the area where artillery and mortar batteries, command posts and other targets are concentrated.

The Tornado-G is a modernised version of the BM-21 Grad MLRS. The system has an increased fire effectiveness, more powerful ammunition, and automated guidance, aiming, and navigation equipment.

[TsarSamuil]

Russia studies possibility of creating electromagnetic missiles.

Military & Defense May 24, 8:32 UTC+3

According to open sources, electromagnetic projectiles generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse when blown up

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. The concern Techmash (part of Rostec) is considering the possibility of creating projectiles for multiple launch rocket systems that will hit targets with electromagnetic pulses, Techmash Deputy Director General Alexander Kochkin told TASS.

"The issue of creating such projectiles is being discussed. There are conceptual ideas which we are ready to put in place should there be any request from the customer," Kochkin said, answering the question on the designing of missile projectiles for multiple launch rocket systems with warheads that would generate electromagnetic impulses, as well as electronic warfare missiles. He added that the state customer in the person of the Russian Defense Ministry has not issued any technical enquiries for such projectiles yet.

According to open sources, electromagnetic projectiles generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse when blown up. Experts stopped referring this type of projectiles to electronic warfare means as they not just suppress, jam or create a false electronic environment, but also hit an enemy’s target, "burning" missile homing heads, means of communication, satellite navigation and operation, etc.

It was earlier reported that some countries, such as the US, Israel and Russia, are carrying out work to create such weapons.

[TsarSamuil]

But selling to the Turks is ok!?

Iran Asked Russia to Sell S-400 But Was Refused - Report.

Sputnik
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE 20:00 30.05.2019

The sale of Russian S-400 systems has already resulted in issues, as Turkey has come under criticism and restrictions from the US after Ankara made it clear that it would proceed with its acquisition of the Russian air defences in accordance with a deal concluded back in 2017.

Bloomberg said Thursday, citing its sources, that Russia had refused to sell Iran its S-400 air defence systems. According to the agency, Russia explained its decision by saying that such a move would escalate tensions in the region.

The Russian Ministry of Defence hasn't commented on the issue yet.

The report comes as tensions between the US and Iran reached a new level earlier this month, when the US imposed more anti-Iranian sanctions and sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a squadron of B-52 bombers, and Patriot interceptors to the Middle East to grapple with what Washington describes as a threat emanating from Iran.

Tehran, meanwhile, announced that it would partially suspend its commitments under the nuclear deal, having set a 60-day deadline for the five remaining signatories to the deal — Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany — to ensure that Iranian interests are protected or else the country would resume enriching uranium at higher levels.

[TsarSamuil]

sputniknews.com/military/201906041075613048-russia-mystery-abm-missile-launch/

S-500, Is That You? WATCH Russia Test Mystery 'Modernised ABM Missile'

Sputnik
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE 14:16 04.06.2019

The defence ministry has remained mum on the nature and specifications of the new weapon, only confirming that the test was successful.

A new video released Tuesday by the defence ministry shows the test firing of an unnamed "modernised missile of the Russian ABM [Anti-Ballistic Missile] system".

The footage, shot at the Sary-Shagan test site in Kazakhstan, shows the missile blasting off at blistering speed. It's not clear whether the video was sped up, perhaps to hide some of the missile's secret characteristics, or if it was its real-time speed.

Zvezda, the defence ministry's official television channel, has revealed more information about the test launch, releasing a video of over two minutes showing the missile as it was transported to the test site, transferred to a special hauler, placed it into an underground missile silo and deployed to launch position.

The rocket's size and weight characteristics gleaned from the second video seems to reject theories on social media that the test missile was an S-500, with some internet users speculating that it was in fact an upgraded A-135 anti-ballistic missile, a defensive system designed to intercept various classes of enemy nuclear warheads, but also various other airborne targets if necessary.

Col. Vladimir Sergienko, deputy commander of Russia's anti-missile defence, confirmed to Zvezda that the Aerospace Forces had "successfully conducted a new test launch of a new rocket for the Russian system of anti-missile defence", but did not offer any more details.

Moscow has expressed concern over recent changes in US nuclear policy, particularly after Washington began the process of withdrawing from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty earlier this year and reportedly declined to negotiate the future of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Earlier, Russia expressed worry over the US deployment of components of its anti-missile shield in Poland and Romania, saying that these defensive systems could easily be converted to carry offensive strategic arms. In February, President Vladimir Putin warned that if Washington went ahead with the deployment of new short and medium-range missiles in Europe after withdrawing from the INF, Russia would be "forced to respond accordingly to restore the global strategic balance".

[TsarSamuil]

WATCH Russia’s newest Mi-28 helicopter test-firing secretive anti-tank weapon (VIDEO)

RT.com
23 Jun, 2019 10:34

A latest version of the Mi-28 attack helicopter was filmed firing a state-of-the-art missile that can hit and destroy an armored target at a distance of several kilometers.

The Mil Mi-28NM is now undergoing trials at a testing ground outside Russia before entering service with the Russian Air Force. As part of the test, the newest anti-tank missile was mounted on the helicopter to check its capabilities.

The weapon turns out to be so secretive that Zvezda (Star), the Defense Ministry’s broadcaster, which filmed the trials, had to blur it completely. Its name is also classified, as the aircraft designer in charge of the Mi-28 only referred to it as the “multipurpose guided missile,” or LMUR in Russian.

The footage then shows the helicopter flying towards a mock target and launching the missile. In a matter of seconds, a large explosion destroys it entirely.

The LMUR is said to be powerful enough to engage any enemy target at ranges of up to several kilometers. The feature allows the crew to fire from such distances without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

Russian media reported that the Air Force is set to take delivery of 100 Mi-28’s in the NM version. The upgraded variant of Russia’s most capable helicopter features a new 360-degree radar, digitized avionics and a glass cockpit. It will also be fitted with precision air-to-surface weapons.