al-qaida chief ayman al-zawahiri the coordinator 2016 part 19-122-russia-10-76-navy

C de Waart; CdW Intelligence to Rent [email protected] In Confidence

Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri The Coordinator 2016 Part 19-122-Russia-10-76-Navy

March 2014, Crimean ministers held a vote in their regional parliament to join the Russian Federation and secede from Ukraine, and to organize a referendum on the issue for 16 March. The move comes as international tensions continue to mount over the presence of Russian troops in the peninsula, which reportedly now number 30,000. Ukraine's interim prime minister warned the Crimean parliament that "no one in the civilised world" would recognize its referendum, calling the vote "unconstitutional" and "illegitimate". But the referendum has the support of the Russian parliament, with the speaker of the upper house saying that Russia would "unquestionably back" the referendum's choice. Why does Russia have a naval base in Crimea?• Geographic limitations and ambitions: Russia's capacity to reach the sea is limited by geography, so ports in the north and south seas, leading to larger waters, are crucial.As the map below illustrates, Sevastopol is a strategically important base for Russia's naval fleet, in addition to being Russia's only warm water base. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a 1997 treaty with Ukraine allowed Russia to keep its Black Sea Fleet pretty much intact (with 15,000 personnel currently stationed) and lease the base at Sevastopol (extended to expire in 2042).

The Black Sea and Sevastopol. Photograph: /WikimediaAs Orlando Figes, author of Crimea: The Last Crusade, wrote last week:Crimea was bound to be the focus of the Russian backlash against the Ukrainian revolution. ... For

1The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see. –Winston ChurchillCees de Waart: CdW Intelligence to Rent of 15

03/05/2023

mailto:[email protected]


more than 20 years, ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, its rule by Kiev has been a major source of Russian resentment – inside and outside Crimea – and a major thorn in Ukraine's relations with Russia.The Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation – by which Russia rents its naval base at Sevastopol from the Ukrainian government – is so far-reaching in the rights it gives the Russians to exercise their military powers that it is seen by many in Ukraine to undermine the country's independence. In 2008 the Ukrainians said they would not renew the lease when it expired in 2017. But they buckled under the pressure of a gas-price hike and, in 2010, extended the Russian navy's lease until 2042.

Projecting power: Sevastopol has been an important hub to project Russia's naval power on a global platform. The Black Sea Fleet has seen a flurry of activity since 2008: during the war with Georgia that year, the fleet staged blockades in the Black Sea. The Russian navy was actively engaged with Vietnam, Syria and Venezuela (and up until March 2011, Libya) "for logistics and repair services in their principal ports". It has also been alleged that Sevastopol has served as the main source in supplying the Assad regime during Syria's civil war and proved useful with Russia's role in dismantling Syria's chemical weapons last year. After Syria's civil war forced Russia to stop using its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus last year, Sevastopol became even more crucial.

December 17, 2015. After its near collapse in the 1990s following the Soviet Union's demise, the Russian navy is now on a path towards recovery. While the Russian navy is between one-sixth to one-quarter of the size of the once-mighty Soviet fleet, Moscow has used the lean years immediately following the Cold War to focus on quality over quantity, according to a new report from the U.S Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). But the Russian navy urgently needs to build more ships or risk essentially “disappearing” in the 2020s.

“In the next 10–15 years, the Russian Navy will continue its historic transition to a new 21st-century navy. A modest number of new class ships and submarines will enter the Navy by the turn of the decade,” reads the ONI report. “Continuing series construction and the start of several more sophisticated and complex new classes are projected for the next decade. The new construction will be accompanied by the maintenance and extension in service of the most capable Soviet legacy units,” the analysis adds.But while the Russian navy will continue to field ever more capable ships, submarines, aircraft and weapons, it needs to increase its build rate. It is "imperative" for the Russian navy to address this problem, the report notes, "in order to avoid disappearing in the 2020 timeframe.” Moscow's plans to avoid this fate, again, call for quality over quantity: “The future 21st-century Russian Navy is projected to be more capable on a unit-by-unit basis than at present but not significantly larger in overall order of battle numbers,” the ONI report assesses.In terms of hardware, the report includes little that was not previously known—but there were are a new few revelations.

A new nuclear-powered destroyer."A design development program, covername Lider [Leader] and possibly Design 23560, is underway to replace the aging UDALOY and SOVREMENNYY class inventories. Depending on propulsion type, the design could be a 8,000 to 18,000 ton ship combining both destroyer and cruiser characteristics with robust air, surface, and submarine warfare, as well as anti-missile defense capabilities. Russia reportedly intends to build six such ships for both the Northern and Pacific fleets (12 total). The lead unit is not likely to be built earlier than the mid-2020s. Press reports have mentioned that the propulsion for this class, whether conventional gas turbine or nuclear, is not yet


03/05/2023



determined. The resolution may depend on decisions yet to be made regarding a new aircraft carrier which, if built, is likely to be nuclear-powered."

A new class of nuclear attack submarines. "In early 2006, then Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Masorin discussed the future composition of the Russian submarine force. As part of this force, he noted that a nuclear submarine of an unknown type was currently under development. Speaking later, Rear Admiral Shlemov in charge of naval shipbuilding expanded on this, highlighting that this new type submarine would have a displacement of 5,000–6,000 tons. This new, smaller submarine’s main mission would be the protection of the DOLGORUKIY Class SSBN, allowing the multi-mission SEVERODVINSK to perform other navy missions. As of 2006, both the Rubin Design Bureau and Malakhit Design Bureau were said to be interested in undertaking the design of this submarine. The general designer of the Rubin Bureau has reiterated the requirement of future Russian submarines to be smaller in displacement. However, there has been no further public discussion of the design or announcement that a final design has been approved. Based on typical timelines for submarine development, a launch prior to 2020 is unlikely."

A previous unknown diesel-electric submarine."Work on a future non-nuclear submarine, design covername Kalina, has been announced with work underway at the Rubin Design Bureau. It is expected to have an airindependent propulsion plant (AIP). Laydown of the lead unit is projected soon after 2020. Unlike the case with submarines, the Navy approached the recapitalization of its surface fleet starting with smaller sized units and progressively building larger ones."

A new nuclear-powered carrier."Vice Admiral (retired) Anatoliy Shlemov, of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, spoke to design progress as of 2009 on a future aircraft carrier program. Russian designers are currently working on the aircraft carrier’s requirements and tactical-technical tasks. This preliminary design work is being conducted by the Neva Planning and Design Bureau in conjunction with the Krylov State Scientific Center in St. Petersburg, which also designed the previous KIEV and KUZNETSOV Class carriers. A model of a new carrier, preliminary Design 23000 covername Shtorm (Storm), was displayed at the International Maritime Defense Show in St. Petersburg both in 2013 and 2015. Very preliminary published characteristics reveal that the new aircraft carrier will carry a new generation of jet fighters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Unlike the KUZNETSOV CV that was built with 12 SS-N-19 anti-ship cruise missiles, the new carrier will not carry surface-to-surface cruise missiles. Its propulsion plant would be nuclear-powered, providing the ship with a full power speed around 29 knots. At least three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have been discussed; one for the Northern Fleet, one for the Pacific Fleet, and a third hull—a replacement carrier—would be undergoing scheduled repairs. Former Navy CINC Vladimir Masorin stated in 2007 that six aircraft carriers would be necessary, three each in the Northern and Pacific Fleets: one active, one in training, and one in maintenance. Construction of a new CV poses a challenge for Russia. The KIEV and KUZNETSOV Class carriers were built at Chernomorskoye Shipyard in Nikolayev, Ukraine, now unavailable to the Russians. Two shipyards in Russia that could solicit such a contract are the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg and Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk. These two shipbuilding enterprises reportedly have requested to be retooled and reequipped. They also want new technologies to be introduced in order to increase their plant’s production efficiency. However, there have been plans to close Baltic Shipyard by the 2020s and ambitious shipyard development plans for Sevmash have been discussed. In addition to manufacturing issues, the Russian Navy will have to solve issues of basing, support,


03/05/2023



new frigate/destroyer escorts, training, and billeting for thousands of carrier crew members. Although recent statements by the naval leadership continue to promote the construction of aircraft carriers, it is likely that there will be extensive discussion and debate before final decisions are made. In light of the extensive work required to enable Russia to build an aircraft carrier, construction is not likely to begin until about the mid-2020s."

Investment in lasers and rail-gun technology."Russia’s directed energy weapons program utilizes radio frequencies in order to use electromagnetic energy to damage or disrupt electronics. The lasers use a high-intensity light to disrupt sensors and thermally damage structures. Low-energy devices are already being completed for use in electro-optic countermeasures. Russia’s long-term goal is a high-energy weapon with anti-satellite and cruise missile defense capability. Russia maintains a mid-term high-energy system of chemical and gas lasers and solidstate lasers as medium-energy systems. The development trends of radio-frequency weapons are based on the observed effects with little modeling or simulations. Different waveforms are being utilized, including ultra-wide band and complex waves. Their capabilities are yet to be fully evaluated; problems such as system life and targeting are still key challenges. The other challenge for Russia is weaponization. This involves combining the beam into a solid state, which is dependent on its quality as well as atmospheric compensation. These systems require a high quality of manufacturing using mirrors, lenses, and exotic laser materials like diodes and non-linear optical crystals.""Electro-dynamic gun systems are being developed that use electrical energy for 2,000+ m/s muzzle velocity. The near- and mid-term combustion-based technologies are a transitional step to the creation of a railgun. The major issue for Russia is maintaining rail life through material science, transition management, and rail geometry. Another continuing issue remains pulse power. To increase and maintain pulse power, Russia’s new developments comprise of capacitor inductors, rotating machines, and flux compression generators. Non-traditional designs of the system include reconnection launchers and linear accelerators."

A drive towards a professional force."The Russian military is currently reorganizing its personnel structure to more accurately reflect the needs of modern warfare. The goal of a professional, volunteer-based, highly skilled military is augmenting the traditional obligated service conscription system for all males between the ages of 18 to 27. The military is also looking to develop a new curriculum for educational institutions involved in training young men for military service in order to combat a prevailing negative attitude toward the service."Overall, Russia has begun to make large strides in fielding a twenty-first century navy, which will be capable of providing layered national defense, an impressive but limited power projection capabilities—especially compared to the Soviet fleet—and will be manned by a professional crew. In some ways, it could be even more of a threat than its Soviet predecessor.Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for the National Interest.

Islands: At the Forefront of Baltic Security in the 21st Century – Derek BoltonPosted on3. December 2015In recent years, foreign policy experts have been reminded of the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea region. Faced with a severe deterioration in NATO-Russia relations, the NBP9 states – the Nordic Five (i.e., Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), the Baltic Three (i.e., Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), and Poland – have been forced to reconsider their political, economic, and


03/05/2023



strategic relations with other states around the world. Those with the most at stake in Russian relations with the West are responding to this development, including the United States, Russia, and the European Union. But, their efforts have been largely shrouded from public view.

Part of the problem is that the major stakeholders have little incentive to be transparent about their policy approaches. Over the last year, the rise of Daesh (i.e., ISIS) has displaced public interest in Russian intervention in Eastern Europe and the Caucus. And, the recent attacks in Paris have only added fuel to the fire.Nevertheless, the Baltic Three have publicly warned world leaders against overlooking the shift in Russia’s relations with its neighbors. As Estonian President Thomas Hendrik Ilves noted, they do so at their collective peril, “I would say that I think we all concerned about this sort of falling behind or some kind of development in which we stop paying attention to Crimea, or we even forgive the annexation because of the newer threats. We cannot allow that to happen.”Of course, the Baltic Three are not alone. Victoria Nuland, U.S. Assistant Secretary for the State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs recently stated, “Even as we focus on ISIL, we must not forget that barely two years ago, almost one million Ukrainians …demand that their government give them what we have: human dignity, democracy, clean government, justice… Now we have to help Ukraine see it through. We must maintain pressure on Russia and its separatist proxies to complete the unfinished commitments of Minsk.” And, the Ministers of Defense from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland signed on to a joint op-ed on Nordic defense cooperation that was published in the Oslo daily Aftenposten in August. In that post, they argued,“The Russian aggression against the Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea are violations of international law and other international agreements. Russia’s conduct represents the gravest challenge to European security. As a consequence, the security situation in the Nordic countries’ adjacent areas has become significantly worsened during the past year…. we must be prepared to face possible crises or incidents”It is important to note that such calls from world leaders do not only stem from concerns about further Russian intervention in Ukraine. Consider the Aftenposten OpEd. It portrays Ukraine as a potential indicator for Russian aggression in other states, including those on the Baltic Sea. And, this is stoking debate over Russian relations among foreign policy experts across the region. For example, Wilhelm Unge of Säpo recently claimed, “Russia is the biggest intelligence agent in Sweden … they are interested in really everything — political, economic, technical and military information… It is one of the few countries that has the very broad intelligence interest in Sweden.”Of course, Baltic Sea residents have quite a few reasons to be concerned. For example there was the incursion into the waters off Stockholm by a foreign submarine, widely believed to be Russian. And, some claim that Eston Kohver, a convicted Estonian spy in Russia, was in fact kidnapped on Estonian soil. Although he was swapped for convicted Russian spy Aleksei Dressen, that prisoner exchange did little to allay fears in Tallinn.Moreover, Finland and Sweden have repeatedly complained of Russian fighter jet incursions into their airspace. For Finland, anxiety over these incursions are heightened by military drills along its border and the assertion of former Putin assistant Andrei Illarionov that the Russian President would, in an ideal world, like to reclaim Finland. Although regional experts largely agree that military intervention is unlikely, many in Helsinki continue to fret land purchases along their border with Russia, and close to military installations, by Russian citizens.Whether or not these concerns are founded remains open to debate. But, they are fueling major shifts in the Nordic defense posture. In the event of a crisis, Nordic defense initiatives will need to focus on the islands of the Baltic Sea region. This was made evident during widely reported Russian war games that appeared to simulate the invasion of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. In these war games,


03/05/2023



the islands of Gotland, Åland and Bornholm seemed to feature prominently. And, analysts have concluded, “If carried out successfully, control of those territories would make it all but impossible for NATO allies to reinforce the Baltic states.”To help explain why, let us turn to Ari Shapiro. In an early 2015 piece with Keir Giles of Chatham House, he noted, “Northern Europe is a complicated chess board and Gotland is a crucial square. Just to the east of this island are the Baltic states – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania… the United States and the Baltics are NATO members. That military alliance says an attack on one member is an attack on all. But Sweden is not part of NATO, which means the island of Gotland isn’t either. And whoever controls Gotland has the Baltics in their crosshairs.”While Shapiro puts the emphasis on Gotland, Åland is of equally strategic importance. As Kimie Hara writes, “The islands’ proximity to the Swedish mainland creates an obvious danger for Sweden from a military bases in the hands of a hostile power. The Islands hold the key to control of the Gulf of Bothnia, and their demilitarization and neutralization has significance for the security of not only Sweden, but also the region.”It is perhaps not surprising then that we have already seen a shift in defence strategy across the region. For his part, Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö has called for a reappraisal of defense policy vis-à-vis Åland, claiming that Russia still does not recognize the region’s neutral status. Meanwhile, Sweden has begun to station troops on Gotland and recruiting home-guard volunteers after a 10-year hiatus. This has been coupled with further investment in naval capabilities that will be stationed out of Gotland. There are even discussions between the Nordic states of jointly purchasing a missile defense system on the island.As Baltic islands continue to grow in importance and play a greater feature in foreign affairs and Nordic defense, it will be in the national interests of the major stakeholders in Russian relations with the West to engage local communities across the Baltic Sea. This includes investing in subnational initiatives led by subnational organizations that target sub-national identities. Fostering regional integration and ensuring voices in the Baltic Sea region are not only understood, but also represented, in foreign policy is more important now than arguably any time during the Cold War.Derek Bolton is the Managing Director of the Baltic Islands Society. He is also a Young Leader at Pacific Forum CSIS and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center on Island Security. Prior to pursing a PhD at the University of Bath, he served as a Research Associate at Global Co Lab Network, where he worked to foster greater international cooperation on Science and Technology (S&T) between Americans and Europeans.Commentaries and responses on the Islands Society Blog represent the views of the respective authors.

December 8, 2016 Russia’s Rubin design bureau is working on developing a miniature autonomous unmanned submarine that would be used to replicate the characteristics of a full-sized submarine. Called the Surrogat, the new underwater drone will do exactly what its name suggests—it will imitate the sound of an enemy submarine during naval exercises."Today, combat submarines have to be involved for exercises or tests and this practice distracts them from carrying out their basic missions. The use of an unmanned imitator will help avoid this and cut the cost of drills. Besides, a submarine without a crew reduces risks while keeping simulated scenarios realistic," Rubin chief executive officer Igor Vilnit told the Moscow-based TASS news agency. "This apparatus will be distinguished by its simplicity in operation and the low cost of its maintenance and upgrade. Now we’re holding consultations with Navy representatives to make the imitator fully meet the Navy’s requirements." According to TASS, the Surrogat will be a modular design that will be able to replicate the acoustical characteristic of a nuclear or diesel-electric boat. The robotic sub will carry a host of towed arrays sonars and other features to help replicate a full-sized boat’s acoustic and


03/05/2023



electromagnetic signature—according to the Rubin design bureau. Surrogat also appears to have some capability for conducting surveillance missions independent of its role of being an aggressor platform.The Surrogat will measure roughly 56ft long and is expected to displace about 40 tons. The vessel is being designed with a cruising range of about 600 miles at a speed of 5 knots. With its lithium-ion battery, it is expected to have an endurance of roughly 16 hours. The Russians claim that it will have a maximum speed of over 24 knots and the maximum diving depth of nearly 2000ft.If the Russian Navy approves the Surrogat for full-scale development and the project is successful, it could be a very significant development in the battle for undersea dominance. The U.S. Navy is also working on unmanned underwater vehicles to augments its dwindling attack submarine fleet. A missionized version of Surrogat could serve in a similar role for Moscow—bolstering the capabilities of a much atrophied Russian submarine force that has only recently embarked on a revival of sort after its near collapse after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for The National Interest.

Regards ~Cees***

21:52 23.09.2016(updated 22:31 23.09.2016) Get short URL1510599620

Earlier, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1990 but recently modernized and completely reequipped, would head to the Mediterranean to fight Daesh in Syria. But what about the Navy's newer ships? What kinds are there and when were they built? Sputnik takes a look. The Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier (classified as a heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser by the Russian Navy) was among the last of the Soviet Navy's giants, laid down in December 1982 and commissioned in December 1990. Entering the Severodvinsk Sevmash shipyard for a comprehensive refit and modernization in late 2012, the ship's upgrade will soon be completed, and it will head to the Eastern Mediterranean at the end of the month to support the ongoing anti-Daesh operation in Syria. © PHOTO: THE NORTHERN FLEET Fully Armed: Admiral Kuznetsov Carrier Steps In to Support


03/05/2023



Russia's Anti-Daesh Ops in Syria The ship will carry a full complement and aircraft onboard, including Su-33 air superiority fighters and Ka-52K reconnaissance and combat helicopters, originally designed for operations aboard the French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. The ship's armaments include 12 Granit anti-ship cruise missile launchers, Kortik and Kinzhal air defense systems and depth charge launchers. The Admiral Kuznetsov's refit has been characterized as a 'mid-life modernization'. But what about Russia's newer ships? In the 1990s, the Navy faced tough times, along with the rest of the armed forces and the country as a whole. However, beginning in the 2000s, things gradually began to change for the better, and the Navy began receiving new vessels again. Sputnik takes a look at a baker's dozen of the Russian Navy's latest and best new surface ships and submarines. First up is the Project 1161K frigate Tatarstan. Launched in August 2003, the Gepard-class frigate was built at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard, becoming the flagship of the Caspian Flotilla after its launch. The 1,500 ton, 102 m long ship became a symbol of the drive to reactivate projects which had been frozen since the end of the Soviet period. Laid down in 1991, work on the ship was suspended in 1995 due to lack of funds. But the ship was finally completed in 2003, equipped with modernized radar and electronic warfare systems, and armed with two-quadruple Kh-35 anti-ship missile launchers, the Osa-M SAM system, point defense and multipurpose machine guns, four 533 mm torpedo tubes, an RBU-6000 12-barreled anti-submarine rocket launcher and a complement of mines.

NEWSTEAM The Tatarstan (left), along with its sister ship, the Dagestan. Next up is the K-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, the lead ship of the Borei-class of ballistic missile

submarines. Laid down in November 1996, the 4th-generation nuclear sub was finally launched in February 2008, joining the Northern Fleet.

The sub is equipped with 16 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, a new class of nuclear missiles introduced in 2013. Its armament also includes 6 RPK-2 Vyuga cruise missiles for defense


03/05/2023



against enemy subs. PRESS-SERVICE OF JSC "PO "SEVMAS The Yuri Dolgorukiy undergoing sea trials After that is the K-329 Severodvinsk, a nuclear attack submarine laid down in 1993, but only launched in June 2010 after work was halted for nearly two decades due to insufficient funds. The fourth-generation sub, equipped with 10 533mm torpedo tubes, is capable of firing the P-800 Oniks, Kalibr, Kh-101/Kh-102 and 3M24 anti-ship and cruise missiles. The Severodvinsk serves in the Northern Fleet.

The Yuri Dolgorukiy undergoing sea trials

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201609231045646118-russian-navy-new-developments/© PHOTO: PRESS-SERVICE OF JSC "PO "SEVMAS

The first multirole Yasen K-560 submarine, the Severodvinsk, by the pier of the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Region. file photo The K-550 Alexander Nevsky strategic nuclear missile sub, the second Borei-class vessel to be completed, was laid down in March 2004, and launched in December 2010, becoming part of the Pacific Fleet.


03/05/2023



Crew of the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine topside at a welcome ceremony for the Navy's new Borei-class project 955 vessel at Kamchatka's Vilyuchinsk base.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201609231045646118-russian-navy-new-developments/

THE first multirole Yasen K-560 submarine, the Severodvinsk, by the pier of the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Region. file photo


03/05/2023



Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201609231045646118-russian-navy-new-developments/ © SPUTNIK/ ILDUS GILYAZUTDINOV Crew of the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine topside at a welcome ceremony for the Navy's new Borei-class project 955 vessel at Kamchatka's Vilyuchinsk base. The Project 11661K frigate Dagestan, sister ship to the Tatarstan, laid down in 1994, was commissioned in November 2012, joining the Caspian Flotilla.

© WIKIPEDIA/ VISSARION Gepard-class frigate Dagestan (ex-Albatros)

Next up is the Vladimir Monomakh, the third of the fourth-generation Borei class subs to be built, laid down in March 2006 and finishing its sea trials in late 2013. The ship is part of the Northern Fleet. The Grad Sviyazhsk and Uglich, ships from the Buyan-M class of corvettes (aka small missile ships), are among the newest corvettes available to the Russian Navy. Launched in March and April 2013, the ships are part of the Caspian Flotilla. The ships became famous around the world in October 2015 when they launched Kalibr cruise missiles at terrorist targets in Syria. The missiles flew nearly 1,500 km over Iran and Iraq to strike their targets. The small ships, equipped with modern radar, fire control, sonar and electronic warfare systems, are equipped with a retractible Grad-M multiple rocket launcher, 2 launch cells for Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, 2 Komar SAMs, and a DP-65 anti-saboteur grenade launcher, along with onboard machineguns. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Ships from Russia's Caspian Flotilla launching Kalibr-NK cruise missiles against Daesh targets in Syria. File photo The Project 11356 Admiral Grigorovich frigate, built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, joined the Black Sea Fleet in March 2014. The 3,600 ton, 124 m long frigate with a range of up to 4,850 nautical miles is equipped with a full complement of advanced radar, fire control and electronic warfare systems. The ship is armed with the A-190 Arsenal 100mm naval gun, VLS cells for Kalibr and Oniks cruise and anti-ship missiles, 3S90M Shtil-1 SAMs, 2 Kashtan close-in defence gun-missile system platforms, 2x2 533 mm torpedo tubes and the RBU-6000 213 mm anti-sub rocket launcher. The ship can carry a Ka-27PL or Ka-31 anti-sub/early warning helicopter. © PHOTO: TOPWAR.RU The "Admiral Grigorovich" frigate, designed for the Russian Black Sea Fleet The Buyan-M class small missile ship Velikiy Ustyug, launched in May 2014, and joining the Caspian Flotilla, also participated in the Syrian Kalibr strikes. © PHOTO: RDM The missile corvette Velikiy Ustyug The Admiral Essen, the second Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate to join the Russian Navy, became part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in November 2014. It was followed by its sister ship, the Admiral Makarov, launched in September 2015.


03/05/2023



Ships from Russia's Caspian Flotilla launching Kalibr-NK cruise missiles against Daesh targets in Syria. File photo

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201609231045646118-russian-navy-new-developments/ © SPUTNIK/ IGOR ZAREMBO Launch of guard ship 'Admiral Essen' in Kaliningrad Last but certainly not least is the Project 21180 icebreaker Ilya Muromets. Released from its drydock in June 2016, and set to be completed in the water, the new generation diesel-electric icebreaker, built by the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, is expected to be finished by late next year. It will be the first new icebreaker for the Navy in over 40 years. With a range of 12,000 nautical miles and the capability to remain autonomous at sea for up to two months at a time, the ship will be able to plow through ice up to a meter thick. The transport will be used to deliver supplies to remote military installations in Russia's north. © SPUTNIK/ IGOR RUSSAK The new generation diesel-electric icebreaker Ilya Muromets being launched into the water from its drydock.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/military/201609231045646118-russian-navy-new-developments/

Regards Cees***

Several Maritime Patrol Aircraft are involved in a big hunt: one (possibly two) Oscar II-class submarine that Russia has sent after NATO warships.According to military sources close to The Aviationist, a big hunt is underway in the eastern Med: several MPA aircraft, including U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon jets operating from NAS Sigonella, Sicily, are looking for one, possibly two, Russian Navy submarines operating in the vicinity of a group of warships of the NATO Maritime Group.What makes the news even more interesting is the fact that the Russian Navy submarine would be an Oscar II Class, that is to say a “carrier killer” sub, designed with the primary mission of countering aircraft carrier battlegroups. Among the NATO vessels in proximity of the Oscar II there is also the


03/05/2023



French Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the USS Eisenhower is not too far away either.Therefore a massive Cold War-style hide-and-seek in underway, keeping both sides quite busy.Although heavily defended, large flattops are vulnerable to submarines and can’t be considered immune from receiving battle damage or being limited in their fighting ability by a modern sub operating nearby: nuclear or diesel-powered subs have proved to be able to slip in the middle of the multi-billion-dollar aircraft carrier’s defensive screen, while avoiding detection by ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) aircraft, and pretend-sinking U.S. (or allied) carriers and most of their escort vessels.Those were scripted drills, with the flattops put in the most challenging conditions for training purposes; still, the simulated sinkings once again prove that aircraft carriers’ underwater defenses, albeit excellent, are not impenetrable and subs still pose a significant threat to powerful Carrier Strike Groups.Especially when the attacker is a quite advanced Oscar II class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine (SSGN) using long-range SS-N-19 “Shipwreck” ASCMs (anti-ship cruise missiles).Based on the latest reports, 8 Oscar IIs are in active service built in the 1980s and early 1990s, eight remain in service. Even though deemed to be inferior to those of the Akula II, the acoustic performance of the Oscar II class is believed to be superior to early Akula-class submarine.In 2016 Russia has started a multiyear plan to modernise all its Project 949A Oscar II-class subs that includes replacing the 24 SS-N-19 missiles with up to 72 newer 3M55 Oniks (SS-N-26 ‘Strobile’) or 3M54 Klub (SS-N-27 ‘Sizzler’) anti ship missiles.

November 29, 2016 NIKOLAI LITOVKIN, RBTH

The Project 636.3 submarine “Kolpino,” which will be stationed at the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s new base in Novorossiysk, is capable of detecting targets at a distance three to four times in excess of the capabilities of radar systems of a potential enemy, military experts say. The Russian defense


03/05/2023



industry has completed the construction of a diesel-electric submarine of Project 636.3, the Kolpino, for the Black Sea Fleet.The submarine, dubbed by NATO naval experts as the “Black Hole” for its stealth and underwater capabilities, is equipped with the newest Kalibr-PL cruise missiles with an effective range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles).The submarine will be based at a new Russian naval base in the city of Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar Territory, 760 miles south of Moscow. However, until a dock for it has been completed, the new submarine will be carrying out service duty in the Black Sea and will undergo maintenance at the port of Sevastopol.According to Igor Kasatonov, a former deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy and former Black Sea Fleet commander, the submarine is capable of detecting targets at a distance three to four times in excess of the capabilities of enemy radar systems. “The capabilities of these new submarines were first demonstrated late last year when [a submarine of this project] the Rostov-na-Donu carried out a strike with Kalibr missiles against terrorist targets in Syria,” Kasatonov told RBTH. Once the Kolpino comes into service, the Russian Black Sea Fleet will have completed the formation a full-fledged submarine brigade based in Novorossiysk.By 2020, six similar submarines will be built for the Pacific Fleet too, said Kasatonov.Why set up a new naval base?

Russian naval bases on the Black Sea coast / Map by Nikolai KorolevInitially, the new base in Novorossiysk, on the Black Sea coast, was set up because of disagreements


03/05/2023



in Russian-Ukrainian relations after the breakup of the Soviet Union. After 1991, the naval base in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, part of newly independent Ukraine, was leased to Moscow, though any upgrade of the fleet (up to the very last cartridge) had to be agreed with the Ukrainian parliament. After Russia’s seizure of the peninsula in 2014, a large-scale upgrade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet began.“Sevastopol Bay creates unique opportunities for Moscow. Together with the new base in Novorossiysk, Russia can fully control the Bosphorus, the military infrastructure in Bulgaria and can neutralize the threat posed by the U.S. missile defense base in Romania,” TASS military observer Viktor Litovkin told RBTH.Alexander Khramchikhin, head of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, a Moscow-based independent research body, explained that the key threat that the American ABM system in Eastern Europe poses for Russia is that the U.S. bases can in an instant be converted from defensive into offensive ones.“It is possible to develop the U.S. missile defense system and deploy cruise missiles in launch silos. In particular, launchers for Standard SM-3 interceptor missiles can be used to carry out strikes with Tomahawk strategic cruise missiles against targets on Russian territory,” said Khramchikhin.Upsides and downsides of the new baseA significant benefit offered by the new base of the Russian Black Sea fleet is that it makes it possible to divide ships and submarines between several naval bases in the same region, say experts. However, the Novorossiysk base is very susceptible to local weather conditions.“The coast in Novorossiysk is regularly affected by powerful northern winds coming from the Caucasus, which hit ships and houses in their path. The wind can throw ships ashore and destroy the whole military infrastructure,” Viktor Litovkin told RBTH. “From the start, the base was built in such a way so that blasts of the wind could not be so destructive,” he said, adding that Russia was building an additional tunnel in the Caucasus to eliminate the threat posed by destructive winds.

Project 636.3 Varshavyanka submarines:Surface speed – over 17 knots (31.4 km per hour);Underwater speed — 20 knots (37 km per hour);Cruising capacity — 45 days;Crew — 52;Surface displacement – 2,350 tons; displacement when submerged — 3,950 tons;Length — 73.8 meters;Width — 9.9 meters;Draft — 6.2 meters.Operational depth — 240 meters, maximum depth — 300 meters.Armaments:- 4 cruise missiles of the Kalibr-PL class;- 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber;Total ammunition — 18 torpedoes and 24 mines.


03/05/2023


al-qaida chief ayman al-zawahiri the coordinator 2016 part 19-122-russia-10-76-navy

Documents