Current Events in Europe

Russia lost all its early-warning satellites (Russian strategic nuclear forces)

Russia May Scrap U.S. Arms Control Treaty Reuters DefenseNews MOSCOW -- Russia warned the United States on Thursday it might pull out of a Cold War nuclear arms reduction treaty because of plans by Washington to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe. General Yuri Baluyevsky, head of the Russian general staff, said Russia could unilaterally withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), Russian news agencies reported. When asked whether Russia would pull out of the agreement, Baluyevsky, said: "We will see how our American partners are going to act," Interfax news agency reported. "What they are doing at the moment -- creating…

Russia moves more strike assets to Eastern Mediterranean (Jane's)

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

This has been rumored for a while ... From Jane's Russia plans reactivation of two Kirov-class cruisers By Vladimir Petrov 11 November 2009 The Russian Federation Navy (RFN) is to reactivate two laid-up Kirov-class (Project 1144) battle cruisers, according to statements attributed by Russian media to the country's deputy defence minister. Colonel General Vladimir Popovkin reportedly said that the Ministry of Defence has decided to renovate and modernise its heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser (tiazhyeliy atomniy raketniy kreiser/TARK) units Admiral Lazarev (ex- Frunze ) and Admiral Nakhimov (ex- Kalinin ). The 24,300-ton ships were commissioned int…

By the year 2025 Russia plans to increase its ocean going fleet size to a total of 300 battleships, exceeding the level it maintained during the 'cold war'. The Russian Navy plans to maintain six battlegroups, each consisting of an aircraft carrier and various combat support and auxiliary ships. Three attack groups are to be based in the Northern Fleet with three others in the Pacific Fleet. This expansion will address Russia's strategic aspirations especially its territorial demands in the melting arctic zone. According to the Russian Fleet’s Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Masorin, three attack groups will be based in the Northern Fleet with three others in th…

Russia postpones Mistral project to 2016 (RIA Novosti)

Russia Puts Submarine Trials on Hold After Bulava Failure (RIA Novosti)

Russia Readies Recovery Effort for Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile, Lost at Sea in 2017 (The Diplomat)

Russia receives its first ordered MiG-29SMTs (Jane's)

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

Russia reports successful test launch of hypersonic missile (DefenseNews) The SS-N-33 (aka Zircon).

From Defence Talk Russia Revises Military Doctrine To Reflect Global Changes RIA Novosti | Mar 6, 2007 Moscow: Russia is preparing a new draft of its military doctrine to reflect the growing importance of the use of force in foreign polices conducted by leading global powers, the Security Council said Monday. "The analysis of the situation on the global arena points to the increasing demand for forcible actions in the policies conducted by the leading countries," the council said in a statement. "The new revision of the military doctrine should provide answers to the most urgent issues of Russia's national security," the statement said. The current milita…

From Jane's Intelligence Digest 17 May 2007 Russia seeks first-strike capacity against US bases in Europe In mid-January 2007, US officials formally proposed establishing a ballistic missile defence (BMD) radar system, operated by US personnel, in the Czech Republic. The complex would consist of a X-band radar for mid-course tracking and discrimination of ballistic missiles launched from the Middle East. The US and Poland have also begun discussions about possibly deploying 10 ground-launched US BMD interceptor missiles on Polish territory. US officials have justified the deployment as primarily aimed to protect European countries and the US from a future…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

If you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you...

http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20121210/178055907.html (RIA Novosti)

From RIA Novosti Russia to boost Ground Forces air defense - commander 15:59 | 21/ 09/ 2007 MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian army will adopt a modernized version of the Tor-M air defense system in 2008, the Ground Forces press service said Friday. The Tor-M (NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet) is a low to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets. "More than 50% of air defense systems in service with the Ground Forces are outdated," the press service quoted Colonel General Nikolai Frolov, commande…

From RIA Novosti Russia to build nuclear-powered 60,000-ton aircraft carrier 19:02 | 27/ 02/ 2009 MOSCOW, February 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's new-generation aircraft carrier will be nuclear powered and have a displacement of up to 60,000 metric tons, a United Shipbuilding Corporation executive said on Friday. Vice Adm. Anatoly Shlemov, the company's head of defense contracts, said the new carrier was still at the drawing board stage, but its blueprint and basic specifications have already been defined. He said the carrier will serve as a seaborne platform for new-generation fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft, in particular, a fifth-generation fighter that…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]