Russian generals want to deploy missiles and bombers in Belarus - August, 2008

The Boris Yeltsin era, when foreign operatives were allowed to run amuck throughout the Russian Federation, certainly feels like it was generations ago. Freed from its Western mercenaries, Russia is reversing the disastrous setbacks of the 1990s. For years, the Russian Federation was being encouraged (bribed and/or economically threatened) to cut down the size of its armed forces stationed west of the Urals - while NATO, the United States in particular, was increasing its fighting ability against Russia. And simply increasing its fighting ability was not the only thing it was doing, Washington was also busying itself setting up new military bases on Russia's very doorsteps - Poland, the Czech republic, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Georgia...

Well, the trend now seems to be reversing. Like I said, this is no longer Yeltsin's Russia. Coming at a time when Georgia's military is receiving a merciless battering by Russian forces, public announcements by the Kremlin that it is moving nuclear armed ballistic missiles to the very doorstep of NATO should not alarm or surprise anyone. The move is simply meant to preempt or counter any reactionary actions the West may attempt, such as bringing naval forces into the Black Sea, as a result of Russia's recent liberation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In other words, Moscow is clearly signaling that the changes that occurred on the ground in the south Caucasus recently are irreversible and that the West will have to stay clear of its path.

After all, after years of suffering setbacks and being on the defensive, this was bound to happen. Seeing that it was being cornered by the West, I had predicted that Moscow would begin punching back hard some time ago, during a time when no one seriously thought that Moscow would risk such a thing against its seemingly invincible antagonists. As recent events in the region have shown, not the least of which is the on-going thrashing the Western backed administration in Tbilisi is getting, Moscow will no longer allow the Anglo-American-Zionist global empire to push it around. I am glad to report that Yeltisn's era has finally and officially come to an end.

Arevordi

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Russian generals want to deploy missiles and bombers in Belarus

Russia calls for new European security system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZmXuMkrF4Q

August, 2008

After menacing but rather loose statements of the Kremlin on readiness to give an “adequate asymmetric” answer to possible deployment of US anti-missile systems in the Central Europe, variants of hypothetical responses appeared. Belarus is mentioned in a number of them. According to general-major Viktar Esin, first vice president of the Academy of Security, Defense Law Order and Problems, deployment of Iskander-M missiles, able to hit anti-missile elements in the Czech Republic may be discussed. He thinks another possible response is using of air base Machulishchy (near Minsk) for strategic bomber aircrafts. Finally, the general found it necessary to remind that Topol mobile missiles were deployed in Belarus in the Soviet Times. Though Russia and Belarus signed numerous military contracts, this readiness to use territory of a foreign country to solve one’s own security problems arouse, to put it mildly, bewilderment. For example, the Czech Republic and Poland as well as the United States are NATO members. However, long negotiations were conducted with them on a similar purpose, moreover negotiations with Warsaw are far from the end. Besides, positions of the sides and concrete conditions of contracts are open to the public there, “BDG” newspaper notes. It is beyond the question that an objective of such statements is to make the Europeans be nervous about their participating in anti-missile systems. However, this clamor pursues another, absolutely propagandist, aim - to demonstrate the population of the country that “Russia is getting up from knees”.

Source: http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/8/1/8625/

Russia prioritizes nuclear triad, hi-tech weaponry in future wars

The nuclear triad of ballistic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and strategic bombers will remain the core of the Russian armed forces for the next two decades, a draft military doctrine says. The document called "The new face of the Russian Armed Forces until 2030" is still being developed by the General Staff and will be ready, according to some military sources, by the fall 2008. The first part of the doctrine is an assessment of Russia's geopolitical role in the world and the variety of external global, regional and local threats to its national security, including military ones. The second part covers the development and restructuring of the Russian armed forces with priority given to information technologies and warfare, space technologies and even nanotechnologies. The draft document says the Russian armed forces will rely heavily on high-precision conventional weaponry developed on the basis of artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies. Nanotechnologies are already widely used in special alloys for armor, "stealth" technologies and explosives, but Russian designers of new weapons systems are planning to extend their application even further - to create miniaturized and highly effective weapons on the battlefield including remote-controlled aerial vehicles, mini-submarines, mini-boats and robots. At the same time, Russia will continue to maintain a strong nuclear potential as a reliable deterrent to potential threats. Russia's nuclear arsenal currently totals about 4,147 warheads on 848 delivery vehicles. Russia's Strategic Missile Forces will continue the deployment of new ballistic missile systems, the modernization of strategic command-and-control networks and the development of enhanced warheads and their delivery vehicles. At present, Russia deploys Topol-M ballistic missiles as the mainstay of its land-based component of the nuclear triad. As of December 2007, Russia's SMF operated 48 silo-based and three mobile Topol-M missile systems. The country will put an average of three mobile and 3-4 silo-based Topol-M ballistic missile systems into operation every year. Russia will also modernize and expand its fleet of strategic bombers and create a national air-and-space defense network. According to various sources, the Russian Air Force currently deploys 141 Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers, 40 Tu-95MS Bear bombers, and 14 Tu-160 Blackjack planes. Russia plans to build at least one new Tu-160 bomber every one or two years to increase the number of available aircraft to 30. According to the new doctrine, the Russian Navy will prioritize the deployment of fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft-carrier task groups. Russia will completely modernize the naval component of its nuclear triad by 2016. Fourth-generation Borey-class nuclear-powered submarines armed with Bulava ballistic missiles will form the core of Russia's fleet of modern strategic submarines. Aircraft-carrier task groups will consist of an aircraft carrier, escort ships and support vessels. "Three task groups will be in service with the Northern Fleet and another three with the Pacific Fleet," a defense ministry source said. Russia is gradually shifting the focus of its geopolitical interests toward the Arctic and will increase its military presence in the region. The Defense Ministry has already announced plans to expand the presence of the Russian Navy in the world's oceans, including the Arctic, and extend the operational range of submarines deployed in the northern latitudes.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080801/115445726.html

Strategic bombers to hold live firing drills in central Russia

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers will participate in a series of exercises involving live firing drills in central Russia on August 4-8, an Air Force spokesman said on Friday. The Tu-22M3 Backfire-C is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber that Russia uses mainly to patrol the skies over its southern borders, Central Asia and the Black Sea region. "During the exercises the crews will practice simulated bomber runs at testing grounds in the Novgorod and the Saratov regions," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said. There are at least 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service with Russian Air Force. The Tu-22M3 has a flight range of 6,800 km (4,300 miles) and can carry a 24,000 kg (52,910 lb) payload, including nuclear bombs and cruise missiles fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080801/115468866.html

Russia’s military plans worry Europe

Russia’s bullish plans, unveiled recently, to build up to six aircraft carrier battlegroups and upgrade its nuclear submarine fleet are part of a worrying trend. They provide further evidence that Moscow’s military revival, initiated by Vladimir Putin and continued by his presidential successor, Dmitry Medvedev, may in time pose some unwelcome challenges for Europeans determined to believe the days of east-west confrontation are over. Parallel Russian proposals for inclusive new European security structures that could in theory supplant Nato and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe are the political window-dressing for Moscow’s burgeoning ambition. And physical pressure on unfavoured neighbours, such as Nato aspirant Georgia or Baltic breakaways Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, is a reminder that ‘the Bear is back’, or thinks he is. Russia is testing a new intercontinental missile, the Bulava-M, whose main claim to fame is its supposed ability to pierce any defensive missile shield. Memo from Moscow to George Bush and his east European collaborators: take your Star Wars interceptors and go jump. The penetration of Georgian airspace by four Russian jets last month was less subtle still. Georgia claims a new Caucasus conflict is being hatched in the Kremlin. “The pressure comes in many ways,” a Baltic region diplomat said, speaking of life on Europe’s edge. “There is political interference using money, the use of oil and gas supplies as a weapon, there is cyber-warfare, there is the military. They (the Russians) try to keep us weak and worried. What they really want is a good question.” One answer is that resurgent Russia, buoyantly bobbing on a sea of oil revenue, is ready to use any tool, from arms build-up and sabre-rattling to diplomatic blockading (as over Kosovo) to political assassination (as in London), to regain the top-table status and leverage lost when the USSR imploded. Nobody is suggesting a return to the scenarios that kept Nato planners busy during the Cold War, working out how to repel a Soviet sweep across the north European plain. All the same, European governments and their militaries seem unprepared, unwilling or divided – or all three – over how to deal with this emerging behavioural pattern.

Source: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topic...6&parent_id=26

Russia to Face Host of External, Including Military, Threats - Strategy Until 2030

Russia will remain a target for various external global, and regional threats, including possible threats of a military nature, according to the draft Strategy of building the Russian Armed Forces until 2030, a copy of which was made available to Interfax-AVN. "Analysis of the trends in the development of the military and political situation has shown that in the designated period Russia will remain, due to its geopolitical location, a target of various external global, regional and local threats, including military ones," the document says. Among the potential threats to Russia's military security the document names, in particular: the possession by a number of nations of deployed and ready to be used strategic nuclear forces, military operations conducted by leading foreign nations in disregard of international law, the efforts to oust Russia from the organizations in charge of global and regional security, a breach of arms control treaties and agreements, the U.S. course toward global leadership, the expansion by NATO allies of their military presence in the regions bordering with Russia. "The leading nations' growing technological and military- technical advantage over Russia enables them to develop next- generation weapons faster and equip their armies with such weapons on a massive scale," the document says. "The deployment of the U.S. missile shield in Europe and the Far East may lead to the disruption of the existing balance of strategic forces and undermine global and regional stability in general," it says.

Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article...e_Host_of.html

In related news:

Putin Wants to Restore Position in Cuba

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated at the presidium of the Russian government on Monday that Russia “should restore its position in Cuba and other countries.” He was listening to Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin’s account of his trip to Cuba as cochairman of the Russian-intergovernmental Cuban commission. The prime minister asked how many years it has been since the commission has been active, and Sechin responded that the last meeting was in April of this year. “We founded nine working groups to implement specific projects and we will report to you o additional proposals by January,” Sechin told Putin. Sechin added that he met with Cuban head of state Raul Castro while there. “He said to tell you hello,” Sechin said. Putin asked about Fidel Castro’s health. “Those questions were not discussed at the meeting, but he always says remembers you contacts with gratitude,” Sechin replied. During the meeting of the Russian-Cuban commission, Sechin said, priorities for cooperation in energy, mining, agriculture, transportation, tourism and banking were set. In addition, agreements were signed on the purchase by Cuba of Russian Tu-204 airplanes and airplane engines and a separate agreement was signed on the assembly of KAMAZ trucks in Cuba. Sechin noted that automakers AvtoVAZ, ZiL and GAZ are also negotiating with Cuba.

Source: http://www.kommersant.com/p-12970/Ru...ban_relations/

Chavez trip builds Russian alliance, worries Washington

The main story from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ recent tour to Belarus, Portugal, Spain and Russia was his visit to Moscow July 22-23. Chavez and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed on banking cooperation, joint energy ventures, arms sales and trade. But stories surfaced suggesting that close ties between the two nations represent a possible security threat to the United States. Russia and Venezuela ended up deciding on a binational business council and a joint bank aimed at fostering independence from European and U.S. bankers. The leaders arranged for cooperation between the state oil corporations of both nations to exploit Venezuela’s Orinoco Delta oil reserves. Private Russian investment in Venezuelan enterprises was on the agenda, as was the purchase by Lukoil, Russia’s state oil company, of a refinery in Italy to process heavy Venezuelan oil. Trade between the two countries, predominately fertilizers, aluminum, steel and maritime products, rose from $34 million in 2003 to more than $1.1 billion last year. World media focused on proposed Venezuelan arms purchases from Russia. The shopping basket includes coastal and air defense systems, warships, patrol aircraft, tanks, missiles and diesel submarines, all at a cost exceeding $1 billion. Venezuela will borrow from Russian banks to finance the deal. Russia has already supplied Venezuela with fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles. While Chavez and accompanying officials were in Europe, the international press circulated information that Venezuela would buy an additional $30 billion worth of weaponry from Russia, also that Venezuela would allow Russia to situate a military base in its territory. TeleSur surveyed these reports and featured an official denial of both stories from Venezuela’s Information Ministry. The ministry denounced unquestioning acceptance of “falsification,” along with the media’s readiness, especially in Venezuela, to circulate it, and called the reporting a “new element in the constant campaign that imperialism promotes against our country.”

Source: http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/13488/

Russia, Libya seek closer energy, military ties

Libya's prime minister flew to Russia to meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday for a second round of talks in three months aimed at improving gas and oil investment as well as military ties between both countries. Since dismantling its nuclear weapons program in 2003, Libya has opened itself up to foreign investment, and Russian energy companies have joined the rush to capitalize on opportunities in the North African country, which is a major producer of oil and gas. "We would like to achieve bigger volumes in investment cooperation between Russia and Libya in the oil and gas sectors," Libyan Prime Minister al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi said in televised comments after arriving in Moscow. Putin promised to "do all we can" to secure a favorable climate for Libyan investment in Russia. The premiers also confirmed that Libya is interested in buying arms from Russia, local news agencies reported. Russia was a major supplier of arms to Libya during the 1980s, but military ties dropped off after the Soviet Union's collapse. In April, Putin -- then Russia's president -- met with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in Tripoli in a bid to restore ties between the two former allies. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom also expressed interest in a number of projects.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan.../D9291RF80.htm

Russia to Set Up Missile Defense Sites in Caucasus, Middle Asia

It is necessary to create in the near term united regional systems of missile defense in the Caucasus and Middle Asia, Russia’s Air Force Commander-in-Chief General-Colonel Alexander Zelin announced August 5. “The practice of military cooperation in missile defense systems illustrated expediency to further develop the United Missile Defense System of CIS members on regional basis,” Zelin specified. “Active work is underway to create the United Regional Missile Defense System of Belarus and the RF in the East European Region of Collective Security, and it appears expedient to proceed in future to establishing the respective systems in Caucasus and Middle Asia.” The United Missile Defense System, Zelin reminded, currently consists of the Missile Defense Force of Armenia, Air Force and Missile Defense Force of Belarus, Air Defense Force of Kazakhstan, Air Defense Force of Kyrgyzstan, Air Force of the Russian Federation, Air Force and Missile Defense Force of Tadjikistan, Missile Defense Force and Air Force of Uzbekistan and Air Force of Ukraine. “In general, the established system of control ensures coordination of forces and means that are parts of the United Missile Defense System as well as the interchange of data on air situation, combat alertness and results of combat actions of missile defense forces of member states,” Zelin concluded.

Source: http://www.kommersant.com/p-12986/Mi...ense_Caucasus/

Russia to conduct military exercises in Indian Ocean this fall

Russian Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers will join the Russian navy in a series of exercises in the Indian Ocean, the Air Force commander said on Tuesday. "We are preparing the flights of our strategic aircraft to the Indian ocean to practice interoperability with the Russian navy task force in the region," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said. A Defense Ministry source later confirmed that a joint exercise involving Russian strategic bombers and combat ships had been scheduled for the fall 2008. The AF commander said that the Air Force had received orders to increase joint training with the Navy and the number of patrol flights across the world's oceans to ensure the security of Russian shipping in strategically and economically important zones. Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by former president Vladimir Putin. "Since August 2007, Russian strategic bombers have carried out about 150 patrol flights with tactical interference of foreign aircraft, which accompanied our planes on their missions and in some instances jeopardized the success of these missions," Zelin said. The patrols allowed the crews of Russian strategic bombers and aerial tankers to gain experience in mid-air refueling, flights in northern latitudes and the use of forward landing airfields, the general said.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080805/115766637.html

Russian Air Force to receive over 100 new helicopters by 2015

The Russian Air Force will commission over 100 upgraded combat helicopters over a period of five years, from 2011 until 2015, the AF commander said on Tuesday. "In 2011-2015, we are planning to put into service over 100 new Mi-28N Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters and Mi-8MTB5 Hip multi-purpose helicopters," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said. He said the addition of the new aircraft to the existing fleet would allow Russia to create helicopter task groups in strategically important areas that could act independently or support special operations. "Helicopter regiments equipped with new aircraft must become the backbone of air mobile special purpose reserves and mountain brigades," the general said. He also said Russia would fully upgrade its fleet of Mi-24PN Hind gunships and Mi-26 Halo heavy transport helicopters. The Mi-26 helicopter is the heaviest and most powerful helicopter in the world. It was designed for carrying large-size cargo weighing up to 20 tons and is widely used for search and rescue operations, heavy-lift transportation and fire fighting.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20080805/115760404.html

Russia begins production of new aircraft carriers

Russia has launched the production of new aircraft carriers, said Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky Friday. "The Navy continues the construction of new strategic missile cruisers, multi-purpose submarines, frigates, corvettes, amphibious ships, trawlers, warfare vessels and service boats," Vysotsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying in an interview on the eve of Russia's Navy Day. "The fleet will have more powerful ships in the future: state-of-the-art multi-purpose mine-carriers and aircraft carriers. The relevant works have already begun," he said. Vysotsky said earlier that it is necessary for the Russian Navyto have five to six aircraft carriers in its Pacific and Northern fleets

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_8770198.htm

Russia to have 5-6 aircraft carriers in Northern, Pacific Fleets

Russia will create 5-6 aircraft carrier groups in the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the Navy commander said on Sunday. Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said the Navy command had decided to build sea-borne aircraft carrier systems for these fleets instead of simply aircraft carriers. "Everything must work in a system, including aircraft carriers. We have called them sea-borne aircraft carrier systems, which will be based in the Northern and Pacific Fleets. The construction of such systems will begin after 2012," Vysotsky said before reviewing a military parade on the occasion of Navy Day in Russia. Vysotsky said new sea-borne aircraft carrier systems will operate in close contact with Russia's orbital group of military satellites, and also with the Air Force and air defense. At present, Russia has only one operational aircraft carrier, the Nikolai Kuznetsov, which was commissioned in the early 1990s and has recently re-entered service after a prolonged overhaul. The ship, also known as Project 1143.5 heavy aircraft carrier, is currently deployed with Russia's Northern Fleet and has recently participated in a two-month tour to the Mediterranean as part of Russia's plans to resume its continual presence in different regions of the world's seas.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080727/115004797.html