Russian 102nd Military Base, Gyumri Armenia
Russian 102nd Military Base (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noqMHlYYNrc
Armenian-Russian Military Base // Armenia (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMqd4Dr_bF4
Additional pictures of the 102 Russian base in Gyumri: http://pilot.strizhi.info/2007/01/03/1552
Russian 102nd Military Base is a Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia, part of the Transcaucasian Group of Forces. It was formerly the Soviet Army's 127th Motor Rifle Division. The base is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan. There are 3,000 Russian soldiers officially reported to be stationed at the 102nd Military Base located in Gyumri. In early 2005, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery pieces, 30 Mig-29 fighters and several batteries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. A great deal of military hardware has been moved to the 102nd Base from the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, Georgia which includes 35 tanks and armored vehicles and 370 pieces of military hardware. The military base is part of a joint air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which was deployed in Armenia in 1995. Furthermore, Armenian air force relies upon the Russian Mig-29s located in the military base, for the defense of the Armenian airspace. The Russian military base was deployed on the territory of Armenia as early as 1996. The bilateral treaty states that the Russian military will be in the base for 25 years, but Armenian authorities have said that if needed this time-frame can be reviewed, and exclusively in the direction of prolongation. Also Russia does not pay Armenia for the military base stationed in Gyumri; moreover the Armenian side takes care of all public utilities water, electricity, etc. In 1997, Armenia and Russia signed a far-reaching friendship treaty, which calls for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party and allows Russian border guards to patrol Armenia’s frontiers with Turkey and Iran. Previously the 127th Motor Rifle Division consisted of the 123rd, 124th, and 128th Motor Rifle Regiments, the 992nd Artillery Regiment, and the 116th Independent Tank Battalion. The 123rd Motor Rifle Regiment was formed from the former 164th Motor Rifle Division in Armenia.
Source: http://www.gyumri.eu/102nd_military_base.htm
Source: http://www.gyumri.eu/102nd_military_base.htm
TV REPORTS ON AIR DEFENCE EXERCISE AT RUSSIAN AIR BASE IN ARMENIA
Южный щит страны проверили на прочность. Учения на авиабазе Эрегуне: http://zvezdaarmy.ru/sugeti/2008/05/...y-schit-stranyMiG-29s in Erebuni Air Base, Armenia (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvOrSCRYlsQAdditional pictures of Erebuni based Mig 29 fighters: http://pilot.strizhi.info/2007/01/03/1522Satellite imagery of the 3624th Russian Air Force Base in Erebuni: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/view...ce=0&mid=23205
Zvezda TV, Russia, Ministry of Defense May 4 2008
[Presenter] The country's southern shield is being tested for robustness: alert signals were sounded again at the Russian air base in Armenia. Fighter aircraft are scrambled into the air. A few minutes into the flight it becomes clear that it was a practice alert. The air defence forces on the ground also tested their readiness to repel attacks. Our special correspondent Andrey Kovtunenko followed the military exercise in Armenia's peaceful skies.
[Correspondent] [Passage omitted] It is battle quarters at the Russian air base of Erebuni. [Passage omitted] While the pilot is getting ready for the flight, the technicians, having run 100 metres [to the aircraft], are removing covers from a MiG-29. A few minutes later, the pilot jumps into the xxxxpit and is ready to take off. [Passage omitted] The border with Turkey is only 14 km away - for a MiG, it is just a couple of minutes. Therefore, depending on the combat mission, [the pilot] has to turn one way or the other and fly back. In 1998, the air group revamped its fleet: MiG-29s went on combat training duty at the CIS combined air defence system. It is now 10 years since the MiG-29 started protecting the skies over Armenia. The aircraft has acquitted itself well in hot conditions and in the mountains. Experienced pilots treat this aircraft with respect: it is easy to run and reliable in combat. One can only speak to the pilot after he has accomplished his combat mission: traditionally, they do not give interviews before the flight.
[Yevgeniy Yakimov, captioned as an aviation regiment commander; in the xxxxpit after landing] We perform air defence tasks in the CIS combined air defence system. We are performing our tasks successfully. On 22 [presumably April] there was a major large-scale exercise at the CIS combined air defence system. We achieved our objective in full.
[Correspondent] Only a few years ago, Turkish pilots often staged aerial tests for ours. Nowadays, this is a rare occurrence.
[Pavel Maratkanov, captioned as deputy commander of the air base for educational work] It is not often that we are scrambled into action but it happens. Sometimes they make sorties to test us - but not often. The most recent incident was last year.
[Correspondent] While pilots polish their aerial skills, the missile defence system is on permanent combat duty. Russian and Armenian officers track all aerial targets together. At the air defence base near Gyumri [also in Armenia], meanwhile, the S-300 and Kub-3M missile defence systems are on alert. Servicemen from this regiment recently took part in an exercise in Ashuluk [in southern Russia]. Their performance was marked as excellent.
[Aleksandr Surinkin, captioned as anti-aircraft regiment commander] At the 2008 tactical exercise with live firing, the regiment fired on evading low-flying aerial target. The target was destroyed at the maximum range. The mark was excellent.
[Correspondent] It is no secret to anyone here that Armenia regards the 102nd Russian military base deployed in the republic as an element of it national security. In this country, they value friendly relations.
[Presenter] The country's southern shield is being tested for robustness: alert signals were sounded again at the Russian air base in Armenia. Fighter aircraft are scrambled into the air. A few minutes into the flight it becomes clear that it was a practice alert. The air defence forces on the ground also tested their readiness to repel attacks. Our special correspondent Andrey Kovtunenko followed the military exercise in Armenia's peaceful skies.
[Correspondent] [Passage omitted] It is battle quarters at the Russian air base of Erebuni. [Passage omitted] While the pilot is getting ready for the flight, the technicians, having run 100 metres [to the aircraft], are removing covers from a MiG-29. A few minutes later, the pilot jumps into the xxxxpit and is ready to take off. [Passage omitted] The border with Turkey is only 14 km away - for a MiG, it is just a couple of minutes. Therefore, depending on the combat mission, [the pilot] has to turn one way or the other and fly back. In 1998, the air group revamped its fleet: MiG-29s went on combat training duty at the CIS combined air defence system. It is now 10 years since the MiG-29 started protecting the skies over Armenia. The aircraft has acquitted itself well in hot conditions and in the mountains. Experienced pilots treat this aircraft with respect: it is easy to run and reliable in combat. One can only speak to the pilot after he has accomplished his combat mission: traditionally, they do not give interviews before the flight.
[Yevgeniy Yakimov, captioned as an aviation regiment commander; in the xxxxpit after landing] We perform air defence tasks in the CIS combined air defence system. We are performing our tasks successfully. On 22 [presumably April] there was a major large-scale exercise at the CIS combined air defence system. We achieved our objective in full.
[Correspondent] Only a few years ago, Turkish pilots often staged aerial tests for ours. Nowadays, this is a rare occurrence.
[Pavel Maratkanov, captioned as deputy commander of the air base for educational work] It is not often that we are scrambled into action but it happens. Sometimes they make sorties to test us - but not often. The most recent incident was last year.
[Correspondent] While pilots polish their aerial skills, the missile defence system is on permanent combat duty. Russian and Armenian officers track all aerial targets together. At the air defence base near Gyumri [also in Armenia], meanwhile, the S-300 and Kub-3M missile defence systems are on alert. Servicemen from this regiment recently took part in an exercise in Ashuluk [in southern Russia]. Their performance was marked as excellent.
[Aleksandr Surinkin, captioned as anti-aircraft regiment commander] At the 2008 tactical exercise with live firing, the regiment fired on evading low-flying aerial target. The target was destroyed at the maximum range. The mark was excellent.
[Correspondent] It is no secret to anyone here that Armenia regards the 102nd Russian military base deployed in the republic as an element of it national security. In this country, they value friendly relations.
Source: http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg230966.html
Russian Military Bases Remain in Armenia - Defense Minister
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has praised military cooperation with Russia at the Sunday opening of a series of meetings of young people with Armenian politicians initiated by the Alliance youth organization. "Armenian-Russian relations were also discussed. I think very highly of them because Russia is our strategic partner and the defense aspect of our relations, the military-technical cooperation are at a very high level and they are advancing," he said. After the meeting Ohanian told Interfax that he was satisfied with the dialogue and attached great importance to the patriotic upbringing of the generation on which Armenia's future is going to depend. He said he did not share the opinion that the need for Russian military bases is going to disappear with the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations. "We have not thought in that direction because Russian-Turkish relations are also advancing. I think Russian military bases will remain here as long as it is necessary," he said adding that all security understandings reached in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) had been implemented.
Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article...d_2700054.html
Russian Soldiers to Serve as Peacekeepers in Armenia?
Russian Defense Minister has decided to send 700 draftees to serve as peacekeepers in Armenia. The number of servicemen is not sufficient in Armenia, so the draftees will be sent to replenish the personnel,” said Alexandra Vrakina, chairperson of the council of parents of Prikamye, Russia. “After a training course the soldiers will be sent to Armenia, apparently early next year,” she said, 59.ru reports.
Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=28069
Russia to Deploy Alpine Units at its Military Bases Abroad
Russia's Defense Ministry plans to deploy special mountain units at military bases in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia and Tajikistan, as well as in the Urals and Far East, a ministry official said on Thursday. "All military contingents deployed in mountainous regions will have battalion-level units specially trained for mountain warfare," said Col. Vladimir Chabanov, deputy head of the Ground Forces combat training department at the Russian Defense Ministry. Russia has already deployed two mountain brigades in the North Caucasus republics of Daghestan and Karachayevo-Circassia. They are manned by contract soldiers and total about 4,500 personnel. Chabanov said the newly formed units would be equipped with special weaponry and equipment developed for combat at high altitudes in mountainous areas, including professional mountain-climbing equipment. Russia currently deploys a military base in Gyumri, Armenia and a military base near the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, which hosts the 5,000-strong 201st Motorized Rifle Division. Moscow is also planning to open one base in Gudauta, in the west of Abkhazia, and another in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, following a five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia in August.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081204/118690747.html
RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN MILITARY EXERCISE ANACHRONISTIC
2005
On September 10-13, Russia and Armenia conducted a tactical military exercise at the Marshal Bagramian training grounds, close to the Armenian-Turkish border. President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian officials attended the final, live-fire stage of the joint exercise. Each side committed a motor-rifle regiment, artillery, and tank company, for a total of 1,300 ground troops, to the four-day exercise. In addition, four Su-25 and four MiG-24 planes from the Armenian side, S-300 air defense systems, and four MiG-29 planes from the Russian side, and combat helicopters from both sides took part. Armenia's Deputy Defense Minister, Lt.-General Mikael Grigorian, acted as coordinator of the exercise in the presence of Maj.-General Andrei Popov, commander of Russia's Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus (GRVZ), to which the Russian forces stationed in Armenia are subordinated. The GRVZ command headquarters has yet to be moved out of Tbilisi by Russia's Defense Ministry, presumably to the Russian base at Gyumri in Armenia. Russia stations an estimated 5,000 troops of all types in Armenia, including 3,000 officially reported to be based at Gyumri.
The exercise aimed to test the interoperability of Russian and Armenian forces. It rehearsed a defensive battle against "aggressor forces from the direction of Turkey" that attacked on the ground and in the air, advancing into Armenia during the first stage of the battle. In the follow-up stages, Russian and Armenian forces counterattacked and destroyed the invader's forward elements, then encircled and attacked the main invasion grouping, forcing it to surrender. This type of scenario is traditional at Armenian-Russian annual tactical exercises, but it now seems out of step with the bilateral rapprochement between Russia and Turkey on all levels, including that of regional security. This year's exercise scenario added for the first time an "anti-terrorist operation" to suppress a diversionary terror attack by the invading force. Armenia's Su-25 planes made their first public appearance in the country on this occasion. Armenia took delivery of 10 planes of that obsolescent type from Slovakia's air force last year. They are co-located with the Russian base in Gyumri.
Addressing all troops in Russian after the exercise, Kocharian characterized Armenia-Russia relations overall as "brotherhood…thanks to which the Russian military base exists and we conduct joint exercises to ensure our countries' security." If viewed in those terms, however, the exercise scenario of battling Turkey seems anachronistic and unrealistic. For his part, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian cited Azerbaijan as a source of threats to Armenia's security; he expressed confidence in the Armenian army's readiness to face that challenge. While Yerevan portrayed the exercise accurately as a bilateral event, Moscow billed it as an undertaking of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Bordyuzha, also attending the event, listed the Russia-Armenia "group of forces" as a CSTO component, together with a Russia-Belarus group of forces and the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in Central Asia. However, those two "groups of forces" exist only virtually, in Russian planning for wartime operations, and remain at any time a matter of Russia's bilateral relations with Armenia or Belarus. Armenia's participation in CSTO exercises remains confined to the annual air defense practice.
Moscow traditionally relies on bilateral relations for alliance management. However, Russia is interested in advertising the CSTO in order to enhance Russia's own status vis-à-vis NATO. Attending the NATO-Russia meeting of Defense Ministers on September 13 in Berlin, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov cited the Russian-Armenian exercise as part of ongoing CSTO activities. He sought to portray the CSTO as an operational reality and urged NATO to establish cooperation with this Russian-led organization. Armenia, however, is interested in developing its own ties with NATO through an Individual Partnership Action Plan.
Source: http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2370230
The Unified Air Defense System of The Commonwealth of Independent States Was Created Ten Years Ago
Anti-aircraft systems struck their blows, and aviation hit surface targets to complete the Battle Community 2005 military exercise on the Ashuluk test ground in the Astrakhan region of Russia. About 2,000 military men from Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Tajikistan took part in the maneuvers. The first stage of the exercise took part in June-July of the current year in the Chita region (in Russia's Siberia). Belarus' C-200 air defense systems fired their test missiles successfully. The next stage of the exercise took place in the beginning of August in the republic of Kazakhstan. Air defense units of Kazakhstan and anti-aircraft defense troops of another post-Soviet republic, Kyrgyzstan, participated in the maneuvers. The four countries trained the multilateral cooperation in combat during the last stage of the military exercise. Russia's Minister for Defense, Sergei Ivanov, heads of defense departments from several CIS states and managers of defense enterprises were watching the process of the active phase of the exercise. Military delegations from Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan arrived in the Astrakhan region to observe the Battle Community 2005 exercise. The Unified Air Defense System of the Commonwealth of Independent States was created ten years ago. The system protects the borders of its members in the air space. Tactical exercises are traditionally held in Russia at the end of summer.
The final stage of the maneuvers in the Astrakhan region of Russia took place with the participation of world-known air defense systems: S-300, S-125 and S-45, as well as with 40 battle planes such as Su-24, Su-25 and MiG-29. The exercise was held to set military units and formations on high alert, regroup air defense forces and aviation with a view to strengthen the protection of the defended objects. The recent exercise ended with the creation of the regional group of air defense troops. “Until recently, it was up for each country to bring their command posts for the exercise. This time, there is one joint headquarters to command the whole process. It is actually the prototype of the future united group of air defense troops on the territory of the former USSR. Now we can set up a command post in any region,” Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. The minister highly estimated the exercises in Ashuluk and emphasized the fact that they were the battle maneuvers: “There was absolutely no imitation. Armenia, Tajikistan, Belarus and Russia performed missile launches successfully. The task has been executed,” Sergei Ivanov said.
It is hard to overestimate the significance of such cooperation. According to the Deputy Secretary of the Collective Security Treaty, Valery Semerikov, the defense ministers took efforts to retrieve the air defense system in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev told reporters that the documents about the creation of the joint air defense system had been practically ready. Mr. Maltsev's Russian colleague, Sergei Ivanov, added that Russia and Belarus were planning to conduct Air Force and Air Defense military exercises in 2006. In addition, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are to join Russian Armed Forces in September of 2005 for another exercise in the Asian region. To crown it all, Sergei Ivanov set forth a sensational initiative after the completion of the Battle Community 2005 exercise. The defense minister offered to establish the joint European ABM system. Speaking about Russia's role in the project, Mr. Ivanov said that Russia would obviously make a considerable contribution in the system
The final stage of the maneuvers in the Astrakhan region of Russia took place with the participation of world-known air defense systems: S-300, S-125 and S-45, as well as with 40 battle planes such as Su-24, Su-25 and MiG-29. The exercise was held to set military units and formations on high alert, regroup air defense forces and aviation with a view to strengthen the protection of the defended objects. The recent exercise ended with the creation of the regional group of air defense troops. “Until recently, it was up for each country to bring their command posts for the exercise. This time, there is one joint headquarters to command the whole process. It is actually the prototype of the future united group of air defense troops on the territory of the former USSR. Now we can set up a command post in any region,” Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. The minister highly estimated the exercises in Ashuluk and emphasized the fact that they were the battle maneuvers: “There was absolutely no imitation. Armenia, Tajikistan, Belarus and Russia performed missile launches successfully. The task has been executed,” Sergei Ivanov said.
It is hard to overestimate the significance of such cooperation. According to the Deputy Secretary of the Collective Security Treaty, Valery Semerikov, the defense ministers took efforts to retrieve the air defense system in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Colonel-General Leonid Maltsev told reporters that the documents about the creation of the joint air defense system had been practically ready. Mr. Maltsev's Russian colleague, Sergei Ivanov, added that Russia and Belarus were planning to conduct Air Force and Air Defense military exercises in 2006. In addition, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are to join Russian Armed Forces in September of 2005 for another exercise in the Asian region. To crown it all, Sergei Ivanov set forth a sensational initiative after the completion of the Battle Community 2005 exercise. The defense minister offered to establish the joint European ABM system. Speaking about Russia's role in the project, Mr. Ivanov said that Russia would obviously make a considerable contribution in the system
Source: http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/87/347/16081_ABM.html
37% of Russian FSS Border Troops in Armenia Make Armenians
Beginning from 2005 Russian and Armenian border troops are carrying out the guarding of ‘Yerevan’ (Zvartnots airport) checkpoint, said lieutenant-general Sergey Bondarev, the head of FSS (Federal Security Service) Russian Border Troops in Armenia to a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the Armenian National Security Service renders the Russian frontier troops great assistance. “We were given special equipment, which allows us to greatly reduce the time for registration of border control of passengers.” Said Bondarev. Sergey Bondarev also added that 37% of Russian FSS Border Troops in Armenia make Armenians. “24% are officers of the Russian Army with Armenian nationality, 90% of ensigns are Armenian citizens,” he said. The head of Russian border troops also underlined that there have been no problems on ethnic grounds. He stressed that criminality also decreased during the past year.
Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=20479
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I have come to see the Russian nation as the last front on earth against the scourges of Westernization, Americanization, Globalism, Zionism, Islamic extremism and pan-Turkism. I have also come to see Russia as the last hope humanity has for the preservation of classical western/European civilization, ethnic cultures, Apostolic Christianity and the concept of traditional nation-state. Needless to say, an alliance with Russia is Armenia's only hope for survival in a dangerous place like the south Caucasus. These sobering realizations compelled me to create this blog in 2010. This blog quickly became one of the very few voices in the vastness of Cyberia that dared to preach about the dangers of Globalism and the Anglo-American-Jewish alliance, and the only voice emphasizing the crucial importance of Armenia's close ties to the Russian nation. Today, no man and no political party is capable of driving a wedge between Armenia and Russia. Anglo-American-Jewish and Turkish agenda in Armenia will not succeed. I feel satisfied knowing that at least on a subatomic level I have had a hand in this outcome.
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