Russian Warships Obtain NATO's Navigation Aids

26.04.2012 Russian Navy's ships will be equipped with navigation and communication aids same as NATO countries use; that will help to counter piracy off Somalia more effectively, said the Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov.

"Anti-piracy issue was one of the key subjects during the NATO-Russia Council session. We agreed to mount NATO communication and navigation systems on our ships", reports RIA Novosti citing Makarov.

According to him, that navigation equipment will help Russian and NATO naval mariners to cooperate in counter-piracy operations.

Makarov added that naval cooperation between Russia and NATO would continue in the current year. In particular, the Pomor 2012 joint rescue exercise will be held in the north soon. The Rubezh 2012 headquarter exercise will take place in the Kuznetsov Naval Academy in St. Petersburg under the Russia-NATO cooperation program.

Earlier on, US authorities encouraged Russia's involvement in the counter-piracy campaign off Somalia. "Russia is a very active participant in the Contact Group off the Coast of Somalia", Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Thomas Kelly said.

"We very much value Russian participation in the coalition", he emphasized.

Recall that ships of Russia's Northern, Pacific, and Baltic fleets by rotation have been escorting commercial vessels off Somalia since Oct 2008. According to Russian Navy Main HQ, in 2011 they had escorted over 30 convoys with 168 vessels flying flags of 27 countries, including 62 ships with Russian sailors on board.