Russian Navy News

01.14.2010 Russian Navy overturned information of upgrading naval base in Syria
Russian Navy overturned information of upgrading naval base in Syria. Works being performed at Russian naval base in Syrian port Tartus can not be classified as modernization. According to the source, in 2009 RN base Tartus was under scheduled repairs which will be continued in 2010.

01.13.2010 SSN Nerpa will pass supplemental check in Feb - MoD
Nuclear-powered attack submarine Nerpa commissioned late 2009 will pass supplemental check in Feb 2010. The purpose is to eliminate defects revealed by Navy experts during state trials. The submarine is expected to be leased to India for 10 years.

01.13.2010 Zvezdochka to deliver SSBN Karelia to Russian Navy on Jan 22
OJSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region) will deliver Project 667BDRM SSBN Karelia to Russian Navy on Jan 22; the sub has passed interim overhaul and modernization. Karelia will sail off to permanent basing site (Murmansk region) till the end of the week.

01.13.2010 Neustrashimy to shift Admiral Chabanenko in anti-piracy mission
BF frigate Neustrashimy will shift NF large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko in anti-piracy mission near Horn of Africa. In 2010 Russian warships will continue regular presence in the Gulf of Aden. That motivated by steady statistics of pirate assaults against civil vessels constituting a serious threat to Russian sailors.

01.12.2010 Yantar shipyard will launch two frigates for India till the end of 2010
Baltic shipyard Yantar plans to launch next two frigates for Indian Navy by the end of 2010; currently, basic equipment is being installed on the ships. The contract on construction of three Project 11356 frigates was signed in Delhi on July 14, 2006; the contract value is about $1.5 bln.

01.11.2010 Tupolev offers naval patrol variant of Tu-214
Tupolev offers to Russian defense ministry naval patrol aircraft based on civil airliner Tu-214 which is a long-endurance and long-range aircraft. Perspective aircraft will perform tasks at long and middle ranges; it will change Il-38 and Tu-142 which are presently in service at naval aviation.

01.11.2010 Greek court freed Russian sailors from smuggling charges
Greek court Friday freed two Russian sailors of Mitridat vessel from charges of large-scale cigarette smuggling. The trial has been finished; lawyers managed to prove full nonculpability of Russian sailors, although the vessel and its cargo were confiscated by the Greek court.

01.11.2010 Russian vessel Igarka brought British polar explorers to Antarctic
Far East Shipping Company's MV Igarka brought British polar explorers and expedition cargo to Antarctic's Halley Bay and set a course for South Atlantic. The ship sailed to British Antarctic station Halley which is in process of construction and delivered there fuel, equipment and modular cottages for researchers.

12.30.2009 Moscow tracks Russian sailors in Vietnam – Russian MFA
Russia's foreign policy authority keeps watch of developments around Russian sailors in Vietnam. On Monday sailors went on hunger strike insisting on returning them home and redemption of wage arrears which is more than eight month indebtedness.

12.30.2009 Russia and China discuss a ship repair issue
Chinese Navy has 16 modern Russian-made warships which need to be repaired and upgraded in the middle of their lifecycle. Russia offers to carry out capital repairs at own shipyards, although the Chinese wish those works to be performed in China involving Russian staff and equipment.

12.30.2009 MFA has not confirmed there were Russians aboard captured tanker
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has not confirmed the information that there were Russians on board chemical tanker St James Park captured Monday in the Gulf of Aden. The tanker with 26 crewmen of various nationalities sailing from Spain to Thailand was captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Dec 28.

12.29.2009 Vneshekonombank to credit construction of new shipyard
Credit committee of Vneshekonombank (VEB) decided to extend 1st tranche of credit funds for United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) to construct a shipyard at Far East shipbuilding facility Zvezda. Currently, the second USC's credit request for construction of another shipyard is under consideration of the bank.

12.29.2009 Investments in two shipyards in Primorsky Krai will make $700 mln
Volume of investments in modernization of two shipyards in Primorsky Krai will make $700 mln. The question is construction of a new shipyard meant for production of drilling platforms in Chazhna Harbor. Vladimir Putin is sure Far East region has all conditions for shipbuilding industry development, i.e. vast market outlet, industrial estates and human resources.

12.29.2009 SSN Nerpa joined Russian Navy
Nuclear-powered attack submarine Nerpa was commissioned into Russian Navy on Monday. Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, Pacific Fleet Commander attended the ceremony. The submarine is expected to be leased to India for 10 years. According to Russian media, the contract cost is $650 mln.

12.28.2009 Rescuers started to lift engines of crashed Tu-142
On Monday diving team searching PF aircraft Tu-142 wrecked on Nov 6 in Tatarskiy Strait started to lift two aircraft engines found on the bottom. SR equipment detected over thousand unidentified objects at the search area. All detected objects should be studied at the sea bottom and ashore.

12.25.2009 Servicemen of Northern Fleet got degree in marketing and logistics
First results of resumed RF-Norwegian job retraining project for dismissed servicemen were summarized in Murmansk. 43 officers of Northern Fleet and Leningrad Military Command have become graduates; they obtained diplomas in marketing and logistics.

12.25.2009 Large ASW ship Kerch celebrates 35th anniversary of naval flag hoist
Large ASW ship Kerch celebrates 35th anniversary of naval flag hoist. The crew will meet the jubilee having positive results. Summarizing the results of 2009, Kerch was ranked as the best BSF ship in mine and torpedo drills.

12.24.2009 BSF ships performed tasks at sea
Black Sea Fleet's tactical group consisted of large ASW ship Kerch and frigate Pytlivy performed training tasks at BSF naval range. In particular, the ships trained cooperative maneuvering, carried out drill on nuclear and chemical defense, performed artillery firing at towed dummy.

12.24.2009 New Submarine Forces Commands were created at Northern and Pacific Fleets
New Submarine Commands were created at Northern and Pacific Fleets. The purpose of reformation is to "strengthen vertical control" and reduce its odd links. Currently, Russian Navy's roll includes 61 subs, including 33 at Northern Fleet and 24 at Pacific one.

12.22.2009 Young draftees come at BSF
The draft season is in progress at Russian Black Sea Fleet. Some hundreds of young draftees have already taken the military oath and stationed at various units and ships. By now, two thirds of expected amount of recruits have arrived at Black Sea Fleet.

12.21.2009 SSBN K-18 Karelia completed sea trials
Northern Fleet's SSBN K-18 Karelia has completed sea trials program after overhaul and modernization at Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center. The sub is expected to depart for permanent basing site by the end of 2009.

12.21.2009 Heli-carrier will be probably built at St. Petersburg
Delegation of French defense ministry headed by armaments engineer inspected production capabilities of Baltiysky Zavod shipyard which is a part of United Industrial Corporation (UIC). The corporation is under control of MP Sergei Pugachev.

12.18.2009 Far East naval bases are fully supplied with provisions – Navy official
Almost 100,000 tonnes cargo were delivered to naval bases at North, Arctic and Far East regions in 2009; 100% of supply plan has been fulfilled. Sailors delivered over 44,000 tonnes of provisions and equipment and over 55,000 tonnes of fuel and lubrication materials.

12.18.2009 India to pay $2.3 bln for Admiral Gorshkov
Russia and India agreed in final cost of overhaul and upgrade of aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov which will be renamed into Vikramaditya while in Indian Navy. According to agreement, total cost of works will make $2.3 bln, including $722 mln already paid by India.

12.18.2009 Putin to discuss supplying of Navy with new equipment
Today Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held a meeting at Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard in St. Petersburg. The subject is supplying of Navy with modern arms and equipment in the context of Russian Armed Forces reformation.

12.18.2009 Kiev blocks renovation of BSF by direction of the US and Turkey
Moscow expects new President of Ukraine to permit replacement of Black Sea Fleet's old sips. Viktor Yushchenko hinders that process by direction of the US and Turkey which are uninterested in Russia's strengthening at the Black Sea.

12.17.2009 Problem kids visited Admiral Kuznetsov
Northern Fleet's heavy aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov recently hosted unusual guests – it was visited by educatees of orphan asylums and disadvantaged children.

12.16.2009 Russian Navy to continue development of SLBM Bulava – Navy CIC
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky considers development of SLBM Bulava should continue despite the missile's recent test failure. The Navy CIC denied replacement of Bulava with another missile. It is planned that SLBM Bulava will constitute the basis of perspective Russian strategic nuclear force till 2040-2045.

12.16.2009 Keel-laying of fourth Borei-class sub is postponed to first quarter 2010
Keel-laying of fourth Project 955 Borei SSBN Svyatitel Nikolai is postponed from Dec to first quarter of 2010, though the project is not frozen. Some media sources reported of possible postpone due to failed test launches of SLBM Bulava which is planned to be basic weapon of the project's subs.

12.15.2009 Russian know-how is able to turn cargo vessel into warship
Russian-made multipurpose shipborne missile systems capable to turn almost any vessel into powerful warship were displayed at defense show LIMA-2009 finished on Sat in Malaysia. "Not every country can afford powerful ships, but any vessel may be turned into a combat one with appropriate equipment and armament" - official.