Russian Navy News

03.15.2010 Delivery contract of Russian deck-based MiGs to India is evaluated as $1.5 bln
Delivery contract of Russian deck-based MiGs to India is evaluated as $1.5 bln. Totally, India intends to purchase 29 aircrafts. Presumably, MiGs will be based on aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov which is expected to be handed over in 2012.

03.15.2010 Russia steps down to world's second arms exporter
Russia ranks second in world's conventional arms export rating over a period of 2005-2009. The U.S. tops the rating of arms exporters occupying 30% of the market. Top-five list except the U.S. and Russia includes Germany, France and the UK.

03.15.2010 Russian sailors returned home from pirate captivity
Russian crewmembers of seiner Thai Union-3 recently released from pirates have returned to Russia by transit flight through Seychelles and Qatar. The ship's complement spent over four months as captives at Somali pirate base.

03.15.2010 Open Skies mission completed at the Baltic
On March 12 international observers completed their work at Baltic Fleet; representatives of Germany, Great Britain and Latvia conducted aerial survey over Russian territory within the framework of Open Skies Treaty.

03.11.2010 Russian and French warships exchange data in Gulf of Aden
Russian and French warships countering piracy off Somalia actively exchange information for better coordination of their activity. However, the most critical problem for the moment is legislation issues, says French Navy Commander-in-Chief.

03.11.2010 Russia develops a new-gen destroyer
Project development of new-gen stealth destroyer for Russian Navy has been recently started. Prospective ship which project number has not been appointed yet will be a multifunctional vessel; that will affect the ship's armament.

03.11.2010 BSF should leave Crimea in 2017 – 66.1% experts
Most of Ukrainian experts consider Russia's Black Sea Fleet should be withdrawn from Crimea in 2017. In particular, this opinion is shared by 66.1% experts who nonetheless insist on the importance of strict adherence to corresponding bilateral agreements.

03.11.2010 NF warship to participate in FRUKUS-2010
Annual naval exercise FRUKUS-2010 will be conducted off British coast. Warships of four countries – the U.S., Great Britain, France and Russia take part in traditional annual exercise. Present-day FRUKUS maneuvers are full of new and complicated tasks.

03.11.2010 French frigate visits Severomorsk to participate in exercise
French AAW frigate Chevalier Paul will visit Severomorsk on March 30 and take part in joint drill with a Northern Fleet's warship. Visit of French frigate to Northern Fleet main base will last till Apr 3, said French Navy Commander-in-Chief.

03.11.2010 Three Russian sailors died at Greek tanker
Three Russian sailors died in March 9-10 at Greek tanker Arionas in La Manche strait. As for the shipmaster, the cause was food poisoning. Tanker Arionas was sailing from Libya to Rotterdam but had to call at the port of Le Havre.

03.11.2010 Russia, India agreed in Admiral Gorshkov price
Russia and India agreed in new price for aircraft carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov and soon will sign all documents specifying conclusive delivery terms. "We are about to sign appropriate agreements in the nearest future", said Indian Ambassador to Russia.

03.11.2010 Frigate Neustrashimy approached the vessel released from pirates
Baltic Fleet frigate Neustrashimy is presently several cables away from tunaboat Thai Union 3 released from pirate captivity and escorted by BSF tugboat SB-36. Tugboat SB-36 and seiner Thai Union 3 are expected to reach territorial waters of Seychelles on March 11.

03.10.2010 Zvezdochka experts discharged nuclear fuel from SSBN Borisoglebsk
Experts of Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk) have completed discharge of spent nuclear fuel from reactors of SSBN Borisoglebsk. Project 667BDR Kalmar submarines are the series of Soviet SSBNs armed with D-9R system with 16 sea-launched ballistic missiles.

03.10.2010 Admiralteiskiye Verfi to export two diesel electric subs in Apr
In April shipbuilders of Admiralteiskiye Verfi shipyard (St. Petersburg) plan to deliver two Kilo-class diesel electric submarines (Project 636) built for export. Such submarines are in great demand at international market.

03.10.2010 Delegation from Sevmash visited Nikolayev shipyard
Defense shipyard Sevmash (Severodvinsk) which performs repair and modernization of Indian aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (former Russian Admiral Gorshkov) asked Ukrainian shipbuilders who made the carrier to share experience.

03.10.2010 The oldest post-war sub remaining afloat turned 50 in St. Petersburg
Festivities related to 50th anniversary of the oldest post-war sub remaining afloat S-189 took place on March 9 at Lt. Schmidt Embankment in St. Petersburg. S-189 represents the most numerous project of post-war period which constituted the basis of Soviet submarine force.

03.09.2010 French Navy CIC executed midday gunfire in St. Petersburg
Pierre Francois Forissier, French Navy Commander-in-Chief executed midday gunfire at Petropavlovskaya Fortress in St. Petersburg on Friday. Russian and French navies are among world's largest fleets, said Forissier in interview.

03.06.2010 BSF helicopter pilots refresh flattop takeoff and landing skills
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) naval air base Kacha headed by Col. Yury Yurin hosts Northern Fleet (NF) delegation of experienced sniper pilots. The main target of visit is rendering assistance to BSF helicopter pilots in refreshing takeoff and landing skills at aircraft carrier on move in day-and-night conditions.

03.05.2010 Russia, France to conduct joint naval exercise off Severomorsk
French warship will call a visit to Northern Fleet main base Severomorsk to conduct joint exercise with Russian ships. Visit of French warship will be associated with 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

03.05.2010 Zvezdochka dismantles unique titanium nuc sub
Experts of Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk) started utilization of unique titanium nuclear-powered submarine K-222 Anchar dubbed as "Goldfish". In 1971 the sub accelerated up to 44.7 knots which is still submarine world record.

03.05.2010 Nizhny Novgorod design bureau to produce landing boats Serna
Alekseev Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoil Vessels (branch of United Shipbuilding Corporation) negotiates with Rosoboronexport on construction of four fast-speed air-cavity boats Serna. Country which might purchase this equipment is not specified.

03.05.2010 Russian Navy launched Sineva
Sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Sineva was launched at the Barents Sea. The launch was carried out on March 4 at 07.50 am Moscow time by SSBN Tula. According to Roskosmos, all launch objectives were achieved.

03.04.2010 BSF successfully trained landing operation in Abkhazia
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has successfully trained landing operation in Abkhazia on Feb 27. BSF task unit sailed off Sevastopol and Novorossiysk naval bases on Feb 27 to conduct tactical exercise. The exercise has not gone unnoticed by NATO.

03.04.2010 Putin to bring $4 bln contracts to India
Three defense contracts totaling in $4 bln may be signed during visit of Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister to India in March 11-12, 2010. Contracts deal with modernization of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, deck-based fighters MiG-29K/KUB and military transport aircraft MTA.

03.03.2010 Fourth Borei-class sub will be upgraded
Fourth Project 955/955A Borei nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine will be constructed under new modification – 955U. Latest technical solutions will be applied in construction of the new sub; details are classified.

03.03.2010 French and Russian naval leaders to talk on anti-piracy
Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief and Admiral Pierre-Francois Forissier, French Navy Chief of Staff will discuss anti-piracy issues at the meeting in Moscow. Visit of French military delegation to Moscow started on Tuesday.

03.02.2010 Severnaya Verf plans to launch Project 20380 corvette Soobrazitelny late March
OJSC Severnaya Verf shipyard plans to launch Project 20380 corvette Soobrazitelny late March 2010. Soobrazitelny is the second warship of Project 20380 and one of four corvettes being constructed at the shipyard by order of Russian Navy.

03.02.2010 Putin offered to reduce number of strategic enterprises
Number of Russian strategic enterprises will be reduced more than twice; there will be 240 companies less. Over 200 companies will remain strategic including "all basic components of military industrial complex, the key assets of the state".

03.01.2010 Procuracy found rule breaking at shipyard where sub was on fire
Arkhangelsk regional procuracy found crude violations of preventive firefighting regulations at defense shipyard Zvezdochka during accident investigation of recently ignited nuclear-powered submarine.

03.01.2010 Basic equipment was installed at Russian-made frigate for India
Installation of basic equipment was started at missile frigate Trikand [Bow], the last of three warships being built for India at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad. Project 11356 frigates are built for Indian Navy and will be delivered in a staged manner in 2011-2012.