Russian Navy's submarine force will acquire up to 10 newest fourth-generation Severodvinsk-type nuclear subs (Project 885 Yasen), reports RIA Novosti referring to a high-ranking representative of Navy Main HQ. 

Lead sub of this series – SSGN Severodvinsk – must be commissioned this year. The second submarine SSGN Kazan is being presently built at Sevmashshipyard. The third sub of this project will be laid down till the current year is over. 

"We plan to receive somewhat 10 new Severodvinsk-type nuclear submarines", said the admiral. 

On March 19 Russia is going to celebrate the 105th anniversary of Russian submarine force. 

According to the interviewee, distinctive feature of those subs will be a standardized launcher operating with almost all types of cruise missiles from Onyx to Caliber. "Those missiles will be also capable to destroy land targets at the range up to 2,500 km", he said. 

The admiral emphasized there must be no problems with commissioning of such submarines. "Scheduled test launches of standard armament are being currently performed", said the official. 

A Project 885 submarine has displacement of 8,600/13,800 tons; dimensions are 119 x 13.5 x 9.4 meters; test depth is 600 meters; full speed is 16/31 knots; crew is 90 (including 32 officers).

Russian Navy's HQ moves to St. Petersburg

Russian defense minister made a definitive decision to transfer Navy Main HQ to St. Petersburg. Practically, it implies loss of control over the fleet for a long time including naval component of strategic nuclear force, and appropriation of enormous funds to create a parallel structure. 

"Basic divisions of Navy Main HQ will move to St. Petersburg, including operational department and intelligence section. However, building of the Admiralty which is planned to accommodate Navy HQ is by no means ready for that. There are neither appropriate secure communication facilities, nor automated control systems, nor nuclear force control system, nor missile warning system. So far, there is only a door-plate "Navy Commander-in-Chief" hanged, reportsArgumenty Nedeli citing a source in the Navy.

Russia does not export arms to Taiwan – head of Rosoboronexport

Russia does not export arms to Taiwan, but develops military and technical cooperation with China, said Anatoly Isaikin, the head of Rosoboronexport. 

"We do not cooperate with Taiwan, and have no military contacts with it", Isaikin said. Speaking of China, he said that the cooperation had not stopped and would go on. 

"The recent intergovernmental commission indicated some potential perspectives. Military cooperation does develop. There have been more subjects to conduct design and scientific research projects. China continues to buy some our products, particularly aircraft engines, and display interest in other end products", said Isaikin.

Sailors from Marshal Shaposhnikov called up relatives for free

JSC Dalsvyaz provided free phone communications for sailors of Pacific Fleet large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov in pre-holiday March 7, reported Daily News of Vladivostokreferring to JSC Dalsvyaz. 

At present, the ship is docked at Dalzavod shipyard. JSC Dalsvyaz which took Marshal Shaposhnikovunder patronage not long ago arranged cellular communication on board the ship to afford an opportunity for sailors to congratulate their relatives on coming women's day. About 130 sailors managed to make calls through the day of March 7.

Detail : www.rusnavy.com

Russia to export arms on $38 bln as of early 2011

As of early 2011, Russia will export arms and military equipment on $38 bln, said the head of RosoboronexportAnatoly Isaikin at the press conference. 

"Russia's backlog of arms export orders makes $38 bln in the beginning of 2011", said Isaikin having noted that 60% of those arms would be exported to India, Algeria, and China. Totally, over 1 300 export contracts were signed with foreign countries over the past year, said Isaikin. 

He specified that the backlog of orders implies already signed contracts, 90% of them have already took effect.

Source : http://rusnavy.com

Decision to move Navy HQ to St. Petersburg has not been made – Defense Ministry

A decision whether to transfer Russian Navy Main HQ from Moscow to St. Petersburg has not been made so far. 

Both variants are being discussed – either the naval staff remains in Moscow or moves to St. Petersburg, reported RIA Novosti referring to a high-ranking source in defense ministry. According to the source, if the headquarters stays in the capital, it would benefit to operational efficiency; if moves to St. Petersburg, it would be closer to the Navy's scientific and production facilities. As for him, all pros and cons of those two approaches are being considered now, at the final phase of Armed Forces' control structure shaping. "Nonetheless, no final documents have been approved so far", said the official. 

The spokesman is sure that the necessity of integrated control over strategic nuclear forces would remain in prospect. "Therefore, Navy Command in the shape of Navy Main HQ or, say, Navy Department is needed for uniform coordination between Navy engagement strategy and new regional commands", said the interviewee. He added that the shaping of strategic commands "West", "East", "South", and "Center" had been completed, although there was no distinct distribution of control functions over general purpose forces and strategic nuclear forces. 

As was earlier reported by Interfax, defense ministry had tasked Navy Main HQ to start moving to St. Petersburg. 

Last time the matter of possible transfer of the naval staff was brought up in Sept 2010.

Voronezh region will reconstruct the first battleship of Russian Navy

Voronezh regional administration will appropriate RUR 200 mln for duplicating of God's Predestination, the first warship in Russian Navy; the reconstruction will be made by JSC Pavlovsky Shipyard, reported Friday RIA Novostireferring to a representative of the state order department. 

God's Predestination was the first Russian battleship and the first IV rank ship (as for British rank classification of 1706) built without participation of foreign specialists. The ship was constructed by a shipyard of Voronezh Admiralty with direct involvement of Peter the Great. 

"Contract cost for duplication of the ship is RUR 200 mln. The draft contract will be handed over to the only bidder – JSC Pavlovsky Shipyard", said the interviewee. 

According to the contract specifications, the ship's length must not exceed 38.5 meters, beam – 9.5 meters, hull height – 4.5 meters, full-load draft – 3.5 meters. The ship must have two decks and three masts. God's Predestination will be capable to accommodate 50 men and be armed with 58 cannons. 

The battleship's copy is supposed to be completed and launched at the festival related to 425th anniversary of Voronezh to be held in Sept 2011. According to the shipyard's chief accountant Nina Ostrikova, the company has not had such large orders since Soviet times. 

Shipwrights will start keel laying of the battleship in the nearest time.

INS Vikramaditya started mooring trials

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is retrofitted for Indian Navy started mooring trials on March 1. Sevmash shipyard's director general Nikolai Kalistratov signed an order to begin the trials. 

This is an essential milestone in the carrier's modernization particularly marked in the general schedule. Outfitting works have reached the final stage. The ship has been gradually filled with equipment, mechanisms, pipelines, cables; and now all those systems must be tested in different modes. 

The trials will be conducted in accordance with special programs and techniques. Tests of main propulsion plant are considered the most complicated and important. The second large-scale goal is testing of radioelectronics, including Indian-made systems, and air-technical facilities. The main purpose of mooring trials is preparation of shipborne systems for further important stage – shipyard's sea trials. The aircraft carrier is planned to take the sea late in 2011.

Talks on Mistrals are in good progress – Putin's spokesman

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of Russian prime minister confuted media reports that Russian-French negotiations on procurement of Mistralclass helicopter carriers had reached the deadlock. 

Indeed, there are some minor problems, but that is absolutely natural for such large-scale projects, said Peskov in the interview to radio Echo Moskvy. 

As was reported by Thursday's Kommersant, the talks had reached the deadlock due to discords in price. According to the newspaper, the contract cost may increase from EUR 980 mln to at least EUR 1.15 bln.

Top-ranking South Korean guests visited Central Naval Museum

The South Korean delegation included Incheon mayor, head of international relations department of Incheon city administration, and director of East Asian Strategic Institute. The high-ranking guests visited holdings and exposition of the museum. 

The visitors paid specific attention to the jack flag of cruiser Varyag handed over to Central Naval Museum by Incheon city museum on a temporary basis. In 2009 the flag was delivered to St. Petersburg and in Nov 2010 it was transferred to Russia for keeping.

Container-based missile system Club-K to be shown at IMDS-2011

Group company Morinformsistema-Agat will present container-based missile system Club-K at International Maritime Defense Show IMDS-2011to be held late in June, reports Central Navy Portal referring to the company's press service. 

JSC Morinformsistema-Agat plans to introduce (firstly in actual size) the launcher of container-based missile system Club-K at the fifth International Maritime Defense Show IMDS-2011 which will be held in St. Petersburg since June 29 till July 3, 2011. 

Models and video clips of container version of Club missile system was firstly presented at DIMDEX-2010 in Qatar in March 2010, then at EURONAVAL-2010 in Oct 2010. It aroused great interest and storm of comments from scientists, politicians and, especially, independent experts. 

Container-based missile system Club-K is designed for destruction of sea surface and land targets by cruise missiles 3M-54TE, 3M-54TE1, and 3M-14TE. The system can be deployed at coastal positions, various surface ships, railway and automotive platforms. The system's elements are placed in standard 40-feet shipping container. 

Functionally, Club-K missile system consists of multipurpose launch module (MLM), combat control module (CCM), and power-supply and life-support module (PLM). 

Multipurpose launch module is used for preparation and launch of missiles from transport/launch containers; it contains elevating 4-missile launcher.

Cruiser Ukraina: sell on the cheap or dismantle for scrap

Kiev has nothing to do but to sell the cruiser formerly named Ukraina to Russia on the cheap or to dismantle for scrap, reports New Regionreferring to a source in Russian defense ministry.

According to the source, "generally, Russia doesn't need such ship". 

He explained that during construction of the cruiser in Nikolayev (Ukraine) "time frame of assembly technology was not maintained"; that could negatively affect the hull's strength and wear. 

"In addition, the cruiser has been staying idle at the shipyard's wall for a long time", underlined the Russian officer. 

"By all appearances, Kiev understands that there's no other way but either to sell the ship off like a freebee or to scrap her", he said. 

It was previously reported that Russia was about to get the uncompleted cruiser Ukraina for free. Reportedly, only under these conditions Russia would consider participation of Ukrainian shipbuilding companies in the ship's completion. 

Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel recently said: "I won't order to dismantle this 95 per cent completed ship". 

"I think, my Russian counterpart wants to have one more ship of this class in Russian Navy", noted Yezhel. In his turn, Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov added: "Yep, but for free", having emphasized that Moscow waits for Kiev's acceptable offers.

Russia dismisses report of deadlock in talks on Mistral purchase

Reports of an impasse in contractual talks between Russia and France on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy are false, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday.

Russia's Kommersant business daily reported on Thursday that last week's contractual talks between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company, which were attended by government officials from both countries, resulted in deadlock.

"This information is false. It is a large undertaking, and there are always certain issues, but I would like to stress again - this information is unfounded," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the contract would set out terms for the purchase of two ships built by France's DCSN and licenses for construction of two additional ships in Russia for at least 1.5 bln euros.

France is expected to put forward the final commercial proposal on March 15.

Russian-French talks on Mistral have reached a deadlock – Kommersant

Russian-French negotiations on procurement ofMistral class helicopter carriers have reached a deadlock, in particular, because of disagreement in price; contract cost may increase from EUR 980 mln to at least EUR 1.15 bln, reports Thursday'sKommersant. 

"Russia is ready to pay for both Mistrals not more than EUR 980 mln, but France insists on the minimal price of EUR 1.15 bln", writes the newspaper. Meanwhile, neither Rosoboronexport nor Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) nor Ministry of Trade and Industry nor United Shipbuilding Corporation agreed to give any comments. 

According to Kommersant, the reason for discords is "Russian defense ministry's amateurish approach to the contract". During negotiations Russian party offered to include the costs of license and technical documents for some parts to be constructed in Russia. (Supposedly, Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard would be a subcontractor and perform 20% works on the first ship and 40% - on the second one). However, French party refused to include licenses and technical documents into the contract cost. 

In Dec 2010 Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Nikolai Borisov signed a protocol with France specifying the contract cost as EUR 1.15 bln; it included prices for two ships (EUR 980 mln), some logistic expenditures (EUR 131 mln), and crew training (EUR 39 mln). 

"Nikolai Borisov signed this protocol not coordinating with Rosoboronexport and FSMTC", writesKommersant. "And when French defense ministry and DCNS presented the protocol to Russian delegation, it came as a surprise". 

Thus, France evaluates cost of licenses and technical documents for two ships which are not included to the overall contract cost as EUR 90 mln. France is ready to afford technical documents for free (evaluated as EUR 40 mln), if Russia undertakes definite obligation to purchase two Mistrals more. 

According to Kommersant, delegation of Rosoboronexport, FSMTC, Ministry of Trade and Industry, andUnited Shipbuilding Corporation spent the last week in Paris negotiating with French defense ministry andDCNS about Russia's procurement of two French helicopter carriers. 

"Russia will receive France's definitive commercial offer on Mistrals on March 15", writes the newspaper referring to own sources. Note that reconciliation of the price could need "additional talks with French president Nicolas Sarkozy". However, it is still uncertain who will conduct negotiations – president Medvedev or premier Putin, writes Kommersant. Besides, Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said to Kommersanthe had heard nothing about discords on Mistral contract". 

Procurement and construction of Mistrals will be held under State Arms Program 2011-2020. 

Russia and France officially declared late in Dec 2010 that the consortium of United Shipbuilding Corporation (Russia) and DCNS (France) would build two Mistral class ships in Saint-Nazaire (France), and other two – under license in Russia. The tender was issued in Oct 2010 by Russian defense ministry. 

Intergovernmental agreement on procurement of Mistrals was tied on Jan 25 in Saint-Nazaire. It stipulates neither terms nor cost of the future contract; they will be specified in another agreement which is to be signed by Rosoboronexport and DCNS in Apr 2011. 

Assault landing ship Mistral has displacement of 21,000 tons; overall length is 210 meters; speed is over 18 knots; fuel range is up to 20,000 miles; crew is 160 plus 450 marines; air wing includes 16 helicopters, six of them can be simultaneously placed on the flight deck.

None of Libyan trainees has left Russia

Libyan military servicemen who are trained in Russia remain in the country, none of them has left for Libya, reported RIA Novosti on Tuesday referring to a source in Leningrad Naval Base. 

Most of Libyan trainees study in St. Petersburg. Some news agencies recently reported that Libyan servicemen trained in Russia had left for homeland due to riots in Libya. 

"None of Libyan servicemen trained in Russian Navy's scientific center has aborted training process and left Russia", said the interviewee. 

He added that all of them continued training.

Aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will be transferred to India late in 2012 – official

All issues regarding delivery of Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Gorshkov and nuclear-powered attack submarine Nerpa to India have been already settled, they will be handed over to the orderer within the period stipulated, said Mikhail Dmitriev, director of Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC). 

"We have arranged all issues. I think we'll manage to keep within time and cost limits. And, finally, we'll realize all plans", said he in the interview to Kommersant published on Thursday. 

Answering the question when it is planned to deliver Admiral Gorshkov to Indian Navy, Dmitriev said: "By the end of 2012. That was stipulated in documents, and we're going to keep the term. The ship's trials are scheduled in 2011-2012". 

Speaking of transfer of SSN Nerpa to Indian Navy, he said that "everything is ready, there's no problem". 

"Now the matter is at final stage. There's no need for any additional works, maybe just the sub's interior painting and some other minor things. Indian crew has been working with Russian instructors for a long time, and executes a number of tasks. Neither Russian nor Indian partners have any concerns about it", said Mikhail Dmitriev.

Black Sea Fleet aviation turns 90

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) aviation will celebrate 90th anniversary on March 3. 

Jubilee meeting will be held on March 3, 2011 in Sevastopol at the memorial "To courage and heroism of Black Sea Fleet aviators"; attendants of the meeting will commemorate Black Sea Fleet pilots lost in wars defending the native land. Afterwards, it is planned to conduct a solemn meeting and a concert associated with the jubilee in BSF Officers' Club.

Pirates captured Greek ship with Russian sailor on board

Pirates hijacked Panamanian-flagged Greek cargo ship MV Dover on Feb 28 in the northern part of the Arabian Sea, reports official website of EUNAVFOR Somalia. 

There is one Russian sailor in the crew, 19 Filipinos, and three Romanians. 

The ship was sailing from Pakistan to Yemen. Details of the capture are uncertain so far. There is no communication with the ship. Information about the crew's health status is not available either. 

However, according to online Maritime Bulletin – Sovfrakht, the crew has probably sheltered in one of the ship's compartments waiting for help. 

Late Jan 2011 cargo ship MV Beluga Nomination was captured 100 km off Seychelles; there were also Russian citizens aboard the ship. Reportedly, at least one of them was killed. 

Thus, according to Maritime Bulletin – Sovfrakht, Somali pirates currently hold three Russian hostages – one from MV Dover, one from MV Beluga Nomination, and another one from Tunisian tanker Hannibal II. 

In 2008 UN Security Council permitted foreign warships to operate in Somali territorial waters, although so far they have not managed to take control over piracy. Pirates' activity is explained by the fact that the state has virtually ceased to exist – there is no central authority in Somali, only separate non-recognized state formations.

Sunken ships will be listed as potentially hazardous

Divers of EMERCOM Maritime Rescue Service will explore Kaliningrad Bay and waters off Kurshskaya Bar. According to them, such monitoring is needed because of huge number of hazardous underwater objects which are more than 80. 

Primarily, those are wrecked WW2 warships. German gun cruiser Dragon, destroyers, ammunition-carrying barges, and even submarines lay on the seabed near Baltiysk. Among them are two Soviet subs scuppered in battle. Detected ships will be entered into regional and all-Russian list of hazardous underwater objects. 

"This year we plan to address to Kaliningrad regional authorities with request to establish cooperative program implying searches of potentially dangerous underwater objects. We offer to start from the west – Baltiysk, Mamonovo, Bagrationovsk. All inland waters, rivers, and lakes are also needed to be checked. There must be a plenty of work for us", said Nikolai Sheremet, director of EMERCOM Maritime Rescue Service, Northwest branch.

UAE, Russia sign $74-million contract on modernization of BMP-3 amphibious vehicles

ABU DHABI | The United Arab Emirates and Russian state arms exporter Rosoboron export signed a $74-million contract on the modernization of 135 Russian BMP-3 (amphibious infantry fighting vehicle), UAE Armed Forces official spokesman Major-General Obaid Al Hairi Salem Al Ketbi said on Thursday, according to RIA Novosti.

Russia sent its delegation to IDEX 2011, an international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on February 20-24.

Thirty-three Russian defense industry enterprises took part in IDEX 2011, including Rosoboronexport and the state corporation Russian Technologies.

According to the exhibition website, IDEX is the largest defense and security event in the Middle East and North African region. (RIA Novosti)