Russia to Proceed with Tor-M1 Sales to Iran
February 9, 2006 :: News
Russia will proceed with supplying Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. In November, Moscow reached a $1 billion deal with Tehran, under which it would supply up to 30 systems to be used to defend Iran’s most important state and military facilities Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran, and elsewhere. Despite international concern over Iran’s nuclear weapons program, Mikhail Dmitriev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, stated that “there is no reason not to fulfill this contract.” Dmitriev, however, categorically denied media reports that Russia was or is considering selling other weapons systems to Tehran, including S-300P surface-to-air missile systems batteries. (Link)
» More stories on: Iran, Russia
RIA-Novosti Column on Putin Boasts
February 6, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
Viktor Litovkin, military commentator for RIA Novosti, argues that Russia’s newest missiles are “indeed unrivalled” and that President Vladimir Putin was correct in his recent boast that these weapons can penetrate any existing missile defense system. Litovkin contends that the SS-27 (Topol-M) ICBM and the SS-NX-30 (Bulava) SLBM pick up speed so fast upon launch that early warning systems monitoring the Earth’s surface from space do not have enough time to take appropriate countermeasures. He adds that these weapons are not “strictly ballistic” in their trajectories. They begin the midcourse phase ballistically, but can dive unexpectedly or maneuver to avoid destruction. In the terminal phase, both accelerate to hypersonic speeds that are beyond the limits of all operational and most future anti-missile defenses.
Litovkin vigorously defends Putin’s decision to boast about Russia’s missile capabilities: “A man who governs a state with such a deterrent capability has reasons to be proud of it.” He takes issue with “the perception of this praise as muscle-flexing or saber-rattling, let alone drum-banging.” According to Litovkin, the Topol-M and the Bulava “have no particular targets and pose no threat to anyone.” Moreover, “Russia has never drawn its nuclear sword—and most likely never will—in a power game.” He adds that the continuous development and upgrade effort of the Strategic Missile Troops “in no way amounts to an arms race,” as Russia’s overall ballistic missile capability is being reduced. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Maneuverable Warheads, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-6, SS-26
Jane’s M&R on Russian Tests of Modular Missile Radar
February 6, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
Jane’s Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia has begun testing a next-generation early-warning radar. The new system, designated Voronezh-DM, features a modular design, meaning that it will not require major construction work at planned locations, and therefore can be rapidly deployed to deal with new threats. In contrast, Russia’s existing Daryal (Pechora) radar in Azerbaijan and two Dnepr (Hen House) radars in Ukrainian Sevastopol and Mukachevo are massive structures located at fixed sites. The prototype Voronezh-DM, which was developed by the Scientific Research Institute of Long-Range Radio Communication, has been installed at a site near St. Petersburg, where it will become part of the missile defense of northwest Russia. In addition, Russia plans to deploy additional modular radars along its southern frontiers to cover the sectors currently monitored by the radars in Azerbaijan and Ukraine. This will end Russia’s current dependence on sites that lie outside of its territory. (Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia, Detection and Tracking
Jane’s M&R on S-400 Deployments
February 6, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The Russian Air Force is training its first air-defense missile regiment on the new S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system, reports Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. The regiment is expected to become combat ready later in 2006 at a location near Moscow. Eventually, all 35 regiments will be equipped with the new system, which will be used to protect large population centers, as well as military and industrial complexes. The S-400 is Russia’s most advanced SAM system, capable of destroying aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. (Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
Russia Trying to Sell India on S-300 System
February 2, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
Russia has pitched its S-300 surface-to-air missile system to India, reports RIA-Novosti. Mikhail Sukachev, a representative of Russian state arms firm Rosoboronexport, recently spoke at the Defexpo arms show in New Delhi: “Russia has offered India to create a comprehensive air defense system using different air defenses, including S-300 missile systems of various modifications.” The news briefing came after Indian media reports named the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) as the main competitor to the Russian S-300. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: India, Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Putin Again Boasts Missiles Can Pierce Defenses
February 1, 2006 :: News
Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted on Tuesday January 31 that Russia has ballistic missiles capable of penetrating any missile defense system. At a news conference, Putin said,
Russia last year tested missile systems that no one in the world has and won’t have for a long time. These missile systems don’t represent a response to a missile defense system, but they are immune to that. They are hypersonic and capable of changing their flight path.
Putin recently discussed the same “hypersonic” systems at a similar format of a press conference in September 2005, noting their ability to maneuver in course and altitude and evade ballistic missile defense such as those being developed by “partner countries,” a probable reference to the ground-based mid-course defenses being deployed by the United States. (Article, Link)
» Sep. 27, 2005: Putin on Hypersonic Maneuverable Warheads
» More stories on: Maneuverable Warheads, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-6, SS-26
Russia to Build New Missile Radar in South
January 31, 2006 :: Itar-Tass :: News
A new missile warning radar will be built in southern Russia, announced Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Tuesday. Itar-Tass quotes Ivanov as saying that the threat of tactical or cruise missiles from the south is “quite possible,” and that Russia intends to “increase the time from observation of target to impact regarding all types of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic, tactical, and cruise missiles.” He added that the new radar will allow Russia to end its dependence on foreign elements such as the Daryal radar in Azerbaijan and the two Dnepr radars in Ukrainian Sevastopol and Mukachevo.
The range at which the new radar will be able to detect an incoming missile will be the same as existing radars, up to 6,000 km. Ivanov made the announcement at the missile warning facility at Lekhtusi, near St. Petersburg. Unlike the “meter-band” Lekhtusi radar, the new radar is said to be more precise, operating in the decimeter band.
Although the location of the new radar seems not to have been specified, a facility in southern Russia with a range of 6,000 km would probably be of use to any missile launched in the vicinity of Iran. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Detection and Tracking
Russian General on Topol-M Regiment Status
January 27, 2006 :: Interfax :: News
Colonel-General Aleksandr Belousov, Russia’s first deputy minister of defense, recently inspected the rearmament of the Teykovo Missile Division in the Ivanovo Region. The division is transitioning to the new Topol-M (SS-27) ground-based, solid propellant ICBM, Russia’s premiere long-range weapon. According to Interfax, Belousov stated that “the unit is combat-ready and capable of accomplishing its inherent missions.”
In October 2005, Colonel-General Nikolay Solovtsov, commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops, stated that SMT units were to be armed with the new Topol-M mobile missile system beginning in 2006. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-6
Russia Considering Permanent Base on Moon
January 26, 2006 :: AFP :: News
Russia is reportedly considering the building of a permanent base on the moon, which it could use to mine the rare fuel Helium-3. The AFP quotes Nikolai Sevastyanov, head of the Energia space corporation, as recently stating that such a base could be complete by 2015—meaning that Russia would be able to begin “industrial-scale delivery” of the fuel by 2020. Rare on earth but plentiful on the moon, Helium-3 is a non-radioactive isotope of helium that can be used in nuclear fusion. Sevastyanov added that the International Space Station would have to play a key role in the project, and a transport relay to the moon would have to be established with the help of the planned Clipper spaceship, and the Parom, a space capsule intended to tug heavy cargo containers. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Space-Based Systems
Russian Missile Defense Radar in Azerbaijan
January 25, 2006 :: NTI :: News
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov recently affirmed Russia’s intention to continue operating its missile defense radar station located in Qabala, Azerbaijan. According to the Turan News Agency, the Qabala radar station, which Russia rents from Azerbaijan, is capable of detecting ballistic missiles launched from the south. Ivanov recently spoke with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev about Qabala, including the possibility of joint operations to ensure the station’s continued operation. (Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia
