Azeris Concerned about Putin Radar Offer
June 15, 2007 :: News
Russian President Vladimir Putin's surprise offer during the G-8 meeting in Germany to share the Galaba radar station in Azerbaijan with the U.S. as part of a new ballistic missile defense also took Azeris by surprise, despite an endorsement from Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, that "This is a new element in [Azerbaijan's] strategic cooperation with the two countries." Azeri political leaders have criticized the legality of President Putin's offer and the wisdom of the plan itself. "If Russia intends to allow it to be used by a third country, it must discuss the issue with Azerbaijan," said Ziyafat Askerov, vice-speaker of Azerbaijan's parliament. Citing Article 4 of the Gabala radar station lease agreement, he said the station cannot be handed over to a third party without Azerbaijan's permission. The effect of increased use of the facility could also have serious ecological effects. "If the US is allowed to use the radar station, its capacities will be increased, which means the damage being done to the environment will grow too," said independent military expert Azad Isazade. "The clouds reflect radar waves onto densely-populated areas of the country nearby. Officially, they say the station is harmless but independent medical studies suggest the contrary."
The Galaba radar facility is 200 kilometers from the Azeri-Iranian border, and currently monitors much of Asia, including Iran, as well as much of Africa and islands in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The Russian government has a ten year lease on the facility. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
Putin "Not Joking" on Missiles, Cautions Ukrainian President
June 12, 2007 :: Spacewar.com :: News
On June 12, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to retarget nuclear missiles at Europe was credible if the U.S. proceeded to base Ground Based Interceptors in Poland and an X-band radar facility in the Czech Republic. Russia has opposed the plan, which it claims blunts its strategic nuclear deterrent. The U.S. has stressed the system is meant to protect the U.S. and Europe from a possible missile attack from the Middle East. Recently, however, Putin offered a surprise compromise proposal at the G-8 summit in Germany which would involve stationing the interceptors in Turkey or Iraq and utilize an existing radar base in Azerbaijan with the Russians.
While NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the proposal, he doubted the Azeri radar's ability to meet U.S. requirements. Commenting upon the Russian threat, Yushchenko said, "It's becoming more and more apparent that the best response to all the challenges regarding defense and security policy can only be given through a collective system of defense...And a key aspect is to provide Ukraine's accession to the European Union and the North Atlantic bloc." He criticized Russia's meddling in Ukraine's domestic affairs and reiterated "It is (we) who determine our domestic and foreign policies." (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia
Russia Not Planning Withdrawal from Arms Treaty
June 7, 2007 :: Defense News :: News
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on June 6 that the “question will not be raised” as to whether Russia will withdraw from the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty at an emergency meeting later this month. Russian President Putin had previously called for a freeze of Russia’s compliance with the treaty, and suggesting that Russia could withdraw. NATO and Russia have disputed the treaty's provisions since 1999. NATO says Russia has not honored its commitments to withdraw forces from Moldova and Georgia, while Russia accuses the U.S. of proposing to militarize Eastern Europe with new missile facilities and bases in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Former Soviet Republics, Allies
Ivanov: U.S. BMD Meant to Weaken Russian Deterrance
November 29, 2006 :: AP :: News
U.S. plans to build a missile defense site in Eastern Europe are designed “to weaken Russia’s deterrence potential,” according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. U.S. officials are currently in negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic, and have indicated that the site is intended to defend Europe against ballistic missiles from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. Yet Ivanov was recently quoted by Belarus’ Soyuznoye Gosudarstvo magazine as stating, “We are told that this system is allegedly intended to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles. But Iran has no missiles of this class and is unlikely to obtain them in the foreseeable future.” He continued: “The U.S.-declared threat, which can allegedly be countered by the system under development, is only an attempt to cover up efforts to change strategic stability and to weaken Russia’s deterrence potential.” Ivanov also said that deployment of part of the U.S. system near the border of Belarus would do nothing to boost security in Europe. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia
Russia Sends S-300P Systems to Belarus
November 10, 2006 :: AFP :: News
The AFP reports that Russia has sent four S-300P (SA-10 Grumble) air/missile defense systems to Belarus, said to be in retaliation for the recent delivery of U.S.-made F-16 fighters to Poland. According to an unnamed source in the Moscow-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the four S-300 systems “have already been put into service” in Belarus. The S-300P is capable of tracking and destroying ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Proliferation, Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
Ukraine Offers Missile Defense Cooperation to Israel
October 5, 2006 :: Israel Today :: News
Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko met with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday, October 3, and offered strategic cooperation in the area of ballistic missile defense systems and satellite control systems. According to Israel Today, Yushchenko told Peres: “We will be very glad to cooperate with Israeli scientists and developers in the area of missiles and satellites. Development of advanced technological weaponry could be the basis for further strategic cooperation between the two countries.” The Ukrainian president added that he is planning to visit Israel at the beginning of November with a delegation of business leaders from his country. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Israel, Former Soviet Republics
Belarusian Missile Crews Test S-300 in Southern Russia
August 10, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: News
This morning, Belarusian missile crews took part in a military exercise at the Ashuluk range in southern Russia that included tests of the S-300 air/missile defense system, reports the Belarusian news agency Belapan. During the operational and tactical exercise, crews from the 115th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade used S-300 systems to engage 15 target simulators imitating an attack by cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and supersonic aircraft. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses, Testing - Foreign
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
MDA Considers Caucasus for Possible X-Band Radar Site
July 28, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has identified the Caucasus region as a possible location for the deployment of a mobile X-band radar, reports Jane’s Defence Weekly in the August 2 issue. Rick Lehner, an MDA spokesman, recently told Jane’s that the region would be a “good location for a small X-band radar to provide tracking and discrimination of missiles launched from Iran.” Lehner’s comments followed the release of an MDA fact sheet for Block 2008 development that referred to an unnamed country in the Caucasus as a potential site for transportable sensors. The disclosure has prompted speculation as to whether MDA is considering Georgia, which has extensive military cooperation with the U.S., or Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran and has reportedly received U.S. funds for the construction of two radar installations. (Link)
» More stories on: Former Soviet Republics, Iran, Detection and Tracking
Polish Analyst: Russia May Send S-300 Missiles to Iran via Belarus
June 7, 2006 :: BBC Worldwide Monitoring :: Analysis
Russia may export S-300 air/missile defense interceptors to Iran via Belarus, writes Polish analyst Piotr Koscinski on the Rzeczpospolita newspaper website. Koscinski cites the Russian publication Vzglyad, which published an article in April 2006 suggesting that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka himself would be the go-between for the transaction. The move would allow Russia to categorically deny the sale of these weapons to Iran, and maintain its image within the G-8 and on the world stage. According to Jane’s Intelligence Digest, an Iranian military delegation visited Minsk in January 2006, and negotiations surrounding the transfer of S-300 systems took place. According to Aleksandr Rakhimchyk, deputy director of the Moscow-based Institute of Military and Political Analysis, if Iran receives Russian-made S-300 systems, the U.S. would not be able to carry out a military operation against the Islamic Republic “without suffering significant losses.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, Former Soviet Republics, Iran, Proliferation, Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
Belarus Deploying Missiles on Polish Border
June 1, 2006 :: News
Belarus has deployed Russian-made S-300 air/missile defense interceptors in the city of Brzesc near the Polish border, according to a report by Radio Polonia on May 31. Relations between the two countries have been tense ever since authorities in Belarus accused Poland of interfering in its internal affairs by supporting the Belarusian democratic opposition movement. In addition, Poland is a top choice for the Pentagon’s European missile defense site, which has angered Russian authorities. In response, Russia and Belarus signed a joint air defense pact, and Moscow began arranging for the deployment of S-300 units in Belarus, thus extending the effective range of Russia’s western air-defense by at least 150 km (90 miles), and the detection of air targets by 400 km (250 miles). Poland currently has no equivalent air/missile defense interceptors. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Deployment, Former Soviet Republics, Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)
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