Two Russian warships armed with nuclear-capable “Kalibr” cruise missiles are sailing to the Baltics

[Hindustani78]

12:38 Oct. 25, 2016

https://medium.com/dfrlab/missile-misdirection-bfd0c677443#.8sa3m622s
http://uatoday.tv/press/is-russia-shipping-nuclear-capable-cruise-missiles-to-the-baltic-792664.html

Ship movements in the Mediterranean and North Sea and comments posted online suggest that two Russian warships armed with long-range, nuclear-capable “Kalibr” cruise missiles are sailing to the Baltic — despite official statements to the contrary.


The Kalibr can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads, and its maximum range against land targets, according to Russian arms site arms-expo.ru, is 2600 km. This makes it a far more capable weapon than the land-based Iskander missile (reported range 500 km), whose recent deployment to Kaliningrad provoked tensions with the Baltic States and NATO (see our previous posts, “Troubled Waters” and “The Iskanders Have Landed”).

The Russian Navy’s new vessels

The ships in question are the “Zelenyy Dol” (hull number 602) and “Serpukhov” (603), classified as “Buyan-M”-class Small Missile Ships (Russian: Малые ракетные корабли, or МКР). They are among the Russian Navy’s newest vessels: both entered into service with the Black Sea Fleet at the end of last year, and were home-ported in Sevastopol. On 19 August, while steaming in the eastern Mediterranean, they fired their main weaponry for the first time in anger, launching three cruise missiles at targets in Syria. The Russian Ministry of Defense published video of the launches.

They returned to Sevastopol after this exploit, but in early October it was announced that they would return to the Mediterranean, with Black Sea Fleet spokesman Nikolai Voskresensky quoted as saying, “In the Mediterranean Sea, the Serpukhov and Zelenyy Dol are set to join the permanent operational task force in the distant maritime zone on a planned rotational basis.”

On 5 October, both ships were photographed by ship-spotters as they passed through the Bosphorus a mile apart:

The general expectation was that they would head south for the Syrian coastline. Indeed, Kremlin propaganda outlet RT stated that the two ships “will assist in the military operation against Islamic State”.

However, naval blog site 7fbtk.blogspot.com challenged that account, quoting a 16 September statement from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense as saying that the two ships were due to be transferred to the Baltic. The MoD had said that the ships were due to head north via Russia’s inland waterways in late September; that deadline was missed, the transit never materialized and the claim was never widely reported.

But the blogger revived it, quoting open sources as saying that the ships were expected in Malta in mid-October, and added, “Having travelled that far west with a tug, it seems even more likely that Serpukhov and Zelenyy Dol will continue to the Baltic Sea. But the small patrol combatants will require several port calls (Ceuta? Lisbon?) and/or logistical support by a naval tanker. The Baltic Fleet would benefit greatly from the introduction of Kalibr-armed warships. While Kalibr-capable ships and submarines are tested in the Baltic Sea before being transferred to the Black Sea Fleet, the Baltic Fleet currently has no Kalibr-capable ships or submarines in its own permanent inventory.”

Away from Syria

Sure enough, on 9 October, ship-spotters in Valletta, Malta, posted images of the two ships, together with a tug known as SB-36, moored in the Grand Harbor. Website maltaspotting.com, which regularly monitors ship movements in the harbor, confirmed their presence and predicted a departure of 12 October.

Russian Navy BSF's Buyan-M Class Corvettes 603 Serpukhov & 602 Zeleny Dol (in order of transit, 1 mile apart) southbound on the Bosphorus

RFS Zelenyy Dol in the North Sea, 23 October 2016. Photo: Royal Netherlands Navy.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-defence-baltic-sweden-idUSKCN12Q1HB
By Andrew Osborn and Simon Johnson | MOSCOW/STOCKHOLM

Russia is sharply upgrading the firepower of its Baltic Fleet by adding warships armed with long-range cruise missiles to counter NATO's build-up in the region, Russian media reported on Wednesday.

There was no official confirmation from Moscow, but the reports will raise tensions in the Baltic, already heightened since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, and cause particular alarm in Poland and Lithuania which border Russia's base there.

The reported deployment comes as NATO is planning its biggest military build-up on Russia's borders since the Cold War to deter possible Russian aggression.

Russia's daily Izvestia newspaper cited a military source as saying that the first two of five ships, the Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol, had already entered the Baltic Sea and would soon become part of a newly formed division in Kaliningrad, Russia's European exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.

Another source familiar with the situation told the Interfax news agency that the two warships would be joining the Baltic Fleet in the coming days.

"With the appearance of two small missile ships armed with the Kalibr cruise missiles the Fleet's potential targeting range will be significantly expanded in the northern European military theater," the source told Interfax.

Russia's Defence Ministry, which said earlier this month the two ships were en route to the Mediterranean, did not respond to a request for comment, but NATO and the Swedish military confirmed the two warships had entered the Baltic.

"NATO navies are monitoring this activity near our borders," said Dylan White, the alliance's acting spokesman.

The Buyan-M class corvettes are armed with nuclear-capable Kalibr cruise missiles, known by the NATO code name Sizzler, which the Russian military says have a range of at least 1,500 km (930 miles).

Though variants of the missile are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the ships are believed to be carrying conventional warheads.

"The addition of Kalibr missiles would increase the strike range not just of the Baltic Fleet, but of Russian forces in the Baltic region, fivefold," said Ben Nimmo, a defense analyst at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, who has been tracking the ships' progress.

"The two small corvettes, with their modern, nuclear-capable missiles, may yet have an impact out of proportion to their size in the Baltic."

SWEDEN, POLAND WORRIED

Izvestia said Russia's Baltic Fleet would probably receive a further three such small warships armed with the same missiles by the end of 2020.

It said the Baltic Fleet's coastal defenses would also be beefed up with the Bastion and Bal land-based missile systems. The Bastion is a mobile defense system armed with two anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 300 km (188 miles). The Bal anti-ship missile has a similar range.


Sweden's Defence Minister said his country was worried by the presence of the warships in the Baltic Sea, complaining the move was likely to keep tension in the region high.

"This is ... worrying and is not something that helps to reduce tensions in our region," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Sweden's national TT news agency. "This affects all the countries round the Baltic."

Swedish media said the Kalibr missiles had the range to hit targets across the Nordic region. The Russian Defence Ministry said in August that the two corvettes had been used to fire cruise missiles at militants in Syria.

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, in Brussels for a NATO meeting, called the deployment "an obvious cause for concern," the PAP news agency reported. "Moving such ships into the Baltic changes the balance of power," he said.

Earlier this month, Russia moved nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles into Kaliningrad leading to protests from Lithuania and Poland.

(Additional reporting by Jack Stubbs in Moscow, Justyna Pawlak and Jakub Iglewski in Warsaw and Robin Emmott in Brussels; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Andrew Heavens)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-defence-baltic-poland-idUSKCN12Q22J
Wed Oct 26, 2016 | 11:19am EDT
Poland concerned about Russian warship deployment in Kaliningrad

Poland's Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz speaks during his visit at Military Aviation Works No.1 in Lodz, Poland October 11, 2016. Agencja Gazeta/Marcin Stepien/via REUTERS

Poland expressed concerns on Wednesday over reports that Russia is sharply upgrading the firepower of its Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad by adding warships with long-range cruise missiles.

Moscow has not confirmed the report in Russian daily Izvestia newspaper.

"This is an obvious cause for concern," Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz was quoted as saying by local news agency PAP. "Moving such ships on the Baltic (sea) changes the balance of power."

Macierewicz is in Brussels for a NATO ministers' meeting.

(Reporting by Jakub Iglewski; Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

[Penguin]

I believe these two sailed towards the flottilla coming down from Northern Europe to the med.

 

[alimobin memon]

Guys will there be limited skirmish or war? I think just like soviet union dissolution Russia might lose something important once again. as many articles are suggesting their naval ships are rusting or if in order have many weapons or ammunition out of order. I am just observing and understanding the modern warfare as far as I know war cannot be won only by zeal but my technology and endurance. T15 and T14 armata are just being tested till then I think russia has very few modern tanks. Recently read that russia only has
450 of T90 and 300 of t80 plus T72 around 1500 all of them are deadly tanks but fighting against different types like leopard 2A5, leclercs and abrahm tanks will be deadly furthermore against f35, rafale, f22 and typhoon are more than a match against russians sukhois only few su35 are matched. and Nuclear war is not an option so easily decided to be used in conventional war russia might lose alot this time than they did in soviet union era.

With respect please tell me what's your say, I am intermediate learner need expert view on this only.

 

[Hindustani78]

19:32
Russian Navy's Northern Fleet deployed 25 ships in 2015 - Defense Ministry

 

[Penguin]

The thing with these boats is that they fires their 8 missiles and then they have to go back to port to reload.

 

[PeaceGen]

Sounds like war-"games" to justify an armsrace, that can grow out of control

 

[Hindustani78]

Interfax news
November 14, 2016
12:37
Baltic Fleet corvettes practice Uran missile launches

 

[Hindustani78]

November 21, 14:34 UTC+3
As was reported earlier, Admiral Makarov has successfully passed the trials of its missile, antiaircraft missile and artillery systems

KALININGRAD, November 21. /TASS/. Russia’s advanced frigate Admiral Makarov is returning to the Baltic waters from the Barents Sea where it has held armament trials, spokesman for the Yantar Shipyard Sergei Mikhailov told TASS on Monday.

The Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic Sea Region of Kaliningrad is the place where the frigate has been built.

"We’re expecting the return of the Admiral Makarov from the North to the acceptance base in the port of Baltiysk on November 24-25. From that place, the ship will again go to the Baltic Sea to complete the program of state trials," Mikhailov said.

The Admiral Makarov will then sail to the Yantar Shipyard to prepare the frigate for its delivery to the Russian Navy, the shipyard’s spokesman said.

"The Russian Navy is expected to receive the new frigate from the shipbuilders until the end of this year," Mikhailov said.

As was reported earlier, the frigate Admiral Makarov has successfully passed the trials of its missile, antiaircraft missile and artillery systems at the Northern Fleet’s training ranges in the Barents Sea.

The Admiral Makarov is the third Project 11356 ship, which the Yantar Shipyard will deliver to the customer in 2016. The two other warships, the Admiral Grigorovich and the Admiral Essen, were commissioned on March 11 and June 7, 2016, respectively.

The Admiral Makarov was laid down at the Yantar Shipyard on February 29, 2012 and floated out on September 2, 2015. The warships of this class have a displacement of about 4,000 tons, a speed of 30 knots and sea endurance of 30 days. These frigates are armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, the Shtil-1 self-defense missile system, the A-190 100mm artillery gun, antiaircraft artillery, a rocket launcher, torpedoes and can also carry a Kamov Ka-27 or Ka-31 deck-based helicopter.

 

[Hindustani78]

10:12
Baltic Fleet pilots attack mock enemy in sky over Kaliningrad region

 

[Randiana2012]

10:12
Baltic Fleet pilots attack mock enemy in sky over Kaliningrad region

Haven't you got a life?

 

[Hindustani78]

June 06, 18:33 UTC+3
The drills will assess the skills of the commanders of all levels and headquarters of the naval base’s forces



http://tass.com/defense/950153
KALININGRAD, June 6. /TASS/. Over 10 warships of the Russian Baltic Fleet’s Leningrad naval base have sailed to the Baltic Sea to hold artillery live-firing, mine and torpedo warfare and mine sweeping drills as part of a planned tactical exercise, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"The naval groupings comprise mine sweepers and small anti-submarine warfare ships, and also various vessels of the auxiliary fleet. Overall, the maneuvers involve over 10 warships and auxiliary vessels of the naval base," the press office said.

The warships have been united into tactical groups. The crews will practice artillery fire against real air and naval targets of various complexities, deep-sea bombing, the search for a notional enemy’s submarines and perform mine and torpedo warfare and mine sweeping exercises.

The drills will assess the skills of the commanders of all levels and headquarters of the naval base’s forces. During the live-firing drills, the practice ranges in the Baltic Sea will be closed for shipping. The Baltic Fleet’s warships and support vessels will be involved in the effort to close water areas for the drills.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://tass.com/defense/950610

KALININGRAD, June 8. /TASS/. Two corvettes of Russia’s Baltic Fleet - The Boiky and The Steregushchy - currently on a long voyage for the Atlantic, are sailing through the Kattegat and Skagerrak straits, the fleet’s spokesman Roman Martov has told TASS.

"A group of two corvettes of project 20380, The Boiky and The Steregushchy, have entered the Kattegat and Skagerrak straits linking the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic," Martov said, adding that "weather permitting, the ships may be in the Atlantic as early as Friday."

The corvettes left the Baltiysk base on June 4 on a regular mission.

This is The Boiky’s second voyage to the Atlantic this year. Together with the corvette The Soobrazitelny it was on a long voyage in the North Atlantic on April 7 through May 2.

The Boiky and the Steregushchy will conduct exercises to practice search for surface ships and submarines. Deck helicopters Ka-27PL will search for submarines using droppable hydro-acoustic stations.

The 20380 project corvettes are meant for operations against enemy surface ships and submarines and for providing artillery support for amphibious operations, patrolling designated areas and maintaining naval blockade.

Russia's Baltic fleet


Nastoichivy Destroyer of Project 956 Sarych

Steregushchy corvette

Small missile ship Livien

Large amphibious ship Minsk

Vyborg diesel submarine

Navy servicemen stand on the deck of the Geyzer rocket ship

Russian Navy corvette Soobrazitelny

Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy

Yaroslav Mudry patrol ship

Small missile ship Zyb

Guided missile destroyer Bespokoynyi

A hovercraft Zubr seen during a landing operation of the Russian Baltic Fleet

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201706141054619956-russia-tactical-naval-aviation-exercises/

According to Russian Defense Ministry, tactical and naval aviation exercises kicked off in the Western Military District.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian Baltic Fleet troops launched tactical and naval aviation exercises in the Western Military District, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"The joint flight and tactical exercise of the operational-tactical aviation of the Baltic Fleet's Air Force and Air Defense and naval aviation units kicked off in the Western Military District. Pilots of the operational-tactical aviation from [Russia's western] Voronezh Region started practicing joint actions with fighters of the Baltic Sea Fleet's naval aviation over the Baltic Sea. The training flights are carried out in accordance with the international norms regulating the use of airspace," Western Military District spokesman Col. Igor Muginov told reporters.

Su-34 fighter-bombers have been relocated from the Voronezh Region to an airfield in Russia's northwestern Kaliningrad Region to take part in the drills and are to work out cooperation with the Baltic Fleet's air force, Migunov added.


According to the spokesman, up to 20 planes and helicopters, as well as about 200 troops, are participating in the drills that continue until the end of the week.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=760451

MOSCOW. June 15 (Interfax) - Russian strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-160 flew over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea on Thursday and were escorted by foreign fighter jets in some areas, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The long-range aviation warplanes were accompanied by [Sukhoi] Su-27 planes from the Western Military District along their route and by an [Beriev] A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft of the military transport aviation," the ministry said.

The Russian missile-carrying Tu-160 bombers completed their flights over the Baltic Sea neutral waters as scheduled and violated no boundaries of other states, Russian Defense Ministry said.

"On some stages of the flight's route, the Russian strategic missile-carrying bombers were escorted by F-16 jets of the Danish Air Force, F-18 of the Finnish Air Force and by JAS-39 of the Swedish Air Force," it said.

"According to the approved plan, long-range aviation pilots perform flights over neutral waters of Atlantic, Arctic, the Black Sea, and the Pacific Ocean on a regular basis, flying both from base airfields and from operational ones. All the flights are performed in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of any other states," the ministry said.

**********

19:49
Three Russian Navy's corvettes deliver strike at simulated enemy's squadron of ships at drills in Baltic Sea