MOSCOW, September 25 (RIA Novosti)

Russia’s advanced military research agency may become operational as early as the end of 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.

The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry will be similar in its purpose to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the United States.

The new body is expected to boost the development of advanced weaponry and help streamline the arms procurement process in Russia.

“I think that we will wrap up all legal procedures by the end of this year and the foundation will start operating,” Rogozin, who oversees Russia’s defense industry, said in an interview with Rossiiskaya Gazeta to be published on Wednesday.

“The agency will provide support for both fundamental research and high-risk projects,” Rogozin said.

He expressed hope that by bringing the fundamental and applied research closer together and implementing the results of this research in concrete weapons development projects, the new agency will help Russia achieve technological breakthroughs in key defense areas as early as in three years.

“We have so many breakthrough projects gathering dust that if we implement only a small part of them we will see a revolutionary leap in Russia’s development,” Rogozin said.

The new agency, which would initially employ 100-150 experts, will be funded under the state arms procurement program until 2020.

Russia’s Vedomosti business daily speculated in July that up to 4.7 trillion rubles ($145 billion), or almost a fifth of the rearmament program’s budget, could be spent for “unidentified” purposes, including “secret weapons development.”

MOSCOU, 26 septembre - RIA Novosti

Les troupes russes de missiles stratégiques (RVSN) sont actuellement équipées à 25% de missiles de 5e génération, ce pourcentage devant progressivement augmenter, a annoncé mercredi à RIA Novosti le porte-parole des RVSN, le colonel Vadim Koval.

"La part de missiles de 5e génération au sein des troupes de missiles stratégiques est de 25%", a indiqué l'interlocuteur de l'agence.

Auparavant, il a été annoncé que l'unité de Teikovo (région d'Ivanovo, à 250 km au nord-est de Moscou) a été la première à être rééquipée de systèmes de missiles Topol-M et Iars. Cette année, les troupes ont commencé les préparatifs visant à rééquiper de missiles Iars les unités de Novossibirsk (Sibérie occidentale) et de Kozelsk (région de Kalouga, à 200 km au sud-ouest de Moscou).

Par ailleurs, l'unité de Tatichtchev (région de Saratov, 750 km au sud-est de Moscou) sera équipée de missiles Topol-M basés au sol, selon le colonel.

Le missile Topol-M (code OTAN SS-27 Sickle B1) est le premier missile développé par la Russie après la fin de l'URSS. Doté d'une grande manœuvrabilité (il franchit n'importe quel bouclier antimissile), très discret et facile à déployer, le Topol-M existe en version mobile et stationnaire.

Le RS-24 Iars (code OTAN SS-X-29), missile à propergol solide et à trois étages, est une version modernisée du missile monobloc RS-12M2 Topol-M. Il est doté d'ogives multiples de 150 à 300 kt à guidage individuel et a une portée de 11.000 km Prochainement, le RS-24 constituera, avec le Topol-M monobloc (RS-12M2), le noyau des forces nucléaires russes.

La puissance d'une ogive du missile Iars ou Topol-M (en équivalent TNT) est 50 fois supérieure à celle des bombes atomiques utilisées contre Hiroshima et Nagasaki.

SOTCHI, 24 septembre - RIA Novosti

Les capitaux privés investis dans le complexe militaro-industriel russe ont permis au pays de réaliser une "véritable percée" dans le développement d'armes d'infanterie, a déclaré le vice-premier ministre russe Dmitri Rogozine lors d'une rencontre avec le président Vladimir Poutine.

Après avoir rappelé la décision d'attirer les investissements privés dans l'industrie de l'armement, annoncée par le chef de l'Etat en mai dernier lors d'une visite à Nijni Taguil (Oural), M. Rogozine a fait savoir que cette politique portait déjà ses fruits.

"Les seules choses constituant une véritable percée sont celles conçues dans le domaine des armes d'infanterie. Il s'agit d'un nouveau pistolet et de deux modèles de fusils de précision. Ces armes sont le résultat des activités d'entreprises privées", a indiqué le vice-premier ministre.

M. Rogozine informe régulièrement le public de l'apparition de nouveaux systèmes d'armes à feu. En juin dernier, il a notamment fait savoir que le nouveau pistolet Strij (Martinet), conçu à l'usine Ijmach (Ijevsk), serait prochainement mis en service dans l'armée russe pour remplacer le célèbre Makarov.

SOCHI, September 24 (RIA Novosti)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday urged the government to draft a new defense industry modernization program that includes increased private investment and improved social benefits for employees.

“This program must be tailored so that enterprises are modernized in parallel with the resolution of these social issues,” Putin said during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

Rogozin, who oversees the Russian defense industry, now faces the formidable task of streamlining weaponry development and production in the country.

“This is an acute problem and you must take the appropriate steps in line with the state defense order,” Putin said.

The president stressed the importance of direct support for the defense industry from both the state and the private sector.

Russia’s defense industry brings together 1,353 organizations and companies in 64 regions of the country, and employs over 2 million people.

The government has allocated 20 trillion rubles ($641 billion) to the comprehensive rearmament of Russia's Armed Forces. It is hoped this will see the share of modern weaponry reach 30% by 2015, with this figure rising to 70% by 2020.

An additional 3 trillion rubles (approximately $100 bln) in public funds and about the same amount in private investment have been allocated to modernize the defense industry over the next decade.

MOSCOW, September 22 (RIA Novosti)

Software glitches in the automated launch control system on board the Borey class strategic submarines has caused a new delay in scheduled tests of the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.

“There are technical problems involving software in the automated launch control system, and we are trying to fix them,” Serdyukov told reporters on Friday.

The minister expressed hope that the next test-launch of the Bulava missile from Russia’s second Borey class submarine, the Alexander Nevsky, could be carried out before the end of the year.

All previous test launches were conducted from the Typhoon class Dmitry Donskoy submarine and the first Borey class submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky.

The Bulava (SS-NX-30) SLBM, developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (since 1998), carries up to 10 MIRV warheads and has a range of over 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). The three-stage ballistic missile is designed for deployment on Borey class nuclear submarines.

Despite several previous failures, officially blamed on manufacturing faults, the Russian military has insisted that there is no alternative to the Bulava.

Serdyukov also admitted on Friday that the handover of the Yury Dolgoruky submarine to the Russian Navy by the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) has been delayed again, this time indefinitely, due to a number of technical flaws.

“The USC has so far failed to deliver the Yury Dolgoruky submarine,” the minister said.

“I am not sure when they will fix all the problems [with the sub] – they are still not able to get it done,” Serdyukov added.

The Borey class is set to become the mainstay of the Russian Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent fleet, replacing the ageing Project 941 (NATO Typhoon class) and Project 667 (Delta-3 and Delta-4 class) boats.

MOSCOU, 21 septembre - RIA Novosti

Dans six mois, des bombardiers stratégiques pourront se poser sur l'aérodrome remis à neuf de la base militaire russe au Kirghizstan, a annoncé vendredi le ministre russe de la Défense Anatoli Serdiouikov.

"La modernisation technique (de la piste d'atterrissage de l'aérodrome de Kant) sera achevée d'ici six mois. Autrement dit, nos bombardiers stratégiques pourront se poser sur cet aérodrome dans six mois, mais tout atterrissage concret d'un tel avion demande une réflexion approfondie", a déclaré le ministre devant les journalistes.

21 Sep 2012 By Vladimir Karnozov – FG

Russia's Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighter performed its maiden flight on 21 September, with Sukhoi test pilots Sergei Kostin and Pavel Malovechko at the controls.

 

Described as "flawless", the 2h sortie originated from the aerodrome of the IAZ plant near Irkutsk; the main manufacturing site for the Irkut Corporation.

 

 

A further evolution of the Su-30MK line and designed for use by domestic units, the SM differs from earlier export models in having radar, communications and friend-or-foe systems and other onboard equipment, including new ejection seats "designed in accordance with the requirements of the Russian air force", Irkut says.

 

 

Irkut

 

The new model will also be able to carry advanced weapons, including the Onix supersonic anti-ship and land attack missile - an all-Russian version of the BrahMos weapon being jointly developed with India.

Irkut received a contract in March 2012 to deliver 30 Su-30SMs to the Russian air force by 2015. The first examples are due to be handed over late this year.

DUSHANBE, September 22 (RIA Novosti)

Russia and Tajikistan are “very close” to signing an agreement extending Russia’s lease of a military base in the Central Asian state, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.

Talks on the extension of the lease, which expires in 2014, came into a deadlock earlier this year as the sides could not agree on the length of the new lease and the payment terms.

“I can say that the main issues have either been resolved or are close to being resolved,” Shuvalov told reporters on Friday after a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

“There will be no unresolved issues left after the expert reports to the presidents have been submitted…The final decision will be made by the presidents because without their political will these issues can never be settled,” Shuvalov said.

A total of 7,000 Russian troops are stationed at three military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base - in Dushanbe, the southwestern city of Qurgonteppa some 100 km from Dushanbe, and Kulob, about 200 km to the southwest of the capital.

The base was opened in 2004 and hosts Russia’s largest military contingent deployed abroad.

Moscow planned to extend the lease of the base for 49 years, but Dushanbe proposed to cut the extension to 10 years. Tajik authorities also demanded that Russia pay at least $250 million a year for the lease.

Under the current agreements Russia does not pay Tajikistan for its military base, but renders the country military and technical assistance.

Shuvalov did not specify the terms of the new agreement.

source bbc.co.uk

September 21, 2012: Strategy Page

After months of hard negotiating Russia and Tajikistan have reached an agreement on what Russia will pay for its bases in Tajikistan and extended the lease to 20 or 29 years. The bases are used for 9,000 Russian troops of the 201st Motor Rifle Division. That unit is at half strength and has sent most of its heavy weapons back to Russia. Current gear includes 96 tanks, 300 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 54 self-propelled artillery vehicles, 1,100 other vehicles, eight helicopters, and 5 ground attack aircraft. The 201st was there during the Soviet period and the post-Soviet Union Tajik government asked Russia to leave the 201st in place to help with internal security. This was a problem because Tajikistan shares a long border with Afghanistan; a country Russian troops had only left a few years before Tajikistan became independent in 1991.

Until 2005, Russia had 11,000 border guards manning the frontier with Afghanistan. But the Tajiks didn't like foreigners guarding their borders, especially with the amount of money Afghan drug smugglers were offering to border guards to look the other way. While Russia could crack down on this if many of the guards were Russian, such was not the case when Tajiks were on border duty. This is still a sore point between the two nations.

Tajikistan is a part of the Heroin Highway that brings these drugs into Russia from Afghanistan. Corruption in Tajikistan and brutal violence used by the Afghan smugglers has meant that most of the heroin gets through to Russia. The presence of the 201st Motor Rifle Division has had little effect on the drug smuggling. Russia has several million drug addicts and has been willing to cooperate with NATO to attack the drug production in Afghanistan. As part of that cooperation, Russia has offered more and more assistance in moving NATO supplies and troops to Afghanistan via Russian railroads and air space. The Russians have refrained from charging extortionate fees because they want NATO forces to continue fighting the Afghan drug gangs. This effort is currently in doubt, as most NATO forces are expected to be out of Afghanistan by 2015.

The new deal with Tajikistan makes it worthwhile for Russia to upgrade the four army camps and one air base they occupy. To get the long lease, Russia agreed to sell Tajikistan weapons and military equipment at a sharp discount and train Tajik officers in Russian schools, for free, for the duration of the deal. Tajikistan also promises to help keep the heroin out of Russia. Tajik is considered likely to make an effort, because the cheaper opium is also flooding into Tajikistan and creating so many addicts that even the ruling families are noticing. The Russian presence not only gives the government some extra muscle in any future civil wars or outbreaks of Islamic radicalism but also provides some protection against larger neighbor Uzbekistan.

MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti)

The Teikovo missile division of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), based in central Russia, has been fully equipped with advanced Topol-M and Yars ballistic missile systems, the defense ministry said on Thursday.

“The Teikovo division has become the first SMF division fully rearmed with fifth-generation mobile missile systems,” the ministry spokesman Col. Vadim Koval said.

Two regiments of the Teikovo division are equipped with Topol-M systems while the other two regiments of the division are equipped with Yars systems.

The Yars missile system is armed with the multiple-warhead RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile that has considerably better combat and operational capabilities than the Topol-M (SS-27 Stalin).

Two more missile divisions have started receiving the Yars systems in 2012, Koval said.

The Novosibirsk division (in Siberia) will receive mobile Yars systems, while the Kozelsk division (in central Russia) will be armed with the silo-based version of the system.

The SMF said last year that the Topol-M and RS-24 ballistic missiles would be the mainstay of the ground-based component of Russia's nuclear triad and would account for no less than 80% of the SMF's arsenal by 2016.

MOSCOU, 20 septembre - RIA Novosti

Les Troupes balistiques stratégiques russes ont achevé le rééquipement de l'unité balistique de Teïkovo (région d'Ivanovo, 300 km au nord-est de Moscou) en missiles Iars et Topol-M, a annoncé jeudi le porte-parole du ministère russe de la Défense Vadim Koval.

"La livraison des missiles de 5e génération Topol-M et Iars à l'unité de Teïkovo a pris fin. Cette unité est la première à être entièrement équipée de systèmes mobiles de lancement des missiles de 5e génération", a indiqué le colonel Koval.

Deux régiments de l'unité de Teïkovo ont été dotés de missiles Topol-M et deux autres régiments de missiles Iars équipés d'un missile balistique intercontinental RS-24 à têtes multiples.

Les Troupes balistiques rééquipent actuellement les unités de Novossibirsk et de Kozelsk (région de Kalouga) en missiles Iars. "L'unité balistique de Tatichtchevo (région de Saratov, sur la Volga) sera équipée en missiles Topol-M avant la fin de l'année", a ajuté le colonel.

Le missile Topol-M (code OTAN SS-27 Sickle B1) est le premier missile développé par la Russie après la fin de l'URSS. Doté d'une grande manœuvrabilité (il franchit n'importe quel bouclier antimissile), très discret et facile à déployer, le Topol-M existe en version mobile et stationnaire.

Le RS-24 Iars (code OTAN SS-X-29), missile à propergol solide et à trois étages, est une version modernisée du missile monobloc RS-12M2 Topol-M. Il est doté d'ogives multiples de 150 à 300 kt à guidage individuel et a une portée de 11.000 km A l'avenir, le RS-24 constituera, avec le Topol-M monobloc (RS-12M2), le noyau des forces nucléaires russes.

La puissance d'une ogive du missile Iars ou Topol-M (en équivalent TNT) est 50 fois supérieure à celle des bombes atomiques utilisées contre Hiroshima et Nagasaki.

20.09.2012 FG