June 9th, 2011 MDAA Source Russia Today

Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin has called for broader cooperation in developing European missile defense after NATO officials said that separate systems were the only option.

­In an opinion article published in the New York Times daily on Wednesday Rogozin wrote that missile defense was a real necessity in times when missile technology has become more affordable and certain nations could use it to make delivery vehicles for their weapons of mass destruction. But the Russian politician questioned the initial motives behind such decisions and said that sometimes non-European nations could use their missiles in response to an aggression similar to the one that happened in Iraq, even though Saddam Hussein had possessed no weapons of mass destruction.

Rogozin also writes that Russia does recognize the fact that missile challenges are gradually becoming a risk and a reality. But he insists that European missile defenses should be based on equal participation and a common indivisible security for all the countries of the continent, including Russia.

He also insists that main missile defense bases should be placed closer to the potential threat which is in the South and not in Northern Europe.

Rogozin reminded of a position voiced by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Russia was ready to conduct a comprehensive joint analysis of a framework for cooperation in this area, based on equality, transparency, technology and responsibility. The envoy said that the ultimate goal is Russia’s strategic partnership with NATO, but to reach it agreement must be made at the intermediate stage of European missile defense. “Our work would result in solid security and the restoration of European unity,” Rogozin writes.

The official once again reminded that the United States must provide a guarantee that missile defense is not aimed against Russia as if Russia sees the threat of shifting the strategic balance the consequences could be worse than the possible Iranian crisis the system is reportedly built against.

On the other hand, a joint European missile defense system will lead to abandoning military planning against each other, which will dramatically enhance mutual trust between Russia and the West, Rogozin writes.

Rogozin called upon European nations to show an active interest in this project and urged a broad and open discussion with the possible creation of an international expert group, the “European wise men.”

Rogozin’s letter was published after NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday said in an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax that Russia’s offer of a joint missile defense system was unacceptable. The statement was made ahead of the Russia-NATO summit in Brussels and as the summit opened on Wednesday Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that his country would have to boost its nuclear missile arsenals in response to the development of the missile defense facilities.

On Thursday an official spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Aleksandr Lukashevich said that the situation with the missile defense was complicated but not a dead end. Lukashevich also said that the best option would be developing a system that would defend the interests of not only Russia and NATO, but also other countries in the European region.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier warned that NATO’s persistence in developing missile defense could lead to a new arms race.

Jun 8 2011 TRDEFENCE AFP

NATO and Russia failed to reach a breakthrough on a missile shield project in Europe on June 8 with the Russian defense minister complaining that Moscow’s demands were falling on deaf ears.

After talks between NATO defense ministers and their Russian counterpart in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen dismissed Russian demands for a legal guarantee that the project was not directed at Russia.

“It would be in the interest of Russia to engage in a positive cooperation with NATO and focus on real security challenges instead of some ghosts of the past that don’t exist anymore,” Rasmussen said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed at a NATO summit in November to explore the possibility of cooperating with the former Cold War foe on a system to protect Europe’s population from the threat of ballistic missiles.

Fearing that the system would undermine its nuclear deterrent, Moscow has since then demanded a legally binding guarantee that the missile shield was not aimed at Russia.

The Western military alliance has also rejected Medvedev’s idea of dividing the European continent into sectors of military responsibility, with Rasmussen saying the two sides should keep their systems separate.

“NATO is not hearing us for the moment,” said Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. “NATO’s position is not acceptable to Russia,” he said, adding however that Russia still hoped to reach an agreement.

Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Rasmussen said he was optimistic that a deal could be reach in time for the next NATO summit hosted by the United States in May 2012.

“The Russians have their positions and their interests, we have our positions and our interests, and now the political challenge is to build a bridge and we still have some time,” he said.

“I would expect us to make steady progress. It would be hard work but I’m still optimistic. I think at the end of the day we can reach a solution.”

In the meantime, NATO defense ministers adopted an action plan on June 8 to forge ahead with the missile shield project, which an alliance official said is expected to be completed by 2018.

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti)

Russia can develop missile systems capable of penetrating any missile defense deployed by NATO, Russia's envoy to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.

"Any attempts by those in NATO who dream of neutralizing our strategic potential will be futile," Rogozin said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel. "We have enough capacity to create both defensive and offensive means to counter any missile threat and to penetrate any missile defense."

Rogozin spoke on the eve of a NATO-Russia Council meeting on Wednesday, which is expected to cover a wide range of issues relating to the partnership between Russia and NATO, including a proposal two build one or two missile shields to protect Europe against attacks.

The diplomat reiterated that nuclear deterrent was the only guarantor of Russia's sovereignty, and Moscow would never allow it to be put under threat.

Rogozin said that Russia's response to any threat would be "comprehensive," without expanding further.

The envoy expressed hope that Russia and NATO could overcome existing controversy on the missile defense issue with enough "goodwill."

However, NATO's current position is not constructive and the alliance has not been willing to compromise so far, Rogozin said.

NATO insists there should be two independent systems that exchange information, while Russia favors a joint system with shared responsibility and involvement.

"They [NATO] stubbornly refuse to link their system with ours, insisting on the principle that only NATO should be responsible for its own security and no one else should interfere with this task," Rogozin said.

He added that Russia was concerned about NATO moves to place elements of their missile shield close to Russian borders and by the absence of guarantees that U.S. warships would not be deployed in the northern seas near the Russian border as part of the U.S. four-phase European missile defense initiative until 2020.

"Their combat and information-support systems [radars and control centers] should be moved away from our borders," he said.

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti)

Russian President Dmintry Medvedev has approved amendments to an agreement with the United States to dispose of excess weapon-grade plutonium, the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily said on Tuesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed in April 2010 a protocol to amend the U.S.-Russian 2000 agreement on eliminating excess weapon-grade plutonium from defense programs.

Under the agreement, Russia and the United States will each dispose of 34 metric tons of excess plutonium, which is enough to create several thousand nuclear weapons. The program is to be launched before 2018.

Russia intends to spend up to $3.5 billion on its program, and the United States some $400 million.

The agreement is a continuation of Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama’s nuclear disarmament efforts launched in April 2010, when they signed the New START treaty replacing the expired START 1 agreement.

The document slashes the Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals to a maximum of 1,550 nuclear warheads, down from the current ceiling of 2,200.

3 juin 2011 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Le bâtiment amphibie Minsk a quitté le 1er juin la principale base navale de la flotte de la Baltique, Baltiysk. Il va participer aux exercices internationaux BALTOPS-2011.

Selon le commandant de la mission, le capitaine de 2è rang Igor Smirnov, l’exercice se décompose en 3 phases qui auront lieu du 3 au 20 juin.

C’est le 39è exercice BALTOPS et le 18è auquel la flotte russe de la Baltique participe.

Cet exercice international réunira des bâtiments de 13 marines, outre la Russie : Etats-Unis, France, Allemagne, Danemark, Lettonie, Lituanie, Pays-Bas, Norvège, Pologne, Suède et Estonie. Pour la première fois, des bâtiments britanniques et finlandais, ainsi qu’une équipe de recherche géorgienne, participeront à l’exercice. Au total, plus de 20 bâtiments de surface, 14 avions et 8 hélicoptères seront impliqués.

La conférence de présentation et le briefing des commandants aura lieu du 3 au 5 juin à Kiel.

Pendant la phase maritime, les bâtiments s’entraîneront au tir sur des cibles aériennes et marines, pratiqueront les manœuvres communes, porteront assistance à des navires en détresse. De plus, les participants chercheront et détruiront un sous-marin, inspecteront un navire suspect et mèneront des exercices de lutte anti-terroriste.

Après la fin de l’exercice, les bâtiments participeront au festival traditionnel Kiel Week.

Référence : RusNavy (Russie)

MOSCOU, 2 juin - RIA Novosti

La Russie trouvera une réponse efficace à toute démarche visant à neutraliser son potentiel stratégique, a déclaré jeudi le représentant permanent de la Russie auprès de l'Otan, Dmitri Rogozine, en évoquant l'intention de Washington de déployer un système de défense antimissile (ABM) en Europe.

"Nous avons besoin de garanties juridiques attestant que ce bouclier antimissile ne sera pas dirigé contre le potentiel stratégique russe", a-t-il affirmé dans une interview à la chaîne de télévision Rossia 24.

Fin mai 2011, le président Barack Obama avait annoncé à Varsovie que la Pologne serait associée à la mise en place d'un système de défense antimissile américain en Europe.

"La première question qui se pose est de savoir où les éléments de ce système seront implantés", a indiqué M. Rogozine. Selon lui, la Russie s'opposera résolument aux tentatives "de les déployer en Pologne ou dans les pays Baltes sous prétexte de protéger l'Europe contre les menaces émanant du Proche-Orient".

La vitesse des missiles-intercepteurs sera également révélatrice de leur mission, estime le diplomate. "Si elle leur permet de rattraper les missiles intercontinentaux russes, ce sera un autre facteur attestant que ces systèmes sont dirigés contre la Russie".

Enfin, "si le nombre d'antimissiles est tel qu'ils pourront potentiellement intercepter le potentiel stratégique russe", Moscou prendra les mesures qui s'imposeront, a souligné M. Rogozine.

"Nous ne permettrons à personne de mettre en cause l'efficacité de notre potentiel stratégique", a-t-il conclu.

June 2, 2011: STRATEGY PAGE

The Russian Air Force has ordered seven An-140 twin turboprop transports from Ukraine. Since introduced in the 2007, the An-140 has been used as a civilian aircraft (it can carry 52 passengers). The An-140s sold to Russia will be modified for military use. The civilian version sells for about $9 million each, but militarized a version (sturdier landing gear, more electronics, configured to carry cargo) could increase the price to about $12 million. This is about half the price of a similar Western aircraft. That economy comes at a cost, as four of the 28 An-140s delivered so far have crashed. However, two of those were An-140s built under license in Iran.

The 19 ton An-140 has a range of 1,300 kilometers and a cruise speed of 460 kilometers an hour. The military version will probably be able to carry about five tons of cargo. There are 34 An-140s on order from several countries. Russia is buying them, in part, to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Ukraine.

MOSCOW, June 1 (RIA Novosti)

Russia may start buying Ukrainian-built An-70 propfan military transport aircraft in 2012-2013, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.

"The plane is undergoing factory tests, and next year it will be tested by [Russian] military pilots," Bondarev said.

A final decision on the purchase of the An-70 will be maid by a state commission on the basis of the tests results, General Bondarev said.

The An-70 is a medium-range propfan-powered military transport plane developed by Ukraine's Antonov design bureau. The Antonov company first tested a prototype An-70 in 1994, but a lack of Ukrainian state funds, and political disputes between Moscow and Kiev have prevented large-scale production of the aircraft.

Russia said in 2006 that it would pull out of the project, and buy the Il-76MF instead, after the program suffered a series of setbacks including problems with the propfan engine and two crashes involving prototypes.

The recent thaw in Russian-Ukrainian relations saw Moscow renew long-stalled funding to Ukraine in 2009 for eventual joint production of the plane, although the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said last year it would not finance the project.

There are up to 300 transport aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force, including An-12 Cub, Il-76MD and An-124 Condor transport aircraft.

The An-70 is intended to replace Russia's ageing An-12 aircraft.

Russian Airborne Troops Commander Lt. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said last year that his service had ordered 40 An-70 planes under the new state arms procurement program for 2011-2020.

MOSCOU, 1er juin - RIA Novosti

Le grand bâtiment anti-sous-marins de la Flotte russe du Nord Admiral Tchabanenko a mis le cap mercredi sur les Etats-Unis pour participer aux exercices navals annuels FRUKUS-2011, a annoncé à RIA Novosti Vadim Serga, porte-parole du commandant de la Flotte du Nord.

"Les exercices FRUKUS-2011 auront lieu du 20 juin au 1er juillet dans l'Atlantique au large des côtes américaines dans le cadre de la coopération entre les Marines française, britannique, américaine et russe", a précisé le porte-parole avant d'ajouter que les manœuvres visent à coordonner les actions communes dans la lutte anti-piraterie et la défense des convois.

Le contre-torpilleur américain James Williams, la frégate britannique Portsmouth, la frégate française Ventôse et l'aviation otanienne prendront également part aux exercices.

La première édition des exercices FRUKUS (France, Russie, Royaume-Uni, USA) s'est déroulée en 1988, à l'époque de l'URSS. Ils se sont poursuivis en 1993, dans le cadre d'un accord tripartite entre la Russie, la Grande-Bretagne et les Etats-Unis. Avant l'adhésion de la France à ce programme en 2003, ils s'appelaient RUKUS.

May 31, 2011 Deauville, France (RIA Novosti)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday expressed his dissatisfaction with how the negotiations with the United States on the missile defense shield are continuing, saying the sides are losing time.

"So far, I'm not pleased with how the U.S. and all NATO countries reacted to my proposals because we are losing time," the Russian leader said at a news conference on the results of the G8 summit in the French city of Deauville.

After talks with Obama on Thursday, it could take Russia and the United States until 2020 to reach agreement on a European missile shield. On Friday, he said 2020 was the deadline.

"After 2020, if we fail to agree, the real arms race will begin. If we do agree, then the situation will differ dramatically. I would like my partners to keep this in mind," he said.

Moscow has been concerned by the U.S. reluctance to provide guarantees that its European missile defense system will not be directed against Russia.

"We must receive the guarantees that it [the deployment of missile defense in Europe] is not directed against us. So far, no such guarantees have been given," Medvedev said.

He said the sides agreed to continue consultations to try and find mutually acceptable solutions.

"I still call on everyone to think in what kind of world we would like to live. In this case, it will be a world with more nuclear missile launchers. We have already been there. I don't want all of Europe to be like that," Medvedev said.

30 May, 2011,  Russia Today

Russia and NATO must have separate missile defense systems that would work towards a common goal, NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said.

­The official, who is currently on a working visit to Bulgaria, told the local media in an interview that the two missile defense systems must exist separately while not excluding mutual cooperation in their utilization.  The official also said that the new systems must protect the populations of Europe and Russia from direct missile strikes as such threats already exist. The official called for a true strategic partnership with Russia that would "improve the security environment all over the Euro-Atlantic area."

Fogh Rasmussen stressed that the new missile defense system will not pose any threat to Russia, which had already been invited to hold talks on the subject. He expressed hopes that cooperation between Russia and NATO would clarify this point for the citizens of all involved states. 

The president of NATO’s  Parliamentary Assembly, Karl A. Lamers, also said that the bloc’s cooperation with Russia was the only option NATO authorities saw as valid.

The question of European missile defense is the major problem now hindering the much-advertised reset in the relations between Russia, the United States and NATO.  Russia insists that deployment of a new missile defense system will lead to a new arms race and threatens to scrap the new START treaty if the missile defense plans are not adjusted to include Russia in it.

The United States and NATO, though constantly repeating the thesis that the new missile defense only targets rogue states such as Iran and North Korea, have so far refused all Russian offers of participation in the project.

Such attitude drew strong criticism from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as he spoke to reporters in Deauville last Friday. “I am not satisfied with the American side's reaction to my proposals and with NATO's reaction in general,” Medvedev said. “Why? Because we are wasting time. Even though I spoke about the year 2020 yesterday as a deadline…which is the year when the construction of a four-stage system of the so-called adaptive approach finishes."

"After 2020, if we do not achieve a settlement, a real arms race will begin," the Russian president

May 30, 2011 Oksana Parpura – defpro.com

On Friday, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan Adilbek Dzhaksybekov met with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Kazakhstan Dag Malmer Halvorsen.

During the meeting Defense Minister noted that an important role in the framework of bilateral cooperation was given to the task of modernizing the Armed Forces. Reforming the defense sector, building peacekeeping capacity remains a priority sectors.

The parties also discussed the special tactical peacekeeping exercise "Steppe Eagle", which is held annually since 2003 together with British and American soldiers. This year the exercise is scheduled for August with the participation of American, British, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Lithuanian troops.

Photo: Russian Helicopters

May 27, 2011 By Maxim Pyadushkin aerospace daily and defense report

MOSCOW — Development of the new Kamov Ka-60/62 medium twin helicopter — the first Kamov non-coaxial rotor aircraft — is gaining momentum through military orders and government subsidies.

Russian Helicopters, the holding company for the country’s rotorcraft industry and Kamov’s parent company, is simultaneously preparing both the Ka-60 military transport and the Ka-62 civil version. The latter has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,500 kg (14,300 lb.) and can carry 12-15 passengers at 290 kph (180 mph) speed over a range of 750 km (460 mi.).

The development of this type started in the late 1980s, and the initial prototype made its first flight in 1998. Capable of carrying up to a 2,500-kg payload, the Ka-60/62 was designed to fill a niche between the Ka-226 light twin and medium-class Ka-32 and Mil Mi-8/17 helicopters.

Unlike all other Kamov models that feature distinctive co-axial rotors, Ka-60 has a classic helicopter design with a five-bladed main rotor and shrouded tail rotor. According to the designers, its rotor blades and more than half of the fuselage are made from composites. Kamov currently has only one prototype in flight, powered by 1,300-hp NPO Saturn RD-600V turboshafts. Another prototype was lost in a crash during a test flight near Moscow in June 2010.

According to Russian Helicopters CEO Dmitry Petrov, the development efforts are now focused on the Ka-60, with Russia’s military having ordered more than 100 such helicopters. He said that two new prototypes are currently being built to join flight trials this year. One more test helicopter will join the trials in 2012.

The new versions apparently will differ from the existing rotorcraft by featuring a more streamlined fuselage and improved tail controls.

The other difference will be the powerplants — the prototypes will start trials with RD-600s, but recently received more powerful 1,680-hp Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines.

At HeliRussia 2011, the annual helicopter industry exhibition recently held in Moscow, Russian Helicopters announced an order for 40 Ardiden 3Gs, with deliveries to begin in 2014.

The order is the first part of a contract for 308 powerplants signed between the Russian manufacturer and Turbomeca in April. According to Petrov, the French engines will be installed on all serial production helicopters. During the internal tender, Ardiden 3G “won over Russian engines on all key parameters,” he says. Earlier, the designers planned to use them only on civil Ka-62s, while the military Ka-60 retained the Russian RD-600V. “Now the [Russian] military [has] become more open to foreign equipment,” Petrov says.

The improved Ka-60/62 prototypes will also receive a new glass cockpit from St. Petersburg-based avionics specialist Transas Aviation. This avionics suite, called KBO-62 and unveiled at the show, is built around two 12.1-in. TDS-12 primary flight/navigation displays and two 8.4-in. TDS-84 MFDs, all with an LED backlight. Also included is the TTA-12H(S) terrain awareness and warning system with a built-in terrain and obstacles database; two TNC-1G flight management systems with built-in Glonass/GPS sensors; flight computers and TDC-17 cockpit indication control interfaces. The basic package weighs 19.5 kg.

This configuration can operate using digital maps and terrain models, and supports all typical helicopter applications.

Optional cockpit equipment offered on the Ka-62 includes a synthetic vision system and a searchlight. Transas Group Vice President Viktor Godunov says that several kits have already been shipped to Russian Helicopters for installation on Ka-60/62 prototypes.

The same avionics package can be put on Kamov Ka-226T light helicopters, which have the same-sized instrument panel, Transas designers say. But for now, this type is running in the Indian army’s tender for 197 light helicopter with a different avionics kit.

The Ka-60 is expected to begin serial production at the Arseniev-based Progress facility, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters, starting in 2015.

Besides military orders, this program is supported by government subsidies. As Denis Manturov, deputy minister of industry and trade, said recently, from 2011-2013 Russian Helicopters will receive a total of 12.2 billion rubles ($435 million) from the federal budget for development of the Ka-60/62 as well as the Mi-38 heavy twin that also is in the flight trials stage.

According to Petrov, the civil Ka-62 will be certified in 2015-2016 under both Russian AR MAK and European Aviation Safety Agency standards. The holding does not have orders for the civil version now, but hopes that the installation of the foreign engine with a well-run maintenance network will increase the helicopter’s attractiveness for commercial operators.