Marinha da Federação Russa

[Penguin]

Russia Discussing Amphib Deal With 3 Nations
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 21 Dec 2009 09:13


MOSCOW - Russia is in talks with Western countries other than France as it seeks to purchase an advanced helicopter-carrier assault ship, the head of the Russian Navy was quoted as saying Dec. 21.

"Yes, we are holding talks, and not just with the French, but with the Netherlands and Spain, about the acquisition of a ship of this class," said Russian Navy chief Vladimir Vysotsky, quoted by Russian news agencies.

Russia has been in talks with France about the purchase of a Mistral-class warship aimed at helping modernize the ageing Russian navy, despite criticism of the deal from Russia's East European neighbors and Georgia.

A Mistral-class ship, which can carry about a dozen heavy helicopters along with various types of beach-landing craft, can be used to land special forces onshore and other operations in local conflicts.

Last month, a Mistral docked in St. Petersburg for inspection by Russian officials. Under the terms of the deal being discussed, Russia would buy one ship along with a license to produce at least four itself.

A source close to the negotiations said earlier that Moscow was also in talks with the Damen Schelde shipyard in the Netherlands and with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia about buying amphibious assault ships.

For Russia, which has insisted for decades on producing all of its military hardware itself, any such deal with a NATO member country would be unprecedented.

Moscow would make a decision on the purchase by the end of the year, Nikolai Makarov, the top commander of the Russian armed forces, said in early December.

[P44]

do keypublishings

Russia will complete the modernization of the Navy base in Syria in 2011

Russia is upgrading the item-based Navy in the port of Tartus in Syria at an accelerated pace, allowing the work to be fully completed in 2011. It is reported ITAR-TASS citing a source in the General Staff of the Navy of Russia. In agreement with Syria, Russia pays for the use of Tartus as a base for the Navy, making use of facilities, including a simplified entry into port.
In Tartus naval base already in operation in Russia, but she, according to the interlocutor of the agency, "is hiloy and does not meet our needs." As part of modernization locations, will be repaired, the old and new facilities coastal infrastructure, which will provide parking and provision of ships calling at Tartus. After completion of the port will be able to take as individual ships and detachments of the Navy ships of Russia.

Now in Tartus valid point logistics naval ships of Russia. It serves about 50 Russian sailors. The port is also a floating workshop of the Black Sea Fleet, engaged in repairing ships. In the summer of 2009 in Tartus had brought a new floating dock. In the middle of last year in the General Staff of the Navy stated that the base in Tartus will provide all the necessary ships, which will protect civilian shipping in the Horn of Africa.

In January 2009, Deputy Chief of General Staff Col. Gen. Russia Anatoly Nogovitsyn said that Russia is negotiating the establishment of naval bases from the governments of several foreign countries. About what exactly the regions in question, Nogovitsyn did not elaborate. Earlier it was reported that, in addition to Tartus, Russia for several years can be found at the base of warships Yemeni island of Socotra and in the Libyan Tripoli.

Tartus is the second largest port city after Latakia Syria. It is located 220 kilometers north-west of Damascus. Russia's Navy Base is located in Tartus since Soviet times.

[P44]

Modernized Northern Fleet destroyer on sea trials
2010-01-19




Udaloy-class destroyer Vitse-Admiral Kulakov (Photo Warships.ru)




The Northern Fleet Udaloy-class destroyer “Vitse-admiral Kulakov” has started sea trials in the Baltic Sea, after being in overhaul for nearly 20 years.

The sea trials start in the Baltic Sea on January 18, web site Fontanka.ru writes.

The vessel was nearly ready in December 2009, but a fire on December 4, where one person was killed and another one severely injured, delayed the progress.



After the accident, six officers were removed from service, while criminal charges were filed against the vessel’s executive officer, Fontanka.ru reports.

“Vitse-admiral Kulakov” was commissioned in 1982 and was on combat duty in the Northern Fleet until March 1991. It was first taken in for repair at a shipyard in Kronstadt, but moved to Northern Shipyard in St. Petersburg in 2000.

According to Wikipedia, the Northern Fleet has two other Udaloy-class destroyers in service, while a third one is in reserve.


http://www.barentsobserver.com/moderniz ... 16320.html

[P44]

Originally published 05:01 a.m., January 20, 2010, updated 10:30 a.m., January 20, 2010
France likely to sell warship to Moscow

Nicholas Kralev

France is soon expected to become the first Western European NATO member to sell advanced military equipment to Russia, amid an aggressive search by Moscow for Western arms suppliers that has divided the country's elite, diplomats and defense analysts say.



The likely deal for at least one Mistral-class amphibious ship for the Russian navy is being watched closely in Washington — not only because of European willingness to arm NATO's former archenemy, but also because of Moscow's tacit acknowledgment of the poor state of its own military industry.

Intelligence Online, a Paris-based Web site with good sources in the French government, reported Friday that President Nicolas Sarkozy "has agreed to allow Mistral-class amphibious ships to be sold to the Russian navy." It quoted "sources at the Elysees Palace" as saying that the decision "will be announced in March, when [Russian President] Dmitry Medvedev visits Paris."

Emmanuel Lenain, a spokesman for the French Embassy in Washington, said that "discussions are going on, but no formal decision has been made yet."

Still, Mr. Lenain dismissed suggestions that his country would help Russia upgrade its offensive capabilities — a grave concern in some former Soviet republics, such as the Baltic states and Georgia.

"We cannot be suspected of complacency toward Russia," he said. "Sarkozy played a key role in [resolving] the Georgian crisis in the summer of 2008, and we still have French men and women on the ground, as part of a European effort to maintain the peace agreement."

The Georgian war strained NATO's relations with Moscow, though ties improved after President Obama took office last year. Mr. Obama has tried to "reset" the relationship after ties were frayed during the George W. Bush administration. In September, Mr. Obama scrapped his predecessor's plans for a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

"A Mistral-class ship is a support ship that France has used in particular for humanitarian or national evacuation missions due to its transport and medical capabilities," Mr. Lenain said. "It would not represent a threat."

NATO member Turkey has sold some military equipment to Russia in the past, but a French deal would be much more significant, diplomats said.

The State Department declined to comment, as did the Russian Embassy. But Russian military leaders have said that such a ship would have made a significant difference in Georgia.

"Everything that we did in the space of 26 hours at the time, this ship will do within 40 minutes," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky, chief of the Russian navy, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency in September.

France is not the only NATO member that appears eager to export military equipment to Russia. Spain's Navantia shipyard has emerged as a serious rival to the French manufacturer DCNS. In addition, Dutch Defense Minister Eimert van Middelkoop said last year that the Russians had approached Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands.

"Should this sale proceed, an already divided alliance would become even more deeply divided on the eve of drafting its next strategic concept," said Heather Conley, Europe program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Ariel Cohen, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said NATO members should not expand military cooperation with Russia until it "restores its credibility and friendship with the West."

"At a time when Moscow still views NATO as an adversary, abandons the Conventional [Armed] Forces in Europe Treaty, and occupies 20 percent of Georgian territory, a major warship sale to the Russian navy by a NATO ally is premature," he said. "This is especially true when the sale is a part of a major naval modernization, which may jeopardize NATO's flanks and important energy routes."

Gerrard Cowan, Europe editor of the British publication Jane's Defense Weekly, wrote earlier this month that the recent activity "is an indication of how far Europe is willing to help Russia modernize its military — even at the expense of erstwhile NATO allies on Russia's borders."

"It would point to the emergence of an increasingly normal relationship between Russia and the rest of Europe, one of the key foreign-policy goals of Mr. Obama," he wrote on Foreign Policy magazine's Web site.

In November, a Mistral-class ship made a visit to St. Petersburg, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's hometown. It engaged in maneuvers with Russian warships and Russian helicopters landed on the French vessel, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported.

Those exercises intensified a debate in Russia, which was once immensely proud of its military industry, about relying on Western Europe to modernize its armed forces. Some members of the military establishment still argue that Russia does not need to buy from abroad.

"The fact that Russia is seriously considering buying a military vessel from its former NATO adversaries says much about the poor condition of its manufacturing base," Mr. Cowan wrote.

Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin have criticized their domestic manufacturers for being too slow to modernize, though the president has been tougher.

"Unfortunately, the policy of 'patching the holes' is still in place and, to be frank, the sector has not achieved the goal of upgrading its technology to the latest standards," Mr. Medvedev told defense industrialists in October, according to a transcript on the Kremlin's Web site. "This directly affects the quality of products delivered to our armed forces and to markets abroad. … This is a question of survival."

Adm. Vysotsky predicted a favorable deal for Moscow soon. He said the United States was not part of the negotiations with France, Spain and the Netherlands "for understandable reasons." Washington is "highly sensitive," he said, about the transfer of new — especially dual-purpose — technology, which the Russians want to be included in any deal with the Europeans.

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/ja ... ow//print/

[Carlos Mathias]

Ihhhh, olha abalança mudando de prumo.

[Paisano]

Estaria a França retornando a tradição de fornecer meios navais ao Império Russo?

Vide os Encouraçados classe Tsarevich.

[Carlos Mathias]

Sem querer ser chato, mas já o sendo, acho que vai além.

[P44]

Ihhhh, olha abalança mudando de prumo.

ahpoizé...

[P44]

Russian Navy to receive new carrier-based fighters

18:5715/01/2010


Russia's Navy will take delivery of the first MiG-29K (Fulcrum-D) fighters later this year, a Navy official said on Friday.

"This year we are planning to buy the first batch of several machines," he said.

He did not give an exact figure for the fighters, which are due to be deployed on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.

The Navy earlier said it would buy a total of 24 MiG-29Ks in the next three to four years.

The military official said the Navy was currently using MiG-29K carrier-based multirole fighters and the more advanced Su-33 (Flanker-D) fighters, which will subsequently replace the MiGs.

"The Su-33s' service life is to expire in 2015, but we intend to extend it through 2025," he said.

Military analyst Konstantin Makiyenko has suggested that production of new Su-33 aircraft is possible but not cost-effective, given the small production volumes, whereas considering that India has already contracted 16 MiG-29Ks and could place an order for another 28, the latter option is more financially viable.

The 24 aircraft will cost an estimated $1 billion.

MOSCOW, January 15 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100115/157562223.html

[P44]

France agrees warship sale to Russia
Mon Feb 8, 2010 7:14am EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGEE5AQ1K820100208

PARIS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - France has agreed to sell a Mistral class warship to Russia, a French official said on Monday, despite concerns expressed by Georgia and other countries.
Russia wanted to buy the 21,300-tonne helicopter carrier from France to modernise hardware that was exposed as outdated in its five-day war against Georgia in 2008.
"France has agreed to sell one Mistral warship to Russia," a Defence Ministry official told reporters.

France belongs to NATO and its willingness to sell Russia advanced technology that could be used in a confrontation with its forces or against its allies has caused concern among other NATO members.
Several of Russia's neighbours have also expressed worries. Lithuania wrote to France in November asking for clarification of the situation and details of the ship's ammunition.
The Mistral, marketed by French naval concern DCNS and estimated by analysts to cost 300 million to 500 million euros, is an amphibious assault ship able to carry helicopters, troops, armoured vehicles and tanks thousands of miles.

During the war with Georgia, launched to repel Tbilisi's attempt to retake the rebel province of South Ossetia, Russia tried to control the Black Sea coast where NATO warships appeared.
Russia has said it could have moved more swiftly in the Black Sea if a Mistral-type ship had been in its fleet.
Despite a peace deal mediated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, tensions remain high in Georgia. The region is viewed by the West as a vital energy transit route from the Caspian to Europe.
..........................


Russian navy wants four Mistral warships, as French arms sales rocket

Article published on the 2010-02-08 Latest update 2010-02-08 12:51 TU

Russia’s navy intends to buy four command ships from France, according to the French defence ministry. France had already agreed in principal to sell the Russians one Mistral-class warship. This coincided with the announcement on Monday that French arms sales reached almost eight billion euros in 2009, 21 per cent higher than 2008.

“It’s no longer one command ship, but four,” Jacques de Lajugie, head of international sales at the French defence ministry, said on Monday.

However he added that at the moment it was a “technical inquiry” and needed to be vetted at a political level.

It is also thought that France would face competition from other countries keen to fulfil Russia’s requirements.

Discussions about the purchase of a Mistral-class vessel first began in November last year, when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited France.

Russia does not have an equivalent to the 21,000-tonne amphibious assault ship, which can carry helicopters, landing craft and tanks. Originally it was thought Russia would build four more under license.

The announcement came as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Paris for talks with French Defence Minister Herve Morin.

Although these discussions were set to focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the war in Afghanistan, the AFP news agency cited a US official travelling with Gates as saying “we have questions” about the warship order.

Also on Monday, the French defence ministry announced that arms sales reached 7.95 billion euros in 2009, more than a fifth higher than the previous year.

http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/122/article_6795.asp

[P44]

French president defends sale of Mistral warship to Russia


MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended his decision to allow the sale of a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to Russia by saying it would not threaten regional security, the Daily Herald reported.
The potential sale has alarmed some of Russia's former Soviet bloc allies, including those now in NATO, especially after the Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia in August 2008.
Sarkozy told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates at a brief meeting on Monday that in his opinion the sale did not pose a military problem because Russia should be treated as a real partner.
"One cannot expect Russia to behave as a partner if we don't treat it as one," Sarkozy said.
Russia earlier announced that it was considering buying one of the Mistral-class ships, worth 400-500 million euros (around $600-$750 million), and potentially building three or four vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.
A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 soldiers. The vessel is equipped with a 69-bed hospital and can be used as an amphibious command ship.
The Russian military has claimed that a Mistral-class warship would have allowed the Russian Navy to conduct a more efficient operation in the Black Sea during the Russia-Georgia war.
However, many experts believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.
French Defense Minister Herve Morin said on Monday it was time to turn the page on Cold War-era antagonisms with Russia and start a new relationship with Moscow through new exchanges.
If the deal goes through, it would be the first sale of a major piece of military equipment by a NATO member to Russia

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100209/157819962.html

[Brasileiro]

Os navios da classe Mistral vão servir a quais das esquadras russas? Um para cada?




abraços]

[WalterGaudério]

Não é que aconteceu mesmo?

[soultrain]

Quando falaram que era só boato, impossível etc o que eu disse?

Mas ainda é cedo.

[Hader]

Quando falaram que era só boato, impossível etc o que eu disse?

Mas ainda é cedo.

Correto Soul. Mas falta pouco, bem pouco.

[]'s