Northern Fleet (NF) aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov on Dec 23 passed Gibraltar Strait and entered the Mediterranean Sea.
Other ships of the carrier strike group passed the strait few hours earlier.
In accordance with further plans, the Russian Navy’s task force consisting of NF large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko, Baltic Fleet (BF) frigate Yaroslav Mudry, and NF tanker Sergei Osipov will pay a formal visit to Spanish port Ceuta.
Aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and other supply vessels in the nearest time will head for anchorage site in western part of the Mediterranean Sea in order to replenish the carrier’s supplies.
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Ladny joined the carrier group on Friday, Dec 23.
The long-range cruise started on Dec 6 when Admiral Kuznetsov, large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko, and auxiliary vessels departed from Northern Fleet’s main base. As for now, the carrier group has covered over 4,000 nautical miles.
The interfleet force was shaped on Dec 12 when BF frigate Yaroslav Mudry joined the carrier group in the Moray Firth.
Heading through the Atlantic, crews of the carrier group were improving naval skills and performed dozens of drills within the interfleet grouping. Air wing carried out training flights; deck-based fighters and helicopters practiced takeoffs and landings on board the aircraft carrier and other warships.
In the Mediterranean Sea, Russian naval mariners will proceed with drills within the interfleet task force. Training flights of deck-based aviation will be continued as well.
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yury Dolgoruky on Friday Dec 23 carried out last in 2011 test salvo launch of two SLBM Bulava missiles from the White Sea, reports RIA Novosti referring to spokesman for Russian defense ministry Col Igor Konashenkov.
“The salvo launch was performed from underwater position in the White Sea against the Kura Range in Kamchatka. The missiles flew in normal mode, all warheads impacted on the range at the designated time; that was recorded by monitoring facilities”, Konashenkov said.
As for him, distinguishing feature of this test was two-missile launch performed by standard platform, i.e. Borei-class lead submarine fourth-generation SSBN Yury Dolgoruky.
The sub’s crew headed by Capt 1 rank Vladimir Shirin held the fourth successful test launch of SLBM Bulava in the recent half-year period. Submariners traditionally displayed excellent professional skills, stressed the defense ministry’s spokesman.
Tests of submarine-launched ballistic missile Bulava started in 2004. Eleven out of 18 test launches were found successful. Current year is the most effective; all four launches yielded desired outcome and were performed by SSBN Yury Dolgoruky.
Prior to that, all test launches were held by SSBN Dmitry Donskoy (Project 941UM Akula) specially refitted for the Bulava project.
Russian defense ministry reiterated many times that positive results of salvo launch would mean commissioning of SSN Yury Dolgoruky along with Bulava. In accordance with standard procedure of flight development test program for such missiles, salvo launch is determinative and finishing one.
Acabei de me tocar! Será que a Fragata União terá a chance de encontrar o TF da Marinha Russa no Mediterrâneo alí entre o Líbano e Chipre? Seria fabuloso, não?
Estranho é o numero algo alto de escoltas. Os russos não costumam andar com tanto ferro junto no mar Deixa-me algo apreensivo e começo a acreditar que a missão deles tem pouco a ver com a Síria e se assim for, é de temer.
Estranho é o numero algo alto de escoltas. Os russos não costumam andar com tanto ferro junto no mar Deixa-me algo apreensivo e começo a acreditar que a missão deles tem pouco a ver com a Síria e se assim for, é de temer.
Na prática são um Destroyer e 2 Fragatas, comparado com uma TF Americana é insignificante
The testing of the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is completed and the missile will now be put into operational service, President Dmitry Medvedev said. The convoluted history of the project, which has been alternately criticized and praised, is finally reaching its intended destination.
Declared fit for service
“Our industry has proven that it can create new modern and highly efficient types of strategic weapons. One of them is the Bulava missile, and now that the tests have been completed, it will be put into operational service,” Medvedev said on Tuesday at a ceremony with officers receiving promotion to higher command positions and top military ranks.
On December 23, the strategic submarine Yury Dolgoruky launched two Bulava missiles. The Defense Ministry said that the launch was successful, and the official announcement is expected within days. The military loves to announce the completion of projects in time for national holidays, as a kind of New Year’s present.
Many of the previous tests were unsuccessful, and the project has been steeped in intrigue, scandal, and investigation. Stringent measures of control had to be taken at the assembly stage. It was even rumored that the project is what caused the unique Norwegian spiral anomaly in November 2009, a blue beam of light with a grayish spiral in the sky over Norway. But now the president, who is also the Supreme Commander, has said the tests are over and the missile will be put into service.