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  • Will Post-Soviet Territory Air Defense Be United?

    WILL POST-SOVIET TERRITORY AIR DEFENSE BE UNITED?

    Agency WPS
    DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
    May 3, 2006 Wednesday

    Russia is ready to establish a privileged regime for its partners
    in Air Defense United System, including supplying them with modern
    anti-aircraft complexes S-300

    NUCLEAR SUBMARINES; The program of development of the naval strategic
    nuclear force until 2010 is aimed at retaining combat readiness of
    the naval strategic component and the creation of the first submarine
    of generation four (project 955 Borei) with the Bulava solid-fuel
    ballistic missile with MIRVs.

    CIS air boundaries united defense takes a leading position in united
    collective measures, taken by post-soviet countries in the military
    sphere. Notwithstanding disintegration processes that are taking place
    in Commonwealth countries, Air Defense United System established over
    10 years ago is still working, which was revealed at the recent staff
    command training of CIS Air Defense United System.

    Russian Air Forces second Commander-in-chief Lieutenant-General
    Aytech Bizhev stated, that aircraft alert forces of CIS Air Defense
    United System have successfully fulfilled all the missions. "Over ten
    missions, connected with strengthening air boundaries of CIS countries,
    have been worked on", said Bizhev. According to his words, Air Forces
    Commander-in-chief Army General Vladimir Mikhailov, who was heading
    the training, expressed his satisfaction with CIS countries national
    army units and subdivisions, which participated in the training.

    It is vital to note that forces and subdivisions of only eight CIS
    countries took part in staff command training: those of Armenia,
    Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
    and Ukraine. However, according to the agreement of February 10,
    2005 Air Defense United System includes 10 countries, Georgia and
    Turkmenistan besides the named eight countries. As is known, Georgia
    officially left the CIS military structure last year, and Turkmenistan,
    having announced its neutrality, does not participate in CIS collective
    military organs activities. The role of these two countries in united
    defense of CIS air border is reduced to zero, but they have influence
    on CIS countries security. In fact, CIS South is not safe. Last year
    Georgia prohibited Russian reconnaissance airplane A-50 to fly to the
    territory of Armenia during staff command trainings of Air Defense
    United System. This year pilots didn't try to do it. Thus, it is
    possible to talk only about partial air boundaries defense of Air
    Defense United System. In fact, only the countries which are included
    in Collective Security Treaty Organization actively participate in
    CIS Air Defense United System (that is Armenia, Byelorussia, Russian
    Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan). Ukraine and Uzbekistan take
    part in staff command training on the bilateral basis. At the same
    time Kyiv can cease participating in Air Defense United System if
    the Ukraine will be allowed to NATO.

    Moscow is trying to establish a privileged regime for Air Defense
    United System countries to keep Russia's neighbors in the limits of
    the united system. For example, supplying anti-aircraft complexes with
    spare parts, their maintenance and service is fulfilled by Russian
    factories on the privileged basis. For these purposes there is finance
    in the Russian budget. The other day Russian Air Forces General staff
    Commander Boris Cheltsov stated, that anti-aircraft missiles S-300
    produced by the concern "Almaz-Antey" would be in the armament of all
    countries of CIS Air Defense United System. Of course, such statements
    should be done by politicians, not by military men. However, is it has
    been said by the representative of Air Forces Commander-in-chief, by an
    authoritative military commander, it is possible to suggest that there
    had already been the corresponding political decision made. Let us
    remind that anti-aircraft complexes S-300 are exported to Byelorussian
    without charge. From July 1 the complexes will be airborne alert. This
    is a very important geopolitical step. According to the words of
    Russian Air Forces second Commander-in-chief Lieutenant-General Aytech
    Bizhev this fact that the complexes will be airborne alert will allow
    to replace the farthest limit of the air objects hitting area to 150
    kilometers to the West. The contact area will be 400 kilometers larger,
    accordingly. It is a vital strategic-tactical step for the Russian
    Federation. S-300 is capable of hitting a target at the height of
    20-45 kilometers, applying fire to 6 targets at the same time. To
    compare with, American "Patriot" can blaze away only 4 air targets.

    If analogous complexes will be supplied to other countries of Air
    Defense United System, Russia and its allies will be able to control
    to certain degree boundaries of China, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran,
    Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania and of Baltic countries. It would
    be an important step in providing security for the Russian Federation
    and its allies. However, it is not yet clear how NATO countries will
    react. Any action can cause a counter-action. It is quite possible
    that the West will make up neutralization measures for CIS integrated
    military structures, like Air Defense United System.

    The Russian naval strategic force (...) presents units of nuclear
    submarines armed with ballistic missiles at the Northern and Pacific
    fleets. The units are subordinated to the General Staff. The Navy
    controls their construction, combat-training and the deployment in
    patrol areas.

    (...) The experience gained during the creation of first nuclear
    submarines and diesel submarines (projects V611 and 629) let the
    USSR start creating the K-19 nuclear submarine (project 658) with
    ballistic missiles in the mid-1950s. The submarine was added to
    arsenals on November 22, 1960 (underwater displacement is 5,000
    tons). The characteristics of the submarine: two nuclear reactors
    (30,000 h.p.); underwater speed - 30 knots; depth - 300 meters,
    durability - 50 days; crew - 100 people; weapons - three R-13 missiles
    (D-2 complex) with the range of fire of 650 kilometers.

    These submarines had to rise to the surface in order to launch
    missiles. In all, eight such submarines were built.

    The submarines were armed with the R-21 missiles (D-4 complex) in
    1963. They could be launched from the underwater position (project
    658M). The range of fire increased to 1,400 km. (...)

    The Navy received project 667A submarines with 16 ballistic missiles
    in 1967. They became the forefathers of a range of submarines known
    in the West as Delta-I, Delta-II, Delta-III, Delta-IV (projects 667B,
    667BD, 667BDR, 6677BDRM).

    They carried long-range ballistic missiles. The type of warheads and
    their power changed. These submarines were called strategic missile
    submarines.

    Project 667A submarines were produced until 1972. In all, 34
    submarines were created (underwater displacement - 9,500 tons; two
    nuclear reactors - 50,000 h.p.; underwater speed - 30 knots; depth -
    320 meters; R-27 missiles (RSM-25 complex) with the range of fire
    of 3,000 km; launch depth - 50 meters). Modernization of the project
    was aimed at increasing the range of fire to 3,900 km. (...)

    The USSSR built 18 project 667B submarines (underwater displacement
    - 10,000 tons; two nuclear reactors (24,000 h.p. each); underwater
    speed - 25 knots; depth - 320 meters; crew - 120 people; durability -
    70 days; 12 R-29 missiles - 8,000 km; precision - 1.5 km) in 1972-1977.

    In addition, the USSR design project 667BD submarines (underwater
    displacement - 11,400 tons; nuclear reactors, underwater speed and
    durability are the same; depth - 3900 meters; maximum depth - 450
    meters). The strong hull was by 15 meters longer. This is why the
    submarine carried 16 R-29 ballistic missiles (three MIRVs on each).

    The range of fire increased to 9,000 km; precision - 900 meters.

    Launch depth - 55 meters. Four such submarines were built until 1975.

    (...)

    Project 667BDR submarines were added to arsenals in 1976 (underwater
    displacement - 10,600 tons; two nuclear reactors (60,000 h.p.);
    underwater speed - 24 knots; crew - 130 people; durability - 90
    days)/ In all, 14 such submarines were built until 1985. The main
    peculiarity of its RSM-50 missile complex was that the missiles could
    carry three different types of warheads: R-29R with three MIRVs -
    6,500 km; R-29K - seven MIRVs; R-29RL - one powerful warhead, 9,000
    km. The submarines carried 16 missiles. Their precision was around
    900 meters. The majority of submarines were repaired and modernized
    before 1991 when the collapse of the Russian defense industry began.

    This is why they managed to operate in the 1990s. However, Russia
    had to scrap part of submarines due to the START agreements. However,
    it's possible that some project 667BDR submarines will operate until
    the creation of new generation submarines.

    In response to the Trident program (Ohio submarines), the USSR
    launched the Typhoon project in 1981, aiming to create project
    941 submarines (...) (underwater displacement - 25,000 tons). The
    submarine consisted of two strong hulls linked one light hull. The
    new architecture increased the survivability of the submarine and
    the reliability of weapons. The submarine had two reactors 80,000 h.p.

    each. Its underwater speed was 27 knots. The depth is 500 meters. The
    RSM-52 complex consists of 20 three-stage missiles (R-39) with ten
    MIRVs each. The range of fire exceeds 10,000 km. The launch depth is
    55 meters. The typhoon is equipped with anti-aircraft complexes. The
    crew is 179 people; durability - 120 days. (...)

    Project 667BDRM followed the Typhoon (seven submarines built since
    1981). At present, these submarines are the foundation of the naval
    strategic nuclear force. Russia will use them until 2010-15. These
    submarines are superior to generation two nuclear submarines. Their
    characteristics are similar with that of the Ohio submarines.

    Displacement is 10,800 tons (underwater displacement - 13,000 tons);
    two nuclear reactors (60,000 h.p. each); underwater speed - 24 knots;
    depth - 650 meters; crew - 120 people. The RSM-54 missile complex is
    armed with 16 R-29RM missiles (9,300 km). Every missile carries four
    MIRVs. The missiles can destroy small targets thanks to their high
    precision (missile silos, command posts and more). The submarine can
    launch all missiles from the depth of 55 meters. The RSM-54 complex
    is superior to the Trident-2 complex. It's not ruled out that the
    R-29MR missiles will carry ten MIRVs (due to the US' withdrawal from
    ABM). The missiles can be armed with ordinary charges and small nuclear
    charges, which can destroy small targets without damaging neighboring
    settlements. This means that such submarines can be used in different
    military conflicts. (...)

    At present, the Russian Navy has seven project 667BDRM submarines,
    five project 9941 submarines and two project 667BDR submarines. Two
    Typhoon submarines are in good technical condition. One of them is
    involved in tests of the Bulava missile complex.

    In other words, Russia has 11 strategic nuclear submarines, which carry
    184 ballistic missiles with 944 warheads. Weakening of the strategic
    submarine group makes the Russian military worry, especially after
    the US' withdrawal from ABM and the factual liquidation of START-I
    and START-II. The US currently has 18 nuclear submarines with 432
    ballistic missiles and 3,120 MIRVs.

    The new agreement on strategic nuclear weapons was signed on May 24,
    2002 (it came into force on June 1, 2003). According to the agreement,
    Russia and the US must cut the number of strategic nuclear warheads
    to 1,700-2,000 kilotons until December 31, 2012. (...)

    The Russian president signed the decree to increase the naval component
    of the strategic nuclear force to 55% until 2005 in 1998.

    The program of development of the naval strategic nuclear force
    until 2010 (...) is aimed at retaining combat readiness of the
    naval strategic component and the creation of the first submarine
    of generation four (project 955 Borei) with the Bulava solid-fuel
    ballistic missile with MIRVs.

    The submarine was laid up on November 2, 19996. The displacement
    of the submarine will amount to 24,000 tons. Depth - 450 meters;
    underwater speed - 30 knots. This will be the most noiseless
    submarine in the world. It will combine the most up-to-date technical
    solutions. The missile complex will be able to overcome anti-missile
    defense. The submarine will be equipped with a rescue chamber for
    1000 servicemen. (...)

    The second phase of the program (2006-10) is aimed at serial production
    of the new submarines, which must retain the nuclear potential of
    the naval strategic nuclear force after scrapping of generation three
    submarines. (...)
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