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AN AIR-DEFENSE COMMONWEALTH
by Sergey Konovalov
RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest
September 12, 2011 Monday
The spread of new Russian ABM defense systems in post-Soviet space
is hampered by arms manufacturers
The active phase of training the Joint CIS Air Defense System members,
the Combat Commonwealth 2011 air defense exercises, conducted at the
Ashuluk air defense test site, comes to an end today. Despite the
fact that not all member states are taking part in the maneuvers,
the missile combat crews (of Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan,
and Tajikistan) will be monitored by defense ministry representatives
of all 11 states of the CIS.
Observers from Azerbaijan and Moldova, who are not members of the Joint
CIS Air Defense System, arrived at the training field. Their interest
is understandable. The Joint CIS Air Defense System is practically
a military-coalition alliance of the Commonwealth, which is showing
a certain level of efficiency.
As is shown by the military actions of the US and NATO in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Libya, unmanned aerial strikes are one of today's main
methods of defeating the enemy. To repel such attacks, ABM defense
means are needed like never before. But because they are not cheap
and in post- Soviet states these means are still mainly of old Soviet
production, the dependence of CIS countries on Russia is evident.
Russia is the only country on post-Soviet territory that is modernizing
the entire spectrum of air defense and air defense missile systems
produced in the USSR. At the same time, Moscow is also developing
and manufacturing new systems.
Apparently, it's no coincidence that last Saturday after a meeting of
the Coordination Committee on ABM Issues under the Council of Defense
Ministers of the CIS, Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and
ABM Maj.- Gen. Sergey Lemeshevsky, said that his country intends to
purchase the new S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. As
is known, Belarusian representatives have expressed these intentions
more than once. As early as May, the secretary general of the Union
State of Russia and Belarus, Pavel Borodin, announced that the issue
concerning the supplies of the S- 400 Triumph air defense missile
systems (designed and produced by the ABM concern Almaz-Antei) to
Belarus had been almost settled. Diplomatic and military sources told
Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) that after this summer's failed negotiations
between Moscow and NATO regarding the creation of a single Euro-ABM
system, Russia is, in practical terms, considering the possibility
of allocating S-400 divisions on the territory of Belarus.
An indirect confirmation of these intentions has been the statement
made by Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik that missile
combat crews equipped with the S-400 will take part in the joint
Russian-Belarusian "Union Shield 2011" exercises, which will start on
September 16. The head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of
Belarus, Petr Tikhonovsky, while revealing the intention of these
maneuvers, said: "We are working on the application of a single
regional ABM system, which is expected to be used not only to repel
air assault weapons, but also cover ground forces". Meanwhile, Russia
has not yet made any official statements regarding the transfer of
S-400 divisions to Belarus. This is of course due to the fact that
Russian army regiments and divisions are being equipped with the S-
400 systems with delays. Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov
has frequently reiterated the need to build several new factories for
the production of AMB systems. But it looks like the defense industry
sector is coming up short.
Meanwhile, Russia evidently has certain obligations to supply
air-defense means to not only Belarus. Russia's closest allies,
Kazakhstan and Armenia, are also waiting for Russia to sign contracts
for the allocation of S-300 and S-400 systems on their territories.
However, as was recently stated by the co-chairman of the
Non-Departmental Advisory Council for Aerospace Defense, Igor
Ashurbeili, production of the S-300 systems in Russia has been stopped,
and the S-400 systems are not yet being offered for sale.
Another problem is the fact that last year two S-300 divisions were
sold by Russia to Azerbaijan, which is preparing to go to war with
Armenia, Russia's ally. Negotiations about a possible purchase of 10
S-300 divisions by Kazakhstan have already been ongoing for more than
three years. But, argues Ashurbeili, because the production of S-300
systems in Russia has ceased, Kazakhstan will most likely get these
systems from the army reserve. In other words, it will be secondhand
equipment. The fact that this will be the case is confirmed by the
Kazakh army commanders' acknowledgement that the transfer will occur
at no cost.
The director of the Global Arms Trade Analysis Center, Igor
Korotchenko, told NG that the Almaz-Antei concern has currently "begun
the construction of three new factories (one in St. Petersburg and two
in the Volga Region) for the production of an entire series of modern
ABM defense systems." With their opening, Korotchenko said that "all
needs for new ABM systems in Russia as well as export obligations
will be met." However, the question is when will these factories
begin to operate? According to government officials and Almaz-Antei
representatives the ABM production facilities are expected to open
in 2015. In other words - not any time soon.
by Sergey Konovalov
RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest
September 12, 2011 Monday
The spread of new Russian ABM defense systems in post-Soviet space
is hampered by arms manufacturers
The active phase of training the Joint CIS Air Defense System members,
the Combat Commonwealth 2011 air defense exercises, conducted at the
Ashuluk air defense test site, comes to an end today. Despite the
fact that not all member states are taking part in the maneuvers,
the missile combat crews (of Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan,
and Tajikistan) will be monitored by defense ministry representatives
of all 11 states of the CIS.
Observers from Azerbaijan and Moldova, who are not members of the Joint
CIS Air Defense System, arrived at the training field. Their interest
is understandable. The Joint CIS Air Defense System is practically
a military-coalition alliance of the Commonwealth, which is showing
a certain level of efficiency.
As is shown by the military actions of the US and NATO in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Libya, unmanned aerial strikes are one of today's main
methods of defeating the enemy. To repel such attacks, ABM defense
means are needed like never before. But because they are not cheap
and in post- Soviet states these means are still mainly of old Soviet
production, the dependence of CIS countries on Russia is evident.
Russia is the only country on post-Soviet territory that is modernizing
the entire spectrum of air defense and air defense missile systems
produced in the USSR. At the same time, Moscow is also developing
and manufacturing new systems.
Apparently, it's no coincidence that last Saturday after a meeting of
the Coordination Committee on ABM Issues under the Council of Defense
Ministers of the CIS, Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and
ABM Maj.- Gen. Sergey Lemeshevsky, said that his country intends to
purchase the new S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. As
is known, Belarusian representatives have expressed these intentions
more than once. As early as May, the secretary general of the Union
State of Russia and Belarus, Pavel Borodin, announced that the issue
concerning the supplies of the S- 400 Triumph air defense missile
systems (designed and produced by the ABM concern Almaz-Antei) to
Belarus had been almost settled. Diplomatic and military sources told
Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) that after this summer's failed negotiations
between Moscow and NATO regarding the creation of a single Euro-ABM
system, Russia is, in practical terms, considering the possibility
of allocating S-400 divisions on the territory of Belarus.
An indirect confirmation of these intentions has been the statement
made by Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik that missile
combat crews equipped with the S-400 will take part in the joint
Russian-Belarusian "Union Shield 2011" exercises, which will start on
September 16. The head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of
Belarus, Petr Tikhonovsky, while revealing the intention of these
maneuvers, said: "We are working on the application of a single
regional ABM system, which is expected to be used not only to repel
air assault weapons, but also cover ground forces". Meanwhile, Russia
has not yet made any official statements regarding the transfer of
S-400 divisions to Belarus. This is of course due to the fact that
Russian army regiments and divisions are being equipped with the S-
400 systems with delays. Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov
has frequently reiterated the need to build several new factories for
the production of AMB systems. But it looks like the defense industry
sector is coming up short.
Meanwhile, Russia evidently has certain obligations to supply
air-defense means to not only Belarus. Russia's closest allies,
Kazakhstan and Armenia, are also waiting for Russia to sign contracts
for the allocation of S-300 and S-400 systems on their territories.
However, as was recently stated by the co-chairman of the
Non-Departmental Advisory Council for Aerospace Defense, Igor
Ashurbeili, production of the S-300 systems in Russia has been stopped,
and the S-400 systems are not yet being offered for sale.
Another problem is the fact that last year two S-300 divisions were
sold by Russia to Azerbaijan, which is preparing to go to war with
Armenia, Russia's ally. Negotiations about a possible purchase of 10
S-300 divisions by Kazakhstan have already been ongoing for more than
three years. But, argues Ashurbeili, because the production of S-300
systems in Russia has ceased, Kazakhstan will most likely get these
systems from the army reserve. In other words, it will be secondhand
equipment. The fact that this will be the case is confirmed by the
Kazakh army commanders' acknowledgement that the transfer will occur
at no cost.
The director of the Global Arms Trade Analysis Center, Igor
Korotchenko, told NG that the Almaz-Antei concern has currently "begun
the construction of three new factories (one in St. Petersburg and two
in the Volga Region) for the production of an entire series of modern
ABM defense systems." With their opening, Korotchenko said that "all
needs for new ABM systems in Russia as well as export obligations
will be met." However, the question is when will these factories
begin to operate? According to government officials and Almaz-Antei
representatives the ABM production facilities are expected to open
in 2015. In other words - not any time soon.