November 2006 - Russia Special Weapons News

Russia starts supplies of Su-30 fighters to Venezuela RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2006 -- Russia has shipped the first two Su-30MK2 multi-role fighters to Venezuela under a contract signed in July 2006, an aircraft manufacturing industry official said Thursday.
Sukhoi holding's newest jets to take to the skies in 2007 RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2006 -- Sukhoi, Russia's state-owned aircraft manufacturing holding, said Wednesday its newest military and civilian aircraft will take to the skies in 2007.
Russia scraps 145 out of 197 decommissioned nuclear submarines RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2006 -- Russia has dismantled 145 out of 197 decommissioned Soviet-era nuclear submarines, the head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Power said Tuesday.
Causes of Bulava missile test failure still unknown - space agency RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2006 -- Investigations into the failure of a test launch of the newest Russian ballistic missile a month ago have yet not been able to establish the causes of the incident, a Russian Space Agency official said Tuesday.
Nuclear research facility ready to remove reactor from Moscow RIA Novosti 27 Nov 2006 -- Specialists from the Kurchatov nuclear research institute in Moscow are preparing to start removing one of the few remaining research reactors from the capital, the president of the institute said Friday.
Second trainload of equipment leaves Russian garrison in Georgia RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2006 -- A second trainload of equipment and ammunition left a Russian garrison outside the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on Thursday, in keeping with Russia's commitment to withdraw from its military bases in the post-Soviet Caucasus state by the end of 2008.
Russia completes delivery of S-300 air defense systems to Belarus RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2006 -- Russia has delivered the last two S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) anti-aircraft missile systems to Belarus, the Belarusian defense minister said Thursday.
Nuclear strikes from 'rogue states' possible - Russian Air Force RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2006 -- Russia's Air Force commander said Wednesday he considers nuclear missile launches by terrorists or 'rogue states' to be a genuine threat.
Russia: British Police Investigating Litvinenko Poisoning Case RFE/RL 20 Nov 2006 -- British police are investigating the near-fatal poisoning of Aleksandr Litvinenko, a former spy with Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB
Defense orders up 23.2% in 2007 - Russian defense minister RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2006 -- State defense orders will be increased by 23.2% in 2007, the Russian defense minister said Monday.
Officials deny Russia's Cosmos satellite de-orbited over breakdown RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2006 -- Russian space officials dismissed media reports Monday that the Cosmos 2423 military satellite was de-orbited because its onboard equipment had broken down.
U.S. lifts sanctions against Russian military aircraft maker Sukhoi RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2006 -- Russia's foreign minister said Sunday that the United States has lifted its sanctions against Russian military aircraft
Scotland Yard launches probe into plot to poison Russian ex-spy RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2006 -- British police said Sunday they are conducting an inquiry into the alleged poisoning of a former Russian intelligence agent, known as an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin.
Russia, China agree to promote resumption of N.Korea talks RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2006 -- The Russian and Chinese leaders agreed to act in a coordinated way for the soonest possible resumption of six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, the Russian foreign minister said Saturday.
N. Korea must settle its $5 billion debt to Russia - official RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2006 -- No serious progress in economic relations between Russia and North Korea is possible until Pyongyang settles its multi-billion dollar debt to Moscow, a co-chairman of a joint Russia-North Korea commission said Friday.
Russia's Missile Forces set to adopt new aerial recon system RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2006 -- Russia's Missile Forces and Artillery will soon be equipped with state-of-the-art reconnaissance systems, increasing their reconnaissance and target acquisition capability by a factor of 10, the MFA commander-in-chief said Friday.
Over 60% of rockets and artillery obsolete - Russian commander RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2006 -- Almost two-thirds of the weaponry used by Russian rocket and artillery troops is outdated, the troops commander said Friday.
Russia starts early garrison withdrawal from Georgian capital RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2006 -- Russia has started withdrawing its Soviet-era garrison from Georgia's capital, ahead of schedule, Novosti-Georgia agency reported Thursday.
Russia to buy 17 ICBMs in 2007 - minister RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2006 -- Russia will buy 17 intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2007, the defense minister said Thursday.
Russia plans joint regional forces RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2006 -- Russia's defense minister said Thursday joint regional forces will soon be set up in the country.
Putin orders strategic weapons for armed forces RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2006 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the armed forces should be supplied with new strategic weapons.
Unfair competition behind U.S. sanctions on Russian arms exporter RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2006 -- U.S. sanctions against Russian state arms exporting agency Rosoboronexport and state-owned plane maker Sukhoi is a case of unfair competition, a senior official with the arms exporting agency said Wednesday.
Unified air defense system deal may be signed in late Nov. RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2006 -- Russia and Belarus may sign an agreement to form a unified air defense system during a meeting of the former Soviet republics' defense ministers November 23, a Belarusian military official said Tuesday.
Russian military to fly over U.S. under Open Skies treaty RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2006 -- A plane with Russian military observers will make an inspection flight over the United States under the Open Skies Treaty, the Russian Air Force's spokesman said Monday.
Russia to lift Glonass restrictions for accurate civilian use RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2006 -- Russia will lift all precision restrictions from 2007 in the use of military-controlled Glonass to enable accurate and unlimited commercial use of the global positioning system, the defense minister said Monday.
Severnaya Verf launches Stoiky corvette for Russian Navy RIA Novosti 10 Nov 2006 -- St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard laid the keel Friday of the Stoiky corvette for Russia's Navy.
Ex-Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev dead at 68 RIA Novosti 10 Nov 2006 -- Marshal Igor Sergeyev, a former Russian defense minister, has died in Moscow at age 68 after a long illness, Russia's incumbent defense minister said Friday.
Price of space tourist flight to ISS raised by $1 million RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2006 -- The price of a commercial flight to the International Space Station has risen from $20 million to $21 million, a Russian space official said Thursday.
Russia launches SS-19 Stiletto missile from Baikonur RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2006 -- Russia has tested an RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile by launching it from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the Missile Forces said Thursday.
Russia: Ministry Admits Chechen Resistance Still Poses 'Serious Threat' RFE/RL 08 Nov 2006 -- Following the deaths of Chechen Republic Ichkeria President Abdul-Khalim Sadullayev and veteran field commander Shamil Basayev on June 16 and July 10, respectively, Russian and pro-Moscow Chechen officials pronounced the Chechen resistance a spent force, numbering no more than a few dozen die-hard fighters
Russia plans to improve outer space monitoring capabilities RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- Russia's Space Forces will significantly improve the technical capabilities of its main space-monitoring installation in Tajikistan, a deputy commander of the Okno center said Wednesday.
Modernized MiG-31 test flights successful - company RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- Russia has successfully conducted test flights of a modernized MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor equipped with improved engines and electronics, a defense company said Wednesday.
Use of force dominating international relations - President Putin RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- The Russian president said Wednesday the potential for conflict in the world is growing, while the threat and use of force is being played up in international relations.
Russian submarine had no nuclear fuel when it caught fire RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- A Russian submarine that caught fire last week in a northern Russian dock during repairs had no nuclear fuel onboard at the time, a shipyard official said Wednesday.
No delay in Iran's Bushehr NPP launch - Russian nuclear exporter RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- Reports of a possible delay in launching the reactor Russia is building for Iran's first nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr are unfounded, the Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly, Atomstroiexport, said Wednesday.
Putin inspects new Intelligence HQ RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- Russia's president has visited the new headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff in the country's capital, a RIA Novosti correspondent said Wednesday.
Russia confirms private visit of senior North Korean official RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2006 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday that North Korea's first deputy foreign minister is currently in Moscow on a private visit.
Russia, China to launch ultraviolet observatory in 2010 RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2006 -- An ultraviolet observatory Russia, China and other countries are building to explore the far reaches of space will begin operating by the end of the decade, Russia's top space official said Tuesday.
Terrorists plan attacks on hydro facilities in S. Russia - FSB RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2006 -- Russia's antiterrorist committee said Tuesday that terrorists are planning attacks on the hydropower infrastructure in southern Russia.
Russia holds realistic position on Iran nuclear issue - official RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2006 -- Russia holds a realistic position on the Iran nuclear issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday.
Russia Stresses 'Limited' Iran Sanctions Option RFE/RL 04 Nov 2006 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has again stressed that any punitive measures the UN Security Council agrees to impose on Iran should be limited in duration.
Moscow may back UN Iran resolution on certain conditions-Lavrov RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2006 -- Moscow may endorse a UN Security Council resolution on Iran provided a number of conditions are met, the Russian foreign minister said Saturday.
Moscow hopes six-nation talks on N. Korea resume by year-end-FM RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2006 -- Moscow expects the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear problem will resume before the end of the year, the Russian foreign minister said Saturday.
Russia to pay Kazakhstan over $1 mln in damages for rocket crash RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2006 -- Russia will pay Kazakhstan more than $1 million in compensation for the crash of a booster rocket this past summer, the Federal Space Agency said Friday.
Georgia must stop hostile actions to improve relations with Russia RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2006 -- Georgia must stop its hostile actions to normalize its relations with Russia, the Russian foreign minister said Friday.
Russia to redeploy aircraft at modernized Tajik air base RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2006 -- Russia's 201st motorized infantry division in Tajikistan will redeploy its helicopters and planes to the Aini airbase near the country's capital, Russia's air force commander said Friday.
Russia plans complete overhaul of MiG-31 interceptor fleet RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2006 -- Russia plans to modernize its MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor aircraft, which have been in service for 25 years, the air force commander said Thursday.
Russian general for joint CIS fight against terror, crime, drugs RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2006 -- Russia's top general called Thursday on his colleagues in a union of former Soviet states to unite against terrorism, cross-border crime and the drug mafia.
Russian businessman denies involvement in Congo arms deliveries RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2006 -- Russian businessman Viktor Bout denied Wednesday a U.S. accusation that he was involved in weapons deliveries to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
FM Lavrov hopes for improvement in Russian-Georgian relations RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2006 -- Russia's foreign minister said Wednesday he hopes ways will be found to resolve bilateral problems after talks with his Georgian counterpart.
Russia ready to face competition on China arms market - official RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2006 -- Russia is not afraid of strong competition on the Chinese arms market if the EU lifts a ban on arms sales to China, a Russian government official said Wednesday.
Backgrounder: Iran and Russia: Brothers in Arms cfr.org 01 Nov 2006

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

November 2006 - Russia Special Weapons News