News From 1 to 15 January 1999

Air Force To Receive New Missile Systems and Upgraded Aircraft
Site Of ADMIRAL GORSHKOV Modernisation Uncertain
Manilov Details Military Reform Priorities
Finland Signs Military Cooperation Agreement
MiG To Modernise European Fighters
MiG-31M Upgrade Launched
No Further Write-Offs For Baltic Fleet
Workers Request Approval For URAL Conversion
SSBN Patrols Halted For Three Months in 1998
ADMIRAL CHABANENKO Prepares for Maiden Voyage
Russian Firm to Destroy SLBMs
Yeltsin Moves To Release Funds For MOSKVA
Black Berets 'Among The Best'
More Details on Ethiopian Su-27 Delivery
Vietnam Seeks Additional Su-27s
Tor-M1 Missile System Detailed
Malaysians May Buy MiG-29SMT




Air Force To Receive New Missile Systems and Upgraded Aircraft

Interfax reports that Air Force Commander-In-Chief Anatoly Kornukov told a Moscow news conference on 11 January that the air force planned to introduce a new air defence system in 1999 [PC: The S-400]. Kornukov also revealed the Su-27IB would be the basic reconnaissance and attack aircraft for the air force, while Su-24s, Su-25s, Su-27s and MiG-31s would be upgraded. Kornukov also stated that a multipurpose missile had been developed for the air force, which would also be used by both air defence systems and aircraft. Krasnaya Zvezda reported that Kornukov had released additional data on air force developments at the conference: on January 1, 1998, the air force and anti-aircraft forces had numbered 318,000 men. During the year, 580 units were disbanded, 134 reorganised and more than 600 changed jurisdiction. Around 41,000 servicemen retired in 1998 and another 3,000 will retire soon. There are now 184,594 servicemen in the air force. In 1998, servicemen detected more than 100,00 aerial targets, with almost 500 identified as reconnaissance aircraft. Over 400 combat-training exercises took place, with over 50% of anti-aircraft missile regiments involved in 'live-fire' maneuvers.
Krasnaya Zvezda, 13 January 1999; Interfax, 11 January 1999

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Site Of ADMIRAL GORSHKOV Modernisation Uncertain

According a senior official of the military-industrial complex, the site at which modernisation work for the Indian Navy on the KIEV-class ADMIRAL GORSHKOV will be undertaken is still uncertain. Severodvinsk's machine-building factory and St. Petersburg's Baltiyskiy Plant shipyard are both competing for the contract. In Severodvinsk, a 250 metre dry-dock has already been prepared for the vessel. St. Petersburg's selection may be complicated by Denmark commencing construction of a bridge to link Denmark and northern Europe. After the bridge is completed, the passage of shipping will be restricted by the height of a ship's superstructure and masts. This could create problems for the carrier's eventual transfer via the Atlantic Ocean to India. [PC: Interfax reported on 13 January that a memorandum between India and Russia over the ADMIRAL GORSHKOV had been signed in December 1998. India will pay Russia US$2 billion for the vessel, of which US$650 million will be spent on upgrading the ship, in particular extending the flight-deck for the navalised Su-27s and MiG-29s that will comprise the contract's remaining US$1.35 billion. The Interfax report also states that the modernisation would take place in Severomorsk].
ITAR-TASS 11 January 1999

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Manilov Details Military Reform Priorities

Krasnaya Zvedza of 12 January carried a long interview with senior deputy Chief-of-Staff Colonel-General Valery Manilov in which he details Russia's overall military reform program. Manilov listed the reform's major priorities as follows; preservation of the officer corps, reorganisation of the nuclear deterrent potential, improvement of the military's handling of local threats, restructuring and modernising the material base and maintaining the mobilisation potential of strategic deployment.
Krasnaya Zvedza, 12 January 1999.

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Finland Signs Military Cooperation Agreement

During a two-day visit to Finland, Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin signed an agreement on developing military cooperation between the Russian armed forces and the Finnish Defence forces in 1999-2000.
Radio Russia (Moscow), 12 January 1999.

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MiG To Modernise European Fighters

The MiG complex intends to establish an upgrade program for eastern european MiG-29s. There are currently over 150 MiGs in east european armies.
Izvestia, 12 January 1999

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MiG-31M Upgrade Launched

Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev was presented a modernised MiG-31M interceptor at Zhukovsky on 12 January. The MiG-31M has a more powerful radar and is armed with six long-range AAMs under the fuselage and medium-range AAMs suspended under the wing.
ITAR-TASS, 12 January 1999

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No Further Write-Offs For Baltic Fleet

Head of the Baltic Fleet's technical department, Captain 1st Rank Ulyan Bayzert, is reported in Strazh Baltiki as indicating that not a single navy ship will be written off in the Baltic Fleet in 1999. Bayzert states that the past five years have been focused on retaining the combat nucleus of the fleet through reducing overall numbers, however this process has now ended. Six to eight Baltic Fleet ships will participate in foreign visits and exercises in 1999, while 8 foreign-made ships were being prepared for repairs abroad. Another 15 fleet vessels are scheduled for repairs in Kalingrad and Leningrad.
BNS New Agency (Kalingrad) 11 January 1999

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Workers Request Approval For URAL Conversion

Workers at the Zvedza shipyard have sent a letter to Maritime Territory officials and senior Defence Officials requesting funds to convert the KAPUSTA-class Pacific Fleet command ship URAL into a floating nuclear power station. The proposal, which would see the URAL provide electrical power for the town of Bolshoy Kamen, has the support of the Maritime Territory duma. Three nuclear submarines are currently providing power for naval units and military living quarters on Kamchatka.
ITAR-TASS, 11 January 1999.

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SSBN Patrols Halted For Three Months in 1998

Defense Week of 11 January states that Russia had no SSBN submarines on combat patrol between May and August 1998. The two SSBNs normally on patrol and other operational boats were pierside, probably for inspections and repairs due to damage to their nuclear missiles, although they may have retained combat-status. The report further reveals that the three month gap may have originated when seawater entered the SS-N-8 Sawfly missile compartment of a Northern Fleet Delta-1 in May. According to various sources, the SSBN made an emergency call and was escorted back to base. As a result of the leak, a flurry of SSBN inspections followed in both the Northern and Pacific Fleet, resulting in a total halt to all patrols. Normal SSBN patrols resumed in August.
Defense Week, 11 January 1999

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ADMIRAL CHABANENKO Prepares for Maiden Voyage

Strazh Baltiki details the late December tests of the new UDALOY II class ADMIRAL CHABANENKO. Commander Captain 1st Class M. Kolyvushko states that as at December 16, the crew and civilian specialists had been testing weapon and hydro-acoustic systems for over a week. Tests and exercises had so far included firing depth-charges and launching seventeen anti-aircraft missiles. Baltic Fleet Deputy Commander Vice-Admiral V. Vauyev revealed that one of the firing exercises had not been completely successful. Over 200 manufacturer's representatives had been in attendance, with the majority from the Yantar Baltic Ship-Building facility and 133 other specialists from 14 cities including Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Kiev and Nikolayev. ITAR-TASS reports that the St. Andrews flag will be hoisted on the vessel on 23rd January, officially recognising its introduction into the Russian Navy. Rear Admiral Oleg Demyanchenko, commander of the Baltic Fleet's surface ship division, also stated that preparations had begun for the ADMIRAL CHABANENKO's ten-day voyage from Kalingrad to a Northern Fleet base.
Strazh Baltiki; ITAR-TASS 10 January 1999

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Russian Firm to Destroy SLBMs

The Krasnoyarsk Machine Building Plant has won a sole contract from the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to eliminate 48 Pacific Fleet SLBMs. The 48 missiles (24 SSN-18s, 4 SSN-8s and 20 SSN-6s) will be transported by rail from naval bases to their destruction facility near Krasnoyarsk.
BMD Monitor (Washington), 8 January 1999.

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Yeltsin Moves To Release Funds For MOSKVA

Segodnya of 6 January reports that President Boris Yeltsin has ordered Prime Minister Primakov and Finance Minister Zadornov to submit proposals designed to pay Ukraine for the cost of repairs to the SLAVA-class MOSKVA. Russian owes Ukraine around R58 million for repairs undertaken at the 61 Kommuna dock since the late 1980s. Segodnya believes that Yeltsin's sudden interest in finalising the issue may have arisen from a direct request from Ukrainian president Kuchma to repay Russia's debt. Russia TV reports that if funds are released and repairs completed, the MOSKVA will become the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and be moved to Sevastopol. An unnamed Black Sea Fleet officer revealed that if repairs were frozen, the MOSKVA would be lost, and the vessel would likely share the fate of the KARA-class TASHKENT and NIKOLAYEV which were taken to Ukraine for repairs but eventually sold for scrap due to unpaid debts. According to the Moscow Times, a small Russian naval unit overseeing the repairs has been seriously affected by funding shortages; Ukrainian utilities have cut off their water and power and the tax service has siezed the unit's bank accounts. The unit has waited six years for the release of repair funds, and once they arrive, the unit will be disbanded.
Segodnya, 6 January 1999; Moscow Times 6 January 1999; Russia TV, 5 January 1999

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Black Berets 'Among The Best'

Flag Rodiny (the publication of the Black Sea Fleet) of 21 November carried an interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Nikolai Shaibalov, Chief-of-Staff of the Black Sea Fleet Marine regiment (the Black Berets). Shaibalov's interview took place between the end of one marine training cycle and the commencement of another. Shaibalov stated that during 1998, the marines had conducted various exercises, however obtaining Ukrainian permission to include Russian Air Force and artillery involvement was not always possible. The Black Berets had started the year as a brigade and ended 1998 as a separate regiment. Shaibalov believed the separation of servicemen from training was a major problem; some marines were simply tasked with maintaining and storing food. Shortages of fuel were also problematic for the regiment.
Flag Rodiny, November 21 1998, as reported in Russian Story 6 January 1999.

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More Details on Ethiopian Su-27 Delivery

Flight International of 6 January provided additional details of Ethiopia's Sukhoi purchase of 10 Su-27s from Russia. The ex-Russian Air Force Sukhoi's were delivered on An-22 aircraft from Krasnodar. One of the Sukhoi's was reported to be at least 7 years old, however given low flight hours by the Russian Air Force its total airframe time may still be relatively low.
Flight International, 6 January 1999.

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Vietnam Seeks Additional Su-27s

Hanoi sources told Jane's Defence Weekly that Vietnam aims to purchase an additional 24 Su-27s to bolster its existing 12 Sukhoi's. Six Su-27s were delivered in 1994 and six more ordered in 1995, although at least two have been lost through attrition. Vietnam is also planning to acquire an unknown number of MiG-29s, although it is not clear if this represents an alternative to the Sukhoi's or a separate requirement.
Jane's Defence Weekly, 6 January 1999.

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Tor-M1 Missile System Detailed

Segodnya of 6 January describes in detail the Russian Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile system. The system was developed to defend stationary and infrequently moved objects from guided missiles and bombs, and can destroy aircraft and helicopters at altitudes varying from ten metres to six kilometers and within a radius of 12 kilometers. The Tor-M1's radar can detect up to 48 targets at a range of up to 27 kilometers and track ten of them. The system can launch at two targets at once, assigning priorities independently. Tests have indicated that the Tor-M1's probability of hitting an aircraft ranges between 0.6 and 0.9, helicopters 0.7 and 0.9 and guided missiles between 0.8 and 0.9. The manufacturer claims the Tor-M1 is twice as good as the Crotal system and more than three times as good as the British Rapier-2000.
Segodnya, 6 January 1999.

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