On November 17, the Russian Navy celebrated the launch of its new Borei-A-class nuclear-powered submarine, the Prince Vladimir, from the Sevmash Shipyard in the Arkhangelsk region. In comparison to three current Borei-class subs produced under the Project 955 program, the new generation will carry four additional missile tubes for Russia’s SS-N-32 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile,...
According to unnamed U.S. officials, the United States is conducting research and development on a new ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) in response to Russian violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. “The idea here is we need to send a message to the Russians that they will pay a military price for violation of...
On November 3, the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Varshavyanka class Kolpino (B-271) submarine fired six SS-N-30 Kalibr cruise missiles from a submerged position in the Mediterranean Sea at targets located in Syria’s Abu Kamal region on the country’s southeastern border with Iraq. A representative from the Russian Ministry of Defense told journalists that Russian forces...
On the evening of October 26, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin oversaw a scheduled training exercise by the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. Four intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and an unknown number of air-launched cruise missiles were fired during the exercise. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, nuclear submarines from the Pacific and Northern Fleets, as...
On October 16, Syria’s national “Air Force and Air Defense Day,” a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile system fired on several Israeli aircraft flying reconnaissance over Lebanon. The missile interceptor failed to hit its target, and the aircraft safely exfiltrated Lebanese airspace. Several hours later a separate Israeli sortie launched four missiles at the S-200 site...
On October 6, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $15 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and related support, equipment, and services. The deal comprises 44 THAAD launchers, 360 missile interceptors, seven AN/TPY-2 radar systems, and other related parts, training, and equipment. A day before the...
On October 5, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced two of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet submarines, the Veliky Novgorod (B-268) and the Kolpino (B-271), fired ten SS-N-30 Kalibr cruise missiles from a submerged position at ISIS targets near the town of Mayadin in the Deir ez-Zor province. The strike targeted ISIS command posts, ammunition depots,...
On October 5, Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television reported that the Kingdom had agreed to buy Russia’s S-400 air defense system. The announcement came during a visit by Saudi King Salman to Moscow. In addition to the S-400 ‘Triumf’, the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the two countries also includes Saudi procurement of other weapon systems. The...
The Russian military is conducting exercises involving over 60 road-mobile Topol, Topol-M, and Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the maneuvers are taking place between the Tver region northwest of Moscow and the Irkutsk region located in eastern Siberia. These drills follow the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad exercise that...
On Tuesday the Russian Strategic Missile Forces test fired a Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Kapustin Yar testing range in the southern Astrakhan region. The purpose of the launch was to test advanced warheads for Russian ballistic missiles, according to the Russia’s defense ministry. The experimental warhead reportedly hit its target at the Sary Shagan range...
