National Security Council official Christopher Ford revealed in a speech at the Wilson Center on November 29 that the Russian missile violating the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty is the land-based cruise missile Novator 9M729 (NATO designation: SSC-8). The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying that Russia is not violating the treaty,...
On November 23, the Russian Aerospace Force (VKS) successfully tested an upgraded version of the 53T6 Gazelle ballistic missile interceptor. The test was conducted at the Sary-Shagan site, located in Kazakhstan. The 53T6 is deployed in Russia’s anti ballistic missile systems protecting Moscow. Pavel Podvig, an independent Russian missile analyst, commented “Given that the launch...
The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter jet on November 22, 2017. The missile was “gravity dropped,” after which the engine started, propelling the missile towards its target in the Bay of Bengal off India’s eastern coast. BrahMos was a joint venture between India’s...
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,...
