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...
On September 22, the Russian submarine Veliky Novgorod (B-268) fired an unknown number of Kalibr cruise missiles (SS-N-27/30A) from a submerged position at targets in Syria’s Idlib province. The missiles traveled 300 km before striking command centers, armored vehicles, and training facilities. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the missile launch was a counter-offensive...
On September 20, Russia successfully test fired a SS-29 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile on the final day of the Zapad 2017 military exercise. As part of the exercise, Russian missile crews practiced relocating the missile, testing its mobile variant rather than the silo-based variant tested on September 12. The missile was launched from Plesetsk launch...
On September 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the successful test of the Iskander-M missile as part of the ongoing Zapad 2017 military exercises. The short-range ballistic missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar test range in Russia’s southern Astrakhan region, and travelled close to its maximum 500 km range before hitting a target...
On September 14, Russia fired seven SS-N-30A Kalibr cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Syria’s eastern Deir el-Zor province. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, two Russian submarines stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, the Velikiy Novgorod (B-268) and Kolpino (B-271), fired the missiles from a submerged position and they traveled between 500 and 670 km...
On September 12, 2017, Russia successfully tested its silo-based, solid-fuel RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located north of Moscow. It successfully flew to the Kura Military Range in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the test was necessary in order to “reaffirm the reliability” of the missiles,...
Turkey announced September 12, 2017, that it has signed a deal with Russia to purchase the Russian S-400 surface-to- air missile defense system. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the press that a deposit has already been paid. Though the prospective purchase was made public several months ago, this announcement is the first time Erdogan has...
On September 4-7, units from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan drilled together as part of the Combat Commonwealth 2017 CIS joint air defense exercise. Over 1,500 soldiers participated and multiple systems were tested, including the Pantsir S-1, S-300, and S-400 Triumf. The drill reportedly included countering a variety of targets, from unmanned aerial vehicles to ballistic...
On September 5, the Russian frigate the Admiral Essen (751) in the Mediterranean launched a salvo of three Kalibr cruise missiles at Islamic State militants in Syria as part of the Syrian army’s push to break the Islamic State’s three year siege of Deir al-Zor. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missiles destroyed command...
On July 14, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik announced Turkey had signed a “cooperation agreement” with the Eurosam Consortium to acquire and coproduce the SAMP/T Aster 30 surface-to-air missile (SAM) defense system. The two-stage deal would first let Turkey import SAMP/T systems to bolster the country’s integrated air defense system, and then share technology with...
