On May 30, India and Russia finalized a price agreement for Indian procurement of the S-400 Triumf (NATO: SA-21 Growler). No public announcement of the price agreement has been made, but an Indian official suggested it could be disclosed at the Russia-India summit in October 2018. The price agreement comes despite the United States’ Countering...
A video published online on May 25 shows a Russian SU-57 fighter launching a Kh-59MK2 air-launched cruise missile (ALCM). The missile is reportedly equipped with INS, and reports suggest that Russia may have also used Kh-59MK2 missile in its air campaign in Syria, although this remains unconfirmed. Related Links: Russian Defence Ministry Board Session Takes Place in...
On May 25, Russia successfully tested the S-500 Prometheus surface-to-air missile (SAM) system in the longest test flight to date, striking a target almost 480 km away. According to CNBC, “Russia claims that the ground-based missile system is capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles, drones and aircraft as well as stealth warplanes like the F-22 and...
On May 22, Russian Borei-class submarine Yuri Dolgoruky (K-535) tested four Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles (NATO: SS-NX-30 or SS-N-32) in a submerged launch in the White Sea. The nuclear-capable missiles have a range of approximately 8,000 km and hit targets in Kamchatka. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, “The test confirmed combat readiness of...
Several decades ago, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone once described his country as a “big aircraft carrier” from which to defend against Soviet aircraft. Although such an analogy fails to capture the richness and depth of the U.S-Japan alliance, it did say something important about Japan’s unique geographic and strategic position. Today’s air and...
On May 5, Russian media reported that ten MiG-31 fighters fitted with Kinzhal missiles are currently on test combat duty. Speaking to Zvezda TV, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov explained that “today ten jets have gone on test combat duty and are ready for use depending on the situation.” Reports also announced that the...
Later this spring, the Trump administration will release its 2018 Missile Defense Review (MDR), which is expected to better align U.S. missile defense policy with the present security environment. President Barack Obama’s 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review (BMDR) reflected the security environment of the time and the aspirations of the Obama administration. In particular, technological...
On April 4, Russia began a live-fire military exercise including air and sea targets in the Baltic Sea, just beyond NATO territorial waters. The exercise, which will continue for three days, comes one day after Baltic leaders met with President Trump at the White House. Latvian officials said Russia has never drilled so near its...
On April 2, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced a test of its upgraded A-135 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system. The test reportedly took place at the Sary-Shagan test site in Kazakhstan. Major General Andrei Prikhodko, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force’s air and missile defense task force, told reporters that the system “successfully accomplished the...
On April 3, Russian state-run news agency TASS announced that Moscow delivered the first regimental set of S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems to China. “Two vessels have delivered the first regimental set of S-400s from the port of Ust-Lug, Leningrad Region, to China within the time limit established by the contract,” a source familiar...
