The Russia Blog
Russian Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin announced yesterday a massively ambitious programme to build submarines and aircraft carriers.
At a press conference Rogozin – Russia’s straight-talking former ambassador to NATO – told reporters that by next year “production capacity will allow us to build six submarines and an aircraft carrier every year”.
He went… Read the rest
Russia has formally handed over the Nerpa, an Akula class nuclear submarine, to India.
The Nerpa, along with a second Akula submarine to be handed over shortly, will be leased to India for ten years in a deal thought to be worth $2 billion.
Under the terms of the deal, once the ten year… Read the rest
France has begun work on building the first of two Mistral class warships for Russia. French naval defence company DCNS confirmed that it had received initial payments from the Russian Government of $1.2 billion, which enabled it to begin construction.
In a statement, DCNS said: “The advance payment was received several weeks ago and… Read the rest
Russia today condemned the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership. Even China has now moved to support the League, though, leaving Russia as one of the isolated regime’s few remaining supporters.
Just a quick post to highlight an RIA Novosti article about Russia’s attempts to win a tender to supply the Brazilian Air Force with modern fighter jets.
The Brazilian Air Force has a combat capacity way below the country’s economic potential, especially considering how hard it is working to enhance its global political role.
Winds of Change reports that Russia and India are considering whether to build the next-generation MiG together.
From India’s point of view, a firm development agreement that helps finance Russia’s next-generation plane is one way to restrict Russian cooperation with China along similar lines.
Winds of Change goes on to report that India’s… Read the rest
Hot on the heels of Russia’s recent military exercise with China (see here for details) 1,600 Russian troops, 9 airplanes and 5 warships are taking part in a military exercise with India.
The exercise, which will run for 10 days from October 10th, is based around a counter terrorism scenario, says Indian newspaper… Read the rest
Russia has written off Ethiopia’s $1.1 billion debt, ostensibly to help Ethiopia in its fight against poverty, although I suspect arms sales may, as is so often the case, be at the root of Russia’s decision:
Russia has cancelled $1.1 billion owed to it by Ethiopia and agreed to let the Horn
In an opinion piece about last week’s rumours of a Russian missile sale to Syria, Pavel Felgenhauer notes a worrying aspect of the Russian arms trade in general. Namely a lack of central control.
Ivanov stated that there were no official negotiations to sell missiles to Syria, but there are several different
