For the first time ever, Russia parachute drops an armoured personnel carrier – with crew inside!
Russia to build 6 new aircraft carriers
July 29, 2008 By
Russia has announced ambitious plans to build six new aircraft carrier battle groups, a move which could return Russia to the top ranks of naval powers.
Nikolai Makarov – the man to reform Russia's military?
June 10, 2008 By
Nikolai Makarov is the Russian armed forces’ new Chief of Staff, and he has a mandate to reform one of Europe’s most powerful, yet backward, militaries.
Georgia releases footage of Russian MiG shooting down drone
April 21, 2008 By
Amazing video footage of an (allegedly) Russian MiG shooting down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia.
Russia writes off Libya debt – $4.6bn
April 18, 2008 By
Britain intercepts Russian bombers every week
April 5, 2008 By
British RAF jets are intercepting Russian Tu-95 bombers once a week, at a cost of $12 million a year.
Russian bombers 'buzz' US aircraft carrier
February 13, 2008 By
This weekend Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers violated Japanese airspace and then, in their most audacious flight for a fair few years, went on to ‘buzz’ the US Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz. Not just once – twice.
Khalkhin-Gol: The forgotten battle that shaped WW2
January 21, 2008 By
In August 1939, just weeks before Hitler invaded Poland, the Soviet Union and Japan fought the largest tank battle the world had ever seen
Russian Tu-95 bombers intercepted over Guam
August 10, 2007 By
Wow – Russia really is starting to strut its military stuff on the world stage again.
Two Tu-95 bombers flew to the US island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, paying a surprise visit to the US military base there. Shocked US pilots on the base were forced to scramble to intercept the Russian bombers.… Read the rest
Putin orders increase in spying and military budgets
July 26, 2007 By
Russia is to increase its military and intelligence spending again:
“The situation in the world and internal political interests require the Foreign Intelligence Service to permanently increase its capabilities, primarily in the field of information and analytical support for the country’s leadership,” said Putin.
Or, to put it another way: ‘we need more spies’.
Which… Read the rest
Gazprom's private army
July 4, 2007 By
The Russian Duma has today voted in favour of allowing Gazprom to form its own private army. Reuters reports:
A law backed by 341 lawmakers in the 450-seat State Duma lower house of parliament gave Gazprom, and oil pipeline monopoly Transneft, special exemption from strict limits on private businesses wielding arms.
The two state-controlled
Military deaths rise and fall
June 21, 2007 By
More Russian servicemen are dying in combat this year than last, but overall deaths in the armed forces have fallen:
A map of the Russia-US anti-missile dispute
June 10, 2007 By
This beautiful map from Kommersant graphically demonstrates why Russia is concerned about the proposed US anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech republic.
If the US plan goes ahead as expected, high powered radars from Poland will be able to cover all of European Russia, and a good chunk of Siberia as well:
Putin offers to work on joint missile shield
June 8, 2007 By
So, after spending the past few weeks ratcheting up the pressure, Putin has made an about turn and offered to work on a ‘joint’ missile shield with the United States.
Details of exactly how such a scheme would work are a little sketchy at the moment, to say the least, but it seems as… Read the rest
Russia tests new missile
May 30, 2007 By
Russia test fired a new ICBM yesterday.
As you would expect, the western press – particularly in the UK – are muttering darkly about the new Cold War and a renewed arms race (see the Express and Guardian, for examples).
I was more interested by the following comment from First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei… Read the rest
British Air Force intercept Russian 'spy' plane
May 10, 2007 By
Two British RAF Tornados were scrambled last month to intercept a two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear) bombers just off the Scottish coast last month, it has emerged. And here’s the picture to prove it:
It seems as though the Russian planes had taken a trip out to watch the Royal Navy’s recent… Read the rest
India and Russia to co-operate in developing next-gen MiG?
March 17, 2007 By
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
Russia surrounded by USA
February 20, 2007 By
Has Russia lost control of its nuclear weapons?
January 27, 2007 By
Captain’s Quarters wonders what’s behind the recent spate of nuclear ‘incidents’ that can be traced back to Russia in one way or another:
A couple of scenarios could be in play. The first is that Putin has decided to gain hard cash by putting fissile material on the black market, which is not only
FSB tanks fired on Beslan school
November 28, 2005 By
The Jamestown Foundation notes that Defense Ministry tanks, under the command of the FSB, fired on Beslan School number one, as the school was being stormed. The revelation was made during the trial of Nurpashi Kulaev, the sole surviving hostage taker.
I have to say, I’m not actually all that surprised at this news.… Read the rest
