Moscow continues its work of promotion and revival of the war apparatus, according to the precise directives of Putin who ordered to bring back, within the 2040, the new Russian army. According to forecasts, by that year Russian power will be second only to American power.
Colonel Igor Klimov, at the Ria Novosti news agency, did not spare details and details, illustrating the plans of the Russian defense for the current year.
By the end of December, Klimov said, we will deploy the latest version of the S400 surface-to-air missile and the Pantsir – S short-range defense systems.
To benefit from substantial Russian investments, it will mainly be aeronautics. The Air Force will receive Sukhoi Su-34 bombers, Su-30 multi-role fighters and pure fighters such as the Su-35S by the end of the year (the number of aircraft has not been specified). The entire logistics will be enhanced with the arrival of the new Ilyushin Il-76MD-90, Antonov An-148-100 and Tupolev Tu-214 transport aircraft.
Copious funds have also been allocated to equip the departments with the terrifying Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopters (still confirmed exclusively for the Specnaz) and Mil Mi-28N. Also within the current year, the Air Force will receive Mi-8AMTSh Terminator transport helicopters, Mi-35 combat helicopters and 'utility' helicopters like the Ka-226.
Also within the current year, the Russians will perform twelve intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Good news also for the 'Bulava' missiles and the Borey class submarines, which are responsible for nuclear deterrence at least until the 2050. Two more launches are planned for the year. The first will be performed in September by the Borei class submarine 'Vladimir Monomakh', while the second is scheduled for November. The test launches will end in the 2015. The missiles will be launched from the submarines of the Northern and Pacific Fleet.
The entire 'Borey' class cannot yet enter service because it does not have the armament to do it. Each 'Borey' should carry from sixteen to twenty missiles 'Bulava' (only for 955U), each of which has from six to ten Mirv warheads. Eight class 'Borey' submarines will equip the Russian Navy within the 2020.
The 'Bulava' three-stage missile, code-named Nato SS-N-30 Mace, is the naval version of the most advanced Russian ballistic missile, the SS-27 Topol-M. It can also be launched in motion. It carries up to 10 warheads Mirv, can hit targets up to eight thousand kilometers away and is designed to exclusively equip 'Borey' class nuclear submarines. Despite numerous failures due to manufacturing defects, the Russian army claims that there is no alternative to 'Bulava'. Due to the failure during the testing of the new 'Bulava' intercontinental missiles, the 'Borey' will not be able to carry out their primary task, namely nuclear deterrence.
The first 'Borey', the 'Yury Dolgoruky' K535, joined the Northern Fleet in January last year, followed by the K-550 (Project 955A) "Aleksandr Nevskij" at the end of December. The "Vladimir Monomakh" is completing sea trials, while the fourth "Borey", the "Knyaz Vladimir" has been under construction since July 2012 at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. Construction of the fifth nuclear-powered submarine will begin by the end of the 2014. 'Borey' class submarines will form the backbone of the Navy's strategic nuclear deterrent. They will replace the Typhoon, Delta-3 and Delta-4 class submarines.
Franco Iacch
(photo: DoD Fed. Russian)
