Russia test launched a Topol-E ballistic missile from Kapustin Yar missile test range

An unknown ballistic missile (most likely Russian) or satellite flying over North of Iran was spotted by citizens of Tabriz, Orumiyeh, and Sanandaj minutes ago. #IRIADF Iranian Air Defense Force is now studying the case. pic.twitter.com/Jm263LoDer

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) December 26, 2017

Russian warship crosses Bosphorus en route to syria

Russian airstrikes on Kafr Nasij

Moment Russia airstrikes on Kafr Nasij https://t.co/MMTZXntwPm pic.twitter.com/ST1RshOt86 https://t.co/ST1RshOt86 via @AEJKhalil

— Liveuamap MiddleEast (@lummideast) February 20, 2016

Russian Airstrike direct hit on militants trench in north Aleppo

Bomb lands near film maker

#Russian Airstrike direct hit on militants trench in north #Aleppo pic.twitter.com/pMowqrQMcc

— Warfare Worldwide (@WarfareWW) February 8, 2016

Russian and SAA artillery team adjusting a BM-21 for fire support to SAA NDF troops in Latakia Syria

#Russian & #SAA artillery team adjusting a BM-21 for fire support to #SAA #NDF troops in #Latakia #Syria. #Russia pic.twitter.com/WrBYOFUi5Q

— Hamosh (@Hamosh84) January 31, 2016

 

Russians survey new airbase on Syria-Turkey border, US officials concerned

Guess which side will POTUS O-Ba-Man stand?

• On the side of Islamic State and Turkey.

Russia appears to be making preparations to establish a new airbase in Syria, this time along the border with NATO-member Turkey, a senior U.S. official tells Fox News.

The move is bound to anger the Turkish government months after the downing of a Russian jet by the Turks.

A handful of Russian military personnel, including engineers, has been seen in the vicinity of a largely abandoned airfield in Qamishli, a city in northeast Syria along the border with Turkey.  The area is largely controlled by Syrian Kurds, with pockets of regime-controlled territory including the airport.

Russia and Syria’s Kurds have a common enemy in Turkey and make natural allies.Defense officials think Russia could establish another airbase and build-up similar to what occurred in September at an airport along Syria’s Mediterranean coast in Latakia, an Assad regime-controlled stronghold.

“This could be Latakia all over again,” said the official, speaking about the buildup of Russian forces last fall.

Days before Russian transport planes and ships arrived in September carrying thousands of Russian troops and supplies, a small group of Russian advisors and engineers visited Latakia on an apparent site survey similar to what is being seen on the Turkish border.

Eventually over 30 Russian warplanes and dozens of attack helicopters arrived in Latakia and began combat operations against Syrian rebels, some backed by the U.S., in late September.

Qamishli, the town where the new Russian military presence has been observed, is home to Syrian Kurds and Assyrians, a Christian people, but the airport is controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.


The concern is that the potential expansion of the Russian military into northeast Syria on Turkey’s border will spark new tensions in the region after a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 was downed by a Turkish F-16 in late November.

So far, there are no indications that Russia has moved any military aircraft, including jet fighters to the airport in Qamishli.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet to Receive 30 New Ships by 2020 – Navy Commander

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet will be strengthened with some 30 warships, submarines and auxiliary vessels in the next six years, the head commander of the Russian navy said Tuesday.“The Black Sea Fleet must have a full complement of naval vessels to be capable of performing all assigned missions,” Adm. Viktor Chirkov said.“This is not a provocative military buildup. This is something the Black Sea Fleet urgently needs as it has not been receiving new vessels for many years,” the admiral said.

According to the Defense Ministry, among the new vessels being built for the fleet are six Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates and six Varshavyanka-class (Improved Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarines.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was founded by a decree of Empress Catherine the Great in 1783.The main tasks of the Black Sea Fleet are protecting the region’s economy, suppression of illegal activities, ensuring navigation safety, and the implementation of foreign policy actions in economically important areas of the oceans.Last year, the fleet’s vessels made nine long-distance cruises and visited 37 ports in thirteen countries.

The aircraft and helicopters of the Black Sea Fleet’s naval aviation conducted more than 300 training flights, dropping sonobuoys and conducting exercises with bombs and missiles.


http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140513/189796315/Russias-Black-Sea-Fleet-to-Receive-30-New-Ships-by-2020--Navy.html

Russian Tank Units and APCs Now Conducting Military Exercises Adjacent to Ukrainian Border

Russia said Thursday it was stepping up field training for tank, artillery and infantry units in three regions next to the Ukrainian border in a powerful display of military might.The move came as thousands of paratroopers also began exercises close to Ukraine on Thursday, while Russian gunmen patrol Crimea ahead of a referendum on it joining Russia on Sunday.

The armed forces are “increasing the intensity of field training exercises,” the defense ministry said in a statement, saying the exercises were being carried out in the Rostov, Belgorod and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine, as well as one non-border region.“The main aim … is a multi-faceted check of the units’ cohesiveness followed by the performance of battle training assignments in unfamiliar terrain and untested firing ranges,” the ministry said.

It said the exercises would continue until the end of March but did not specify how many troops were involved.Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wednesday Moscow had permitted a request for a Ukrainian reconnaissance plane to carry out an observation flight over the border region.

Russian defence minister Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Russia to Overhaul Fleet of Amphibious Assault Ships

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s comments come amid a growing international standoff over Crimea, an autonomous region within Ukraine that refused to recognize new nationalist powers in Kiev that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

Shoigu said the navy was expected to receive a new Ivan Gren-class landing ship and two French-built Mistral-class helicopter carriers, the Vladivostok and the Sevastopol, through 2015.

Russia’s fleet of amphibious assault ships requires extensive modernization because their service life has been largely overextended. “The Russian navy currently has 19 ships of this type. They have been in service, on average, for more than 25 years,” Shoigu said at a video conference meeting with military commanders.

“However, these additions are not enough, and we have to pay attention to the overhaul of existing [amphibious assault] ships,” the minister said, adding that at least two ships should undergo maintenance and repairs annually.Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which is largely based on the Crimean peninsula, reportedly includes seven aging assault landing ships of the Alligator and Ropucha classes.

Russia Holds Surprise War Games Near Ukrainian Border