Thread: Russian, French warships off Syria, Iran, US drones over Iranian coast

Russian, French warships off Syria, Iran, US drones over Iranian coast

DEBKAfile Special Report January 9, 2012, 10:21 AM (GMT+02:00)


Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kutznetsov in Syrian port

US, Russian French and British air and naval forces streamed to the Syrian and Iranian coasts over the weekend on guard for fresh developments at the two Middle East flashpoints.

The Russian carrier Admiral Kuznetsov anchored earlier than planned at Syria's Tartus port on the Mediterranean Sunday, Jan. 8, arriving together with the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and frigate Yaroslav Mudry.

To counter this movement, France consigned an air defense destroyer Forbin to the waters off Tartus.
debkafile's military sources report a buildup in the last 48 hours of western naval forces opposite Iran in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea in readiness for Tehran to carry out its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain has dispatched the HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer armed with new technology for shooting down missiles, to the Sea of Oman, due to arrive at the same time as the French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

Our sources report too that Saturday, the giant RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV, took off from the USS Stenning aircraft carrier for surveillance over the coasts of Iran. The Stennis and its strike group are cruising in the Sea of Oman at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran announced it would not be allowed to cross through.

This was the first time the US has deployed unmanned aerial vehicles over Iran since its RQ-170 stealth drone was shot down by Iran on Dec. 4. It was also the first time the huge drone was ordered to take off from an aircraft carrier for a Broad Aerial Maritime Surveillance Mission (BAMS).

US military sources reported Monday, Jan. 9 that the Global Hawk's mission is "to monitor sea traffic off the Iranian coast and the Straits of Hormuz." The US Navy was ordered to maintain a watch on this traffic, another first, after Iranian Navy chief Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said in a televised broadcast Sunday night that the Strait of Hormuz was under full Iranian control and had been for years.

Also Sunday, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, warned in no uncertain terms that Iran has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of time.” He added in a CBS interview: “We’ve invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that.” Gen. Dempsey went on to emphasize: "Yes, they can block it. We've described that as an intolerable act and it's not just intolerable for us, it's intolerable to the world. But we would take action and reopen the straits."

Appearing on the same program, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned of a quick, decisive and very tough American response to any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz.

They both spoke a few hours after a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said the supreme Iranian leadership had ruled the Strait must be closed in the event of an oil embargo imposed on Iran by the European Union.

debkafile's military sources report the constant escalation of military tension around Iran and Syria in recent days as not just stemming from the rapid advances Iran is making toward production of a nuclear weapon, but from fears in the West and Israel that Tehran and Damascus are in step over their military plans for the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean sectors.

After the Admiral Kuznetsov docked in Tartus Sunday with much fanfare, the Syrian Navy commander Dawoud Rajha was received on the deck by a guard of honor of marines under a flyover of Russian Su-33 and Su-25 fighter-bombers. This was taken as a signal of Moscow's willingness to back the Assad regime up against any Western military intervention as well as a gesture of support for cooperation between Syria and Iran in their operational plans.

Sunday, the Iranian media issued divergent statements about the situation at Iran's underground uranium enrichment plant at Fordo, near Qom: In English, the site as described as going on stream soon, while the Farsi media reported it was already operational.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi Davani declared furthermore," …the Islamic Republic is capable of exporting services related to nuclear energy to other countries."
This statement showed that Tehran has no fear of raising the level of its threats to the West up to the point of offering to hand out its nuclear technology to other countries in a gesture of uncontrolled proliferation.

http://www.debka.com/article/21633/

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov (Russian: Адмирал флота Советского Союза Кузнецов "Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov"), originally named Riga, renamed Leonid Brezhnev then Tbilisi^[2]) is an aircraft cruiser (heavy aircraft carrying missile cruiser (TAVKR) in Russian classification) serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy.
She was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy, and was intended to be the lead ship of her class, but the only other ship of her class, Varyag, was never commissioned and was sold to the People's Republic of China by Ukraine.^[3] Kuznetsov was named after the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov.

While designated an aircraft carrier by the West, the design of the Admiral Kuznetsov' class implies a mission different from that of either the United States Navy’s carriers or those of the Royal Navy. The term used by her builders to describe the Russian ships is tyazholyy avianesushchiy raketnyy kreyser (TAVKR or TARKR) - “heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser” - intended to support and defend strategic missile-carrying submarines, surface ships, and naval missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian Navy.



The Admiral Kuznetsov's main fixed-wing aircraft is the multi-role Sukhoi Su-33. It can perform air superiority, fleet defence, and air support missions and can also be used for direct fire support of amphibiuous assault, reconnaissance and placement of naval mines.^[4]
It is augmented by the twin seat Su-33UB^{[citation needed]}, which is also used for pilot training along with the Su-25UTG. The carrier also carries the Kamov Ka-27 and Kamov Ka-27S helicopters for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and small transport.
For take-off of the fixed wing aircraft, the Admiral Kuznetsov uses a ski-jump at the end of her deck. On take-off aircraft accelerate toward and up the ski-jump using their afterburners. This results in the aircraft leaving the deck at a higher angle and elevation than on an aircraft carrier with a flat deck and catapults. The ski-jump take-off is less demanding on the pilot, since the acceleration is lower, but results in a clearance speed of only 120–140 km/h (75-85 mph) requiring an aircraft design which will not stall at those speeds.^[5]
The cruiser role is facilitated by the Kuznetsov's complement of 12 long-range surface-to-surface anti-ship Granit (SS-N-19) (NATO name SHIPWRECK) cruise missiles. This armament justifies the ship's Russian type designator "heavy aircraft carrying cruiser".

History

Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov, constructed at Nikolayev South Shipyard in Nikolayev, Ukrainian SSR, was launched in 1985, and became fully operational in 1995. An official ceremony marking the start of construction took place on 1 September 1982; in fact she was laid down in 1983. The vessel was first named Riga, but in November 1982 the name was changed to Leonid Brezhnev.

In August 1987 she was renamed the Tbilisi, and finally on 4 October 1990 to Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Kuznetsov, referred to in short as Admiral Kuznetsov. The ship was 71% complete by mid-1989. In November 1989 she undertook her first aircraft operation trials. In December 1991, she sailed from the Black Sea to join the Northern Fleet. Only from 1993 on did she receive aircraft.

* 1995-96 Mediterranean Deployment
Kuznetsov made a Mediterranean cruise early in 1996, marking the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. During that period the carrier lay at anchor at sea off the Syrian harbour of Tartus^[6] and her aircraft, mainly Su-33 fighters, made flights close to the Israeli shore line and were intercepted by Israeli F-16s.^[6]
* 1997-98
At the end of 1997 she remained immobilized in a Northern Fleet shipyard, awaiting funding for major repairs, which were halted when they were only 20% complete. The overhaul was completed in July 1998, and the ship returned to active service in the Northern fleet on 3 November 1998.
* 2000
The Kuznetsov apparently remained in port for about two years before preparing for another Mediterranean deployment scheduled for the winter of 2000-2001. This deployment was cancelled due to the loss of the nuclear-powered submarine Kursk. The Kuznetsov participated in operations related to the rescue and salvage of the Kursk submarine in late 2000. Plans for further operations were postponed or cancelled.
* 2003-04
In late 2003 and early 2004, the Kuznetsov went to sea for inspection and trials. In late October 2004, she participated in a fleet exercise of the Russian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean,^[7] and again in September 2005. During the 2005 exercise, one of her Su-33 fighters was involved in an accident, and fell from the carrier into the Atlantic Ocean.
Although financial and technical problems have resulted in limited operations for the ship,^[8] it is expected that Admiral Kuznetsov will remain in active duty until at least 2030.^[9]
* 2006
On 27 September 2006 it was announced that Admiral Kuznetsov will return to service in the Northern Fleet by the end of the year. The ship will undergo another modernization refit, in an attempt to correct some of her many technical issues. Admiral Vladimir Masorin, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, also stated that several Su-33 fighters assigned to the aircraft carrier would return to the ship after undergoing maintenance and refits of their own.
* 2007-08 Mediterranean deployment
On 11 December 2007, Admiral Kuznetsov passed by Norwegian oil platforms in the North Sea, 60 nautical miles (110 km) outside Bergen, Norway.^[10] Su-33 fighters and Kamov helicopters were launched from the carrier while she was in the area of the rigs. The incident caused the Norwegian helicopter service to stop its flights out to the rigs, due to a risk of collision with Russian aircraft operating from the carrier. The Russian carrier was in international waters during the manoeuvre.
The Admiral Kuznetsov then proceeded to the Mediterranean Sea, where she participated in an exercise together with 11 other Russian Navy surface ships and 47 aircraft. She performed three tactical training missions, using live and simulated missile launches with both air and surface missiles.^[11]
The aircraft carrier arrived back in Severomorsk on 3 February 2008 along with the Udaloy II class destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and Udaloy I class ASW Destroyer Admiral Levchenko.
After a maintenance period she was back at sea on 11 October 2008 where drills were held in the Barents Sea. Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Dmitry Medvedev visited the ship on 12 October 2008 during the Stability-2008 strategic exercises.
* 2008-09 Mediterranean deployment
On 5 December 2008 the aircraft carrier and several other vessels left Severomorsk heading for the Atlantic on a tour which was announced would be lasting several months and which would include combat training including joint drills with Russia's Black Sea Fleet and visits to several ports in the Mediterranean.^[12][13] On this tour while the Admiral Kuznetsov anchored off Turkey on 7 January 2009 a small fire broke out on the ship. One crewmember was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire was caused by a short-circuit.^[14]
On 16 February 2009, the Admiral Kuznetsov, along with other Russian naval vessels was involved in a large oil spill while she refuelled off the south coast of Ireland.^[15]
On 2 March 2009 the Admiral Kuznetsov returned to her main base in Severomorsk after a three-month voyage in the Northern Atlantic and the Mediterranean waters.
* 2010
In September 2010 the Admiral Kuznetsov left a dry dock after scheduled repairs and is getting ready for a training mission in the Barents Sea at the end of that month.
* 2011-12 Mediterranean deployment
The Russian Main Navy Staff has announced that the Kuznetsov will begin a deployment to the Atlantic and Mediterranean in the early days of December. The carrier will be escorted by the large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko. In late November 2011, Pravda and Reuters announced that a squardon led by the Admiral Kuznetsov will deploy to its naval base in Tartus as a show of support for the al-Assad regime.^[16][17] However, in contradiction a Russian naval spokesman stated to the Izvestia daily that "The call of the Russian ships in Tartus should not be seen as a gesture towards what is going on in Syria," and "This was planned already in 2010 when there were no such events there. There has been active preparation and there is no need to cancel this," noting that the Admiral Kuznetsov would also be making port calls in Beirut, Genoa and Cyprus.^[18]

On 29 November 2011, Army General Nikolay Makarov, Chief of the Russian General Staff, said that sending ships of the Russian Navy to the Mediterranean Sea is linked to exercises and not to the situation in Syria. "In the event of necessity, namely to carry out repairs, to take water and food on board and to allow rest for the crews, Russian ships may visit Tartus but in this case this has not been included in the plan of the trip," the Interfax source said. He also noted that the size of Admiral Kuznetsov does not allow it to moor in Tartus because the port does not have suitable infrastructure, i.e. large enough mooring.^[19]
On 6 November 2011, the Admiral Kuznetsov and escorting ships departed its Northern Fleet homebase for a several month Mediterranean deployment. During the deployment Kuznetsov will also exercise with ships from the Russian Baltic and Black Sea Fleets.^[20]
On 12 December 2011 the Admiral Kuznetsov with its carrier group, has been spotted northeast of the Orkneys off the coast of northern Scotland from where it has been shadowed by HMS York for a week. This was the first time the carrier had deployed near the UK; due to severe weather, the group took shelter in international waters in the Moray Firth, some 30 miles from the UK coast. The Kuznetsov then sailed around the top of Scotland and into the Atlantic past western Ireland, where it conducted flying operations with her Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker jets and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters in international airspace.^[21]
On 8 January 2012, the Admiral Kuznetsov anchored near shore outside of Tartus while other ships in its escort entered the port to use the leased Russian naval support facility. After replenishing supplies, all of the ships will continue their Mediterranean deployment on 9 January.^[22]

MiG-29K for the Admiral Kuznetsov



^{MiG-29KUB jet at ZhukovskiyLII air field
According to the newspaper "Bulletin Reports," the Russian Navy expects to buy the Mikoyan MiG-29K for the Admiral Kuznetsov by 2011, according to an informed source in the Russian Ministry of Defence, noting that the contract may be concluded in the next two years. Information was confirmed by the general designer of one of the defence enterprises, which produces sub-assemblies for these aircraft, while the MiG corporation refrained from comment.[23][24]}

<sup>Currently, the Navy has a fleet of 19 carrier-based Su-33 fighters, a resource which will expire by 2015. The production of new Su-33 is possible, but not cost-effective for such small volumes. At the same time, the MiG-29K in this respect are more convenient, because the Indian Navy has already ordered 16 aircraft and plans to buy at least 30 planes. As noted by Konstantin Makienko, it lessens the series article cost and allows Russia to save on development. India has paid 730 million dollars for the development and delivery of 16 fighters, while the 24 planes for Russia's fleet would cost about $1 billion.[23]
Mid-life refit



President Dmitry Medvedev and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov aboard Admiral Kuznetsov in October 2008

In April 2010 it was announced that by the end of 2012 the ship will enter SeverodvinskSevmash shipyard for a major refit and modernisation.[25] The report states that the refit will include upgrades to the obsolete electronics and sensor equipment, installation of the new anti-aircraft system and increase of the air wing by the removal of the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles. Upgrades might also include exchanging the troublesome steam powerplant to the gas-turbine or even nuclear propulsion and installation of catapults to the angled deck.[25]</sup>

See also

• ^{List of aircraft carriers}
• ^{List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union}
• ^References
  
  
  
  • ^{^ abAdmiral Kuznetsov the only aircraft carrier in the Russian Navy}
  
  
  • ^{^ "The Self-Designing High-Reliability Organization: Aircraft Carrier Flight Operations at Sea." Rochlin, G. I.; La Porte, T. R.; Roberts, K. H. Footnote 39. Naval War College Review. Autumn, 1987, Vol. LI, No. 3.}
  • ^{^ "China's Aircraft Carrier Ambitions: Seeking Truth from Rumors." Storey, I.; Ji, Y. Naval War College Review. Winter 2004, Vol. 57, No. 1.}
  • ^{^ KnAAPO. "The Su-33 single-seat carrier-based fighter".}
  • ^{^ Gordon, Yefim & Davidson, Peter. 2006. "Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker", p. 54. Warbird Tech Series, vol. 42. ISBN 978-1-58007-091-1.}
  • ^{^ abEncounters of the Russian Kind, IAF journal no. 145., June 2002}
  • ^{^ Pavel Felgenhauer, A Foolhardy Naval Exercise, Moscow Times. Critical article about the Fall 2004 exercise in which Kuznetsov participated.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian...iral_Kuznetsov}
    
    
  • ^{^ "Advancing, blindly". The Economist. 2008-09-18. http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12262231. Retrieved 2008-09-18.}
  • ^{^Russia plans new life for naval assets Extract from Jane's, August 2006}

• ^{^ Klungtveit, Harald S.; Gulseth, Hege Løvstad (2007-12-11). "Russiske jagerfly lager kaos i Nordsjøen" (in Norwegian). http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2007/12/11/520859.html. Retrieved 2008-09-18.}
• ^{^Russian navy disrupts access to N.Sea oilfields, Reuters. Article about the exercise off the coast of Norway}
• ^{^ "Russian warships head to Atlantic, Mediterranean". AP. Moscow. December 5, 2008. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hYV66rpriSJi-rHcr_uBFK1zZIqwD94SE4K00. Retrieved December 9, 2008.}
• ^{^ "Russian naval task force heads to Atlantic, Mediterranean". RIA Novosti. Moscow. December 5, 2008. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081205/118701239.html. Retrieved December 9, 2008.}
• ^{^Sailor killed in fire on board Russian warship off Turkey - 2 | Russia | RIA Novosti}
• ^{^TimesOnline.co.uk Huge oil slick from Russian ship heads for British coastline, Accessed February 17, 2009.}
• ^{^ "Russia sent military ships to base in Syria". Hotspots and Incidents - Terrorism. Pravda. November 30, 2011. http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/terror/30-11-2011/119791-Russia_sent_military_ships_to_Syria-0/. Retrieved 2011-12-01.}
• ^{^ Thomas Grove (November 28, 2011). "Russia sending warships to its base in Syria". Africa. Rueters. http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5E7MS1XT20111128?sp=true. Retrieved 2011-12-01.}
• ^{^http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Russia_to_send_warships_to_Syria_in_2012_report_99 9.html}
• ^{^ Interfax, Moscow 1250 GMT 29 Nov 11}
• ^{^ RIA Novosti 6 Dec 2001 1121GMT}
• ^{^"York completes a week shadowing Russia’s biggest warship around the British Isles" Royal Navy Press Release, 22/12/2011}
• ^{^ Russian news agency INTERFAX 08 January 2012}
• ^{^ abRussian Navy will probably buy 24 MiG-29K fighters designed for India}
• ^{^New fighter jets for Admiral Kuznetsov - BarentsObserver}
• ^{^ ab "Moscow set to upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier". RIA Novosti. 2010-04-06. http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20100406/158454665.html. Retrieved 2010-04-07.}