INS Vikramaditya started mooring trials

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is retrofitted for Indian Navy started mooring trials on March 1. Sevmash shipyard's director general Nikolai Kalistratov signed an order to begin the trials. 

This is an essential milestone in the carrier's modernization particularly marked in the general schedule. Outfitting works have reached the final stage. The ship has been gradually filled with equipment, mechanisms, pipelines, cables; and now all those systems must be tested in different modes. 

The trials will be conducted in accordance with special programs and techniques. Tests of main propulsion plant are considered the most complicated and important. The second large-scale goal is testing of radioelectronics, including Indian-made systems, and air-technical facilities. The main purpose of mooring trials is preparation of shipborne systems for further important stage – shipyard's sea trials. The aircraft carrier is planned to take the sea late in 2011.

First frigate built for India to start trials in Feb-March

First of three frigates built for Indian Navy by Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) will be ready for trials in Feb-March 2011, said today Sivathanu Pillai, the executive director of Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace. 

One ship has been fully equipped; the second one will be also completed in Feb-March, he said. 

According to Mr. Pillai, the shipyard conducts final works to prepare the frigate for trials. He also said that the new ships could launch BrahMos missiles both in the Baltic Sea and in the Indian Ocean when the first frigate arrives there from Russia. This issue is at the Russian Navy's option, said the executive director. 

Russian Navy to receive corvette Soobrazitelny on its birthday

Corvette Soobrazitelny which is being currently constructed at Severnaya Verf shipyard will be delivered to Russian Navy in July 2011, on the Navy Day, reports Interfax. 

"Soobrazitelny is a second Project 20380 corvette and the first serial one. She was launched on March 31, 2011 and will start sea trials in Apr 2011. The ship is supposed to join the Navy on the Russian Navy Day, which is celebrated on the last July's Sunday (this year it will be July 31). 

The first Project 20380 ship Stereguschiy was commissioned into Baltic Fleet in 2008. Soobrazitelny has a number of substantial distinctions from Stereguschiy, primarily regarding arms systems. 

Displacement of Soobrazitelny is 2,000 tons; max speed is 27 knots. 

Another Project 20380 corvette - Boiky - will be launched on Apr 14, 2011. Totally, the Navy needs 30 such ships. Corvettes of this project are designed for antisubmarine and antisurface warfare, antiaircraft defense, and fire support of landing operations.

Russian military justifies purchase of Mistral warships

Russia has decided to buy Mistral ships from France because it would have taken at least 10 years to develop a similar domestic model, Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov said Thursday.

"It could take at least 10 years to develop a ship similar to Mistral," Makarov said. "And meanwhile someone will create a better weapon [than Mistral]."

Makarov said Russia should buy the best of modern weaponry abroad to be built under license in Russia.

He also said that the Russian state armaments procurement program until 2020 would be adjusted and would total 23 trillion rubles ($785 billion), or 2 trillion rubles ($68 billion) more than originally planned.

First two Mistrals to be based in Pacific Fleet

First two Mistral class helicopter carriers built by French shipyards for Russia will be handed over to Pacific Fleet (PF), reported Wednesday RIA Novosti referring to a source in Russian defense ministry. 

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev meeting with defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov and minister of regional development Viktor Basargin underlined the necessity to provide military units deployed in the Kurils with advanced arms in order to secure Russia's outposts. Defense ministry will analyze demands for new arms till the end of February, Serdiukov said. 

"After completion and commissioning of Mistral class ships, it is planned to station them at Pacific Fleet", said the source in defense ministry. 

Besides, significant funds will be invested in infrastructure of military camps located in Eastern Military District. 

Russia to create hypersonic cruise missiles for the Navy

Russia works on creation of hypersonic cruise missiles for the Navy, reports Interfax referring to Alexander Leonov, director general of defense-oriented corporation NPO Mashinostroyenia. 

"This is not a time for talking on how this project can be implemented. But I see no technical obstacles to realize these plans in the current decade", said Leonov having noted that development of such missiles was provided by State Arms Program 2011-2020. 

The director of NPO Mashinostroyenia did not detailed performance capabilities of developed missiles, but pointed out that the general trend is to "increase speed up to hypersound" and expand operating range. Besides, the new missiles will be multifunctional and capable to hit both land- and sea surface targets. In addition, "versatility of launch platforms is also of great importance, it is when the missile can be used with any delivery vehicle". 

According to Leonov, up to 80% of cruise missiles currently in service in Russian Navy were designed byNPO Mashinostroyenia. In particular, this company developed missiles for attack submarines; Project 1144Orlan nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky is armed with antiship missiles Granit; Project 1164 Atlantcruisers Moskva and Varyag have BazaltPublish Post

 missiles in their arsenals.

Russian Graney class nuclear sub to enter service in 2015

The Russian Navy will receive a second Graney class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine in 2015, a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said.

The construction of the Kazan submarine at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk began in 2010. The first vessel of the Graney class, the Severodvinsk submarine, will enter service by the end of 2011.

"The hull of the Kazan sub has been built, but we still have to make many upgrades compared with the first vessel in the series. We are planning to deliver the submarine to the Navy in 2015," the official told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

The Kazan will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry than the Severodvinsk, which has been under construction since 1993.

Russian Navy to receive new nuclear attack submarine by yearend

The Russian Navy will receive a new Graney class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine by the end of 2011, a spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said on Monday.

Construction of the Severodvinsk submarine began in 1993 at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk but has since been dogged by financial setbacks. It was floated out in June last year.