Nikolas Gvosdev argues in War on the Rocks that Russia’s build-up in the Black Sea Basin is more concerning than in the Baltic Area. This leads me to reflect on the differences. The Black Sea area is more contested, and there is no united deterrence against Russia. But that does not mean that there is room for complacency in the Baltic region.
Russia
Video of Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg, producers missed the flagship
Here is a video of the Navy Day 2018 parade in Saint Petersburg. Unfortunately, the TV producers fail to show the flagship of the parade, the nuclear submarine Orel. It seems they got their submarines mixed up and showed pictures of a Kilo class instead.
Bulava missile now operational — a closer look at Russia’s new SLBM
The Bulava missile is Russia’s new submarine-launched ballistic missile. I have taken a closer look at the history and capabilities of the missile upon the announcement that it has now reached operational status.
Russia builds dedicated training ship for helicopter operations
Russia has decided to build a dedicated ship for helicopter training. This seems like a good choice. Helicopter practice is a huge time drain on operational ships, and Russia’s demand for maritime pilots is growing. It will also come in handy when the Helix helicopter is up for replacement in a few years.
More details about naval parade in Saint Petersburg on 29 July
The Russian military press is full of stories about preparations for the Naval Day Parade. I have collected some of them to give and idea about which units we will see in Saint Petersburg, and which naval movements we can expect in the Baltic Sea in the near future.
What Russia learned from the air campaign in Syria
For the Russian Aerospace Forces, the air campaign has been a valuable source of experience. They have tested equipment, organization, and doctrine. Rapid rotations have ensured that most personnel in the Russian military have gained personal war experience from the otherwise limited operation.
In this piece I summarize some of the findings that Anton Lavrov makes in a new CNA report about The Russian Air Campaign in Syria.
Russia receives new intelligence ship Ivan Khurs
The large signals intelligence ship Ivan Khurs has now been delivered to the Russian Navy. Ivan Khurs will join the Black Sea Fleet to replace the smaller ship Liman which sank last year. The commissioning ceremony took place in Saint Petersburg, and Ivan Khurs must be expected to leave the Baltic Sea shortly.
Sergey Shoigu nuances public image with art exhibition
Russia’s defense minister shows new sides of himself as an artist. While Putin has created an image of himself as the embodiment of masculinity, Shoigu appeals to a more reflective segment with his art exhibition.
Landing ship Ivan Gren ready for delivery after 14 years in production
Russia’s new landing ship Ivan Gren is finally ready for delivery. It has been an unending saga of delays, but now the government has approved the results of the sea trials.
Russia’s military budget has nothing to do with the GDP of Spain
An often used reference to the GDP of Spain says nothing about Russia’s military potential. Instead, Russia’s defense budget gives them the same purchasing power as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom combined.
