The Russian Military: Declining or Better?

[flagg]

On the contrary, the Iskander-M's range can be improved while adhering to the INF Treaty. The discussion also revolved around non-range qualitative improvements.

Those missiles have certainly caused considerable havoc in Yemen for Saudi/UAE forces, somewhere around 500 fatalities based on reports, including some ugly hits of CPs/HQs.

The Russians have developed a lot of formidable weapon system designs on paper that don't make the necessary leap to positive feedback from end users.

But they certainly seem to have done a solid job with that SS-21 Iskander.

And I would guess there could be potential to develop flight profiles that could make interception a real challenge(at drastically reduced range I assume).

It seems like we are finally living the 1950's sci-fi future of rockets fighting rockets.

[Azor]

Those missiles have certainly caused considerable havoc in Yemen for Saudi/UAE forces, somewhere around 500 fatalities based on reports, including some ugly hits of CPs/HQs.

The Russians have developed a lot of formidable weapon system designs on paper that don't make the necessary leap to positive feedback from end users.

But they certainly seem to have done a solid job with that SS-21 Iskander.

And I would guess there could be potential to develop flight profiles that could make interception a real challenge(at drastically reduced range I assume).

It seems like we are finally living the 1950's sci-fi future of rockets fighting rockets.

Flagg,

The ballistic missiles used in Yemen are at best Tochkas, and older export variants at that.

See here from Tom Cooper at War is Boring:

http://warisboring.com/how-did-the-h...sile-at-mecca/

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/muc...g-fe178ffbc973

[OUTLAW 09]

Report: Russia may have accidentally revealed new military satellites
http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...ry-satellites#

[davidbfpo]

Reported by an independent Norwegian newspaper, The Barents Observer, a new official Russian policy document and their title is:

What Russia’s new Navy Strategy says about the Arctic (sub-title) There are new dangers and threats arising, the security document warns.

It starts with:

The policy document, which was signed by President Putin on 20th July, includes high ambitions for the country’s naval forces. «The Russian Federation will not allow significant superiority of other countries’ navies over its fleet and will be committed to strengthen its position as the second most combat capable in the world», the strategy reads.

Link:https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/se...about-arctic#.

The policy document is on a Kremlin website.

[Azor]

From War Is Boring: http://warisboring.com/a-grim-future...bmarine-fleet/

Introduction:

In March 2017, Russia’s new Yasen-class nuclear attack submarine Kazan launched at the northern port city of Severodvinsk. Perhaps the quietest Russian submarine ever, the event was further evidence the Kremlin can still build capable and lethal subs capable of a variety of missions, including cruise-missile attack.

But it won’t be enough. The Russian navy — already badly depleted since the collapse of the Soviet Union — can’t quickly replace most of its existing nuclear submarine fleet, which is approaching the end of its collective lifespan. The outcome will likely mean a shrinking of the Russian nuclear submarine force in the years ahead.

[davidbfpo]

Ambition meets shipyards, a commentary that ends with:

Long story short, Russia’s navy is in bad shape, and Russia is in no shape to rebuild it. In the foreseeable future, Russia should commit to naval projects that it absolutely requires, and that it does well. This mostly means a nuclear submarine flotilla capable of posing a deterrent threat, and a small surface fleet tasked with managing routine maritime maintenance operations. Anything more is probably too much of a reach.

Link:http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...trouble-21796?

[Azor]

Ambition meets shipyards, a commentary that ends with:
Link:http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...trouble-21796?

Of course, David, that is why they continue to build nuclear-powered icebreakers, as these are the largest "capital ships" they are capable of. Yet that has spurred the U.S. Coast Guard to want its own icebreakers - with non-genderized washrooms

[AdamG]

In other words; Russians being Russians, shivering journalists wet their panties, film at 11.

RUSSIA has practised a full-scale mock invasion of the West that includes capturing Baltic states, bombing Germany and invading neutral countries, it has been revealed.
The terrifying war drills were carried out in September and featured troops, artillery, tanks, missile attacks and naval and air force raids.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/517766...ladimir-putin/