RPKSN (SSBN) K-535 Yuri Dolgoruky (2009), surfaced, on trials
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Russian strategic nuclear submarines will resume routine extended patrols in international waters around the world in June 2012, Navy C-in-C Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said. At a meeting with naval personnel on Friday, Vysotsky said, “On 1 June, or a bit later, we’ll resume constant patrolling of the world’s oceans by strategic nuclear submarines”. The annual number of extended patrols performed by Russian strategic nuclear submarines and nuclear-powered attack submarines dropped from more than 230 in 1984 to less than 10 today. Nevertheless, the Russian high command still believes that the submarine fleet’s the backbone of the Russian Navy, and that it’ll continue to play an important deterrent role in the future. The Russian Navy has 12 nuclear-powered strategic submarines in active service, comprising five Project 667BDR Kalmar (Delta-III) class, six Project 667BDRM Delfin (Delta-IV) class, and one Project 941 Akula (Typhoon) class. Two Project 941 Akula class submarines, the Arkhangelsk and the Severstal, remain in reserve at Severodvinsk in northern Russia. Russia decided to suspend the planned disposal of strategic nuclear submarines currently in service with the Navy and plans to build eight new Project 955 Borei class strategic submarines by 2020. The first Borei class submarine, the Yury Dolgoruky, may join the Pacific Fleet as early as in June this year.
4 February 2012
RIA-Novosti
Voices from Russia 
Russian Convicted of Passing Military Secrets… Is a Swap for Bout in the Works?
Tags: Borey class submarine, Bulava, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, FSB, Human intelligence (espionage), Kommersant, legal affairs, Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, Sakha Republic, Sverdlovsk Oblast, United States, USA, Viktor Bout, Yekaterinburg
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On Friday, official sources reported that a Sverdlovsk Oblast Court sentenced an employee of a Russian defence firm to eight years in prison for passing secrets on the latest Russian weapons to a foreign intelligence service. On 14 May, Kommersant reported that it concerned the guidance and control systems of the RSM-56 Bulava SLBM. The official release noted, “Sverdlovsk Oblast Court passed sentence on Aleksandr Gniteyev, convicting him of felony treason. The court sentenced him to eight years in a maximum security penal colony”. Experts suggest the company in question could be the Yekaterinburg-based Avtomatika Science and Production Association, which developed the missile’s control and guidance system. The court also fined Gniteyev 100,000 roubles (3,200 USD. 2,500 Euros. 2,025 UK Pounds). He will also face stringent travel restrictions after he serves out his sentence. The verdict hasn’t yet entered into force and he may appeal it. The Bulava SLBM, developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (since 1998), carries up to 10 MIRV warheads, and has a range of over 8,000 kilometres (4,970 miles). Borey-class SSBNs will deploy the three-stage ballistic missile.
21 May 2012
RIA-Novosti
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120518/173527564.html
Editor’s Note:
The US has sanctimoniously locked up Russian businessman Viktor Bout in the Supermax at USP Florence ADX (for next to nil… it was the USA telling the world that it does what it pleases where it pleases, fuck international law and common human decency). Hmm… this looks like a CLASSIC Cold War swap in the works. Langley wants SOMEONE out of a Russian hoosegow who’s already in the slam (that’s why the Americans arrested Bout in the first bloody place)… and the FSB nicked this traitor to be part of the deal. That is, if Langley wants its boy, it has to take this jabronie, too. It’s a neat way of giving good riddance to bad rubbish, no? Watch for the Russians to exchange this idiot and someone else for Bout. Do note how LOW the fine is… can you “smell” what I smell? This schlump will pay the fine and the Russians will kick his arse out of the country as part of a deal… it saves “face”… the powers-that-be can then claim that they “punished” him (just you watch, the officials involved will “squeeze” him for more than the official amount). It’ll please everybody… the jerk will avoid a correctional colony in the Sakha Republic… the Americans will get their boy back (with this sleaze-ball as a “free bonus”)… the Russians will get back Bout and rid themselves of a traitor… that’s why I believe it’ll happen as I wrote it… everybody “wins”.
It happens all the time… the game goes ever on…
BMD