VLADIVOSTOK, MAY 8 /from RIA Novosti’s Anatoly Ilyukhov/ – Two groups of warships of Russia’s Pacific and Black Sea Fleets, which are on the endurance cruises on Victory Day’s eve, have rendezvoused in the Arabian Sea. May 9 is celebrated in Russia as the day of a complete defeat of fascist Germany.
The two groups of vessels are now lying out near the Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea.
The commanders gathered on the Moskva guided-missile cruiser of the Black Sea Fleet to discuss the boats’ further action during the joint cruise, upcoming exercises in the Indian Ocean and visits to foreign sea ports.
Prominent on their programme are joint manoeuvres with India’s navy ships.
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Anyone know how many and what ships are involved? Is this as important as it sounds or is it made to look more grandiose by the Russian media?
By: TJ - 14th May 2003 at 21:35
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3028721.stm
“Russia tests its heavy bombers
Tu-95: Workhorse of Russia’s bomber fleet
Heavy Russian bombers which challenged Nato military planners during the Cold War have taken to the air again to strike targets with cruise missiles in the Indian Ocean.
Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers flew the 12-hour round mission from southern Russia on Wednesday in the first such exercise since the collapse of the USSR, the Russian authorities said.
The Tu-95s released two cruise missiles which successfully found their targets before returning to base, Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said in Moscow.
News of the exercise, which was part of joint Russo-Indian naval games, came as US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Moscow and the Russian Parliament ratified a nuclear arms reduction treaty with the US.
This is what we exist for
Mikhail Shishkin
Tu-160 commander
Air crews who spoke to Russia TV at their base in Saratov ahead of the mission said they were happy to be back flying full missions again after years of uncertainty.
The long-range bombers did not fly at all between 1992 and 1998, its correspondent said.
“The crews have to demonstrate that they can perform combat tasks – this is what we exist for,” said Mikhail Shishkin, commander of one of the two Tu-160s which, along with four Tu-95s performed the mission.
Pilots said they had long been in training for the mission but only received their orders on the last day before take-off.
Vajpayee visit
The naval exercises in the Indian Ocean also coincided with a visit to Moscow by Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha.
Apart from talks with Mr Powell, the Indian minister met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to discuss trade and economic relations.
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is expected to visit Russia shortly to attend celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg, Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told supporters.
World leaders including US President George W Bush are due to attend the lavish festivities there at the end of the month. “
Guess the nation that let the Strategic Aviation out into the Indian Ocean?
TJ
By: TJ - 12th May 2003 at 22:53
Ink,
You’ll probably also get some heavy bombers coming out to exercise with the fleet. The deals on the overflight rights have probably already been done.
TJ
By: ink - 9th May 2003 at 12:29
Thanks for the info.
By: tingudu - 9th May 2003 at 11:57
Hi Ink,
I read a report on the net that definately said, Moskvas, and lemme check and tell you.
Heres the quote
From the www.rediff.com archives
>>The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, missile cruiser Moskva, two destroyers from Russia’s Pacific Fleet and a nuclear submarine from the North Sea Fleet will leave for a six month trip to the Indian Ocean next month, says Russia’s Kommersant daily. They will be accompanied by landing crafts and support ships. <<
This is circa Jan 30 2003.
This is recent..
>>>>>>Russian, Indian Navies to Conduct Joint Exercise
The Russian and Indian Navy will begin two-and-a-half-week joint exercises in mid-May, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov said on Thursday.
The Russian and Indian Navy will begin two-and-a-half-week joint exercises in mid-May, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov said on Thursday.
“The joint exercises will take place in the Indian Ocean, in the eastern part of the Arabian Sea,” Kuroyedov said.
Two warship units from the Black Sea and Pacific Fleets and Indian naval flotilla “will carry out joint missile and artillery fire drill” and “will train rescue operations in the sea and anti-submarine operations,” he said.
“The Russian-Indian naval exercises will become the first step towards restoring Russia’s permanent naval presence in the World Ocean,” he said.
Nine ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, including the missilecruiser Moskva and large anti-submarine vessels Marshal Shaposhnikov and Admiral Penteleyev from the Pacific Fleet, will take part in the exercises.
India will maneuver surface vessels and submarines from the Indian Navy’s Western and Eastern Fleets, including the Vikrant aircraft carrier.
From the Peoples daily.<<<<<<<<
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200305/09/eng20030509_116409.shtml
By: ink - 9th May 2003 at 09:32
Come on guys – help me out here…. Jonsey? Arthur??
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May 8, 2003 at 4:40 pm