Russia’s Su-27 fighter intercepts US, Swedish spy jets over the Baltic Sea

The Baltops-2019 NATO naval drills are held on June 9-21 in the southern part of the Baltic Sea.

MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/. A Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled on Monday to intercept US and Swedish reconnaissance planes near Russia’s border over the Baltic Sea where NATO is holding drills, and escorted the jets to prevent the violation of Russia’s state border, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"On June 10, the Russian airspace control services over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea detected two air targets approaching Russia’s state border. A Su-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet’s Air Defense Forces was scrambled to intercept the targets," the statement said.

The Russian fighter jet’s crew approached the air targets at a safe distance and identified them as the US RC-135 and Swedish Gulfstream reconnaissance jets.

The Baltops-2019 NATO naval drills are held on June 9-21 in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. Around 40 ships and submarines, and 40 aircraft from 18 countries will take part in the military exercise.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-06-2019

Russian electronic warfare specialists test new method of jamming enemy aircraft

The new method allows electronic warfare specialists to create "vacuum" space shielded from the impacts of drones, airborne radars, radio-controlled high-explosive munitions and cruise missiles.

YEKATERINBURG, June 10. /TASS/. Electronic warfare specialists from Russia’s Central Military District tested a new method of jamming enemy aircraft while using three different types of ground-based electronic counter-measures systems, the District’s press office reported on Monday.

"During the experiment at the Sverdlovsk and Chebarkul practice ranges, servicemen used the Borisoglebsk [electronic counter-measures] system to conduct radio-electronic reconnaissance. By penetrating the channels of communications systems’ control, they created interference in the operation of ground and airborne radio communications employed by a notional enemy," the statement says.

"The teams of the Krasukha [electronic counter-measures] system suppressed the signal of an onboard radar installed on an aircraft and also the radio channels of controlling unmanned aerial vehicles. The activation of the Zhitel hardware made it possible to shut out satellite communications equipment, navigation and cellular communications systems within a radius of 30 km," the statement reads.

The new method allows electronic warfare specialists to create "vacuum" space shielded from the impacts of drones, airborne radars, radio-controlled high-explosive munitions and cruise missiles, the District’s press office explained.

The drills involved about 500 servicemen, the District’s press office specified for TASS.

"The experiment involved unmanned aerial vehicles, communications systems, dummy munitions and aircraft," the press office said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-06-2019

Eleven injured as two tourist buses collide in Sochi

KRASNODAR, June 9. /TASS/. Eleven people, including a child, were injured after two buses collided in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi early on Sunday, the press service of the local Interior Ministry told TASS.

"According to preliminary data, two tourist buses have collided. As a result, eleven people were injured, including a child," the press service said.

No deaths have been reported.

According to police, one of the buses did not yield to the other. The crash occurred in Sochi’s Lazarevsky District. Fifteen ambulance teams have been dispatched to the scene.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-06-2019

PM Medvedev to visit Geneva on June 10-11 to participate in International Labor Conference

Russian Prime Minister also will visit the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will visit Geneva on June 10-11, where he will take part in the International Labor Conference and will visit the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where he will examine the Large Hadron Collider, the Russian Government said on Saturday.

"In Geneva, the Prime Minister will visit the European Center for Nuclear Research, the largest research center in particle physics, on June 10," the report said. "On the second day of his stay in Geneva, Dmitry Medvedev will take part in the International Labor Conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the International Labor Organization. The Prime Minister will address the plenary session of the Conference in the Assembly Hall at the United Nations Palace," the government report said.

Bilateral meetings of Dmitry Medvedev are scheduled on the sidelines of the International Labor Conference, including Director-General of the International Labour Organization Guy Ryder. Traditionally, at the conference, countries are represented by governments, trade union leaders, and leaders of employers' associations. The Russian delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Maxim Topilin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, and Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia Mikhail Shmakov.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-06-2019

US cruiser impeded Russian warship’s passage in East China Sea

The Pacific Fleet voiced a protest to the US vessel’s command.

MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. Russia has voiced a protest to the US command after its guided-missile cruiser hindered the passage of the Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarine destroyer some 50 meters in front of it, forcing the vessel to perform a dangerous maneuver, the Pacific Fleet’s press service told reporters on Friday.

The incident occurred at 6.35 a.m. Moscow Time in the southeastern part of the East China Sea, when a task force of the Russian Pacific Fleet and a US carrier strike group were heading in parallel directions. "The US cruiser Chancellorsville suddenly changed its course and crossed the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer’s course some 50 meters away from the ship. In order to prevent a collision, the Admiral Vinogradov’s crew was forced to conduct an emergency maneuver," the press service said.

The Pacific Fleet voiced a protest to the US vessel’s command, stressing that such steps are unacceptable.

Large anti-submarine ships of Project 1155 are designed to fight adversary nuclear submarines in the ocean zone, ensure the operation of Russian submarines and protect surface warships. The Admiral Vinogradov destroyer and the Chancellorsville cruiser have a full displacement of 7,500 tonnes and 9,800 tonnes, respectively.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-06-2019

Russia, Belarus, Serbia to hold joint military drills on June 14-27

During the drills, the paratroopers from the three countries will practice counter-terror operations.

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. The Russian-Belarusian-Serbian tactical drills dubbed Slavic Brotherhood-2019 will take place in the Serbian city of Pancevo on June 14-27, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.

Paratroopers from the Pskov airborne assault division will represent Russia in the drills, the ministry said.

"Overall, the drills that will run on June 14-27 will involve about 600 troops, including more than 200 from Russia’s Airborne Force, about 300 from the Serbian armed forces and up to 60 servicemen from Belarus, as well as more than 50 combat vehicles and Il-76MD military transport aircraft," the statement says.

During the joint drills, the paratroopers from the three countries will practice counter-terror operations.

The ceremony of opening the trilateral military drills will be held on the territory of the cantonment of Serbia’s Special Forces Brigade in the city of Pancevo on June 14.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-06-2019

New patrol ship to enter service with Russian Navy in June

Also, the Project 21631 missile corvette Ingushetia is due to be put afloat in June.

MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. The Project 22160 patrol boat Dmitry Rogachev will become operational in the Russian Navy in June this year, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said at the Navy’s enlarged board meeting on Wednesday.

"In June, a ceremony will be held to hoist the flag and accept the Project 22160 patrol vessel Dmitry Rogachev for service in the Navy," the Defense Ministry’s newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda quoted the Navy chief as saying.

Also, the Project 21631 missile corvette Ingushetia is due to be put afloat in June, the Navy chief added.

Both ships were built at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard in Tatarstan in the Volga area.

Project 22160 and Project 21631 ships

The Dmitry Rogachev is the Project 22160 first serial-produced ship. The project was developed by the Severnoye Design Bureau. The patrol vessel Dmitry Rogachev was earlier expected to be accepted for service in the Russian Navy in early 2019.

Project 22160 ships are primarily designated to defend and protect the maritime economic zone. The patrol ships also capable of accomplishing escort and anti-piracy missions and performing search and rescue operations.

The patrol vessels of this Project have their sea endurance of 60 days. They can develop a speed of 30 knots and operate within a range of 6,000 nautical miles. The Project 22160 lead vessel Vasily Bykov was laid down at the end of February 2014. The Project’s second-built and first serial-produced vessel Dmitry Rogachev had its keel laid in the summer of 2014. The Zelenodolsk Shipyard plans to deliver six Project 22160 ships to the Russian Navy by 2020.

Project 21631 Buyan-M-class small missile ships feature increased water displacement and are equipped with the latest Kalibr-NK standardized precision missile system designated to strike naval and coastal targets.

As was reported earlier, Project 21621 ships that will number 12 vessels of this series are expected to be upgraded and armed with new radio-technical equipment and air defense capabilities.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-06-2019