Russian Shipyard Completes Stern for First Mistral Warship

The stern of the Russian Navy's first Mistral-class helicopter carrier was floated out on Wednesday, a Russian shipyard said.

The Vladivostok is to enter service with the Russian Navy next year, Baltiisky shipyard chief Alexander Voznesensky said.

The stern will begin to be towed to France on July 8 and is expected to arrive there on July 25, said Yves Destefanis, a representative of the French contractor, DCNS.

The ship will be completed at a French shipyard and floated out on schedule, on October 15, he said.
Earlier this month, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said the stern might not be completed within deadline, but Dmitry Rogozin, a deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry, days later refuted that remark, saying: “The ship will be ready on time.”

Russia and France signed a contract for two French-designed Mistral-class helicopter carriers in June 2011. The deal came under fire in January from senior Russian officials including Rogozin, following the dismissal of former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who had actively lobbied for their purchase.

PAS 2013: Ka-52 Flight Demomstration

Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, and Rosoboronexport showcased the latest Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopter at the Paris Air Show 2013. The helicopter made its international debut on the first day of Le Bourget with a spectacular program full of aerobatic manoeuvres that was one of the highlights of the 50th Paris Air Show.

Army Recognition

Paris Air Show 2013: Yak-130 Demonstration Flight and Tour of New SSJ-100 Jet

The Le Bourget Air Show has witnessed aerobatic maneuvers by pilots flying the Yak-130 combat trainer, while visitors were offered a glimpse of the new Sukhoi Superjet 100 with its Italian-style interior design.

RIA Novosti

6,000 Evacuated in Central Russia Ammo Depot Fire

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – At least five people were injured and some 6,000 local residents were evacuated on Tuesday from a village near an ammunition depot in central Russia where a fire caused massive explosions of stored artillery shells, the Emergencies Ministry said.

The fire at the Volga Federal Ammunition Testing Site in the Samara region broke out late Tuesday, followed by a series of explosions that continue to rock the area, sending shrapnel flowing to a distance of up to a kilometer from the site, according to the ministry.

“About 6,000 people were evacuated from the immediate vicinity of the depot,” the ministry said. “A search for residents who may have remained in the area is underway,” a ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti.

Earlier reports said five people with shrapnel wounds had been brought to two local hospitals and 34 people were treated for minor injuries at the site.

The spokesman said the depot stores some 6,000 122-mm artillery shells and, in the worst case scenario, the explosions could continue for two or three days.

More than 500 personnel and 100 vehicles have been deployed so far to contain the fire and explosions, the ministry said.

The incident is the latest in a string of fires and explosions at munitions storage and disposal sites that have plagued Russia in the past two years.

RIA Novosti

S-300's Repel "Air Attack" Near Astrakhan

S-300 SAM missile systems successfully repelled a mass airstrike launched by an “aggressor” at the Ashuluk training ground near Astrakhan. Watch this RIA Novosti video for glimpses of the surprise maneuvers.

Video: Russian air force exercises in unusual order

(GDVN) - Starting last Monday, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a combat readiness test for sudden situation on air defense- space defense, and military transport.

By order of the commander of Russian army, the air defense units of Western Military District has deployed the combat readiness activities with the participation of 15 heavy bombers, Su-34, and three A-50 reconnaissance aircrafts.

The bombers are on the payroll of the Western Military District has practised bombing and air strikes to destroy the putative targets.


Meanwhile, on the second day of the exercise, bombers of Western Military District has used a new air base for assumption operation. Transport force and air reconnaissance has also conducted their own exercises.