BBC – Ukraine’s Yanukovych signals shift over Russia fleet

The newly elected president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych has suggested he would allow Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to remain in his country beyond 2017.

Defense Technology International – A Follow-On To Kuznetsov?

The Russian Navy is making plans for a new aircraft carrier fleet. Navy commander Adm Vladimir Vysotsky announced on Friday, February 26, that the technical design of Russia’s new aircraft carrier will be completed by the end of 2010.

The Times – Russia announces plans to buy four French warships from France

Russia is to buy four warships from France in the biggest defence deal with a Nato member since the end of the Cold War. In a move that has alarmed Georgia and the Baltic States, France and Russia said that they were in “exclusive talks” on the sale of Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.

Economist – The cruel sea

NATO allies worry about France’s decision to sell big warships to Russia.

Associated Press – France agrees to sell Russia advanced warship

France has agreed to sell Russia the Mistral amphibious warship and is considering a Russian request for three more, French defense officials said Monday. It would be the first major arms deal between Russia and a NATO member.

Washington Post – Critics say proposed sale of French Mistral ship to Russia will harm region

When the French navy’s 23,700-ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship dropped anchor in St. Petersburg’s frigid harbor Nov. 23, it was doing more than paying a friendly visit to the Russians. The boxy 600-foot vessel — an advanced helicopter carrier, command center and hospital built for power projection and landing operations — was also advertising its many high-tech virtues with an eye on selling a copy to the Russian navy for about $750 million.

BBC – Russian missile test launch fails

A Russian test launch of the Bulava intercontinental missile has failed, resulting in a white light seen over parts of Norway.

Defense Technology International – Second Russian Stealth Frigate In Works

The Severnaya Verf shipyard in St Petersburg officially laid down the second Project 22350 frigate for the Russian Navy on November 26. The ship was named Admiral Flota Kasatonov. The first frigate of the class – Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov – has been under construction at Severnaya Verf since 2006.

Defense Tech – Russian Defense Industry In Crisis

Norman Polmar writes that the Russian defense industry may not have long to survive.

The Times – ‘Lost’ cargo ship Arctic Sea gives up its secrets

The crew at the centre of the hijacked cargo vessel tell of their ordeal for the first time.

AFP – Russian military plane crashes, killing 11

A Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine warfare aircraft crashed into the sea during a training exercise in Russia’s Far East region, leaving all 11 crew members missing and presumed dead.

Associated Press – Russia to buy navy ship from France

Moscow plans to buy a French amphibious assault ship, the first such purchase from a NATO country, as the Kremlin seeks to reaffirm Russia’s global reach. The Defense Ministry also plans to license the production of four more ships of the Mistral class in Russia under the guidance of French engineers.

The Times – Nato commander warns of conflict with Russia in Arctic Circle

Competition for resources in the Arctic Circle could provoke conflict between Russia and Nato, a newly appointed commander at the alliance warned yesterday.

BBC – Probing the Arctic Sea conspiracies

What really happened when the Arctic Sea cargo ship went missing amid allegations of hijacking and weapons smuggling?

The Times – Arctic Sea ‘arms ship’ has been cruising off West African coast

The mystery of the hijacked cargo ship allegedly carrying missiles to Iran deepened yesterday when it emerged that, far from limping back to a Russian port as the Kremlin had claimed, the vessel had been cruising around the Canary Islands.

Associated Press – Russia to Detain Georgian Ships Off Abkhazia

Russia heightened tensions with Georgia Tuesday by warning that it will detain Georgian ships entering the territorial waters of Abkhazia, a breakaway province allied with Moscow.

DefenseTech – A Threat to America Or?

Norman Polmar on the two Russian nuclear-propelled attack submarines that appeared off the U.S. East Coast.

New York Times – Black Sea Port Is Flash Point for Georgia and Russia

Rising tensions between Russia and Georgia over shipping rights to a breakaway Georgian region have opened a potential new theater for conflict between the countries, a little more than a year after they went to war.

Daily Telegraph – Arctic Sea ghost ship ‘was carrying weapons to Iran’

The Arctic Sea cargo ship that disappeared for almost a month earlier this summer, was carrying weapons to Iran and was being tracked by Mossad, the Israeli security service, according to reports.

Daily Telegraph – ‘Hijackers’ of Arctic Sea ghost ship in murky waters

How did petty thugs, drunks and drug dealers get arrested on a hijacked freighter and become linked to espionage, gun running and the Russian Mafia?

BBC – Russia ship mystery editor flees

A journalist has fled Russia after suggesting the Arctic Sea cargo ship that was apparently hijacked in July may have been carrying illegal weapons.