Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

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Aviationist said:

In the last weeks, Russian Tu-95 bombers skirted UK airspace and flew long range missions around Guam in the Pacific and off California.

Such episodes are not new and have always been reported by both NATO and former Warsaw Pact since the Cold War.

However, in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the “drastically” increased activity of Russian aircraft and warships in the Pacific and around the Japanese islands, U.S. PACAF Command is becoming concerned.

Russia also recently held a live firing exercise during which a “Bear” launched cruise missiles against ground targets.

According to RIA Novosti news agency, at the presence of the presidents of Belarus, Armenia, Kirgizstan and Tajikistan who observed the drills from Russia’s National Defense Center, the bomber “successfully fired six cruise missiles at ground targets simulating key military assets of a hypothetical adversary.”

The Tu-95s can carry up to six KH-55 (NATO designation AS-15 Kent) or KH-555 Air Launched Cruise Missiles internally (or eight Kh-101/Kh-102 externally), with nuclear or conventional warhead and a range of around 1,500 miles.

In spite of its age, the TU-95 still represents a significant strategic weapon in Russia's arsenal.

During the initial portions of their long range missions Tu-95s (as well as Tu-22s) are escorted by interceptors. Last month, Russian Tu-95MS aircraft, accompanied by supersonic Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptors, conducted test flights over neutral waters of the North Sea, according to RIA Novosti.

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Jeff Head said:

The major combatant there is a Udaloy class DDG. And then there are a couple of corvettes you show.

The entire Black Sea Fleet has quite a few more vessels. In addition to the Udaloy, they have a Slave CG, a Kara CG, a Kashin DDG, and a couple of Kirvak FFGs. These are the major surface combatants.

They also have a large amphibious group consisting of 3 Alligator LSTs and 4 larger, newer Ropucha II LSTs.

They have a sizeable group of missile corvettes including 3 Nanchukas, 5 Trantula IIIs and 2 Dergach.

A large ASW corvette group consisting of 6 Grisha III corvettes.

Aslo quite a few mine sweepers, including 5 Natyas and 2 Sonya class.

Seeing all of those together would be quite a site,.. That's like 36 combatants.

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kwaigonegin said:

The black sea fleet was even more potent during the cold war. They were much feared even by the USN back in the day. They are still a very potent force today but a shadow of what they were 20 or 30 years ago. Before my time at any rate but during Gerry's time I think.

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Jeff Head said:

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Miragedriver said:

I love that old Tu-95. There is just something beautiful about that aircraft. That it is still flying in some significant numbers is a tribute to the engineers and technicians that produces the aircraft. Just like the B-52.

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Miragedriver said:

I love that old Tu-95. There is just something beautiful about that aircraft. That it is still flying in some significant numbers is a tribute to the engineers and technicians that produces the aircraft. Just like the B-52.

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kwaigonegin said:

and to think they did it all back in the day with just pencils, simple calculators and a slide rule! Those folks really know how to built great airplanes!

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Jeff Head said:

Seeing all of those together would be quite a site,.. That's like 36 combatants.

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Jeff Head said:

I believe that the Tu-95 MS is the most beuatiful, long range, heavy prop-driven military aircraft ever produced.

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