The Russian Navy will deploy total six Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines by 2016, with second boat to float out in May this year, according to RIA Novosti. The much anticipated delivery of the submarines, dubbed “black holes in the ocean” by the US Navy because they are nearly undetectable when submerged, is a key part of Russias naval strategy in the Mediterranean, where Moscow has recently deployed a permanent task force consisting of some 10 surface ships
Joint productions of all future projects is expected to be the new norm in Indo-Russian relations after Moscow last year offered to set up manufacturing facilities in the country for joint production of defence hardware. India and Russia agreed to set up manufacturing facilities in India for joint production of defence hardware during Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozins state visit to New Delhi last year
Russia confirmed that it deployed tactical ballistic missiles near the borders shared with NATO, assuring non-violation of international agreements. Russia had “quietly” moved 10 Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) missile systems into its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and along its border with the Baltic States and NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, according to Bild newspaper
Iraq is expecting the delivery of Russian weapons and military equipment next month, a senior Iraqi official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. “The second batch of Russian weapons will arrive in Iraq in January,” said Muhammed al-Aqili, a deputy head of the ruling faction in the Iraqi parliament
Russia is planning to quadruple its annual arms sales to $50 billion by 2020 in a race for the top spot on the global arms exporters list, a senior government official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. “Not counting inflation, I think we could reach $50 billion [in arms exports] annually by 2020,” Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in Moscow
Russias defense ministry plans to create its own news agency next year, a ministry official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. The agency will focus mainly on military news but will also address social and political issues, plus high-profile events in Russia and around the world
Russian armed forces will conduct test flights of a drone aircraft from the United Arab Emirates early next year. The unmanned United 40 Block 5 long-range reconnaissance vehicle will be tested to assess whether it meets the militarys operational needs
Russian defense group Oboronprom is planning to invest $121 million in the Mil Moscow helicopter plant, Rostec said in a statement. The expansion plans are related to the positive market forecasts for the Russian military aviation industry
The Russian armed forces will deploy three new regiments equipped with S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems next year, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. “Two S-400 regiments were presented to the Russian military this year
Russia takes delivery of six Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems to be used by a new missile regiment, a military official was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. The Pantsir-S battalion is set to form part of a third S-400 air defense missile regiment deployed near the Russian capital