The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[robertik1]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Nice articles about the Ossetian conflict. Thanks for posting.

Slowly slowly, video clips shot by Russian soldiers (using their personal video cameras and cell phones) are emerging. Here are a couple of nice ones:

A battery of BM-21 GRAD artillery rockets firing salvos on Georgian army positions: http://mreporter.ru/ReporterMessages...reportid=16539

A battery of TOCHKA-U missiles firing on key Georgian positions. Includes a beautifull simultaneous launch of two missiles. The song in that clip is from an Ossetian (in Russian language), the title is "Tskhinval is our land": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioj_l0uvqps

I like the tune. I can really jiggy to it.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

This news is quite significant in my opinion. Does anyone have background information to this development?

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Russian soldiers to serve as peacekeepers in Armenia?

Russian Defense Minister has decided to send 700 draftees to serve as peacekeepers in Armenia. The number of servicemen is not sufficient in Armenia, so the draftees will be sent to replenish the personnel,” said Alexandra Vrakina, chairperson of the council of parents of Prikamye, Russia. “After a training course the soldiers will be sent to Armenia, apparently early next year,” she said, 59.ru reports.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=28069

[KarotheGreat]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

This news is quite significant in my opinion. Does anyone have background information to this development?

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Russian soldiers to serve as peacekeepers in Armenia?

Russian Defense Minister has decided to send 700 draftees to serve as peacekeepers in Armenia. The number of servicemen is not sufficient in Armenia, so the draftees will be sent to replenish the personnel,” said Alexandra Vrakina, chairperson of the council of parents of Prikamye, Russia. “After a training course the soldiers will be sent to Armenia, apparently early next year,” she said, 59.ru reports.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=28069

The question is were in Armenia, if I have to bet my money on it, it will be in Gyumri that they will be send to.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Karo jan, according to various news reports coming out of Russia, Moscow is thinking about opening another base in Armenia as well as stationing mountain troops there. The news article I just posted about the 700 Russian troops being sent to Armenia early next year seems to be a further addition. It doesn't matter where they will be stationed, I want to know what kind of new agreements are taking place between Moscow and Yerevan. I guess it's time to post these again:

Russian 102nd Military Base, Gyumri Armenia

Russian 102nd Military Base (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noqMHlYYNrc

Armenian-Russian Military Base // Armenia (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMqd4Dr_bF4

Additional pictures of the 102 Russian base in Gyumri: http://pilot.strizhi.info/2007/01/03/1552

Russian 102nd Military Base is a Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia, part of the Transcaucasian Group of Forces. It was formerly the Soviet Army's 127th Motor Rifle Division. The base is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan. There are 3,000 Russian soldiers officially reported to be stationed at the 102nd Military Base located in Gyumri. In early 2005, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 infantry fighting vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery pieces, 30 Mig-29 fighters and several batteries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. A great deal of military hardware has been moved to the 102nd Base from the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, Georgia which includes 35 tanks and armored vehicles and 370 pieces of military hardware. The military base is part of a joint air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which was deployed in Armenia in 1995. Furthermore, Armenian air force relies upon the Russian Mig-29s located in the military base, for the defense of the Armenian airspace. The Russian military base was deployed on the territory of Armenia as early as 1996. The bilateral treaty states that the Russian military will be in the base for 25 years, but Armenian authorities have said that if needed this time-frame can be reviewed, and exclusively in the direction of prolongation. Also Russia does not pay Armenia for the military base stationed in Gyumri; moreover the Armenian side takes care of all public utilities water, electricity, etc. In 1997, Armenia and Russia signed a far-reaching friendship treaty, which calls for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party and allows Russian border guards to patrol Armenia’s frontiers with Turkey and Iran. Previously the 127th Motor Rifle Division consisted of the 123rd, 124th, and 128th Motor Rifle Regiments, the 992nd Artillery Regiment, and the 116th Independent Tank Battalion. The 123rd Motor Rifle Regiment was formed from the former 164th Motor Rifle Division in Armenia.

Source: http://www.gyumri.eu/102nd_military_base.htm

3624th Russian Air Force Base, Erebuni Armenia

Южный щит страны проверили на прочность. Учения на авиабазе Эрегуне: http://zvezdaarmy.ru/sugeti/2008/05/...y-schit-strany

MiG-29s in Erebuni Air Base, Armenia (video presentation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvOrSCRYlsQ

Additional pictures of Erebuni based Mig 29 fighters: http://pilot.strizhi.info/2007/01/03/1522

Satellite imagery of the 3624th Russian Air Force Base in Erebuni: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/view...ce=0&mid=23205

TV REPORTS ON AIR DEFENCE EXERCISE AT RUSSIAN AIR BASE IN ARMENIA

Zvezda TV, May 4 2008

[Presenter] The country's southern shield is being tested for
robustness: alert signals were sounded again at the Russian air base
in Armenia. Fighter aircraft are scrambled into the air. A few minutes
into the flight it becomes clear that it was a practice alert.

The air defence forces on the ground also tested their readiness to
repel attacks. Our special correspondent Andrey Kovtunenko followed
the military exercise in Armenia's peaceful skies.

[Correspondent] [Passage omitted] It is battle quarters at the Russian
air base of Erebuni. [Passage omitted] While the pilot is getting
ready for the flight, the technicians, having run 100 metres [to the
aircraft], are removing covers from a MiG-29. A few minutes later,
the pilot jumps into the xxxxpit and is ready to take off. [Passage
omitted]

The border with Turkey is only 14 km away - for a MiG, it is just
a couple of minutes. Therefore, depending on the combat mission,
[the pilot] has to turn one way or the other and fly back.

In 1998, the air group revamped its fleet: MiG-29s went on combat
training duty at the CIS combined air defence system. It is now 10
years since the MiG-29 started protecting the skies over Armenia. The
aircraft has acquitted itself well in hot conditions and in the
mountains. Experienced pilots treat this aircraft with respect:
it is easy to run and reliable in combat.

One can only speak to the pilot after he has accomplished his combat
mission: traditionally, they do not give interviews before the flight.

[Yevgeniy Yakimov, captioned as an aviation regiment commander; in the
xxxxpit after landing] We perform air defence tasks in the CIS combined
air defence system. We are performing our tasks successfully. On 22
[presumably April] there was a major large-scale exercise at the CIS
combined air defence system. We achieved our objective in full.

[Correspondent] Only a few years ago, Turkish pilots often staged
aerial tests for ours. Nowadays, this is a rare occurrence.

[Pavel Maratkanov, captioned as deputy commander of the air base for
educational work] It is not often that we are scrambled into action
but it happens. Sometimes they make sorties to test us - but not
often. The most recent incident was last year.

[Correspondent] While pilots polish their aerial skills, the missile
defence system is on permanent combat duty. Russian and Armenian
officers track all aerial targets together.

At the air defence base near Gyumri [also in Armenia], meanwhile,
the S-300 and Kub-3M missile defence systems are on alert. Servicemen
from this regiment recently took part in an exercise in Ashuluk
[in southern Russia]. Their performance was marked as excellent.

[Aleksandr Surinkin, captioned as anti-aircraft regiment commander]
At the 2008 tactical exercise with live firing, the regiment fired
on evading low-flying aerial target. The target was destroyed at the
maximum range. The mark was excellent.

[Correspondent] It is no secret to anyone here that Armenia regards the
102nd Russian military base deployed in the republic as an element of
it national security. In this country, they value friendly relations.

Source: http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg230966.html

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russian air base in Armenia ready to open fire at NATO planes

Channel One TV, Moscow 4 May 04

Presenter: Back in Soviet times airborne troops stationed in
Transcaucasia served as a reliable defence of the country's southern
borders. In the mid-1990s Russia's airspace in the area was left
without any defence. Armenia alone met Russia halfway and allowed for
the Russian Airborne Troops to remain on its territory.

Correspondent: Aleksey Artemyev Fighters at the Russian air base
Erebuni have six minutes and not a second more to take off for a duty
flight and intercept a target that has illegally entered Armenia's
airspace. The end of the runway and the border with the neighbouring
country are separated by a distance of 15 km. The neighbouring country
is Turkey, a NATO member state, with a great number of air bases
stationed on its territory, including those belonging to the USA.

Two years ago Russian pilots cut short an attempt by a high-speed spy
plane to enter Armenia's airspace from Turkey. One should always be on
alert here. All interceptors on combat duty here are equipped with
four air-to-air missiles. The two bigger ones are located closer to
the fuselage and are capable of hitting a target within a distance of
up to 80 km. The two smaller ones are intended for close combat, they
are capable of hitting any target within 30 km. The equipment is
completely ready for combat.

NATO intelligence is monitoring the Russian air base in Armenia round
the clock. Two sites for direct tracking are situated on a slope of Mt
Ararat. The Turkish Air Force are trying to have every Russian pilot
under control.

Valeriy Ded, captioned as fighter pilot: We do not normally meet them
in the air. At times we spot them on our radar screens, both on board
and on the ground. They know every pilot of ours, our voices, if not
our names.

Correspondent: The Erebuni air base is part of the Russian air defence
complex situated in Armenia, the only one remaining in Transcaucasia,
protecting Russia's southern borders. The main air defence forces are
located high up in the mountains, not far from Gyumri, formerly
Leninakan. There are four launch pads for air defence missile systems
Kub and S-300 there.

We were the only TV crew that was given a chance to film a Russian air
defence command post on alert duty. Unidentified officer This facility allows
us to see the sites where the air defence batteries are stationed as well as
the sectors they are facing. We can give them the whereabouts of a target
to hit.

Correspondent: This radar station is able to operate within a radius of
300 km. The nearest NATO airfields in Turkey are situated at a
distance of about 200 km. In other words, the Russian command post is
able to spot any plane takeoff from any of the airfields.

Aleksey Gorskiy, captioned as commander of the combat command and
control division: In May 2001 we began our test alert duty. We did not
have a right to open fire at trespassers. The Turks used to fly along
the border all the time. After the alert duty started in earnest in
October ?2001 , in other words when we were allowed to open fire, they
hardly ever appear here now.

Correspondent: All the Russian air defence divisions stationed in
Armenia are working in close coordination with each other. In everyday
life pilots and anti-aircraft gunners are rivals. The air base is
proud of its unique barracks, containing fish water tanks,
mantelpieces and even a small zoo of their own. Meanwhile, the air
defence system command division claims that they have the best cook
and cuisine.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Karo jan, according to various news reports coming out of Russia, Moscow is thinking about opening another base in Armenia as well as stationing mountain troops there. The news article I just posted about the 700 Russian troops being sent to Armenia early next year seems to be a further addition. It doesn't matter where they will be stationed, I want to know what kind of new agreements are taking place between Moscow and Yerevan.

Armenian have to say I don't know, in 5 days my grandmother is coming to Belgium for a holiday and I think she'll know more than we do. So I'll ask her and report back here.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Israel urges Moscow to halt Iran sale

A senior Israeli defense official visited Moscow in an attempt to dissuade Russia from selling missile defense systems to Iran. Amos Gilad, the head of the defense ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau, traveled to the Russian capital Wednesday to explain Israel's opposition to the deal. At the same time, Israeli defense officials continued to waver on the sale of a batch of unmanned aerial drones to Russia, which has been unsuccessful at creating its own pilotless drone program. The purchase would be Moscow's first ever from Israel. Some evidence suggests that Israel may be holding out on the drones as leverage to keep the S-300 missile systems from going to Iran, according to a report in the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency. "We are working on this issue," said Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the head of Russia's armed forces, according to the Interfax news agency. "We are considering a test batch of Israeli drones." Israel is concerned that the S-300 missile system could be sold to Syria or Iran and hinder any first strike capability. In an unrelated deal, Russia said this week it would include 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Lebanon as part of a military aid package. The used Russian planes will be overhauled, restored and handed over to the Lebanese government.

Source: http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/...m-sale-to-iran

S-300s for Iran: an argument for peace

The likelihood of Russia supplying S-300 surface-to-air systems to Iran has always been a headache for the United States and its allies. For several years the media has reported the conclusion of a contract or even the actual shipment of long-range air defense missiles to Iran. As a rule, these reports came from Iranian sources and were later denied by Russia. On December 17, 2008, RIA Novosti, quoting confidential sources, reported on its website that Russia is to deliver S-300 surface-to-air systems to Iran. Which, based on previous experience, is most likely true. How will the balance of strength change in this region if Iran really gets the systems? Before considering an answer, it is necessary to see what weapons Iran's armed forces will receive and in what quantities. It has been repeatedly stated that Iran expects to get five battalions of S-300PMUs, or up to 20 systems (60 launchers), depending on the make-up of a battalion.

Each of the launchers carries four 48N6E missiles (48N6E2s with the PMU-2 mobile launchers) with a range of 150 kilometers (up to 200 kilometers for the 48N6E2s). Each launch system consists of three launchers and is capable of engaging six targets at the same time, aiming 12 missiles at them. One battalion consisting of four systems is, therefore, capable of dealing with 24 aircraft simultaneously. After changing position and replenishing ammunition, it can be quickly re-deployed for repulsing a repeat raid. It should be remembered that S-300 missiles themselves need to be protected - for this purpose Iran can use Tor-M1 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and Chinese FM-80s. Coupled with S-300s, these short-range missiles can set up a credible air defense system able to protect the facility covered and itself. In this tandem, S-300s will act as a long arm to shoot down sophisticated targets at long distances, while close-in weapons will protect the facility and S-300s from cruise missiles, aircraft and UAVs that break through.

Five battalions of S-300 SAMs will contribute significantly not only to the protection of designated facilities, but also to the defense capability of the country as a whole. Deliveries of new SAMs will make it possible to move old systems to other parts of the country, increasing its air defense density. Should Iran have time to deploy the Russian systems and to control the grouping, the overall damage from air defenses may exceed the threshold acceptable to Iran's potential opponents. S-300s do not, of course, guarantee Iran's invincibility or invulnerability. The U.S. Air Force and naval aviation can, if necessary, break through even these defenses. At issue is the time required and acceptable level of loss. Ultimately, the question may prove to be the main argument in the hands of those opposed to a military operation against Iran and remove an Iran-U.S. armed conflict from the agenda for a long time.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20081219/118949581.html

[ZORAVAR]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

For the last few years, news of supplying Iran with S-300 air defense system are surfacing every now and then.

I am somehow believing that this has to do with the US anti-ballistic missile project in Poland and the Czech Republic. It looks like it is being used by the Russians as a bargaining chip. If the US goes ahead with the ABM installations, then one of Russia's counters will be the immediate supply to Iran of S-300 and other weapon systems that so far they were witholding. If the Americans cancel that project, then the Iranians will have to wait forever for the S-300s.

What is your opinion Armenian?

[gmd]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

From what I have read the threat of the missle defense shield is in relation to first strike capability. I believe that propoganda in the US tends to underestimate US capabilities. So if hypothetically US missle defense can intercept 50% of launched missles then some people may consider it a victory if the US were to engage in a first strike against Russia. The biggest threat from Moscow would be the mobile launchers and subs. I am not saying this is what I would do, I am just pointing out the concerns of some analysts with a US missle defense system, especially one deployed in Eastern Europe.

[gmd]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

The other part of this is what many here may disagree with me on. Russia, Iran, and many other nations on the other side tend to use propaganda to inflate their capabilities. I wonder if the state of Russia's missles is less then desirable and they need more time to improve all this.

If the US were to use a first strike against Russia what could the rest of the world do about it?