US Will Be “Defenseless” Against New Russian Nuclear Sub Equipped With Hypersonic Missiles

 

The Soviet-era arms race between the US and Russia is officially back on.

To wit, Moscow is reportedly building a fleet of nuclear submarines armed with hypersonic ICBMs capable of delivering a nuclear payload ten times larger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, according to CNBC, which cited a US intelligence report on the new weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at six new super weapons during a speech back in March where he also revealed that Russia is working on a nuclear missile capable of evading NATO’s ring of ABM defenses.

Satellite Images Reveal Russia Upgrading Nuclear Bomb Storage At Kaliningrad

A buried nuclear weapons storage bunker in the Kaliningrad district has been under major renovation since mid-2016. (Source: Federation of American Scientists (FAS))

 

New satellite images appear to show Russia may have significantly modernized a nuclear weapons storage bunker and security system at a secret facility in Kaliningrad, a strategic enclave of Russian territory situated between Poland and the Baltics, as tensions between Moscow and Washington continue to escalate, according to a report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

On Monday, the FAS published a brand new report revealing several satellite images detailing a significant renovation of what appears to be a buried active nuclear weapons storage bunker in Kaliningrad, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Polish border.

Russia To Build 5th-Generation Nuclear Sub With Hypersonic Missiles

 

Vladimir Dorofeyev, CEO of Russia’s Malakhit Marine Engineering Design Bureau, told TASS in 2015 that “the work on the fifth-generation of submarines is already underway.” Now an anonymous source deep within the Russian defense sector told TASS on Thursday that the Husky-class fifth-generation nuclear-powered submarine will be armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles with a deployment date of 2027.

“The Husky has been included in the state armament program for 2018-2027. There are plans to start the experimental design work on the construction of submarines of this class from 2023 and deliver the lead vessel by the end of 2027,” the unnamed source said.

“Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles will become the main armament of the newest multipurpose submarine,” the source added.

Russia Unleashes Test ICBM Barrage

(Photo Credit: Russian Defense Ministry)

 

This was the first time a four-missile salvo of the new Bulava ICBM was launched from a submarine.

…

The video shows the Borei-class ballistic missile submarine Yuriy Dolgorukiy diving to launch depth and its crew preparing for the launch. Then, it switches to an external view from an observer ship, and shows four Bulava ICBMs being launched in a rapid-fire salvo.

Russian Navy chief threatens US warship near Syria with TORPEDO ATTACK: ‘We have no fear’

TORPEDO THREAT: Russian admiral Vladimir Masorin said torpedoes are ‘a very effective weapon’ [Getty]

 

A US destroyer warship poised to strike the Syrian government with Tomahawk missiles could be sunk by torpedoes, a Russian Navy admiral has warned.

A torpedo attack could cause “considerable damage” to USS Donald Cook, a guided missile destroyer operating near Syria, Vladimir Masorin, former commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, has said.

Although Russia probably won’t be required to “sink” the Arleigh Burke-class warship, Masorin said the weapon would be effective nonetheless.

Masorin, who commanded the Caspian Flotilla between 1996 and 2002, warned US President Donald Trump to refrain from bombing Syria over the chemical attack. 

11 Russian Warships Leave Syrian Port To Conduct Exercises

 

Update: The Russian warships leaving port has been reported as a drill, as InterFax reports:

Russian Navy ships, starting from April 11, will conduct exercises near the coast of Syria, follow from the international notification for aviation personnel (NOTAM) and navigational warning for seafarers.

The reports contain the coordinates of the closed area, as well as the conduct of training shooting there.

Russian Spy Ship Off Georgia Coast

The Viktor Leonov CCB-175, a Russian Navy intelligence warship, is docked to a pier in Old Havana (The Viktor Leonov / Getty Images)

 

Viktor Leonev currently sailing near Navy nuclear submarine base

A Russian spy ship is currently conducting surveillance operations in waters near a U.S. ballistic missile submarine base in Georgia, according to Navy officials.

“We are tracking the Viktor Leonov’s presence off the East Coast, much like we are aware of all vessels approaching the United States,” said Navy Cmdr. Bill Speaks, a Navy spokesman.

Russia May Send 100K Troops to NATO’s Borders

In this Aug. 2, 2017, photo, Russian paratroopers mark Paratroopers Day in Moscow’s Red Square. The Russian military says major war games, the Zapad (West) 2017 maneuvers, will not threaten anyone. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

 

Russia showed off its growing naval strength last month ahead of huge land exercises on NATO state borders set to begin Thursday.

The exercises are part of President Vladimir Putin’s effort to demonstrate Russia’s full recovery from being a military basket case following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Russia’s Northern Fleet claimed to have sent about 50 ships, submarines and support vessels into the Barents and Baltic Seas in August on a series of anti-submarine, anti-mine and search-and-rescue operations, a Russian Navy spokesman told Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Russia to Deploy Its First Operational AIP-Powered Underwater Sea Ghost

 

Kronstadt, the fourth generation diesel-electric attack submarine (Project 677 or Lada class), is to be launched in 2018. It will become the first ever Russian Air-independent propulsion (AIP) boat. The AIP or anaerobic technology allows to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). Kronsdadt will be able to operate submerged for a few weeks without coming to surface. Russian shipbuilding industry has achieved a major technological breakthrough to produce the new sophisticated weapon of war.

Russia Goes Hypersonic: the West Lagging Behind in Missile Technology Race

Remember all those times Global Geopolitics has warned that the Russians and Chinese were either on par or soon going to be more militarily advanced than America?

Just in case, here’s a few refreshers posted throughout the years:

WORLD WAR III? US fears China will win any conflict because strength of Red Army’s fleet

Nuclear Submarines and Hypersonic Missiles: China Is Making Game-Changing Weapons Advances

Global Ballistic Missile Threats Beginning to Outpace US Defense Capability

China, Russia, Iran Closing Gap with Smaller, Older U.S. Military

Russia claims to have super weapon that disables western satellites and long range arms

Chinese bought division of IBM that manufactures computing servers for U.S. Navy Aegis cruisers

China Tests ICBM With Multiple Warheads

‘Stolen’ J-31 can beat American jets in dogfight, says US pilot

Pentagon: Military Losing Technological Superiority to China

Photos show second China stealth fighter prototype has test flight

Silent Running

Obama’s Lost in Space

 

 

On March 30, the Russian Navy launched Kazan, the second upgraded Yasen-class project 885M submarine. The Navy will take delivery of the vessel in 2018. A total of seven Yasen class nuclear attack submarines are to be built by 2023. Kazan is an upgraded Project 885M design – an advanced version that is in many ways much more capable than the lead ship of the class, Severodvinsk, the first submarine in the series, entered service in 2016.

The Kazan’s armament includes 3M22 Zircon – a hypersonic cruise capable of speeds of around Mach 5.0-Mach 6.0 (7,400 kilometer per hour (4,600 mile per hour) expected to enter into production in 2018. At a cruising altitude of 30,000 m its kinetic energy at impact is 50 times higher than existing air-ship and ship-to-ship missiles. The projectile can travel covering 155 miles in 2.5 minutes, which is faster than a sniper’s bullet. The enemy will not have enough time to get scared, let alone react.

For comparison, the sea-based Kalibr cruise missile travels at a Mach 0.9 speed, but while approaching the target, its warhead speeds up to Mach 2.9.

Preparing for WAR? Russia begins testing long-range missile system

Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said tests are underway for the new missile system [Getty]

 

RUSSIA is testing a guided long-range air defence missile system for its naval fleet.

The Kremlin’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu said tests are already underway for the missiles which are expected to be used by new navy ships.

Air defence missile and artillery systems are also being tested alongside the long-range missile.

Mr Shoigu warned the new projects will allow Moscow to create weapons with “unique combat capabilities”.

Large Russian Anti-Sub Ship Severomorsk to Participate in Oman 2017 Exercises

© Sputnik/ Mikhail Fomichev

 

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Navy’s large anti-submarine ship Severmorsk has completed a business visit to Oman’s port of Salalah and continued its mission in the Indian ocean, with further participation in the Aman 2017 international naval exercises, which will be held in the North of the Arabian Sea, the press service of the Russian Northern fleet said Tuesday.

Duterte Hopes Russia Will Become Philippines’ Ally and Protector

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (3rd L) talks to senior Russian military officials, Manila, Philippines / REUTERS

 

MANILA (Reuters) – President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday that he hoped Moscow, a rival of the Philippines’ traditional ally the United States, would become his country’s ally and protector as he toured one of the two Russian warships on a four-day visit to Manila.

Duterte‘s remarks came a day after Russia’s ambassador said his country was ready to supply the Philippines with sophisticated weapons and aims to become its close friend.

Russia flags war games with US ally Philippines

The Russian Navy said Tuesday it was planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of its ships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot from the United States.

Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, the deputy commander of the Russian Navy’s Pacific fleet, said the joint military exercises would focus on maritime piracy and terrorism, which he described as the region’s two top security concerns.

Russia deploys anti-ship missiles on disputed isles off Hokkaido

VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA – The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet has deployed state-of-the-art anti-ship missile systems on two of the islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, the fleet’s newspaper reported recently.

The Bastion missile system has been installed on Etorofu Island and the Bal system on Kunashiri Island, according to the report.