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Compiled by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront
Executive Summary
This week has not seen major changes in the situation in Syria, likely as a result of the ongoing diplomatic initiatives which promise to move the Syria peace process forward. At the same time, Russian training grounds are teeming with activity. The heightened level of training of Su-24 and Su-25 crews suggests preparation for either reinforcing the mixed aviation regiment already based at the Khmeimim base in Syria or for rotating its personnel. Other recent exercises indicate that Russia has a range of options on the table, including deploying a limited ground contingent of paratroopers, heavy battalion battlegroups (motorized rifle and tank), and special operations forces to Syria should the Gulf Arab states and Saudi Arabia attempt to escalate the conflict in Syria. Considering the rapid scale of Ratnik set deliveries, this would be the operational debut of the system.
Strategic Forces
1. Yuriy Dolgorukiy completes its first under-ice patrol
Location: Gadzhievo
Yuriy Dolgorukiy, the lead ship of Project 955 Borey ballistic missile submarine class, completed a two-month strategic patrol which it spent mostly under the ice of the Arctic Ocean.
Location: Samara
An unspecified number of bombers is undergoing an upgrade to allow them to carry new types of ordnance–possibly the secretive Kh-101 strategic cruise missile.
Ground/Airborne Forces
3. 45th Separate Special Operations Regiment exercise
Location: Kubinka
The 45th Regiment, which is part of the VDV, carried out a large-scale exercise using the full array of equipment at its disposal, including the Ratnik sets, drones, satellite communications, and high-tech ground surveillance systems in order to locate and destroy simulated terrorist groupings.
4. Central Military District receives 1000 Ratnik sets
Location: Samara
The equipment kits were delivered to a motorized rifle brigade specializing in peacekeeping operations based in Samara.
5. Southern Military District brigade exercise
Location: Stavropol
The unnamed brigade from the 49th Army carried out a full-scale exercise with air support in the form of Su-34 bombers and Mi-35 attack aircraft.
6. Western Military District special operations exercise
Location: Tambov
Location: Tambov
The exercise focused on destroying terrorist formations and carrying out ambushes with the aid of surveillance UAVs.
7. Southern Military District army aviation exercise
Location: vicinity of Elbrus Mountain
The exercise focused on delivering airmobile detachments and providing fire support in mountainous and forested terrain. Aircraft used included Mi-35, Ka-52, and Mi-8MTSh machines.
8. Regimental Airborne Exercise in Pskov
Location: Pskov
A Pskov-based airborne regiment is carrying out a major exercise including a large-scale airdrop from 15 Il-76 airlifters and 35 helicopters.
9. Motorized Rifle Exercise in Buryatia
Location: Buryatia
The battalion battlegroup carried out a simulated destruction of an enemy airborne assault.
Air/Space Forces
10. Su-35 fighters over the Kurils
Location: Kuril Islands
Su-35 fighters based in the Khabarovsk Region carried out an air combat exercise over the Kuril Islands.
11. Eastern Military District Air Division Exercise
Location: Khabarovsk
Some 30 Su-24 bomber crews participated in the exercise which included penetrating enemy fighter and air defense cover and carrying out night-time bomb and missile strikes.
12. Southern Military District attack aviation exercise
Location: Stavropol
Su-25SM pilots carried out training on carrying out airstrikes from extremely low altitudes against a simulated foe equipped with air defense systems. The pilots also practiced flying and landing on one engine to simulate battle damage.
13. Space facility reopens in Crimea
Location: Evpatoriya
The facility is intended to track and communicate with Russian military satellites, particularly of the GLONASS constellation of space navigation satellites.
Naval Forces
14. Admiral Gorshkov frigate enters final stage of sea trials
Location: White Sea
The Admiral Gorshkov is the lead ship of a planned series of six Project 22350 frigates planned for the Northern Fleet. These highly advanced ships carry a wide array of weapons, including Kalibr family cruise missiles.
15. Staryy Oskol submarine begins sea trials
Location: Polyarnyy
The Staryy Oskol is the third of six Project 636 submarines for the Black Sea Fleet. The second submarine of the series, Rostov-na-Donu, has recently completed its trials and will shortly join the Black Sea Fleet.
16. Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry receives Ratnik sets
Location: Vladivostok, Kamchatka
Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry is now reportedly fully equipped with the Ratnik sets.
17. Naval Infantry exercise in the Baltic
Location: Baltiysk
A Naval Infantry battalion battlegroup was landed off Baltiysk from several landing craft, including the brand-new amphibious assault cutters pictured above.
18. Arctic Clover facility nears completion
Location: Franz Josef Land
The Arctic Clover is a major component of Northern Fleet’s Arctic infrastructure. It is intended to provide autonomous and comfortable housing to approximately 150 command and administrative personnel for extended periods of time under harsh conditions.
International
19. Russian air campaign over Syria is continuing
Russian aircraft and helicopters continue to flight dozens of sorties every day/night in support of the Syrian armed forces in its fight against islamist extremists.
The blue line signifies the number of daily sorties flown, the red one the number of targets hit.
20. Belarus wants to buy Su-30SM fighters
Location: Komsomolsk-na-Amure
The aircraft would replace aging MiG-29 fighters. The delivery is not expected before 2020.
21. Russia to supply helicopters and equipment for Egypt’s Mistrals
Location: Moscow
The estimated value of the deal which would cover the helicopters and other equipment necessary to make the two Mistral ships fully operational and which was discussed by president’s chief of staff Sergey Ivanov is $1 billion.
22. Southern Military District motorized rifle unit prepares for exercise in India
Location: Prudboy (Volgograd Region), Majadzhan (India)
An unnamed motorized rifle battalion battlegroup from the Southern Military District is preparing to depart for India where it will participate in the Indra-2015 exercise which will be held in November.
23. Iranian Navy visits Astrakhan
Location: Astrakhan
The Iranian Navy dispatched one destroyer and two missile cutters
