In Continuation Of The CBS' Interview ...

 ... with American soldiers and how real war looks like. As you know, Konstantinovka is now in focus of Russian Army's operations and here is how real war looks like with the enemy UNLIKE whatever resistance force US forces encountered, say in Fallujah. 

This footage is from 404 drone no less, and I have news for Pentagon's generals who would want to draw parallels, VSU is not Saddam's so called army and Iraqi paramilitaries. Two radically different wars in scale, intensity and technology. 

Meanwhile, in UK. 

The Royal Navy has not seized any sanctioned Russian tankers because the Government fears it would breach international law. Vladimir Putin’s shadow fleet has been allowed to pass through the English Channel despite Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge, a fortnight ago, to “go after” the ships. Since The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that Putin had sent a warship to escort sanctioned vessels through the Channel, there have been mounting questions over the Government’s failure to stop Russian ships. Now it can be revealed that Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, has given legal advice about how the ships could be tackled in British territorial waters to prevent the flow of sanctioned oil to Russia’s allies. Under his advice, ships can be boarded by special forces and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), but no such operations have taken place because of concerns about breaching international maritime law, which sets a high legal bar for a state to board a foreign vessel.

You see, International Law applies ONLY when you have power. And what many people still do not understand that Russians do not do grandiose gestures--they simply liberate towns and cities, they deploy navy for escorts et al. But, of course, it is not about International Law, it is about guns and missiles and marines these Russian ships carry and can prevent any attempts on boarding any tankers under Russian Navy's escort. See how it works? As The Telegraph continues:

Russia’s latest maritime interference will raise further concerns about the state of the Royal Navy, which is awaiting the outcome of the Government’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan. Mr Healey said the plan would be published as soon as possible. There have been reports of last-minute wrangling with the Treasury over defence funding. A government source said: “The Attorney General has been working alongside the Defence Secretary to step up action against Russian shadow fleet activity. “They both recently convened representatives from Joint Expeditionary Force ally nations to discuss the legal framework for military action.”

Interference, they say. Well, I have news for UK Defense "ministry", UK cannot afford real Navy no matter the size of "investment" because even if to imagine that this "investment" exists, the Royal Navy's capabilities will still be puny compared to those of Russian Navy. In legal terms--any attack on Russian naval ship is casus belli and will mean the end of the Royal Navy as such, for warm up. But yes, they will huff and puff, good luck with that. Choose your own league. 

If a Tree Falls in a Forest and No One Is Around to Hear It ...

 ...  does it make a sound? You all know this thought experiment. But let's rephrase--if some fake "military expert" on YT or some TG channel didn't report about Russian Navy does it exist then?

This is again, for all those fanboys of explosions, "tactics" (they will not understand even basic math which goes into it), drones et al, who are in a business of constantly suggesting Russian General Staff how to do things. Above is a video from April 4th this year of Russian Navy's Large ASW ship Severomorsk patrolling Baltic Sea (not far from Germany, namely Island Fehmarn). 

Russians begin to deploy their assets to all those choke points just to ensure that commercial traffic is safe. You saw yourself yesterday how Admiral Grigorovich escorted two tankers near UK. And for those who still don't get it--Russia's military assets in Baltic Sea can sink every NATO navy and whatever non-Baltic NATO navies will try to rush there in under 60 minutes. No nukes, just salvos of 3M54s, Onyxes and 3M22 Zircons. Remember these guys?

Or these ones? 

Just a reminder. But then again, what do I know. Meanwhile, in related news:

Finally, BDay presents which are not only beautiful when placed on the book shelf but may come in handy ... at some point of time. 

Totally Expected ...

 ... and Royal Navy is, of course, free to try if it wants to commit the suicide by cop. But, unlike UK, Russia has an actual functioning Navy which is growing in numbers and capability. 

The Russian fleet has begun escorting tankers as they pass through the English Channel, according to an analyst at Starboard Maritime Intelligence Ltd. In an interview with the All Exclusive channel, Mark Douglas said that according to the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the tankers SELVA and SIERRA passed through the English Channel synchronously with the Project 20380 corvette Boykiy of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy. This is reportedly the first recorded military escort in the strait. Let us recall that on May 14, the Estonian Navy attempted to intercept the JAGUAR tanker in the Gulf of Finland, which prompted a Su-35S to fly in to drive the Estonians away. Following these events, the Finnish Minister of Defense announced that Russia had begun armed escort of its tankers on their way through the Gulf.

Here is Boykiy. 

I wouldn't pass it by cretins in Admiralty (and MI6) in London to organize some kind of false flag or provocation--their losers' vile oozes from all their orifices--but keep in mind that British have some nice fat targets outside UK proper and they will not be given 24 hour warning. They will only see MiG-31Ks taking off, after that big bada-bum. And do not forget, before all those "frigates" and "corvettes", Soviet Navy had a very proper title for this class of ships--сторожевые корабли--literally ESCORT ships. 

Archangelsk Joins the Fleet ...

 ... and I don't mean the city. 

Another state-of-the-art carrier of 32 missiles of 3M22 Zircon and Kalibr variety joined the fleet today. Speaking of which. Here is the transformation of the city of Archangelsk in the last 15 years. 

As you can see yourself--the regime of bloody tyrant Putin continues to destroy Russia by means of building modern cities, highways, hospitals, schools, sports objects. Russians are dying from hunger in the supermarkets while trying to decide what sort of meat or avocado are they going to buy. So, as you can see yourself--sanctions are working and Putin's regime is about to fall, any minute now. 

Messrs Zircons, Onyxes, Kalibrs, Kinzhals.

Russian Navy demonstrating the force in Eastern Med. The Bastion launch of P-800 Onyx (it is capable of launching 3M22 Zircons too) is ominous. For NATO... Houthies, you know, other people with an axe to grind. 

Such an easy system to deploy and receive targeting from Liana... Mind you, Russian version of P-800 Onyx flies to 800+ km at the speed near Mach=3. Latest version flies to 1,000+ km. 3M22 Zircon flies at 1,500 km. 3M54 Kalibr anti-shipping missile at 700+ km with acceleration at the terminal to Mach=3 while performing a violent maneuvering. Just a regular training...

Russia Wrapped Up...

 ... celebrating Navy Day and here is the second part (in Russian) of Military Acceptance with focus on pr. 885 Kazan SSGN. 

In relation to which it is worth reminding on the tempo of introduction of subs of this class into the fleet.

 

And this is just in relation to this extremely advanced and deadly type. Here is also yesterday's photo from parade in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky... 

Here is the first of six pr. 20385 Gremyashchiy corvettes for the Pacific Fleet. All 3M22 Zircon carriers. And the tempo of introduction of new ships and subs only increases. Look at the tempo for pr. 955(A) Borei-class SSBNs...

And pr. 545 Husky submarine platform is coming early 2030. So, once you put together everything across all classes of ships and submarines (mind you--Russia owns and builds massive fleet of Diesel-Electric subs) you see yourself a dramatic picture of the best sea-bases nuclear deterrent and Sea Denial force with incredible strike and air-defense arsenal. So, Russian Navy had a lot to celebrate yesterday. 

This was a broadcast across all four fleets and one flotilla:

And do not forget that Russian Navy operates massive BRAV (Coastal Artillery and Missile Troops) and its own air component. So, as you might expect there was a lot of BS from 404 trolls and other Western fanboys who watched too much Hollywood. Butt-hurt is really bad...

A Visit...

 ... Russian ships in Venezuela. 

So, Venezuelans treat Russians with... ahem, whatever that thing is, LOL))) 

In related news, try to find Fed's chair Jerome Powell's thoughts on the US national debt in US (Western) media from yesterday on the central bankers' forum in Europe. Second day since this admission and guess what... not a word about it. I speak about it in my new video but this is all simply astonishing--the US has become the Soviet Union in its worst manifestations. But when even such moron as Powell, who thought that printing money does not create inflation, admits that this cannot continue anymore--that's the real news. Not discussion of the American political theater which completely discredited US political system and media. 

In related news: agree 100%. 

Victory for Le Pen’s party will change nothing in France. The highest turnout in forty years demonstrates the electorate’s desire and hope for change. But voters are very unlikely to get what they want. 

The voters are about 20 years too late.

Let Me Remind You...

 ... that Soviet Navy was constantly present in Cuba through 1960s to 1980s. Visits have been regular and even one of the classes of my naval academy went on navigation cruise Kronstadt-Cienfuegos-Cartagena in 1970s. Here is one of the missile cruisers of pr. 58 leaving Cuba in 1969. 

It is absolutely normal for the US to react by tracking these ships.
  

Obviously, the class of these ships--both carriers of hypersonic missiles and extremely long range advanced stand-off weapons under present circumstances with the US unleashing a proxy war against Russia is concerning for the US. It takes 3M22 Zircon about 9 minutes to fly to, God forbid, Norfolk if launched anywhere from Bahamas area. 

But I do not take these concerns too seriously because as a former naval professional I totally understand, as do people in the US Navy, it is what is NOT demonstrated by Russia that should be concerning for them and these are Russian Navy's nuclear subs which patrol off both US shores and do it in a fully clandestine manner. Their tasks, whatever they are, are to remain invisible first and foremost. Is Russia making a public point in Cuba? Absolutely, including highly publicized exercises on simulation of missile launches to the ranges beyond 600 kilometers with "autonomous targeting", meaning that targeting is obtained purely through own sensors and helicopter, not from the external targeting such as would be targeting from Liana satellite constellation. Gorshkov's Monolit radar in passive mode can track surface targets up to 450 kilometers. So, we may only speculate how such a long range targeting could be obtained autonomously. 

It is clear that Gorshkov carries latest version of venerable Ka-27, Ka-27M. 

The "M" version of Ka-27 carries new radar and extends surface search capabilities dramatically. So, most likely, it was Ka-27M (operational range 980 kilometers) which could have provided such targeting.

Military Porn...

 ... of Gorshkov and Kazan "launching". The key phrase in the segment--Targeting Autonomous. 

They have been training launches at the ranges of "longer than 600 kilometers" as reported in media. Hm, I wonder what that all means, wink, wink.

 

Zircons Paying A Visit..

 ... no, not Cuba and Venezuela only. This is the message. 

МЕХИКО, 6 июн — РИА Новости. Отряд из четырех кораблей российского Военно-морского флота прибудет с официальным визитом в порт Гаваны 12 июня, сообщило Министерство иностранных дел Кубы. "В период с 12 по 17 июня 2024 года порт Гавана с официальным визитом посетит отряд Военно-морского флота Российской Федерации в составе четырех кораблей: фрегат "Горшков", АПЛ "Казань", нефтяной танкер "Пашин" и спасательный буксир "Николай Чикер", — говорится в коммюнике на сайте ведомства. В Гаване отметили, что прибытие российских судов отвечает дружественным отношениям между Кубой и Россией, а также строго соответствует международным правилам. Там подчеркнули, что ни один из кораблей не несет ядерного оружия и их стоянка не представляет угрозы для региона.

Translation: MEXICO CITY, June 6 – RIA Novosti. A detachment of four ships of the Russian Navy will arrive on an official visit to the port of Havana on June 12, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. “In the period from June 12 to 17, 2024, a detachment of the Russian Navy consisting of four ships will pay an official visit to the port of Havana: the frigate Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the oil tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker.” , says a communiqué on the department’s website. In Havana, they noted that the arrival of the Russian ships is in line with friendly relations between Cuba and Russia, and also strictly complies with international rules. They emphasized that none of the ships carry nuclear weapons and their stay does not pose a threat. for the region.

 

These are the biggest guns in cruise missile business in the world. Gorshkov carries 32 Onyx, Zircon, Kalibrs and Otvet. These are the most advanced and deadly cruise missiles in history, with a serious combat pedigree. Kazan, which is Yasen-class SSGN carries also 32 VLS and, in addition, has 10 torpedo tubes which can shoot not just torpedoes. 

For people who long ago adjusted themselves to the realities of a modern missile combat it is absolutely clear that while both can strike all of the Eastern seaboard of the US and Canada, they are there not for that reason. God forbid it comes to real WW III there are plenty of Bulavas, Avangards, Sarmats and Yarses to deal with this horrifying business. No, both Gorshkov and Kazan are there to show that they can reach any combat ship or strategic sea lift vessel carrying any military combat set from North America to Europe in case of some nutjob deciding to try to survive a conventional war with Russia in 404. 

 

I want to remind you again about what just one Yasen-class armed only with 800-km range Onyx missiles can do in terms of possible "patrol" along the Atlantic SLOC:

Zircon carriers can sink any CBG or escort without even entering the risk zone of farthest edge of CBG patrol, including early warning aircraft. But, of course, Russia has more than two carriers of this "strike package". Plus, never forget good ol' pr. 949A Oscars, not to mention venerable pr. 971 Schuka (NATO Akula) who go to sea regularly. That's the message--in case of war the US will not be able to resupply and deploy additional troops to Europe. In related news, commemorating 80th Anniversary of the D-Day, Biden didn't even mention a key role Soviet Union and Red Army played making Allied landing possible. But, of course, we all know, should have Patton planned and executed Operation Bagration he would surely have done it better than Russkies. Boy, I wish the guy was present at Kursk Battle.

Let The (Military) Porn Rule...

 ... you cannot change this. Masturbators will masturbate to hardware. And believe me, they are getting really excited. 

It is difficult to explain to them or Western Russia "experts" that Russia is not just awash in cash--there is a new generation of technological geniuses coming online. It is impossible for a single person like me to report on mind-boggling industrial development of Russia taking place as I type this. 

Remember this a year ago?

It is now getting ready for serial production. But keep in mind this, remember, 2020?

В России разрабатывается проект нового самолета с вертикальными взлетом и посадкой, рассказал вице-премьер Юрий Борисов. Он отметил, что по поручению президента проект включили в государственную программу вооружений. В России разрабатывается проект нового самолета с вертикальными взлетом и посадкой, рассказал вице-премьер Юрий Борисов на открытии военно-технического форума "Армия-2018". Он отметил, что по поручению президента проект включили в государственную программу вооружений. 

Translation: A project for a new aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing is being developed in Russia, said Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov. He noted that, on the instructions of the president, the project was included in the state weapons program. Russia is developing a project for a new aircraft with vertical take-off and landing, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said at the opening of the Army-2018 military-technical forum. He noted that, on the instructions of the president, the project was included in the state weapons program.

 

Well, remember this plane?  

This thing was revolutionary--first ever supersonic VTOL with powerful avionics and armament. That is why Gorbachev killed it one of the first, and then Yakovlev Design Bureau gave up technical documentation on it to the US. That is how F-35B was conceived. Well, things never stay the same, you know. And attacks of 404 on Kerch shipbuilding plant recently by using Storm-shadow/Scalp were not about hitting missile corvettes. Nope, they have been about these being built there:

With 40,000 tons of displacement each and capable of launching drones--YES, you already have guessed it--depending on the cover of the flight deck, these guys will be able also to carry STOVL. That what is this all about, and those attacks on Kersch. BTW, if anyone wonders, French Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier has the displacement of around 42, 500 tons.  Make your own conclusions.

Larry Wrote An Excellent...

 ... intro-retrospective on the events leading to SMO. 

The US decided to go forward with its anti-Russian campaign, with sanctions and the demonization of all things Russian.  An outside observer could relate it to the famous US attempt to change the name of “French fries” to “Freedom fries” when France refused to endorse one of the US military invasions. In any event, the US actions made it easier for Putin to begin a more general mobilization for the war effort, call up reservists, and to rapidly build up weapons output.  There were calls again from Russian supporters to speed up the war and for Russia to go on the offensive in the hope that Ukraine could be knocked out of action quickly, thus saving lots of lives and infrastructure.  The hope of this group was that it would show the West that the effort against Russia was not going to succeed and negotiations toward a new security architecture could proceed.  The opposing view was that a big offensive by Russia would enable the Western propaganda to scare the Europeans and create greater unity in NATO.  This view claims that cracks in NATO are getting wider all the time and that the EU is more and more dysfunctional—so why interrupt the enemy when he is making a mistake?

Read the whole thing at Larry's blog. 

In related news, Russian Navy continues its "weak performance" in accordance to some US "analysts" and today blew up VSU military academy barracks in Lvov. There have been 800 VSU and NATO personnel housed there. Not anymore. 

Yet another evidence of Russia "running out of missiles".

And About Air Defense... Again.

And why I hate fvcking TG platform--if you are not the part of it, you cannot see the video. Having said this. Russian Navy reports, with video which I cannot access, that:  

Корвет «Резкий» в ходе заводских ходовых испытаний в Японском море сбил средствами ПВО противокорабельную крылатую ракету «Москит»

 ▫️ Корвет «Резкий» уничтожил крылатую ракету, выпущенную с надводного корабля условного противника.

▫️ Роль неприятельского корабля выполнял ракетный катер «Р-20», который с дистанции свыше 90 км выполнил пуск противокорабельной крылатой ракеты «Москит» в район нахождения корвета.

▫️ В свою очередь, военнослужащие радиотехнической боевой части «Резкого» своевременно обнаружили пуск ракеты-мишени и взяли её на сопровождение, после чего расчёт зенитного ракетного комплекса «Редут» уничтожил сверхзвуковую цель на безопасном для корабля расстоянии. Синхронно с ЗРК огонь по цели вела 100-мм артиллерийская установка «А-190».

Translation: Corvette "Rezky" during factory sea trials in the Sea of Japan shot down an anti-ship cruise missile "Moskit" by means of air defense ▫️ Corvette "Rezky" destroyed a cruise missile fired from a mock enemy surface ship. ▫️ The role of the enemy ship was played by the R-20 missile boat, which, from a distance of over 90 km, launched the Moskit anti-ship cruise missile in the area where the corvette was located. ▫️ In turn, the servicemen of the radio-technical combat unit "Rezkyi" timely detected the launch of the target missile and took it for escort, after which the crew of the "Redut" anti-aircraft missile system destroyed the supersonic target at a safe distance for the ship. Synchronously with the air defense system, a 100-mm A-190 artillery mount fired at the target.

Pay attention to what is underlined. For those who do not know what P-270 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) is I have you know that this shaitan weapon is still a huge menace capable of reaching M=3 and conducting a violent anti-air defense maneuvers at the terminal and thus being extremely difficult to shoot down. Not for corvettes with a very impressive Zaslon Radar Complex and Redut Air Defense missile complex. Here is Rezkyi:

And here is this Moskit:

It is still a very potent weapon despite being more than 30 years old. And, of course, Redut's ground version is known to you as S-350 Vityaz which is the only complex in the world which operates completely autonomously, without crew inputs, and detects, tracks and shoots down targets--it continues to do so in SMO. And here are some (fairly reliable) news re: first hull of pr. 20380 Stereguschiy.

Early 2024 the ship pulls into the repair and a complete overhaul which will see it with everything new, including Redut and 3C14 VLS with 3M22 Zircon and Otvet ASW missile being its main weapons. Well, do not forget new battle management system and other "delicacies" such as new radar and comms. The refit is planned to be completed in 2025. So, here is some military porn for ya.

Russian Navy Day.

As Larch already provided in other thread some summary on the new Russian Maritime (Морская) Doctrine--it is not just Naval, it is broader--it is geopolitical. Some already called it a challenge to the US Navy. While you can see English summary of new Doctrine in Larch's post here, it has to be stated clearly that Russian Navy was always a challenger to the US Navy based on a simple principle, with the exception of utterly catastrophic 1990s, that it was a Sea Denial force designed specifically to remove naval threats from Russia's shores and this task remains the core of Russian Navy's mission. Five years ago I wrote for the US Naval Institute:

Such carriers and their battle groups would be able to meet any challenge in remote areas and would provide Russia with strategic stability near her shores ,and a few zones of interest in a time of dramatic global power rebalancing. The Russian Navy doesn’t need to fight for a global sea control. The Russian Navy is not going to challenge the U.S. Navy’s global maritime dominance. The Russian Navy’s main task is to provide a reliable defense of Russia’s shores and avoid war by presenting a defensive and forbidding posture. The Russian Navy is an organic part of the larger military force of Russia, whose only concern is preventing a global conflict. In this sense, the Russian Navy is completely integrated into the Russian tradition of national security, which spreads across the wide spectrum of activities, encompassing diplomacy, coherent foreign policy, intelligence and military force—a set of security imperatives erroneously dubbed in the West “hybrid warfare.”[15] Sergei Gorshkov prided himself on turning the Soviet post-World War II Navy into a modern fighting force by the end of 1960s. That fleet was called the “Raketno-Yadernyi,” the Missile-Nuclear Navy. Today, the Russian Navy is on its way to becoming a leaner and more potent Raketno-Yadernyi version of its former Soviet self, capable of carrying out any task in defense of its country. By doing so, the Russian Navy has finally found its mission. Considering Russia’s immense and tragic experience with warfare, such an accomplishment is no small feat. Especially in the absence of a coherent navy specific doctrine.

Well, the coherence finally was provided today in new Doctrine. It is based on two fundamental pillars which, naturally, have been overlooked in the West:

1. Revelations of the real size and scope of Russian economy, which, as it turned out (surprise-surprise), is huge and immensely influential globally;

2. Real Revolution of Military Affairs, which provided truly revolutionary weapon systems which changed the fate of classic carrier-centric navies. FYI, 3M22 Zircon starts it serial procurement to first line surface ships of Russian Navy this September.

I want to remind you, again, this:

This is the reality of a missile salvo at the range of P-800 Onyx, or of HALF the range of 3M22 Zircon against any CBG. In other worlds, the perspective Russian carriers will out-range any US CBG by missile weapons alone, not to speak of airwings. 

The change of the tone of the new Doctrine is not surprising, however, the time of co-existence with declining and aggressive West is over--massive geopolitical realignment with severe military ramifications is here and it is enough to take a look at SMO. The events such as outbursts of the so called Norwegin "diplomat" in Murmansk hotel a few days ago, or Ann Coulter exhibiting a very good level of awareness and putting this uneducated moron Pierce Morgan into his place yesterday are just some private cases of a larger trend on reality hitting home and biting ass.

This is just an infinitesimally small portion of moods and thoughts of people who, unlike most Western journos, didn't lose their brains. This IS the new brave world and priorities change, as it should be. Even earlier, 9 years ago, I wrote for USNI Proceedings.  

Read it attentively, in 2013 when I was writing this, I gave the "cut out" time for 2020. Meaning Russia's economy recovering and restructuring and a new generation of ships and weapon systems getting ready by that time. Indeed, in 2022 the decision to turn Russian Navy into a truly Blue Water global navy has been made and the doctrinal fog has been dissipated. 

Per this attack on the HQ of the Black Sea Fleet, as was totally expected, it was a local job with some small drone. It has nothing to do with Air Defense but with classic terrorist-diversionary activity of local element being either SBU assets or simply fanatical Russophobes--there are many of such people in Russia. Plus, NATO "advisers" are only good for training specifically terrorists but this is the field of responsibility for FSB and MVD. The only effect was 6 slightly wounded personnel and cancellation of celebration of Navy Day in Sevastopol. 

In related news, yet another small present to the Black Sea for Navy Day, a new patrol ship of project 22160 Sergei Kotov was transferred to the fleet (in Russian).

Those shitstorm corvettes evidently ARE fully capable of carrying a container Kalibr family missiles, so Russians may get further in their version of LCS it seems. Those in the know say the ships are really good.  So, this is your primer for Sunday.

"Belgorod" Is In.

So, the big news today, of course, is this:

"Севмаш" передал ВМФ РФ подлодку "Белгород", которая будет первым носителем "Посейдонов"

Translation: "Sevmash" handed over to the Russian Navy the submarine "Belgorod", which will be the first carrier of "Poseidons"  

Obviously, Poseidon, together with a number of other Russia's serial produced weapons such as Avangard or Zircon--you know, the ones Western media called cartoons in 2018--worry the United States and there have been several attempts to "limit" the development and now the procurement of such weapons under different pretexts, including arms limitations talks. Enough to recall this:

The international community must band together to ban the use of autonomous nuclear weapons before it's too late, argues a leading arms control group. Autonomous nukes could make mistakes humans would not, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists—a Chicago-based nonprofit made up of scientists and global security experts—says in a recent post. The artificial intelligence (AI) programs that guide these weapons are inexperienced in making even relatively simple decisions without humans. The solution, the Bulletin states, is to always keep nuclear weapons under total human control.

Well, I agree in principle with limiting the use of AI in nukes, but who said that Poseidon is fully "autonomous"? Even this article states that:

Meanwhile, Russia is developing an autonomous uninhabited undersea vehicle, Poseidon (pictured at the top of this story). The bus-sized vessel travels at 70 knots an hour, packs a two-megaton thermonuclear warhead, and is designed to be launched against aircraft carriers and coastal targets. The U.S. Navy describes Poseidon as autonomous, Kallenborn notes, but it's unclear how much autonomy it actually has. Regardless, an autonomous system delivering a weapon with the explosive power of two million tons of TNT should make everyone uneasy.

The first thing, of course, is the use of "70 knots per hour" which is cringe-worthy because a knot IS a measure of speed and it is a nautical mile per hour. Used in knots per hour is more a description of acceleration (and old way of saying it) than of speed. Secondly, nobody but Russians know the degree of autonomy of Poseidon and Russia is not the country which takes such issues lightly. 

No matter how such an event will be spun by Western "journos", one has to keep in mind that Poseidon, while capable of wiping out huge segments of the coast by creating a monstrous tsunami--some say up to 500 meters high--its existence has profound ramifications for any fleet which would decide to travel as a formation, a precise way Carrier Battle Groups travel, because they become merely sitting ducks for such a weapon. Obviously modern means of detection and targeting on Poseidon, most likely, allow to use this huge vehicle as a carrier of a huge conventional warhead capable to sink, by detonating under the keel, any type of ship, including US Navy's CVNs. And it cannot be intercepted by modern ASW weapons due to a huge speed and an extreme difficulty of detecting it, especially when traveling at the depth of 1+ kilometer and surfacing only for the strike. 

It is a terrifying thing, plus, of course, its carrier--the redesigned pr. 949A K-329 Belgorod--doesn't need to venture far away from Russia's shores in case of serious events and can launch Poseidons from a relative safety of areas patrolled by Russian Navy's multipurpose subs and covered by ASW/Patrol aviation. 

Here is Belgorod a year ago, going to its sea trials. More carriers of Poseidon are being built. H.I. Sutton wrote three months ago.

Poseidon is a completely new category of weapon. It will reshape naval planning in both Russia and the West, leading to new requirements and new counter-weapons. A weapon which cannot be nullified with anti-missile defenses. In future nuclear tensions, if we live through this one, it will be a strong factor. But we are not there yet. As of today none of the submarines to carry it are operational. One test submarine, Sarov which can carry a single round, is in service. Another boat, Belgorod, is not yet commissioned. It could be speculated that Russia could attempt a launch if desperate enough. But it is currently nowhere near the threat level of traditional submarine launched missiles. Poseidon’s day will come.

The Poseidon's day has come and, together with 3M22 Zircon and new AD systems being deployed to new Russian Navy's ships, world's navies as we know them will go the way of sail ships and dreadnoughts--into history. 

In related news, VSU tried to mount some kind of "offensive" (a euphemism for couple of tactical level attacks) in Zaporozhie (in Russian). The result was easily predictable, pre-deployed VSU forces were promptly "Uraganized" and lost any desire to attack. Same goes for clowns who tried to "raise flag" at Snake Island couple of days ago and were immediately "decomposed" by Russian Air Force and those few who survived started to hide wherever they could at this island. Obviously, the solemn ceremony of raising Ukrainian flag had to be abandoned. But I am sure they will try it again some time later. They need all PR "victories" they can get. I am sure the Black Sea Fleet aviation will provide fireworks, if you know what I mean. 

Putin About Family and Happiness.

I can subscribe to all his words here and the importance of family and children. I slept today till 1:30 (13:30) PM after going to bed at midnight-13.5 hours of sleep. The reason? The peace--the whole family is together, everybody seems to be healthy and a day of calm ahead. Love, inner peace, family, children are the most important things in life, it is good to be financially secure, no doubt about it, but without both joy and obligation of motherhood and fatherhood--there is no society. 

Either culture extols family and survives or it is done, there is nothing in between. I like Thomas Sowell's discussion of love. 

Everything starts there, everything, the cycle of life and happiness, obviously considered within the framework of changing circumstances of our lives where tragedy also often lurks in the background, but that cannot be changed--it is just the way it is. Look at new Russian Constitution--everything is there in place to support the cycle of life. And I was immensely glad to hear Putin speaking about confusion among demographers, who, like many other in social "sciences" cannot provide a coherent forecast regarding demographic situation. In general, the culture which promotes promiscuity, makes it glamorous for girls to bu sluts and boys to look like freaks, such a culture is bound to collapse. 

In unrelated news. The United States sabotaged supplies of composite materials (e.g. Hexcell) for Russia's commercial aviation, so Russia... simply built a whole composite industry from the ground up and yesterday, new and serial production MC-21 flew with new Russian-made composite wing.  

4 serial MC-21 aircraft are already getting ready to join Rossiya Airline this coming year.  Per Provornyi pr. 20385 corvette, evidently the damage was primarily to composite superstructure, hull itself is fine and the contract has been removed from Severnaya Wharf and the decision is pending where the hull will be towed (Yantar, Kaliningrad or elsewhere) to be rebuilt (completed). Russian shipyards are freaking busy, all of them. So, it is not that easy of a decision. But, Russia continues to build newest nukes with a respectable speed. Generalissimo Suvorov was pulled out into the open today (in Russian)--it is yet another state-of-the-art SSBN of a modernized pr.955A (Borey-class) which will be going to the Pacific Fleet. 

Now the latest news about Admiral Chabanenko are altogether mystifying but it looks like it WAS modernized and should return to the fleet already as a mix between FFG and DDG with a truck load of newest missiles, we all know which ones.  Ah, yes:

Washington is willing to talking to Russia about the list of security guarantees proposed by Moscow, and officials can sit down for discussions in January, the White House revealed on Thursday.

Ah, good. As legendary Soviet FM Andrei Gromyko used to say:" Ten years of negotiations are better than one day of war." Agree, but this time the US doesn't have ten years, or even months.  

This Is Why Navies Exist.

Marines from Vice-Admiral Kulakov Large ASW Ship (read my lips--IT IS NOT a destroyer) dealt with pirates in the Gulf of Guinea and left some video from KA-27PS. Western media say that Russians "say that they drove pirates away" from the container-carrier Lucia. 20 Ukrainians, 1 Romanian  and 1 Russian constituting the crew were found in the vessel's innards and were OK. I wonder what language Ukrainians greeted Russians with, LOL. I know there were hugs. 

Vice-Admiral Kulakov has been in the ocean for 4 month now, and I am sure whoever those pirates were, they didn't want to face really pissed off Russian marines, who, at this stage, want to be home and wouldn't mind shooting a couple of jerks for the sake of stress-relief. I kid, I kid--Russians are not blood-thirsty monsters, they will just blow your kneecaps off, but you'll live. 

Better To See Once...

.... than hear and read about it. Zvezda  elaborated on Russian-Chinese naval exercise taking place now in the Sea of Japan and yes--this is not your regular exercise, which, indeed, attracted USS Chafee. In Russian, starting from 5:30 through 9:00. 

Nope, these are not your traditional "international naval exercise" with maneuvering and saving distressed people in the water. The scope of tasks Russian and Chinese fleets fulfill: 

1. Formation of the joint Ships Search-Strike Group (KPUG);

2. Joint ASW activity including KPUG's search and destroy of "enemy" submarine;

3. Setting up and engaging joint Air-Defense of the group, including target and targeting data distribution within group (Netcentricity, hello!);

4. Joint launching (electronic) of anti-shipping missiles by the group;

5. Other combat tasks such as counter-mine and gunnery.

This is how military ALLIES train. This is how they integrate their forces and, boy, we can only speculate now at what stage of integration those forces are. I am sure it is in advanced stage. 

In related news, Russians, with sarcastic laughter, noticed (in Russian) that Hadley Gamble didn't listen to many Putin's answers during recent moderating of Russia's Energy Week and was merely trying to look good while asking questions. No shit! The whole core idea of US media and politicos is how to turn anything being about precious me, me, me. It is narcissism taken to eleven. LOL. Apart from the obvious fact that many of them are simply dumb and badly educated to grasp even simplest of the responses.  Can you imagine trying to explain how Operational Sweep in Northern Atlantic against heterogeneous forces of Russian Navy has a direct influence on geopolitics to Hadley Gamble or... ahem, David Axe. Good luck with that.  Same wish of good luck goes to Turkey (another LOL) who tries now to return her $1.4 billion of down-payment for F-35s, while Washington offers Erdogan (his words)...F-16. You literally cannot make this shit up. 

"There is the payment of $1.4 billion we have made for the F-35s and the US had such a proposal in return for these payments," Erdogan said. "We have said we'll take whatever step is needed to meet our country's defense needs," the Turkish leader added.  The Turkish government's purchase of S-400 defense systems from Russia caused diplomatic tensions between the US and Turkey, who are both members of the trans-Atlantic NATO alliance. The US has sanctioned employees of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate and warned Ankara against purchasing further equipment from Russia. Erdogan said last month Turkey is planning to purchase more S-400 systems from Moscow. "In the future, nobody will be able to interfere in terms of what defense systems we acquire, from which country at what level," Erdogan told US media outlet CBS News. 

Good luck, Turkey, getting your money back. Turkey may expect down the road offers to buy M-4 Sherman tanks and P-51 Mustangs, and why not? F-16 is an excellent combat plane for... the war against countries with no viable air forces in 1990s. It is 2021 today. But even more stunning was this, three days ago--I posted it on the discussion but give it a minute to take in what is being said: 

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jose Fernandez met today with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Overchuk to reinforce the United States’ commitment to a stable and predictable bilateral relationship.  Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry separately met with Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk today and repeated his call for Russia to take more robust action on climate. Deputy Secretary Sherman called on Russia to do more to ensure European energy security while also echoing Secretary Kerry’s call for it to submit a strengthened nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement by the time COP 26 meets on October 31.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Under Secretary Fernandez urged Russia to ensure fair treatment for U.S. companies in its marketplace and to resolve U.S. concerns about Russia’s trade and investment climate.  Deputy Secretary Sherman also underscored continued U.S. commitment to freedom of expression online.

Just think about it. This is not some BS think-tank in D.C. These are people with actual power and policy-setting positions. Polish press went apoplectic on this:

Cynizm czy odrealnienie? Podsekretarz stanu USA poprosiła Rosję o... zapewnienie Europie bezpieczeństwa energetycznego

Translation:  Cynicism or unreality? The US Undersecretary of State asked Russia to ... ensure energy security for Europe. 

I have news for Polish politicos and media personalities. Read my lips--second or third tier powers, such as Poland (for all my love for Polish culture), trying to interject themselves into the big guys game always ends up bad for such powers as Poland. Recall 1939? It is a cold hard fact of life. The US needed Poland as a front window for Western "capitalism" in the wake of the Soviet collapse and then as a pro-American spoiler in messy European affairs, including as a saboteur for Russia's energy projects, to be thrown out as used condom later. Now, this time has come for a simple reason, the United States tries to coral all her, by far not infinite, in fact very limited, resources to meet Chinese and Russian "challenges" and Poland, despite her active and fairly influential US diaspora, is not that important in the larger scheme of things. 

The times when Poland had a respectable industry from extraction to massive shipbuilding and even consumer electronics capacity are long gone, and Poland today is primarily a FIRE economy--EU made sure that Poland will be primarily a consumer, not a supplier. So did the US. After all, Germany and France (or Netherlands)--they have their own working class to feed and to do so they have to have high value added physical economy staying home. So, there you are. The United States is too busy making a killing at the hotter than hot Asian energy market and Polish LNG facilities can wait. Come on, guys, nothing personal, just business and the business is good for the United States in Asia.  And that is just one factor, there are many more. Big powers always think about themselves first--it is an axiom. It is about time Polish political class recognized it. Words are worthless, especially when they involve such terms as "common values", "democracy", "human rights", "freedom of speech" etc.  Russians, meanwhile, are still trying to figure out who among US elites (groups, clans, mafias etc.) has at least some capability to govern and with whom one can have a meaningful dialogue. This is a tall order. 

Arms For Sale.

Rosoboronexport signed the first contract--the country is not disclosed yet--for newest Pantsir S1M (in Russian), which is a further development of now legendary S1s and this one has an increased range or targets' "intercept" of 30 kilometers and elevation of 18. But among news pouring in about Russia producing nothing (wink, wink), this one stands apart--the signing of contract for the new batch of S-400s between Russia and Turkey is expected by the end of this year (in Russian).  If that wasn't enough, Russia offered Turkey help in developing the fifth generation fighter. I don't need to elaborate on geopolitical significance of this news, since Turkey, being a NATO member, looks increasingly interested in military cooperation with Russia for obvious reasons. Same as Egypt, whose political "top" was "impressed" by the fate of Libya and, obviously, doesn't want to repeat the fate of her Arab neighbor. 

Two days ago, Vladimir Putin gave a start for the construction of six new ships for Russia's Navy, among them two newest Borey A SSBNs, two latest Project 636 SSKs and two corvettes, one of project 20380, another of the ocean-going variety of project 20385, capable of carrying 3M22 Zircon. All that bounty is for Russia's Pacific Fleet with the exception of the Boreys, because it is unclear if both of them will join Pacific Fleet or only one. But here is one ship which caught my attention: 

This is the newest project 15310 cable-laying ship Volga, which, without much fanfare, was launched at Kerch shipyard Zaliv few days ago. It is a beautiful, 10,000 ton of displacement, modern vessel (the second one of the class is also nearing the completion at the same shipyard) which is yet another proof of a major boost in Russia's shipbuilding industry which many Western "experts" buried just few years ago. These two particular auxiliaries will operate as Russian Navy's ships and the next big thing from Kerch are, of course, those two amphibious assault ships, which will be four times heavier and larger than Volga and her sister-ship Vyatka. And I am not even talking about SSK Zvezda at Far East which is extremely busy building giant Aframax class vessels and this:

The first multifunctional supply vessel Ice breaker 7 – «Кaterina Velikaya» was launched from the slipway at  Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. This is the lead vessel of a series of four vessels for Rosneft. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took part in its keel laying on the slipway. In parallel, three other vessels of the series are under construction at the shipyard. 

Russia builds those ice-breakers (their different iterations) like there is no tomorrow and most of it is related to the obvious economic dynamics of the emerging Eurasian market, which will need a lot of energy, the type of energy EU wants to forbid to use and thus complete its descent into the economic and geopolitical obscurity.