Russian Navy received new Grachonok-class special-purpose boat

Upon completion of the official tests, the acceptance/delivery certificate for the tenth Grachonok-class special-purpose boat of Project 21980 build by Zelenodolsk Plant was signed on October 9, 2014, the shipyard’s press center says.

The Black Sea Fleet of Russia has obtained the seventh Grachonok-class boat 13 months ahead of the schedule.

Grachonok-class special-purpose boats of Project 21980 have been built for RF Navy by Zelenodolsk Shipyard from 2008. The seventh Grachonok-class boat was laid down on July 27, 2013.

The project developer is Vympel Design Bureau (Nizhniy Novgorod).

Basic characteristics of Project 21980 special-purpose boat: Displacement: 138 t; Dimensions: length – 31 m, beam – 7.4 m, draft – 1.85 m: Full speed: 23 knots; Operating range: 200 miles; Endurance: 5 days; Crew: 8.

Armament: Igla SAM system, 14.5-mm pedestal machine gun mount, DP-65A counter-terror grenade launcher, DP-64 grenade launcher.

Russia to build second “Ivan Gren” amphibious landing vessel

While waiting for France’s final ruling on the delivery of its Mistral-class assault ship, Russia has proceeded to order a more modest amphibious landing vessel from its own shipyards, the CEO of the Nevsky Design Bureau was quoted by TASS as saying Monday.

Although pricing has yet to be determined, the order is for an Ivan Gren-class large amphibious landing ship. The warship will be the second of its kind.

The Ivan Gren class is a key part of rearmament program, as vessels of its type are vital for expanding a military’s reach and launching attacks on foreign territory.

Under the program, the navy is also building 16 new nuclear power submarines for long-range deployments and modernizing 12 older nuclear submarines, TASS reported in early September.

Russian shipbuilders ready to develop Mistral analogue

Russian shipbuilding industry can easily design analogues of amphibious assault ships “Mistral”, TASS reported with reference to the Director General of Nevsky Design Bureau Sergey Vlasov.

“There are no new technologies in connection with the purchase of “Mistral”, as I believe, which we have not got … Russia could easily produce such ships,” Vlasov said.

CEO of Nevsky Design Bureau recalled that the sufficiency of the competence of the Russian enterprises in the development of these ships shows their successful participation in co-operation with the French shipbuilders in creating “Mistral” for Russia. Baltic Shipyard, in particular, built for them two aft parts that were towed to France.

Rostec and CASC signed an agreement on strategic cooperation

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang held a regular meeting in Moscow on Monday. About 30 documents were expected to be signed, a government official said.

State Corporation Rostec and  China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to promote trade, investment and cooperation in the field of high technologies. In particular, it is a joint development and manufacture of electronic components, cooperation in the field of information technology, communications and automation systems, new materials and other spheres.

Also Russia and China signed on Monday a number of intergovernmental agreements on energy cooperation, including one on a $400 billion natural gas deal agreed in May, a Russian government source said.

Russian Helicopters granted limited export rights

Russian Helicopters – the state-controlled holding company behind Russia’s rotary-wing aerospace assets – has announced that it has been granted the right to sell spare parts, components, and technical documentation outside Russia.

The company said on 9 October that approval was granted by the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

Russian Helicopters – a subsidiary of the Rostec state conglomerate – said in a statement that “the company may now also provide a full range of support services and participate in joint ventures with non-Russian clients and establish and equip service and maintenance facilities in other countries and train up foreign staff.

Russia renewing its space-based early warning system

Russia is developing a new unified space system to detect ballistic missile launches, with creating the new system being a “key direction” of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu stated on 9 October.

The new system will replace Soviet legacy equipment with new-generation satellites, modernised space control posts, and updated computer networks. Shoigu said the defence ministry plans to review testing of its ground infrastructure, as well as the development of new satellites.

The early warning system will detect ballistic missile launches from land and submarines, as well as missile tests in various countries, according to Shoigu.

Russian Helicopters showcases fire-fighting helicopter at Helitech International

Russian Helicopters (part of State Corporation Rostec) is taking part in Helitech International 2014 helicopter expo and conference, which opened today in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and runs until 16 October. Russian Helicopters is showcasing the Ka-32A11BC fire-fighting helicopter. Russian Helicopters’ exhibition can be found at stand J20.

The multirole Ka-32A11BC helicopter is the recognised leader in its class. This model boasts a uniquely broad range of potential applications compared with other multirole helicopters internationally. The fire-fighting version of the Ka-32A11BC was awarded the highest rating by specialists in recognition of how effective it is at fighting fires.

The helicopter is ideally suited to saving people’s lives and fighting fires in high-rise buildings. Its coaxial design gives the Ka-32A11BC the advantage in precision hovering and manoeuvrability, which are vital features in carrying out complex fire-fighting operations, such as using water cannon to fight fires. The helicopter can operate for long periods in difficult, smoky, dusty, conditions. It can be fitted with a wide range of additional specialised equipment, including Bambi-Bucket and Simplex systems, and water cannon for horizontal fire-fighting.

The Ka-32A11BC has been adopted as the emblem of the Global Fire-fighting Helicopter Initiative (GFHI) – a programme aiming to improve effectiveness of specialised fire-fighting helicopters.

Russian Helicopters involved in drafting of Russia-China aviation agreement

Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, took part in a signing ceremony of intergovernmental agreements between Russian and Chinese aviation authorities. The agreements set out the core principles guiding the countries’ joint work across design certification, production, airworthiness certification for export and technical cooperation.

“China is one of the oldest and largest partners for Russia’s helicopter industry,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “These agreements will have a beneficial effect on our future work together by simplifying cooperation in a number of key areas, including exports of new and advanced Russian helicopters to the Chinese market.”

Setting out an agreed set of principles for working together is a sign of deepening cooperation between Russia and China, and is expected to significantly reduce the organisational and financial burden on the aviation industries of both countries for exports and imports of commercial aircraft, as well as facilitating deeper cooperation on design work and production and mutual use of aviation products, which serves the interests of both countries.

Russian Helicopters works with China as part of Rostec’s targeted efforts to develop partnership and strategic cooperation with Chinese companies in high-tech industries and aircraft manufacturing. As part of a MoU on construction of a heavy commercial helicopter, for example, Rostec and Russian Helicopters are continuing discussions and consultations with Chinese company Aviacopter.