Russian nuclear-sub test launches intercontinental missile
Agencies Published November 6, 2023
Russia’s new nuclear-powered submarine Imperator Alexander III test launches the Bulava ballistic missile, designed to carry nuclear warheads, from the White Sea, on Sunday.—Reuters
MOSCOW: Russia’s new strategic nuclear submarine, the Imperator Alexander III, has successfully tested a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, the Russian defence ministry said on Sunday.
The missile, which the Federation of American Scientists says is designed to carry up to six nuclear warheads, was launched from an underwater position in the White Sea off Russia’s northern coast and hit a target thousands of kilometres away on the Kamchatka peninsula in the Russian Far East, the defence ministry said.
“Firing a ballistic missile is the final element of state tests, after which a decision will be made to accept the cruiser into the Navy,” a ministry statement said.
The Imperator Alexander III is the seventh of the Russian Project 955 Borei (Arctic Wind) class nuclear submarines and the fourth of the modernised Borei-A variant, according to Russian sources.
They are known in Nat as the Dolgoruky class of submarines, after the first boat — the Yuri Dolgoruky — became the first new generation of nuclear submarine launched by Russia since the Cold War.
The Borei class submarine is armed with 16 Bulava missiles. The 12-metre (40-foot) missile has a range of about 8,000 km (5,000 miles).
Since rising to power in 1999, President Vladimir Putin has increased military spending and sought to rebuild Russia’s nuclear and conventional forces after the chaos that accompanied the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.
The Ukraine war has triggered the worst crisis in Moscow’s relations with the West since the depths of the Cold War and Putin last month said he was not ready to say whether or not Russia should resume nuclear testing.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview aired on Sunday that relations with the United States were below zero. “Relations are at zero — or I would say below zero,” Peskov said, though he added that at some point the leaders of Russia and the United States would have to resume contact. “Putin has repeatedly stated that he is ready for any contacts,” Peskov said.
Russia aims to build a total of 10 to 12 Borei-class submarines to be divided between the Northern and Pacific fleets, according to the current plans disclosed by Russian media.
Three more Borei-class submarines are being built: the Knyaz Pozharsky, the Dmitry Donskoy and the Knyaz Potemkin. Two additional boats are also planned, according to Russian media. The 12-metre-long Bulava missile was designed to be the backbone of Moscow’s nuclear triad and has a range of over 8,000 kilometres (close to 5,000 miles).
The West has accused Moscow of using reckless nuclear rhetoric since it launched its offensive against Ukraine last February.
President Vladimir Putin earlier this week signed a law revoking Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a move strongly criticised by the United States.
The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never came into force because some key countries — including the United States and China — never ratified it.
Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2023
MOSCOW: Russia’s new strategic nuclear submarine, the Imperator Alexander III, has successfully tested a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, the Russian defence ministry said on Sunday.
The missile, which the Federation of American Scientists says is designed to carry up to six nuclear warheads, was launched from an underwater position in the White Sea off Russia’s northern coast and hit a target thousands of kilometres away on the Kamchatka peninsula in the Russian Far East, the defence ministry said.
“Firing a ballistic missile is the final element of state tests, after which a decision will be made to accept the cruiser into the Navy,” a ministry statement said.
The Imperator Alexander III is the seventh of the Russian Project 955 Borei (Arctic Wind) class nuclear submarines and the fourth of the modernised Borei-A variant, according to Russian sources.
They are known in Nat as the Dolgoruky class of submarines, after the first boat — the Yuri Dolgoruky — became the first new generation of nuclear submarine launched by Russia since the Cold War.
The Borei class submarine is armed with 16 Bulava missiles. The 12-metre (40-foot) missile has a range of about 8,000 km (5,000 miles).
Since rising to power in 1999, President Vladimir Putin has increased military spending and sought to rebuild Russia’s nuclear and conventional forces after the chaos that accompanied the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.
The Ukraine war has triggered the worst crisis in Moscow’s relations with the West since the depths of the Cold War and Putin last month said he was not ready to say whether or not Russia should resume nuclear testing.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview aired on Sunday that relations with the United States were below zero. “Relations are at zero — or I would say below zero,” Peskov said, though he added that at some point the leaders of Russia and the United States would have to resume contact. “Putin has repeatedly stated that he is ready for any contacts,” Peskov said.
Russia aims to build a total of 10 to 12 Borei-class submarines to be divided between the Northern and Pacific fleets, according to the current plans disclosed by Russian media.
Three more Borei-class submarines are being built: the Knyaz Pozharsky, the Dmitry Donskoy and the Knyaz Potemkin. Two additional boats are also planned, according to Russian media. The 12-metre-long Bulava missile was designed to be the backbone of Moscow’s nuclear triad and has a range of over 8,000 kilometres (close to 5,000 miles).
The West has accused Moscow of using reckless nuclear rhetoric since it launched its offensive against Ukraine last February.
President Vladimir Putin earlier this week signed a law revoking Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a move strongly criticised by the United States.
The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never came into force because some key countries — including the United States and China — never ratified it.
Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2023
US Announces Deployment of Nuclear Submarine to Middle East in Rare Move
November 6, 2023
The meaning in the message that a powerful American weapon was in the Middle East was not in what it said, but that it was said at all.
On Sunday, U.S. Central Command took to X and announced to the world that the United States had a nuclear submarine prowling the vast Middle East waters of Central Command’s territory.
“On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” Central Command posted
On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/iDgUFp4enp
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 5, 2023
In writing about the announcement, Stars and Stripes noted that announcing the presence of a vessel designed to operate unseen was “rare.”
Fox News shared that conclusion.
“The U.S. is intending to send an unmistakable message to its enemies as officials acknowledging the use of these submarines or sharing information about their location is very rare. They represent part of America’s so-called ‘nuclear triad’ of atomic weapons — which also includes land-based ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs aboard strategic bombers,” Fox News wrote.
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Fox News noted that Central Command also posted an image of a B-1 bomber, which is capable of carrying nuclear weapons, it said was operating in the Middle East.
On November 5, 2023, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer begins aerial refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 912th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron while conducting a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The mission was… pic.twitter.com/HQQn9EECIS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 5, 2023
Collectively, the United States has more than 17,000 troops in the region that have been shifted there as a response to the Israel-Hamas war.
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“It’s unusual to highlight the movement of strategic weapon systems like an Ohio-class submarine,” Director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security Jonathan Lord said, according to Time.
“It really speaks to the administration’s efforts to keep Hezbollah and other actors from joining this fight and opening new fronts against Israel,” he said.
Related:
Watch: Graphic Bodycam Video Supports Claim Florida Man 'Intentionally Ambushed' Cops, Ran Them Over
But Eric Brewer, a former Director for Counterproliferation with the National Security Council, said there is a deeper meaning in the message that should trouble Americans.
“You don’t do the types of deployments (and messaging) the administration is doing in the region right now unless you have good reason to worry that Iran/LH/others may escalate,” he posted on X.
You don’t do the types of deployments (and messaging) the administration is doing in the region right now unless you have good reason to worry that Iran/LH/others may escalate. https://t.co/IvgdtzS603
— Eric Brewer (@BrewerEricM) November 6, 2023
The announcement came after the two U.S. carrier strike groups in the region — the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower — conducted exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, Stars and Stripes reported.
The Eisenhower strike group has since moved through the Red Sea, meaning carrier strike groups are now to the west and southeast of Israel.
Advertisement - story continues below
Ohio-class submarines can carry Tomahawk cruise missiles or ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
The meaning in the message that a powerful American weapon was in the Middle East was not in what it said, but that it was said at all.
On Sunday, U.S. Central Command took to X and announced to the world that the United States had a nuclear submarine prowling the vast Middle East waters of Central Command’s territory.
“On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility,” Central Command posted
On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/iDgUFp4enp
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 5, 2023
In writing about the announcement, Stars and Stripes noted that announcing the presence of a vessel designed to operate unseen was “rare.”
Fox News shared that conclusion.
“The U.S. is intending to send an unmistakable message to its enemies as officials acknowledging the use of these submarines or sharing information about their location is very rare. They represent part of America’s so-called ‘nuclear triad’ of atomic weapons — which also includes land-based ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs aboard strategic bombers,” Fox News wrote.
If The Western Journal launched an online merchandise store, would you be interested?
Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to our news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Fox News noted that Central Command also posted an image of a B-1 bomber, which is capable of carrying nuclear weapons, it said was operating in the Middle East.
On November 5, 2023, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer begins aerial refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 912th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron while conducting a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The mission was… pic.twitter.com/HQQn9EECIS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 5, 2023
Collectively, the United States has more than 17,000 troops in the region that have been shifted there as a response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Advertisement - story continues below
“It’s unusual to highlight the movement of strategic weapon systems like an Ohio-class submarine,” Director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security Jonathan Lord said, according to Time.
“It really speaks to the administration’s efforts to keep Hezbollah and other actors from joining this fight and opening new fronts against Israel,” he said.
Related:
Watch: Graphic Bodycam Video Supports Claim Florida Man 'Intentionally Ambushed' Cops, Ran Them Over
But Eric Brewer, a former Director for Counterproliferation with the National Security Council, said there is a deeper meaning in the message that should trouble Americans.
“You don’t do the types of deployments (and messaging) the administration is doing in the region right now unless you have good reason to worry that Iran/LH/others may escalate,” he posted on X.
You don’t do the types of deployments (and messaging) the administration is doing in the region right now unless you have good reason to worry that Iran/LH/others may escalate. https://t.co/IvgdtzS603
— Eric Brewer (@BrewerEricM) November 6, 2023
The announcement came after the two U.S. carrier strike groups in the region — the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower — conducted exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, Stars and Stripes reported.
The Eisenhower strike group has since moved through the Red Sea, meaning carrier strike groups are now to the west and southeast of Israel.
Advertisement - story continues below
Ohio-class submarines can carry Tomahawk cruise missiles or ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
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