First Look - 04 June 2008

Russian Navy Ships Are Ready to Sail for Somalia, Where Pirates Have Captured a Russian Citizen.

Russian Navy ships are ready to set off for the shores of Somalia, where pirates have captured the crew of the Dutch ship Amiya Scan, among them a Russian, in the event a political decision is taken to do so, according to Kapitan First Rank Igor’ Dygalo.

“In the event higher leadership makes the political decision to send Russian Navy ships to the shores of Somalia, the fleet is unconditionally ready to carry out the decision”, noted the Navy representative.

Dygalo added that “use of force in any case is a measure of last resort”.

Pirates operating along the Somali coast have detained the 9 man crew of the Dutch ship Amiya Scan, among them the captain and three officers are from Russia and the rest are Filipino sailors.

China Tested the Newest Ballistic Missile “Tszyuylan-2”


The former Russian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Viktor Kravchenko considers the test of the newest submarine launched ballistic missile “Tszyuylan-2” to be a testament to the dynamic development of the naval component of the Chinese nuclear forces.

“In the last few years, China has added to the experience and has amassed enough economic potential to accelerate the development of the maritime component of its nuclear forces” noted the Admiral, commenting on the question posed by the ITAR-TASS correspondent on the test of the “Tszyuylan-2” ballistic missile for the newest project 094 nuclear submarine.

“After the new Chinese submarine is fully ready to enter service and is equipped with modern SLBMs, then it will be on of the most modern ships of its type, capable of threatening the security of all potential foes”, the Admiral says.

A Japanese newspaper with sources in the intelligence directorate in the Japanese Ministry of Defense, “Sankey” reported on the test launch of the “Tszyuylan-2” missile from the Yellow Sea
that took place on 29 May. The submerged launch took place from specially equipped Golf class submarine. The “Tszyuylan-2” (“Big Wave”) SLBM has an intercontinental range of flight. Project 094 submarines equipped with this missile will be able to hit targets in Europe and the US from its pier. The first boat of this type was launched in 2004 and is now undergoing sea trials before it is deployed to its base on the island of Hainan.

According to the press, a great base for 20 nuclear submarines, hidden from satellite view, is being built in the south of the island near the city of San’ya.



The above is a Russian TV Zvezda clip purporting to be the launch of the new missile. Despite the above Russian report noting that the launch took place from a submerged modified Golf SSB, the TV clip appears to depict a surface launch from a test barge.