While taking photos during a Mercedes SUV test run on the shores of the White Sea, Russia’s top-secret Losharik special purpose submarine suddenly appeared on the water.
Russia is stepping up its military activity in the Arctic region. As part of this effort, Russian Armed Forces reopened an abandoned military base on the Kola Peninsula in the Russia city of Alakurtti recently, just 60 kilometres from the Finnish border.
The Northern Fleet’s new rescue vessel «Igor Belousov» has completed its first sea trials and should be ready for transfer to the north in course of the first quarter of 2015.
The ballistic nuclear missile submarine “Yekaterinburg” is repaired and again ready for mission, three years after the Barents Region was shaken by fear during the dramatic fire north of Murmansk. Neighboring Norway is still waiting for a deal on being informed if similar accidents happen again.
Russia’s defense sector gets guarantees that expenses are confirmed despite economic meltdown. On Friday, yet another brand new strategic missile submarine joined the Northern fleet.
Norway’s Intelligence Service will soon get a new “Marjata” vessel to operate in the Barents Sea. The vessel will be the world’s most advanced of its kind and will secure Norway’s need for information in the High North the next 30 years.
Norway plans its largest military exercise in Finnmark in nearly fifty years with 5000 soldiers taking part in exercise Joint Viking in March. – Choice of location is without relevance to Russia, says Armed Forces, – The exercise will provoke Russia, says military analyst.
Russia’s Northern Fleet will get a new intelligence collecting vessel before the end of the year. “Yury Ivanov” is currently undergoing sea trials in the Gulf of Finland.
