Russia mobilises 20,000 troops; showcase naval strength

**xinhui** · 04 Jul 10,, 20:16

Russia mobilises 20,000 troops; showcase naval strength
Updated on Sunday, July 04, 2010, 18:14 IST
Tags: Russia, naval strength, troops

Russia mobilises 20,000 troops; showcase naval strength

Moscow: In one of the biggest show of military might since the collapse of USSR, Russia mobilised 20,000 troops and state-of-the-art weapons in a drill, with President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday asserting that his country is a "great" naval power capable of defending its interests.

Medvedev watched the impressive drills of the Russian Navy as part of the strategic Vostok-2010 (Orient-2010) wargames from the nuclear-powered "Pyotr Veliky" cruiser sailing in the sea of Okhotsk.

"Russia was and remains a great naval power capable of accomplishing tasks in the problem regions and is ready to defend its interests," Medvedev said praising the servicemen for "displaying high professionalism."

Over 20,000 men and 70 combat aircraft, 1,000 military hardware and 30 warships, including battleships of Black, Baltic, Pacific and Northern fleets, are taking part in Vostok-2010, the biggest ever war games in the Far East on the 'Chinese front' since the Soviet collapse in 1991.

As the supreme commander of the armed forces Medvedev sailed in to the Sea of Okhotsk on board the 'Pyotr Veliky' (Peter- the- Great) cruiser, famous as 'killer of aircraft carriers', Russian media reported.

The president watched how two Kamov Ka-27 helicopters dropped into sea sonar buoys to search in the operation to search and destroy "enemy" submarines.

The wargames began on June 29 and are to conclude on July 28 and involve the Russian military might stationed in the Eurasian part of the country from Ural Mountains, Siberia and Far Eastern military areas.

In the course of the war games Russia for the first time deployed its frontline Sukhoi Su-24M and Su-34 combat jets from the central parts to the far eastern parts 8,000 kms away.

"For the first time ever, we have tested in practice the capability for fighter jets to fly from aerodromes in the European part of Russia to eastern airfields in the Far Eastern district without landing, with in-flight refuelling and the delivery of strikes according to assignments received during the flight," Chief of General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov said.

During the six hour non-stop flight the fighter aircraft crew could accumulate experience in mid-air refuelling and going into action thousands of kilometres away from home base, Defence Ministry's Zvezda (Star) TV channel reported.

One of the novelties of the present wargames was airlifting of mechanised infantry from Urals area, without their heavy weapons, which were provided to them on arrival in the 'battle zone' from the reserve depots close to the borders with China.

"It took only six hours to airlift the mechanised infantry regiment several thousand kilometres away, with only light arms.

The loading of their heavy equipment and transporting would have taken up to 48 hours, which is impermissible in case of urgency," Zvezda TV said.

It also showed air defence drills by S-300 missiles and closer range Buk-M air defence system as well as building of bridges by highly mobile Railway Troops over Siberian rivers.

Although ahead of the war games Chief of Russian General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov had underscored that the drill is not directed against any country, but experts view them as Moscow's biggest ever exercise to cope with military challenge from China.

"This exercise is not directed against any specific country or military-political bloc. It has a purely defensive nature in ensuring our state's security and national interests in the Far East," he said.

According to him the Armed Forces will practice the deployment of additional troops in Siberia and the Far East to reinforce the existing military contingent in the region in case of a military conflict.

Incidentally, the Chinese military observers were not invited to all the stages and events of the war games including naval drills.

"They have arrived in Siberia on Saturday and will be present only during land drills in Siberia," RIA Novosti reported quoting Defence Ministry.

"The Chinese delegation will attend a key phase of the Vostok-2010 drills at the Tsugol training grounds, and will be presented with a general overview of the Vostok-2010 exercises and observe a river crossing practice performed by Russian troops.

**xinhui** · 04 Jul 10,, 20:20

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**xinhui** · 04 Jul 10,, 20:42

Pacific Fleet ships join military drills in Russia's Far East | Defense | RIA Novosti

Defense
Pacific Fleet ships join military drills in Russia's Far East
Topic: Vostok 2010 Operation and Strategic Training

Combat ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet started on Wednesday a series of drills in the Sea of Japan as part of the Vostok-2010 strategic exercises in Russia's Far East.

"Ships from the Pacific Fleet are carrying out missions to ensure favorable operational conditions in the Primorye joint task force's zone of control and are also conducting tactical drills in [the Sea of Japan]," said Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet.

The flagships of the Northern and Black Sea fleets, the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser and the Moskva missile cruiser, have also joined the exercises.

The Russian Armed Forces started on Tuesday large-scale Vostok-2010 military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East. The drills, which involve at least 20,000 troops, up to 70 warplanes and 30 warships, will continue through July 8.

Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, stressed on Monday that the drills were not aimed against any one country.

Russia holds Vostok strategic command-and-staff exercises every two years. More than 8,000 troops took part in Vostok-2008.

MOSCOW, June 30 (RIA Novosti)

**xinhui** · 04 Jul 10,, 20:43

at the same time

S. Korea, US to stage joint naval exercise next week

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter

South Korea and the United States will stage a large-scale naval exercise in the West Sea next week, about two months after North Korea attacked a South Korean frigate there, officials of the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.

Following the exercise to be held from May 8 to 11 in waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the navies of the two allies also plan to conduct a joint anti-submarine drill, they said.

"After a multinational investigation pointed to North Korean involvement in the ship sinking, both governments agreed to show their firm deterrent against threats from the North," a ministry official said.

The U.S. 7th Fleet will dispatch the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, as well as nuclear-powered submarines, Aegis-equipped warships and amphibious assault landing ships, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Named after the first president of the United States, George Washington is the sixth ship in the Nimitz class. Commissioned in July 1992, she is best known for her huge size ― 233 meters in length and 78 meters in width.

The 100,000-ton aircraft carrier based in the Yokosuka naval base in Japan can accommodate about 6,250 crew members and carry some 90 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

The South Korean Navy plans to mobilize 4,500-ton KDX-II destroyers, 1,800-ton Type-214 attack submarines and F-15K fighter jets in the drill, said the official.

The exercise will include naval bombardment, dropping depth charges and checks of communications systems between the allied forces, he said.

Last month, a South Korea-led multinational investigation group released a report saying a North Korean midget submarine had torpedoed the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan in the West Sea on March 26, killing 46 sailors.

The Seoul government pledged stern countermeasures in retaliation, including the ROK-U.S. naval exercise and the resumption of psychological warfare.
gallantjung@koratimes.co.kr

S. Korea, US to stage joint naval exercise next week

**xinhui** · 04 Jul 10,, 20:44

So is the Chinese

PLA's navy drill draws speculation

PLA's navy drill draws speculation - GlobalTimes

* Source: Global Times

Graphics: GT

By Huang Jingjing

A public announcement saying that the Chinese navy will kick-off a six-day exercise tomorrow in the East China Sea that will feature live ammunition has stirred speculation about the timing of the drill.

A fleet under the PLA will take part in the drill from tomorrow to July 5 in waters off Zhengjiang's east coast in the East China Sea, according to a notice published Sunday on the local Wenzhou Evening News at the request of the fleet.

The drill will be held from midnight to 6 pm every day. All irrelevant ships are prohibited from entering the region during the drill, the notice said.

The notice gave no more details. However, many military observers and experts interpreted the drill in different ways.

Some see it as a response to the joint military drill by the US and South Korea, which was originally set to begin Monday.

The drill reportedly includes US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington and was supposed to be held in waters off the west coast of South Korea, or the Yellow Sea, the waterway leading to China.

It is reported that if the aircraft carrier enters the Yellow Sea, China's territorial sea, the entire North China region and the Liaodong Peninsula would be within its range, which was deemed a provocation to China, according to Hong Kong-based Ming Pao daily.

"The location of the Chinese drill is set to be held in the East China Sea, which would make the foreign navies entering the Yellow Sea uneasy," Song Zhongping, a military analysis for Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, said on his blog on people. com.cn Monday.

He said the East China Sea is the only way into the Yellow Sea. He said it would be easy to form a favorable war situation for the Chinese navy to "shut the dogs up and beat them."

However, the planned US-South Korean military drill was postponed until July because the schedule remains unfinished, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said Monday.

Some other military experts said the Chinese drill is just a routine exercise.

"The drill was planned early. It's a coincidence that it falls near the joint drill by South Korea and the US," Li Jie, a naval expert with the Beijing Naval Research Center, told the Global Times. "It's not only an exercise to improve defense ability, but a military action to coordinate with foreign policy."

Song Xiaojun, another expert, did not think that China is holding the drill in response to the US-South Korea. China already fixed the date for its drill while the other drill's date has not been set, Song said.