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| "Severodvinsk" launching land-attack cruise missile from Barents Sea -- April 29, 2016 (credit: RF Ministry of Defense) |
The Russian Navy's newest nuclear-powered fast attack submarine has launched its first long-range land-attack cruise missile since becoming a fully operational unit in the Northern Fleet earlier this year.
The first report of the missile launch was published by the RF Ministry of Defense at 3:00am (Moscow time) on April 30, indicating the missile launch actually occurred earlier this week. The MOD later released a video purportedly of the missile launch, which occurred from an announced area closure in the Barents Sea. As the area closure did not go into effect until April 29, a day before the missile launch announcement, the missile launch likely occurred on April 29.
ПРИП МУРМАНСК 153/16 КАРТА 10100 БАРЕНЦЕВО МОРЕ И ЧЁШСКАЯ ГУБА
1. СТРЕЛЬБЫ РАКЕТНЫЕ 29 ПО 30 АПР И 04 ПО 06 МАЙ 0700 ДО 1500 ПЛАВАНИЕ ЗАПРЕЩЕНО ТЕРВОДАХ ОПАСНО ИХ ПРЕДЕЛАМИ РАЙОНАХ
А. 69-51.1С 033-54.0В, 69-43.7С 037-53.9В, 69-17.9С 042-59.4В, 68-50.8С 045-00.0В, 68-30.0С 045-40.5В, ДАЛЕЕ ПО БЕРЕГОВОЙ ЛИНИИ ДО 68-39.8С 043-22.0В, 68-53.6С 042-31.3В, 69-17.9С 037-53.9В, 69-30.0С 033-51.6В
Б. 67-45.5С 045-40.0В, 67-18.1С 045-00.5В, ДАЛЕЕ ПО БЕРЕГОВОЙ ЛИНИИ ДО 67-45.5С 045-40.0В
2. ОТМ ЭТОТ НР 061600 МАЙ=
251200 МСК ГС-
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| Missile launch area closure in Barents Sea -- April 29-30 & May 4-6, 2016 |
Earlier this month, "Severodvinsk" launched four torpedoes against a group of surface ships that were simulating an enemy amphibious landing group.
The submarine's recent activities are in line with statements made earlier this year that "Severodvinsk" is a fully operational submarine. In January, a naval official stated that the submarine was no longer undergoing operational evaluation. This was reiterated by Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Aleksandr Fedotenkov and Northern Fleet press service chief Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga in mid-March. In his statement, Serga added that "Severodvinsk" was preparing to begin at-sea training to become a fully combat-certified fleet unit.
This month's torpedo firings and missile launch strongly suggest that is exactly what "Severodvinsk" is doing.
