Russian Subs Patrol US Coast

Submarine fire almost triggered biggest accident since Chernobyl

(NEWSER) - When a Russian submarine caught fire in December, officials said its nuclear weapons had been removed long before the fire—but now, Russian navy insiders tell a magazine that wasn't the case. In fact, during the fire, the Yekaterinburg submarine had 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles on board, and each held four nuclear warheads, the navy sources tell Vlast magazine. That means "Russia, for a day, was on the brink of the biggest catastrophe since the time of Chernobyl." More»

Twin-engine jet is 5 years from regular military service

(USER SUBMITTED) - Russia successfully tested its first stealth fighter jet today, offering a boost to the country's aviation sector as well as its military. The Sukhoi T-50 is intended to match the stealth capabilities of the US F-22 Raptor, which it resembles. The dual-engine aircraft took off from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in Siberia, and flew for 47 minutes. PM Vladimir Putin hailed the flight as a "big step forward" but acknowledged that "a lot remains to be done," the AP reports. More»

Russian navy beefing up nuclear capacity with cruise missile-equipped subs

(NEWSER) - Russia is building at least six new nuclear submarines equipped with long-distance cruise missiles, according to state-connected news agency Itar-Tass. One is expected to be on line by 2011, the rest by 2017. A Russian defense ministry source say the missiles, capable of carrying low-capacity nuclear warheads, "would be designed for strikes on aircraft carriers of the enemy" as well as land targets. More»

Prez says nuclear force is priority

(NEWSER) - Russia will rearm its military and boost its nuclear capabilities in response to NATO's growth, President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian military heads today. “Attempts to expand the military infrastructure of NATO near the borders of our country are continuing,” Medvedev said. That, alongside international terrorism and local concerns, “requires a modernization of our armed forces,” he noted, saying “strategic nuclear forces” were a priority. More»

(AP) - An accident aboard a nuclear-powered submarine in a training exercise has killed more than 20 people, Russian news agencies are reporting. State-run RIA-Novosti cites navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo as saying a fire-extinguishing system went into operation in error Sunday aboard the submarine during tests in the Pacific Ocean. The reactor is working normally and radiation levels are normal, says Dygalo. More»