- .The Admiral Kuznetsov is conducting flight operations off the Shetlands as it prepares to head to Syria
- .Russian pilots need additional training to operate from an aircraft carrier while it is operational at sea
- .The Royal Navy and the Norwegian Navy is keeping the Russian carrier fleet under close observation
- .Putin has recalled two corvettes from the Mediterranean to divide the Royal Navy's response to his fleet
The Russian aircraft carrier fleet has abandoned its flight training mission and moved into the North Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The eight-strong flotilla, led by the Admiral Kuzentsov, is been tracked by the HMS Richmond and several NATO vessels. The Russian media has dubbed the mission 'Operation Sea Fist'.
A MOD spokesman said: 'It is pretty unambiguous that they have set a course to pass through the Dover Strait.'
Vladimir Putin has already tried to divide the Royal Navy's efforts to track his fleet by recalling two corvettes from the Mediterranean forcing the HMS Dragon to head south from Portsmouth to intercept.
It is understood there is also a Dutch submarine operating south of the English Channel.
Russian pilots conducted flight operations from the deck of the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier, pictured yesterday belching smoke, with the nuclear-powered Peter the Great guided missile cruiser shadowing in the background
The HMS Richmond has reported the Russian fleet is heading south towards the Dover strait while several NATO vessels are being deployed to keep the flotilla under surveillance. Meanwhile Vladimir Putin has recalled two corvettes from the Mediterranean to divide the Royal Navy's response to his aircraft carrier provocatively sailing down the British coastline
The Russian fleet needs to certify its pilots, pictured yesterday flying a pair of SU-33 Flankers, for operating from the Admiral Kuznetsov around the clock before the carrier can begin strike missions against Bashar al-Assad's opponents in Syria
The Russians have be flying operations with their Kamov KA-27 helicopters which can be used in anti-submarine warfare
The KNM Fritdjtof Nansen of the Norwegian navy is part of NATO's response to monitor the Russian fleet
The Norwegian Air Force shadowed the Admiral Kuznetsov heading south earlier this week on their way to Syria
A Norwegian navy frigate has also been following the Russian flotilla, which is being kept under close watch by a P-3 Orion.
Two further British warships are currently steaming up the east coast to intercept the Russian fleet after the Kremlin boasted they are 'seizing control' of the Mediterranean.
Type-45 destroyer HMS Duncan – the world’s most advanced air-defence destroyer – sailed from Portsmouth last night to join frigate HMS Richmond, which has intercepted the Kuznetsov task group of eight ships.
The HMS Richmond has taken up station a few hundreds yards from the task force. It will remain as an escort while the Russians remain in an area of UK national interest.
In a sign of the escalating tensions with Russia, UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today warned Moscow: 'When these ships near our waters we will man-mark them every step of the way. We will be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe.'
According to the Ministry of Defence: 'Shadowing ships is regular business for the UK Royal Navy, supported on this occasion by Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft.
'They will continue to escort the Russian Task Group and provide a visible presence south through the North Sea and English Channel as the ships conduct their passage and carries out flying operations.'
The UK is working alongside Nato partners to monitor the warships passing the UK this week.
The Kamov KA-27 helicopters can be used for troop transport as well as anti-submarine warfare operations
The KA-27s flew close to the NATO vessels monitoring the Russian fleet as it approached the Scottish coast
The Russian fleet is expected to refuel in the Firth of Moray before continuing on to the eastern Mediterranean
It marks a further breakdown of relations between the two countries after after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson became embroiled in a row with the Russian embassy last week.
According to a Nato spokesman the fleet's destination does not 'inspire confidence' that the nation is seeking a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
The official said: 'Russia has the right to operate in international waters. There are plans in place for Nato navies to monitor the Russian ships as they head for the Mediterranean.
'At the same time, the deployment of the carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean does not inspire confidence that Russia is working towards a political solution to the conflict in Syria.'
The Admiral Kuznetsov is part of a flotilla of eight surface ships which is also been tracked by Russian submarines
The Admiral Kuznetsov, pictured centre, is unusual for a modern warship for the trail of black smoke it leaves behind
The Russian Defence Ministry earlier released footage of fighter jets training on the aircraft
Mr Johnson called on people to demonstrate outside Russia's London embassy last week in protest against Russia's bombing campaign in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
But Moscow responded by branding his call for protests 'shameful' and accused him of 'Russophobic hysteria'.
Britain's mobilisation of the aircraft carrier fleet off the coast of Scotland is the latest in an increasing presence of international naval assets in the area.
After completing training it is understood the aircraft carrier fleet will head to an anchorage on the Moray Firth where it will be refuelled before continuing to the Mediterranean.
Type-45 destroyer HMS Duncan – the world’s most advanced air-defence destroyer – sailed from Portsmouth last night to join frigate HMS Richmond, which has intercepted the Kuznetsov task group of eight ships
A Royal Navy seaman onboard the HMS Richmond keeps watch on the Russian carrier fleet as it conducts training flight operations off the coast of the Shetland Islands
The Russians are being shadowed by the HMS Richmond, with the Admiral Kuznetsov, belching smoke, in the background
Naval assets from Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands are all believed to be on standby.
As well as the Royal Navy, the Royal Norwegian Navy, Finnish Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy have vessels surrounding the North Sea.
Nato aircraft are also patrolling the area, with tanker aircraft on station ready to refuel any fighter jets tasked with observing the Russian fleet.
The United States has sent another of its Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers into the Mediterranean in advance of the Russian fleet's arrival.
The USS Carney was refueled in Spain according to the US Sixth Fleet and will join the Nato forces in the eastern Mediterranean.
The USS Ross is already in the region providing support for the French aircraft carrier the Charles De Gaulle.
The USS Carney, pictured, departed Naval station Rota in Spain this morning in advance of the arrival of the Russian fleet
The USS Carney is one of the US navy's Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers and is attached to the Sixth Fleet
Russian military expert Alexander Khrolenko said: 'While the North Atlantic bloc is stalling in the sands of the Middle East, the Russian Navy seizes control over the Atlantic, not to mention the Mediterranean and Black Seas.'
He added: 'They [NATO] have no equal in the Mediterranean.'
In addition the RAF Quick Reaction Alert squadrons in RAF Lossiemouth in north east Scotland and RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire have been ordered to remain on standby in case they need to intercept any Russian jets straying into UK air space.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is protected by a battle cruiser and a pair of large anti-submarine ships.
It is also protected from below the surface by an attack submarine.
The aircraft carrier is supported by the nuclear-powered battleship Pyotr Velikiy, (Peter the Great) pictured on Monday passing the Norwegian coast by a Lockheed P3-Orion surveillance aircraft
The Russians have also sent a submarine, pictured, to protect the aircraft carrier fleet
The Kuznetsov has undergone an extensive refit since its last deployment to the Mediterranean in 2014 when it had to be followed by several tugs in case its steam turbine engines packed up.
Earlier this week the Norwegian navy followed the heavily-armed fleet as it sailed south from Severomorsk, near Murmansk in the Barents Sea.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Russian fleet is being kept under close observation by the Royal Navy and the RAF.
A source told MailOnline: 'The Admiral Kuznetsov is currently conducting flight operations off the east coast of the Orkneys.
'The pilots need to be certified for carrier take-offs and landings at day and night before it takes up station in the Mediterranean.
The French Navy has the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean already conducting combat operations against ISIS targets in Syria
The Charles De Gaulle is the only non-American nuclear powered aircraft carrier in service
The Charles De Gaulle is been protected by the guided missile destroyer USS Ross, pictured here in the Combat Information Centre where its Tomahawk cruise missiles are controlled
The USS Ross was tasked to support the Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean
'They are free to do this in international waters, but once they are in the English Channel, the aircraft will be grounded.'
The MOD confirmed the Royal Navy would shadow the carrier and its fleet while it remains in the UK's area of interest.
Also, RAF Typhoons and Tornadoes are on red alert at airbases in Lossiemouth in North East Scotland and Coningsby in Lincolnshire in case any Russian jets stray into UK airspace
The fleet could possibly route around Ireland's west coast to avoid the English Channel, although there is far greater shelter avoiding the Atlantic Ocean.
However, after going through the Bay of Biscay and down the Portuguese coast, the fleet will pass through the nine mile wide Gibraltar straits before reaching its area of operation.
It is understood the fleet will resupply before continuing to the Mediterranean.
The Admiral Kuznetsov is the Russian flagship and the country's only aircraft carrier.
The French already have the Charles De Gaulle operating in the eastern Mediterranean.
Major Elisabeth Eikeland, spokeswoman for the Norwegian Army's National Joint Headquarters said: 'We have been informed that they are en route to the Mediterranean. It's not every day that so many ships sail together off Norway.'
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the aircraft carrier taskforce departed on Saturday to the Mediterranean.
A spokesman said: 'The group consists of the aircraft-carrying heavy cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, the Pyotr Velikiy battlecruiser, large anti-submarine ships Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov and support vessels.'
The Russian MOD claimed: 'Special focus will be made on safeguarding security of maritime traffic and other types of maritime economic activity of Russia and also on responding to the new kinds of modern threats such as piracy and international terrorism.'
The Admiral Kuznetsov had previously operated in the Mediterranean early in 2014.
Putin's getting ready for WAR: Ex-KGB chief's chilling warning
Vladimir Putin is readying for war, warns one of his former Russian KGB comrades.
Former Soviet secret services boss Gennady Gudkov told MailOnline said: 'If anyone still does not understand which direction the situation in Russia is heading, I can tell you. The country is being prepared for a military conflict.'
Colonel Gudkov, 60, said: 'There are lots of signs of militarization in Russia.
'A bloated military and defence budget, quick rearmament of the army, almost monthly army exercises and tests of the newest samples of dreadful hardware.'
Ready for War? Former KGB chief Gennady Gudkov, 60, claims Vladimir Putin is preparing for conflict by bloating the military and defence budget
Gudkov said Putin is working behind the scenes in readiness for conflict, adding: 'There are active renovations in bomb proof shelters, purchase of gas masks and defence kits for civilians, along with a massive mobilisation in many places.
'Military (naval) activities in the Middle East, in the Black and Mediterranean seas, plans to resume and enhance military bases aboard.
'Growing military propaganda, spy madness and the search for internal enemies - all are typical of a pre-war situation.
'Laws have been adopted that allow the use of military force abroad, and hide information about losses.'
Comparing the mood to the Stalin era ahead of the Second World War which initially saw the USSR in a pact with Hitler before ensuring his eastern flank defeat, he warned: 'The country went through the same things in the 1930s.
'And the results are known, too.'
Putin, pictured with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is working behind the scenes in preparation for war by renovating bomb proof shelters and purchasing gas masks and defence kits for civilians, added Gudkov
Gudkov, an MP until he was forced out by the Kremlin in 2012, claims that last month's parliamentary elections, comfortably won by former KGB spy Putin's allies against a weak and emasculated opposition, signalled a transition in Moscow.
'It is entirely clear that the country has switched from authoritarian to totalitarian,' he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment