21st Century Missile Crisis?

Peter the Great is headed for Venezuela:

Russia flexed its muscles in America’s backyard Tuesday as it sent one of its largest warships to join military exercises in the Caribbean. The nuclear-powered flagship Peter the Great set off for Venezuela with the submarine destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and two support vessels in the first Russian naval mission in Latin America since the end of the Cold War. [SNIP]

The voyage to join the Venezuelan Navy for operations came only days after Russian strategic nuclear bombers made their first visit to the country. Hugo Chavez, the President, said then that the arrival of the strike force was a warning to the U.S. The anti-American Venezuelan leader is due to visit Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow this week as part of a tour that includes visits to Cuba and China.

Peter the Great is armed with 20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles, making it one of the most formidable warships in the world. The Kremlin has courted Venezuela and Cuba as tensions with the West soared over the proposed U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe and the Russian invasion of Georgia last month.

Missiles are equal to a missile shield in Vladimir Putin’s universe (as if the deployment of the warships has to be an equitable move on the part of the Soviets Russians).

Last week Russia deployed two TU-160 BLACKJACK strategic bombers to Venezuela in order to take part in military exercises with Hugo Chavez's forces. The bombers returned home Friday but not before they took a “stroll” around the Caribbean. Additionally, Russia is set to participate in naval exercises with Venezuela in November. So why is Russia's Navy down south right now?

The Russian military hasn’t deployed to the Western Hemisphere since the USSR broke up.

RUSSIA'S OTHER ISSUE: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili calls for an international investigation into the origins of the Georgia-Russia conflict, saying that the West cannot allow the breakup of his country to stand. Good luck with that, Mr. President. As you well know, Russia is an old hand at manufacturing facts; creating the idea that Georgia was at fault for its own invasion and the annexation of its territory must have been like falling off of a log for our friend Vlad. In the West, we call this 'astroturfing.'

(Thanks to Hot Air)

Comments

[Casey]

That's ok, Juliette; I'm sure our guys 'n gals' first reaction was "Oh, goodie! New targets!"

Pooty is just trying to establish some street cred, but instead of showing his bling, he's showing his bang.

Neither one is very impressive. :)

[baldilocks]

I'm sure our guys 'n gals' first reaction was "Oh, goodie! New targets!"

I know for a fact that this wasn't the reaction. Just sayin'.

[Count to 10]

I hadn't heard of the TU-160 before (though "blackjack" sounds familiar. It looks like its a rip-off of the B1, the way the Russians had a "Concordski."
I seem to remember that the Air Force either gave up on the B1, or isn't emphasizing it. Perhaps because it is not so very useful?

[baldilocks]

"Concordski"

LOL

[Casey]

Juliette: fair enough, but there seems to be a different perception over at CDR Salamander's and Lex's from at least some of the regulars.

Not a contradiction to your response; I don't doubt you have more direct connections than I. :)

[Pasadena Closet Conservative]

People better start waking up to the world around them.

[Casey]

BTW, Count to 10, the Air Force didn't give up on the B-1, but the B-2 has gotten all the publicity. In fact, according to this article, the Air Force currently has on call 20 B-2s, 67 B-1s and 76 B-52s.

Oddly enough, the ol' B-52 is still the most effective bomber in the mix. It's a pity we had to destroy so many as part of the START treaty.

The Soviets could -for the most part- develop excellent airframes*, but had issues with electronics, and terrible engines. AFAIK the Russians are getting better at the electronics, but not so much the engines. GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls Royce still dominate.

*Actually the Tu-160 is an exception, as the Soviets never did develop a decent swing-wing. The -160 has had notable problems with the mechanism puncturing fuel tanks, and at least some fighter jocks claim they can predict the maneuvers of Soviet swing-wing fighters such as the MiG-23 since the wings on those craft can only move to specific angles. The swing, in other words, is discrete, not continuous as in the FB-111 and the F-14.

[Khaki Elephant]

And while Putin's right hand deploys weapons his left hand stakes claim to artic oil fields. Seems Mother Russia is is no longer a stay-at-home mom.

[DarkStar]

And the U.S. can't do squat because we are over extended.

There REALLY is no good reason to pull out of Europe now.

I think we are needed on the N, S Korean borders.

Iraq and Afghanistan go without comment.

One more time, no matter how much many military people don't like it, I think a draft is in order with 2 or 3 years service mandated.

[Count to 10]

Casey-
I see.
With respect to Russian plans--I thought they always had better stats on paper than US planes. Faster, more maneuverable, bigger payloads, more durable. My impression was that they had an edge on engines. Or was it just that they designed them to wear out quickly?

[Count to 10]

I've always been enthralled with combat aircraft, and found it irritating that the Russian planes were always advertised as having better stats.

[Paul Jané]

If the best that the Russians can do in terms of power projection is deploy a pair of B-1skis (Boneskis, Lancerskis? They only have less than twenty of them in any case), and the one seaworthy Kirov class battle cruiser that they have left (and, unless my memory really sucks, I think that the figure of 500 SAMs is a tad over the top) accompanied by a pair of destroyers, I'll continue to sleep very well at night.

Now, if they ever manage to deploy a proper carrier battle group to the area (assuming that Kuznetsov is actually functional this week), I might bat an eyelash about it...

baldilocks sez: Whasssuuuppp, baby!!! Been following 'Stability 2008' (Russia-Venezuela exercise)?

[Paul Jané]

Absolutely, hon, and I'm kind of underwhelmed by it all... lol (I hope you're well. :)