– Defense Technology – The testing of Russia’s new submarine-launched R-30 Bulava ICBM (SS-NX-30) intercontinental ballistic missile has come to an end.

– BBC – The huge fire that engulfed the Russian Delta-IV class nuclear ballistic missle submarine Yekaterinburg, undergoing repairs in the northern Murmansk region has been put out

– Xinhua – An aircraft carrier combat group of Russia’s Northern Fleet on Tuesday started patrol missions in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, the fleet’s spokesman said.

– Defense Technology International – The delivery of the first Yasen class (project 885) multirole attack nuclear powered submarine Severodvinsk to the Russian Navy has slipped for the end of 2012.

– DEBKAfile – The Syrian crisis aassumed a big power dimension this week with the build-up of rival United States and Russia naval air carrier armadas in Syrian waters. The USS George H.W. Bush arrived Wednesday, Nov. 23, in the wake of the three Russian warships anchored earlier opposite Tartus which established a command post in the Syrian port. They will be augmented by Russia’s only air carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov, which is due in mid-week.

– Defense Technology International – Just two days after the ICBM crash in Plesetsk, another new Russian missile has made a successful test launch. On September 29, Delta IV class Tula submarine of the Russian Northern Fleet fired a ballistic missile called Lainer (Liner) from the Barents Sea.

– Defense Technology International – On Sept. 12, the first multirole attack nuclear-powered submarine, Severodvinsk, of the Yasen class (Project 885) sailed off for factory trials, reported Sevmash shipyard, where it was built. Severodvinsk’s construction lasted 17 years and the sub was officially launched in June 2010.

– Defense Technology International – Using attack helicopters from the sea appears to be in vogue, again.

– Virginian Pilot – The Russians are coming! Well, actually, they’ve been here for a couple of weeks. And we invited them.

– RIA Novosti – Russia resumed tests of its troubled Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile,and the launch – 15th in the Bulava’s history – was successful “by all parameters.”

– Defense Technology International – The Russian defense export agency Rosoboronexport finally signed the contract with the French military naval systems company for two Mistral-class BPC helicopter landing docks.

– Defense Technology International – The Russian Defense Ministry purchased 12 new surface ships from Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg. The new order includes 4 project 22350 frigates and 8 project 20385 corvettes and is placed in the framework of the new procurement program through 2020.

– New York Times – Since a low-key Christmas Eve announcement of a French sale of assault ships to Russia, high-level government deal makers have boasted about the multimillion-euro deal like it was a soccer game triumph…But critics – particularly among Russia’s neighbors including Georgia, Estonia and Lithuania – are raising alarms that France may have pioneered the way for other Western countries to sell Russia whatever they have to offer, from high-technology military equipment to rights for oil pipelines.

– Washington Post – After a long hesitation and arduous negotiations, Russia has decided to buy at least two of France’s advanced Mistral-class amphibious warships in an unprecedented military deal between Moscow and the West.

– Defense Technology International – The Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk has launched the second Borei-class (Project 955) SSBN, Alexander Nevsky.

– Guardian – President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia is looking to restore its naval power but will not say where the bases may be.

– Associated Press – The Russian Navy on Friday successfully test fired its Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. The launch was conducted from a submarine in the White Sea, near the border with Finland. The missile reportedly hit a target on the Kamchatka Peninsula, some 6,000 kilometers (3,400 miles) to the east. It marks the second successful firing in a month, further boosting the nation’s weapons program that had become accustomed to embarrassing failures.

– Christian Science Monitor – Moscow’s upgrade to its Black Sea Fleet – headquartered with Ukraine’s blessing at Sevastopol – could make waves around the Black Sea, where NATO has a strong presence.

– RIA Novosti – Moscow and Kiev will soon sign an agreement regulating the upcoming overhaul of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the Russian defense minister said on Wednesday.

– Defense Technology International – The 13th launch of Russia’s new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile has been successful.

– RIA Novosti – Russia’s Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser will take part in a joint exercise with the French Latouche-Treville anti-submarine frigate this week.

Defense Technology International – Russia and the Mistrals: Will They? Won’t They?

Fortunately for their nerves, many senior managers of French military shipyard DCNS have been on holiday for most of August because the Russians have been blowing hot and cold over what appeared to be exclusive talks to purchase up to four Mistral-class helicopter carriers worth an estimated 1.5 billion euro ($1.9 billion) from them.

Daily Telegraph – Russian subs stalk Trident in echo of Cold War

Russian submarines are hunting down British Vanguard boats in a return to Cold War tactics not seen for 25 years, Navy chiefs have warned.

RIA Novosti – French warships for Russia to be armed with Ka-52 helicopters

Mistral-class helicopter carriers, which Russia plans to buy from France, will be armed with Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters.

Defense Technology International – Bulava to Resume Test Launches

The test launches of Russia’s new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile will resume at the end of August or beginning of September.