From: dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Chinese buy Russian Carrier & Arms sale to Iran
Date: 3 Sep 92 15:07:33 GMT
Organization: INEL EG&G Idaho


From dpe@inel.gov (Don Palmrose)


I posted this to "alt.war" but thought some of the people in this group might
find it interesting information.

I just recieved my September issue of _Proceedings_.  On page 123 of "World
Naval Developments" by Norman Friedman is the follow box article. Quote:

                          CHINESE BUY RUSSIAN CARRIER

The Chinese bought the incomplete Russian aircraft carrier "Varyag", sister
ship to the "Kuznetsov", in late July specifically **to help enforce their
claim to the Spratly Islands*** (emphasis my own), and their large oil
reserves; the deal also included 22 Su-27K carrier aircraft.  Because the ship
is incomplete, and because the Russian naval arms industry is in some disarray,
it is not clear whether the ship will be completed in quite the same form as 
the "Kuznetsov".  The sale may explain the sudden agreement between Russia and
Ukraine to operate the Black Sea Fleet jointly through 1995; the fate of the 
"Varyag" was the main issue of contention.  Part of the proceeds of the sale
will be used to finance Black Sea Fleet operations.

End of Quote.

Note: the "Kuznetsov" has an angled deck, a ski ramp on the front bow, and
traditional island superstructure.

Also news worthy was a article on the same page about a major purchase by Iran.
They are buying from Russia 12 Tu-22M Backfire bombers, 24 MiG-31s, 2 Mainstay
airborne radar-control aircraft (similar to the US's AWACS), 48 MiG-29s, and
24 MiG-27s plus several batteries of SA-5s, SA-11s, and SA-13s surface-to-
air missiles.  The price: 2.5 billion US dollars.  It is the first time that
Backfire bombers have been exported.  They poise a threat to any shipping in
the Gulf since they normally carry AS-6 anti-ship missiles and it is a *fast*
steep-diving missile that can be fired well outside of a battle group's 
antiaircraft envelope.  Thus, the Iranian Backfires can stay over Iran and
attack any ship in the Gulf.  No Gulf navy has anything remotely like the type
of anti-missile defense system that can defeat the AS-6.  It also appears
that spare parts and service is involved with this sale, including working on
the Iraqi jets that boogied to Iran from Desert Storm.

Don Palmrose
"I'd rather not serve on a ship designed to sink...."



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Newsgroups: sci.military