Russia to Activate a Coastal Defense Division Across from Alaska in 2018

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Naval Forces News - Russia
 
 
 
Russia to Activate a Coastal Defense Division Across from Alaska in 2018
 
The Russian Defense Ministry is planning the activation of a coastal defense division in Chukotka in 2018, the minister, Sergei Shoigu, has told journalists. "A coastal defense division is planned for activation in the Chukotka area of operations in 2018," he said.
     
The Russian Defense Ministry is planning the activation of a coastal defense division in Chukotka in 2018, the minister, Sergei Shoigu, has told journalists. "A coastal defense division is planned for activation in the Chukotka area of operations in 2018," he said.
3K60 BAL (NATO reporting name: SS-C-6 Sennight) Coastal Missile System of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet Coastal Troops seen during its first test launch in Primorye territory.
     
Shoigu reminded that a decision had been made in June last year to set up a joint coastal defense system stretching from the Primorsky Territory to the Arctic "to control the straits among the Kuril Islands and the Bering Strait, cover the Pacific Fleet’s deployment routes in the Far Eastern and northern maritime areas and increase the combat stability of the naval strategic nuclear forces on operations."

The defense minister reminded that a military expedition had been sent to Matua and Paramushir islands of the Kurils. It had worked from April to June to study the feasibility of stationing troops there. Shoigu suggested a discussion of the Eastern Military District’s proposal for preparing Matua and Paramushir islands for military purposes and for rendering comprehensive support of the units to be stationed there.

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The Russian Defense Ministry is planning the activation of a coastal defense division in Chukotka in 2018, the minister, Sergei Shoigu, has told journalists. "A coastal defense division is planned for activation in the Chukotka area of operations in 2018," he said.
3K55 Bastion (NATO reporting name: SSC-5 Stooge) launcher unit moving into firing position
     
Comments by Navy Recognition

The Chukotka Peninsula is the eastmost peninsula of Asia. Its eastern end is at Cape Dezhnev, the eastmost mainland point of Eurasia just 82 kilometres (51 mi) across from Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska; the Bering Strait lies between the two capes.

As of March 2016, Russian Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops (RCMAT) service had deployed 36 modern mobile coastal defense systems, according to an International Institute for Strategic Studies` (IISS) report:
- 12 K340P mobile launchers of 3K55 Bastion (SSC-5 Stooge) system. Bastion comprises four K340P launchers, up to two command and control posts, four K342P transport-loader vehicles and one launch-associated support vehicle. Each K340P mobile launcher is armed with two 3M55 Onyx (SS-N-26 Strobile, export designation: Yakhont) ASM. Bastion has an effective firing range of 300 km. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute`s (SIPRI) arms trabsfers database, Vietnam and Syria have received the export variant of Bastion system.
- 24 mobile launchers of 3K60 Bal (NATO reporting name: SS-C-6 Sennight) system. Bal is based on MZKT-7930 8x8 wheeled chassis produced by Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant 'Volat' (Russian acronym: MZKT). The system comprises up to two command and control posts, up to four transport-loader vehicles and up to eight self-propelled launchers. Each launcher is armed with eight Kh-35/Kh-35U (AS-20 Kayak) anti-ship missiles (ASM). Kh-35 has a maximum firing range of 120 km, Kh-35U - 260 km. 3K60 Bal system has an ammunition load of up to 64 ASM. Russian KBM company (a subsidiary of the Hugh-Precision Weapons holding) has developed export modification of Bal designated as Bal-E. As of April 2016, there are no officially confirmed foreign operators of Bal-E.
- RCMAT service has also deployed several ageing mobile coastal defense systems, namely, 4K44 Redut (SS-C-1 Sepal) and 4K51 Rubezh (SS-C-3 Styx).