Russia (Putin) reports two missiles fired from eastern med against Syria. Tracked by new strategic radar in Armavir (Voronezh) type. Same radar as Kaliningrad and St Petersburg.
Israel reports they fired exercise missiles. They perform an exercise with the US Navy.
The "ballistic missiles" that Russian early warning radars detected over the Mediterranean sea on the morning of 3 September have been confirmed as two Sparrow target missiles launched from an Israeli air force Boeing F-15 during a joint Israeli/US test, performed as part of the development of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile interceptor.
Why test shooting two missiles in the med among the charter planes etc. Remember the Vincennes i Arabias Sea shooting down an charter plane.
The only US ship in the med with AN/SPQ-9B capability are LPD-17 San Antonio. To cooperate the US destroyer radar SPY with AN/SPQ-9B they need proper connection to give CEC capability. Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) with AN/SPQ-9B (Baseline 9) horizon search radar.
Problems were associated with SPS-48E and SPQ-9B radar performance against certain anti-ship cruise missile attack profiles. In april 2010 Northrop Grumman in Melville, NY received an contract modification for AN/SPQ-9B cooperative engagement capability (CEC) interface kits and antenna group upgrade kits. The AN/SPQ-9B compensates for known weaknesses in the S-band SPY-1 main radar on US destroyers and crusiers, and CEC creates a common picture of the battlespace for participating ships. The USA DDG-51 destroyers don´t have SPQ-9 radars yet. Two are planned.
These must be the reason of the test shooting. The problems are also called space weather.
The Nimitz and maybee Gettysburg have the AN/SPQ-9B radars. They are on way from Arabian Sea to the Med.
The Nimitz is not on it's way to the med (yet) and is on stationin the red sea. It is probably also not required for the aattack on Syria but held on hand just in case Iran joins the fight.
And yes, I think it is safe to assume that the Israelis tested their own capabilities to counter ballistic missiles.
But, if these movements or options go into play, then the attack timer will resume.
•USS Mt. Whitney heads into East Mediterranean.
•USS Nimitz CSG heads into Red Sea, or half it's escorts (1-CG and 1-DDG), transit the Suez. If the CSG heads into Red Sea, it may indicate a near term attack, because the carrier is due back home very soon. If the escorts move into the Mediterranean, then it may indicate an effort to reinforce the current mission in the Mediterranean with added command, strike and ADA/ABM abilities.
•USS George HW Bush CSG deploys before completing JTFEX at home (indicates 2-week attack window).
•USS Bainbridge returns to Mediterranean post-haste.
It is the Priazovye ordered by Putin after the missile shooting. The ship is based in Sevastapol. The ship are of Visnhya class. There is 7 of the Visnya class in the Russian Navy. They have different types of radars.
See
warfare.be/db/catid/296/linkid/2112/title/864-vishnya-class/
Map with naval ships in the eastern in the eastern med:
3.bp.blogspot.com/-htrQjYBR3QA/Uihg3KwRhAI/AAAAAAAABd8/wpcNpNJWvrU/s1600/conflicto+sirio+buques+5+sep+2013.jpg
There is today no Russian ships in the eastern med. One intelligence are reported today onway to the eastern med.
All other ships have returned to the homebases. Several ships are planned to participated in exercises such Zapad-2013.
Amphibious (some reported of weapons supply for Syria):
Kaliningrad / Ropucha class Baltic Fleet
Shabalin / Ropucha class Black Sea Fleet
Pechenga / unknown ship some Alligator class in the beginning of the year
Nevelsk / Ropucha class Pacific Fleet
Peresvet / Ropucha class Pacific Fleet
Novocherkassk / Ropucha class Black Sea Fleet
Oilers/maintenance/tugs:
Fotiy Krilov
PM-138
SB-921
Lena
Ropucha class amphibious 142 Novocherkassk passed today Bosporus heading the Mediterranean. Swedish TV news today 21.00. Pictures probably from type API news. No sign on CNN and bbc.co.uk.
The amphibious ships were loaded with marines and vehicles. Three more are on way. Ships are also to pick up Russians in Syria. Several Russians are supplying the Syrian military.
Today at the G20 meeting at St Petersburg Putin threatened to send S-300 to Syria. "I have earlier send some parts of them to Syria". I probably send the rest.
Swedish news papers. aftonbaldet.se and expressen.se
Russia sends more warships to the Mediterranean. One with a "special cargo". A new way of threat the US from Russia.
Information of the increased tension comes from Interfax were Putin will send a signal to the USA.
Amhhibious Nikolaj Filchenkov leaves today Sevastapol for the Novocherkassk were they take a "speciel cargo" for the combat area in the Mediterranean. The consistent of the cargo there not showned. More ships are were and on way.
Warning to the USA.
USA have already a large military presence in and around the Med. This is a way to confront and a warning not to attack Syria for the chemical attack 21 August. Back to days of the cold war.
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