The British Navy and Air Force hold Russian warships into the holes that have put course towards Syria. It involves Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, and a number of escort vessels. NATO is worried that they will be used to intensify the Russian air raids on Aleppo. The Kuznetsov has about 25 combat aircraft.
"We are concerned that these Russian ships military operations in Syria that will support that the sufferings of the population will only increase," said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg."We'll keep the ships in a responsible and appropriate manner in the holes."
It is expected that the Kuznetsov early November will be ready for air strikes in Syria. In September, made Moscow announced that the operational Kuznetsov, flagship of the Navy since 1990
, Will join the ten-Soviet war and escort ships to the Syrian coast. "To increase the attack capacity of the group, we plan Admiral Kuznetsov to let them add," said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as the mission of the aircraft carrier.
The deployment of the Kuznetsov fits into the strategy of President Putin, under the guise of Syrian intervention, to show Russia's modern military force in the world, especially to the USThe British frigate HMS Richmond followed the aircraft carrier Thursday and Friday between Iceland and Norway. Another British naval ship, the destroyer HMS Duncan, is gone from Portsmouth to follow the Russians as they sail south.
Largest warship
The Russian ships sailed on October 15. Except Kuznetsov, is among the warships also nuclear cruiser Pyotr Velikiy and two Udaloy-class destroyers. The Pyotr Velikiy, with its length of 252 meters one of the largest warships in the world, outside the aircraft carriers.
It is the flagship of the Northern Navy Fleet. The Pyotr Velikiy facilities include the Navy version of the S-300 air defense system to the modern aircraft to be brought down to 250 kilometers.
The Norwegian Armed Forces of the Russian task force followed the recent days. The Dutch navy will come face to face with the Russians as they sail through the Canal. "This is a clear military signal that Russia is back on the international stage," said Peter Roberts of the British military think tank RUSI about the Moscow show of strength. According to him, the program mainly intended to show the world that Russia is capable, like the US, Britain and France, to send an invasion force off the sea far from the Russian border. Roberts: "They are sent out to perform a mission, due for Syria."
Gain experience
With the deployment of the Kuznetsov Russia can for the first wartime experience with the aircraft carrier. The Kuznetsov has fifteen combat aircraft such as the Su-33 and MiG-29, and more than ten attack helicopters of the type KA-52. Invite them are not. The Russians already have enough air defense fighters and fighter-bombers on the Syrian air base at Latakia Hmeymim to harass the rebels.
By Editors Volkskrant Photo: Reuters
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