Mahaz News
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A Russian warship armed with superior hypersonic missiles accomplished a drill within the Atlantic Ocean, forward of joint naval workout routines with the Chinese and South African navies scheduled for subsequent month, the Russian Defense Ministry mentioned Wednesday.
Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, practiced “delivering a missile strike against an enemy surface target,” the ship’s commander Igor Krokhmal mentioned in a video launched by the ministry.
The train, described by state news company Tass as an “electronic launch” or digital simulation, confirmed the “designed characteristics” of the missile system, mentioned Krokhmal, who pointed to the missiles’ purported skill to achieve distances of greater than 900 kilometers (559 miles).
The take a look at was a part of an extended voyage of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate launched earlier this month, when Russian state media mentioned the warship was dispatched with the hypersonic missiles. The deployment may also embody joint coaching with the Chinese and South African navies off the coast of South Africa, in keeping with Moscow and Pretoria.
The workout routines come as Russia nears the primary anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and marks each a present of pressure and – with the joint workout routines – a possibility for Moscow to point out it’s not remoted on the world stage, regardless of large worldwide condemnation of its unprovoked battle.
The White House on Monday mentioned the US “has concerns about any country … exercising with Russia while Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine.”
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During a joint assembly in Pretoria Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor defended the naval drills, with Lavrov saying Moscow doesn’t need any so-called “scandals” concerning the workout routines.
Pandor, who posed alongside Lavrov whereas smiling and shaking fingers, claimed it’s regular observe for all international locations to conduct navy workout routines with “friends worldwide.”
“There should be no compulsion on any country, that it should conduct them with any other partner. It’s part of a natural course of relations between countries,” she added, with out explicitly referencing criticism leveled at South Africa for its refusal to sentence Russia’s invasion.
In a separate assertion detailing the joint workout routines, which run February 17-27, South Africa’s Defense Department mentioned that “contrary to the assertions” from critics, South Africa “was not abandoning its neutral position on the Russian-Ukraine conflict” and “continues to urge both parties to engage in dialogue as a solution to the current conflict.”
China has not made a press release immediately confirming its participation, however its Ministry of Defense web site on Monday posted an article from state news company Xinhua referencing South Africa’s announcement of the drills. China is celebrating a week-long Lunar New Year vacation.
The US has repeatedly warned Beijing – which has an in depth strategic partnership with Moscow – in opposition to offering materials help to the Russian military in its battle in Ukraine.
The Biden administration just lately raised considerations with China about proof it has suggesting that Chinese corporations have offered non-lethal gear to Russia to be used in Ukraine, although it was not clear whether or not Beijing was conscious of the purported transactions.
The joint maritime train is anticipated to incorporate some 350 South African National Defense Force personnel taking part alongside their Russian and Chinese counterparts, in keeping with South Africa. An earlier train between the three navies befell in 2019.
It’s the primary time that the drills will embody the Admiral Gorshkov frigate carrying Zircon hypersonic missiles, which have been first examined in late 2021.
The long-range weapons, which Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month mentioned had “no analogues in any country in the world,” journey greater than 5 instances the velocity of sound and are tougher to detect and intercept.
The frigate was actively concerned in testing the missiles, designed and produced by the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building, a part of Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corporation, in keeping with Tass.
It’s present deployment, initiated January 4, was anticipated to see the ship transit by the Mediterranean Sea and into the Indian Ocean, Tass reported on the time.
Source web site: www.cnn.com
