Invisible subs

Thanks for friend and blog reader Jeff Groves for pointing out this article on a technology that might make subs invisible to active sonar in the future.  This would be a huge shift in anti-submarine warfare.

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USS Louisville (SSN-724) and USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)

Louisville and Kentucky currently both have naval vessels in active service named after them.  The USS Louisville is an attack submarine (SSN) and the USS Kentucky is a boomer (Nuclear missile carrying submarine or SSBN)  My long term building plans include adding a model of each to the collection.

Russia’s weapons woes

A nice article from Strategypage on why much of the Russian military is a paper tiger.  I suspect the truth is even worse than these reports.

Nuclear war

Well, after reading this, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.

 

Putin’s new weapons

Vlad has bragged about a bunch of new weapons.  See here.  Frankly, I think Russia is a broke paper tiger, and the fact that Putin is bragging about these just makes me think I am right.

Doomsday torpedo

Rumor the Russians have put a nuclear warhead the size of the Tsar Bomba on a remote control underwater UAV.  Great news!

Indian SSBNs

I was unaware that India possessed any SSBNs.  Apparently they have one undergoing sea trials and a second has just been launched.  India appears to be getting assistance from Russia in building the subs, thought the design appears to be a uniquely India design.  Story here.  So far I don’t think anyone has made a kit of this sub.  Thanks to friend of the blog Jeff Groves for passing along the info.

Iran

Some of the stories out of Iran seem pretty crazy.  This one does.

Project 885M

That is the model number of the latest Russian sub project.  Story here. So far the only 700th scale kit of the sub is this one. I am hoping that eventually we will get one in plastic.

Russian strength or Russian weakness?

Russia is upgrading the missiles on two of their Oscar II SSGNs.  Originally they had planned to upgrade the missiles on all 8 boats, but now are upgrading only two.  I suspect this is an indication of economic weakness and budget problems.