S-300 Delivery On-Hold

On October 31, A Russian defense industry official said they would lose about $1 billion if the contract with Iran to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems was not carried out. They claim the S-300 is a defensive weapon system.

One week later, Sergei Ivanov, a deputy prime minister, responded by saying they are not supplying Iran with S-300s and there are no supplies of S-300s in Russia currently. They do plan on carrying out the contract signed in 2005. Israel has expressed concern over the missiles since they would deter any possible Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Sources:

Russia to lose 'billions' if S-300 missile deal with Iran scrapped

(Reliability: 6)

Russia not currently supplying S-300 SAM systems to Iran

(Reliability: 6)

Comment: The S-300 SAM systems are the same weapons thought to be the illegal cargo in the center of the Arctic Sea 'hijacking'. The Arctic Sea is currently being transferred to Malta.

Arms Caches Appear Across Caucasus Region

Russian police found what they call an arms cache in a dugout in Kabardino-Balkaria on Saturday 24. The dugout is believed to hold ten militants. In the dugout police found two home-made explosives, four detonating fuses, dishes, construction tools, two gas canisters, religious literature and weopons instructions.

On Tuesday 20, Russian managed to find another arms cache in Ingushetia. The cache was made up of seven grenades used in grenade launchers, two hand grenades, and ammunition. Terrorist attacks continue to plague that region of Russia, including Chechnya. The civil unrest is due to the Northern Caucasus wanting independence from Russia.

Sources:
Police discover arms cache in south Russia
(Reliability: 7)
Kadyrov Again Declares Victory as Rebel Attacks Continue
(Reliability: 5)

France's Elite Arms Trade

Forty-two politicians, businessmen, and Paris elite have been brought to court over the charges of illegal arms trafficking and money laundering in the past year. Israeli businessman Arkadi Gaydamak and his associate Pierre Falcone were handed six year jail sentences. Born in Russia, Gaydamak is thought to have fled to Russia months before the trial.

Gaydamak's trade with Angola, which began in 1993, helped to support Eduardo Dos Santos' government during a civil war with the Angolan movement known as UNITA, backed up by the US. The arsenal included 420 tanks, 150,000 shells, 170,000 anti-personnel mines, 12 helicopters and six warships.

Other men involved in the trade were Charles Pasqua, former interior minister, and Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, sone of the late president Francois Mitterrand.

Sources:
Jail terms for 'Angola-gate' guilty
(Reliability: 7)
Gaydamak sentenced to 6 years in jail
(Reliability: 8)

What is Russia Hiding?

Thailand – Russia is going all out in keeping Viktor Bout out of the US. The Russians have offered oil deals, and Thailand recently purchased six Mi-17 helicopters at $9 million each.

Russia’s goal is to have Bout released from lock-up in order to keep him silent. There are various high-ranking individuals in the Russian government involved in Bout’s activities. Russians fear that Bout will give names under US captivity.

Sources:

Will the 'Merchant of Death' Walk?

(Reliability: 8)

START Expiration Date: December 5

Russia and the US are working to renew the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which expires on 5 December 2009. Both nations agreed on a reduction of nuclear warheads to 1,500-1,675 and a reduction of means to deliver nuclear weapons to 500-1,110.

While the START discussions continue, the US is expressing concerns over Iran's nuclear development program. Russia is reluctant to set nuclear sanctions against Iran. The P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US) is still working on suspending Iran's nuclear program after a year without progress.


Source:
United States, Russia Making Progress on Arms Reduction Treaty

Putin Says Iran Sanctions Talk Premature

Pre-emptive Nuclear Strike

Russia reconsiders use of nuclear strikes to repel aggression from neighboring threats. Russia says they reserve the right to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike. At the moment, Russia officials are reviewing "a variety of possibilities for using nuclear force," says Nikolai Patrushev, Presidential Security Council chief. With the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) replacement still under discussion, Russian officials argue that reorganizing their nuclear launch protocol does not conflict with the reduction of nuclear arms.

Source:
Russia to allow pre-emptive nukes

The Viktor Bout Documents

The Federation of American Scientists posted a few documents made public after Viktor Bout's arrest. The documents include an email that Bout had set up to communicate with a DEA agent pretending to be a member of FARC, and a map showing radar stations. Bout and his accomplice Andrew Smulian were arrested in Thailand in March 2008.

Among the documents was a list of weapons Bout was planning to deliver. They include anti-aircraft missiles, AK-47s, unmanned aerial vehicles, 10 million 7.62 x 54 ammunition, and RPG rocket launchers. They were to be air-dropped into FARC controlled territory.

Source:
Documents obtained by FAS shed some light on Viktor Bout case, but key questions remain

Real IRA Trial

Lithuania – Michael Campbell is taken to court for attempting to buy arms and explosives for the Real IRA, splinter group of the IRA. His arrest comes from an effort between British and Lithuanian police to lower the amount of gun trafficking.

Campbell’s brother Liam Campbell, Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and two other men were found liable for the Omagh car bomb on August 15, 1998 in Northern Ireland.

Campbell's arrest was the result of a joint operation between British and Lithuanian police. According to Romas Svagzdys, Lithuanian Police Firearms expert, "All guns and explosives are coming in from Russia, especially from Soviet times."

Source:
Real IRA Suspect On Trial Over Lithuania Arms
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Real-IRA-Suspect-Michael-Campbell-Goes-On-Trial-In-Lithuania-Accused-Of-Trying-To-Buy-Weapons/Article/200910115400826?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15400826_Real_IRA_Suspect_Michael_Campbell_Goes_On_Trial_In_Lithuania_Accused_Of_Trying_To_Buy_Weapons

Reaction to Illegal Arms Trade in Africa

Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni torched 3,500 illegal guns on Monday at the start of the East African Peace and Security Conference. Uganda suffers from the proliferation of illegal guns.

The Uganda government has been active in reducing the amount of illegal guns in the country. In 2006, 57,000 guns were smelted in Jinja, and 3,000 guns were destroyed in Kampala in 2005.

Many arms traffickers manage to import illegal arms, especially the AK-47 (a.k.a. Kalashnikov), into Africa’s conflict zones. “The AK-47 remains the dreaded symbol of instability, insecurity, violence and death across the region.” Daily Monitor

Source:
Do more to reduce illicit guns in society
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Do_more_to_reduce_illicit_guns_in_society_92495.shtml

Russian Arms Bankruptcy

Russian arms manufacturer Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works) faces bankruptcy from legal and mostly illegal copies of the AK-47 Kalashnikov. According to the World Bank, out of 500 million total firearms world wide in 2007, 100 million were Kalashnikov related and 75 million were AK-47s.

Founded in 1807 by the Czarist government, Izhmash is the original producer of AK-47s, designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947. Izhmash granted licenses to companies in soviet countries for the support of rebel movements by the Kremlin. Those countries found it cheaper to respect patent laws than to steal their design, but the patent laws were mostly ignored. Russia now has a hard time enforcing those laws.

Sources:
Kalashnikov maker faces bankruptcy
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2009/10/07/Kalashnikov-maker-faces-bankruptcy/UPI-95111254931260/
The Curse Of The AK-47
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20091003.aspx