Thord Are Iversen
@thelookout.bsky.social
Military and defense issues, as seen from NATOs northern flank. Special interest: The Russian Navy. Independent Defense Analyst, all analysis and opinions are my own
Future RF Navy Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Perm departed Severodvinsk during the morning hours of 23 July and remains underway through today - continuation of sea trials in the White Sea - previous 2026 underway periods: 4-31 May; 7-15 June
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine departed port on 21 July and remains underway through today - possibly related: bsky.app/profile/thel... - this is second Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class sub to depart port in past week bsky.app/profile/spec...
Two PRIP/NAVWARNs for Northern Fleet missile firings, between the 28th and 2nd, have been published today. While Navy Day formally is on Sunday the 26th, this might be for a parade replacement exercise, similar to last year. Not shown; Two artillery PRIPs for the 28th.
HNoMS Fritjof Nansen and NoCGV Hopen are in New York for the 250th anniversary and the International Naval Review. Photos: Forsvaret
This is a very good read, on a speech held by the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy Commodores that are co-leading the Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine.
Navy Lookout@navylookout.bsky.social · 2mo agoLatest analysis article: Royal Navy officers warn NATO navies are struggling to absorb Ukraine’s maritime lessons www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-o...
NOTAMs I've been able to spot for this launch, so far.
Ole@olepetter.bsky.social · 2mo agoLivestream for the ISAR launch from Andøya tomorrow (15/6). Hope things work out this time!
We have only had one ship visit so far (Teriberka), the floating pier hasn't been deployed yet, and there seems to be no personnel at Pankovo over the winter, so it will take time before they are ready for actual tests. But, the season is underway.
David@puca.bsky.social · 2mo agoFirst, @thelookout.bsky.social had spotted the PRIP/Navigational warning going up adjacent to Pankovo, and now the equivalent NOTAMs are up. It looks like we're in the build up phase to Burevestnik test season at Novaya Zemlya. But I think we're still weeks, if not months, away from any launches.
This submarine rescue exercise likely happened on the 5th, on the northern side of Motovskiy Bay. Sentinel-2 caught Georgiy Tvitov, along with a number of smaller ships.
Massimo Frantarelli@mrfrantarelli.bsky.social · 2mo agoSubmarine Search and Rescue Exercise. DSRV AS-34 and the carrier ship "Georgiy Titov". Ка-27PS/An-26 Project 23040 Rescue craft "Ivan Shvets". Project 877LPMB Paltus/Kilo I class SSK B-800 "Kaluga". 🗺️Barents Sea 🎥MoD RF(June 2026) tass.ru/armiya-i-opk...
Sentinel-2 caught the Kirov-class cruiser Admiral Nakhimov again earlier today, in Dvina Bay. Here, Nakhimov has just put the wheel over, while kicking up a decent rooster tail, indicating high speed.
OTD 1944, HNoMS Svenner, one of 10 Royal Norwegian Navy ships tanking part in Operation Neptune, was sunk off Sword beach, with 33 of her crew being killed.
As a reminder - two RF Navy Northern Fleet fast attack submarines remain deployed since mid-April: - Akula-class nuclear-powered sub (since 15 April [50 days] bsky.app/profile/spec... - Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile sub (since 20 April [45 days]) bsky.app/profile/spec...
The Pankovo / Burevestnik season has begun. This AIS contact in the bay is Teriberka (IMO: 9081291), an old regular on the Novaya Zemliya supply runs, including both to Pankovo and Severny.
Parliament adds 6.15 Bn NOK to the Government's proposal on the revised Defense Pledge, including more money for training/exercises, long range SAM's moved forward, and a "drone initiative". Importantly, a unanimous Parliament is still behind the plan. www.vg.no/nyheter/i/pB...
Nytt forsvarsforlik på Stortinget: – En historisk dag
Alle de ni partiene på Stortinget har til slutt blitt enige om den reviderte langtidsplanen for Forsvaret, trappet opp med 6,15 milliarder.
vg.no
Thord Are Iversen@thelookout.bsky.social · 2mo agoAccording to VG, all nine parties in the Norwegian Parliament have now agreed on a revised Defense Pledge, pending internal party approvals. Seems a revised air defense plan and more money for exercises will be added to the Government's proposal. www.vg.no/nyheter/i/pB...
According to VG, all nine parties in the Norwegian Parliament have now agreed on a revised Defense Pledge, pending internal party approvals. Seems a revised air defense plan and more money for exercises will be added to the Government's proposal. www.vg.no/nyheter/i/pB...
Opplysninger til VG: Politisk enighet om nytt forsvarsforlik
Mer penger til øvelser i Forsvaret og en oppdatert plan for luftvern, skal være deler av et nytt forsvarsforlik på Stortinget, ifølge VGs opplysninger.
vg.no
There seems to have been a change of policy on such measures, both in the Baltic- and Northern Fleets. This could be an attempt to apply lessons from the war more broadly, or it might say something about their threat perceptions.
Thomas Nilsen@thomasnilsen.bsky.social · 2mo agoThis is the first time we see nettings covering nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed subs in the Northern Fleet. But is it likely that Ukrainian freedom fighters will strike these subs?
The Norwegian environmental organization Bellona is close to bankruptcy. Bellona did a lot of great work on the Soviet nuclear waste legacy, including being the first to publish photos if the infamous Andreeva Bay in 1995, and was declared undesirable by Russia in 2023. www.nrk.no/norge/okonom...
Økonomisk krise i Bellona
Miljøstiftelsen Bellona er i økonomisk krise, og alle ansatte har fått permitteringsvarsel.
nrk.no
There are two RF Navy Vishnya-class intelligence collection ships currently underway in the Baltic Sea; both may be preparing to monitor NATO Exercise BALTOPS (4-19 June) - Viktor Leonov bsky.app/profile/spec... - Vasiliy Tatishchev bsky.app/profile/spec...
Sentinel-2 caught the Kirov-class cruiser Admiral Nakhimov doing a decent speed in the central White Sea earlier today. No other ships in the vicinity. Nakhimov departed Severodvinsk yesterday afternoon.
[1/5] RF Navy deployment stats: ships deployed at least one day in 2026 + total days deployed through 31 May 2026
Norway and France will sign a bilateral defense agreement today. Included is Norway joining the new French nuclear initiative, though the self-imposed restriction on no nuclear weapons on Norwegian soil in peacetime will remain in force. www.nrk.no/nyheter/norg...
Norge og Frankrike inngår forsvarsavtale
Landene forplikter seg til å stille opp for hverandre militært om det skulle bli behov. Sammen med ni andre europeiske land vil Norge bli en del av en prosess for hvordan franske atomvåpen kan bidra t...
nrk.no
The mod Kirov-class cruiser Admiral Nakhimov was moved to the Sevmash deperm pier last week, and was still there yesterday, though then turned around. This was her first movement of the year and does indicate that a resumption of the sea trials could be around the corner.
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine departed port on 15 May and remains underway through today
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine departed port on 16 May and remains underway through today - previous underway period: 9-17 February
A quick attempt at visualising a selection of Russian NOTAMs associated with this over the coming week. Note these can be removed & others added in their place etc. very quickly, e.g. I'd expect additions for Kura. Thanks to @thelookout.bsky.social for making sense of what was/is happening.
The Barents Observer@thebarentsobserver.com · 3mo agoIt looks busy, but: Those for SS-N-23 from the Barents to Kura have been issued again, for the 15th to 20th. Those from the Barents into Chiza have also been reissued for next week. New today indicating Yars from Plesetsk to Kura, 14th to 20th.
David@puca.bsky.social · 3mo agoSo, look, I'm not even going to try and explain this. @thelookout.bsky.social please help!
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (possibly Knyaz Pozharskiy) departed port on 5 May and remains underway through today - same submarine recently conducted 50-day strategic deterrence patrol (7 March-25 April) bsky.app/profile/spec...
Simplest explanation is someone forgot, or didn't see the point: but anyway, somewhat curiously, the SFC-UNL NOTAMs still in place over the Dombarovskiy launch site, the stage drop zone & Kura. (Generally observe that the Russians pull NOTAMs pretty quick when they're done.)
Another Cobra Ball up today, but it looks like they are stretching the potential launch window for this thing. Launch, stage sep zones re-issued for tomorrow/11th - Kura end has a new one extending out to the 14th.
RF Navy Baltic Fleet Alpinist-class intelligence collection ship Zhigulevsk departed Baltiysk during the early afternoon hours on 28 April and remains underway through today (7 May) - previous underway: 14 February-5 March 2026
