Russia deploys machine guns and jamming tech to guard Kerch arms plant
Photo: Russians try to protect defense plant in Kerch from the sea (http://zaliv.com/)
Russian forces in temporarily occupied Crimea are attempting to defend military-industrial facilities from potential sea attacks. Near the Zaliv ("Bay") plant in Kerch, they have placed a barge equipped with electronic warfare (EW) systems, informs the Telegram channel Crimean Wind.
"The occupiers have placed a barge with passive EW components at the entrance to the Zaliv shipbuilding plant's bay in Kerch. The barge is equipped with masts holding corner reflectors that distort radar signals used by missile homing heads," the report says.
It's noted that the barge is officially designated as a target vessel called Large Naval Shield, Project 436 bis.
Judging by the published photo, a Project 1204 Shmel ("Bumblebee") artillery boat is also moored to the barge. This is a lightly armored river gunboat with a displacement of 73 tons, 27 meters in length, and a top speed of 24 knots. During the war, such boats were transferred from the Caspian Flotilla to the Sea of Azov.
What is known about the Zaliv plant
The Zaliv Shipbuilding Plant (Shipyard No. 532) is one of the largest defense enterprises in Crimea, located in the city of Kerch. The facility specializes in building tankers and container ships, as well as repairing vessels of various types and tonnage.
During the Soviet era, the plant produced Krym and Panamax-class tankers, military frigates, and oil platforms. It also built frigates such as Hetman Sahaidachnyi, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro. Since the occupation of Crimea, Russia has repurposed the plant to manufacture small missile ships of the Tsiklon class.
