RUSSIAN BLACK SEA FLEET ROLE TO INCREASE.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet completed April 20 its first large-scale maneuvers of recent years. Some fifty warships plus auxiliary vessels, ground-based aviation, coastal artillery, and marine infantry practiced missile firings, torpedo attacks, antisubmarine warfare, and landing operations off the Crimea. Fleet commander Admiral Viktor Kravchenko said the fleet’s "core and combat capability has been preserved" and its "role will increase" when additional ships, aircraft, and weapons systems are delivered next year. (Krasnaya zvezda, Segodnya, Interfax-Ukraine, April 13-20)

Long Anticipated China Trip Begins.