Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Feanor]

The usual, I guess, extended range, improved resolution, more targets tracked and engaged, higher resistance to jamming.

Well the question is improved compared to what? The release mentions the Su-30MK, compared to which the MKI is a huge improvement. So to say that the SM is improved compared to the MK is to say nothing.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Well the question is improved compared to what? The release mentions the Su-30MK, compared to which the MKI is a huge improvement. So to say that the SM is improved compared to the MK is to say nothing.

Do the MKI's come with the Zhuk AESA radar right now? Or does only India intent to upgrade its 30's with AESA?

 

[Klaus]

That new camouflage scheme looks strange to me. If the dark upper side shall decrease visibility on night sorties, then why is the underside painted in light blue?
Or does this have some other purpose?

 

[Haavarla]

Its for day light operation in mind.
If it is dark/night, you wont see much anyway..

Its pretty much the same scheme as Su-34.

Do the MKI's come with the Zhuk AESA radar right now? Or does only India intent to upgrade its 30's with AESA?

Its still too early to tell what kind of radar the super MKI will get.

The Su-30SM will not get any AESA. It could get retrofitted at a later stage though..

 

[Haavarla]

Something about the Su-35S #05-07 finnish factory testing and will be delivered to VVS in Desember.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25488/

Edit:
Didn't KnAAPO promise six Su-35S deliverd before year end, or was that total with the ealier delivered?

 

[ADMk2]

That new camouflage scheme looks strange to me. If the dark upper side shall decrease visibility on night sorties, then why is the underside painted in light blue?
Or does this have some other purpose?

For people on the ground with guns looking up at the aircraft. The light blue matches well with the colour of the sky...

 

[alexkvaskov]

Russian scramjet

Have there been any flight tests of the hypersonic GLL Igla scramjet missile yet?

Photo from MAKS-2009
http://i.flamber.ru/files/st2/1211922554/1252006030_o.jpg

 

[localhost127]

New colors and HUD?

IRKUT Corporation :: Press Release Archives :: IRKUT CORPORATION HANDED OVER THE FIRST 2 Su-30SM FIGHTERS TO THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE

curious as to the decision to continue with the design of the vertical (non-canted) tails. would this require too much of a redesign/testing/etc of the airframe?

 

[Haavarla]

You mean canted stabz like the F-15SE development?
Yes, i think its both cost and time related.
VVS need new jet to replace their aged Flanker fleet now and not later.

I may be wrong but i don't think we'll see any further development past the Su-35S variant..

 

[Feanor]

You mean canted stabz like the F-15SE development?
Yes, i think its both cost and time related.
VVS need new jet to replace their aged Flanker fleet now and not later.

I may be wrong but i don't think we'll see any further development past the Su-35S variant..

Well there will definitely be upgraded variants of the Su-35S and Su-34. I don't know if that counts as further development...

 

[Haavarla]

Well, i meant any alteration/modification on the airframe.

System is another matter, it will change and improve.

 

[Feanor]

Il-476 production plans apparently are for 103 aircraft through 2020. Those plans are very optimistic. Currently 39 transport variants are on order with the MoD. There are also plans for an order of new Il-78 aircraft based on the Il-476. Given that there are also likely orders from the MChS, MVD, and FSB, the number of orders domestically could exceed 103. What's overly optimistic is the ability of the plant to produce the necessary number of planes. The same factory is busy with An-124 modernizations, and SSJ interiors production.

bmpd -

 

[alexkvaskov]

The MoD press service reports that Western MD pilots achieved 125 flight hours on average during 2012, 175 for squadron leaders. The Kursk and Vyaz'ma airbases averaged 150 and 215 hours respectively. Transport aviation averaged 170 hours.

МакÑимальный налет летчика в Западном военном округе превыÑил 215 чаÑов в год - Сделано у наÑ

I wonder how accurate these figures are and whether they include hours flown in simulators.

 

[Klaus]

In the latest issue of AIR International there is an article about the development of the An-70 transport aircraft. Piotr Bukowski writes that KAPO in Kazan has been selected to produce the aircraft, but the first units will only be delivered in 2016. The Russian Air Force still plans to field the aircraft from 2014 onwards, what would only be possible if the two aircraft in production in Ukraine would be given to Russia.

Furthermore, the Tu-95 is planned to be kept in service until about 2035. The next upgrade will include new navigation and ECM equipment. Besides that the bomber will be able to carry the Kh-101 cruise missile. Probably all 32 remaining Tu-95s will be brought to the new standard (MSM).

 

[Feanor]

In the latest issue of AIR International there is an article about the development of the An-70 transport aircraft. Piotr Bukowski writes that KAPO in Kazan has been selected to produce the aircraft, but the first units will only be delivered in 2016. The Russian Air Force still plans to field the aircraft from 2014 onwards, what would only be possible if the two aircraft in production in Ukraine would be given to Russia.

Iirc the MoD already bought one An-70 from Antonov's Aviant plant. I suspect the initial batch will be produced in Ukraine, while KAPO unfolds production.

Furthermore, the Tu-95 is planned to be kept in service until about 2035. The next upgrade will include new navigation and ECM equipment. Besides that the bomber will be able to carry the Kh-101 cruise missile. Probably all 32 remaining Tu-95s will be brought to the new standard (MSM).

Unsurprising. If they wanted to they could even reactivate some of the retired airframes.

 

[Klaus]

That's probably correct. I wonder how many An-70s Ukraine will buy in the end. In the article it is mentioned that their reguirement is for up to ten aircraft, but no one knows how funding could be provided.

The gouvernor of the Samara district has declared that the aircraft production plant located there is awaiting an order by the MoD for between 70 and 120 An-140.

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20121129/912822501.html

 

[Feanor]

That's probably correct. I wonder how many An-70s Ukraine will buy in the end. In the article it is mentioned that their reguirement is for up to ten aircraft, but no one knows how funding could be provided.

The gouvernor of the Samara district has declared that the aircraft production plant located there is awaiting an order by the MoD for between 70 and 120 An-140.

СамарÑкий "Ðвиакор" может получить заказ на 120 Ñамолетов Ðн-140 | РИРÐовоÑти

Interesting. The VDV mentioned wanting at least 60. Looks like the problems with strategic mobility that they've experienced recently have really motivated them to invest in medium-heavy lift.

 

[Klaus]

Does the ministry plan to equip the VDV with own aircraft, too? I thought they'd only get helicopters...
Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to simply incorporate the paratroopers into the VVS?

In the article by P. Bukowski it is also mentioned that the VVS chose the An-70 because of its ability to operate from very short or improvised airfields (what the Il-76 can't). On the other hand, they have ordered new Il-76s, too, what will leave the air force with two aircraft for one purpose.

 

[Feanor]

The An-140 may see a much larger production run including a variant with a rear ramp, which means it could potentially end up still being a light transport option for the VVS. The transport variant is called An-140T, and production is set to start in 2015.

There was a meeting of Russian government officials and there is a plan in the works for an order of a total of 70-120 An-140 aircraft, for Aviakor, these aircraft will go to Aeroflot, MChS, FSB, etc. Also an order for 15 aircraft for the MoD. It's unclear whether this is a new order of 15 aircraft, or a total of 15 aircraft (meaning an order of 4 more on top of the 11 already purchased).

Also there is an OKR Syemschik that's meant to produce recon/observation aircraft to be used under the Open Skies agreement (in addition to the Tu-214ON).

bmpd -

These plans looks very optimistic, but as it stands the factory can barely put out the 5 aircraft per year that it has to produce to fullfill the existing contracts.

The slideshow from the government presentation is here:

http://www.aex.ru/docs/3/2012/11/22/1676/

 

[Haavarla]

Good news here, but no numbers, one whole squadron later in month.

The deliveries of the second batch of Su-34 bombers to the Western Command will be started in late December
Russian Aviaton » Wednesday December 5, 2012 18:16 MSK

The deliveries of the second batch of multi-role Su-34 bombers to the Western Command will be started in the second half of December 2012, press-service of the Western Command reports. AEX.ru

The engineering and technical personnel of Voronezh air base will arrive in Novosibirsk soon in order to carry out acceptance of the advanced multi-role Su-34 bombers and form the second Su-34 squadron. The specialists will carefully inspect all the jets and technical documentation. The pilots will start performing test flights after the completion of comprehensive ground testing of the jets’ control systems, the press-service noted.

The crews of the second Su-34 squadron of Voronezh air base have already passed the necessary theoretical retraining at Lipetsk Air Base. The flying personnel have studied the structural system of the advanced bomber, its control system and concept of operation of the latest multi-role Su-34 bomber along with air weapons used by the aircraft.

"After the arrival of jets in Voronezh an engineer will be assigned to each jet. The necessary number of technicians will be provided for servicing the whole squadron. Each technician has also passed retraining at Lipetsk Air Base and then improved the skills during servicing the jets from the first Su-34 squadron at the Baltimor airfield", - Western Command explained.

As printed in Russian aviation 5th December

It doesn't say anything about the actuall numbers though..
Take your bet gents. I thinking six unit this time.