Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Feanor]

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Those Su-30SM are filling up. Though they will be delivered in Squadron size if the reports were correct.

Apparently yes, 12 will go to the airbase at Domna. The airfield is currently home to ~50 MiG-29s, all of which will be written off, and replaced by Su-30SM eventually.

Also the first line squadron of Su-35S will be deployed this year, to Dzemga, where they will join two current Su-27SM squadrons, and some Su-30M2 planes, not clear how many.

MilitaryRussia.Ru / Military.Tomsk.Ru -

 

[alexkvaskov]

Looks like it's becoming a well established trend, new and upgraded multi-role fighters being stationed almost exclusively in the Eastern and Western MDs. I wonder where the PAK-FAs will be based.

 

[Feanor]

Looks like it's becoming a well established trend, new and upgraded multi-role fighters being stationed almost exclusively in the Eastern and Western MDs. I wonder where the PAK-FAs will be based.

Well Su-34s at Baltimore can effectively cover most of South MD. So there's little reason to move them closer. On the other hand Su-25SMs are being deployed to South MD, and when the new Su-25UBMs show up they will go there too, because they have far less range.

 

[Klaus]

Are the MiG-29s to be retired currently still active or have they been grounded already? I've repeatedly read the VVS still has about 290 MiG-29 in its inventory, but afaik only 140-150 are still flying.

 

[Feanor]

Are the MiG-29s to be retired currently still active or have they been grounded already? I've repeatedly read the VVS still has about 290 MiG-29 in its inventory, but afaik only 140-150 are still flying.

There is at least one squadron of MiG-29s operating out of Domna, possibly more. I doubt all of them are flying. Probably 2 squadrons.

Meanwhile the VVS and PVO are getting lots of new IFFs. 184 of them are for Su-34s, in a 1.5 bln rouble deal. Another 1082 of them are being delivered for MANPADS between 2013 and 2015. Also 21 new IFF devices for the Buk-M2 have been contracted. There are probably other devices that aren't mentioned. Overall this is a major part of major effort to resolve problems with friendly fire between air and ground. It could also mean that additional Su-34s will be produced, since current plans will end Su-34 production at 129.

Lenta.ru:

 

[alexkvaskov]

Meanwhile the VVS and PVO are getting lots of new IFFs. 184 of them are for Su-34s, in a 1.5 bln rouble deal. Another 1082 of them are being delivered for MANPADS between 2013 and 2015. Also 21 new IFF devices for the Buk-M2 have been contracted. There are probably other devices that aren't mentioned. Overall this is a major part of major effort to resolve problems with friendly fire between air and ground. It could also mean that additional Su-34s will be produced, since current plans will end Su-34 production at 129.

Lenta.ru:

Kinda strange, don't fighter aircraft and air defence systems come with IFF transponders already built-in? They would do well to provide IFF and training for allied militias/friendly FSU forces, as half their AF losses against Georgia were to South Ossetian fire. Then again this is for tac-SAMs. Surely higher level PVO assets posses appropriate IFF.

 

[Feanor]

Kinda strange, don't fighter aircraft and air defence systems come with IFF transponders already built-in? They would do well to provide IFF and training for allied militias/friendly FSU forces, as half their AF losses against Georgia were to South Ossetian fire. Then again this is for tac-SAMs. Surely higher level PVO assets posses appropriate IFF.

Uh. I think it was 3 shot down by Georgia, 2 by Russian troops, and 1 by South Ossetians.

Meanwhile two more Su-34s are ready for handover. These are aircraft 25 and 26 as part of the 2008 contract, so for a total of 31 serial aircraft.

bmpd -

And some ex-VVS Mi-8s and Mi-24s are going to Sudan. Under two separate contracts Sudan is getting 24 Mi-24s and 18 Mi-8s. Earlier 10 Mi-24s from VVS stock were sold to Burma/Myanmar. This sounds like good use of these old birds, especially since very large quantities will become available. Of course I have to wonder if this will hurt Rosvertol sales of new Mi-35Ps. But given MoD finance issues, these sales are a good way to recover some of the cost from the older aircraft.

bmpd -
Lenta.ru:

EDIT: Orion Ground Effect vehicle has entered trials, and in size it looks comparable to the A-90 Orlenok. There's also a shot of the factory producing the Sterh-10 ground effect vehicle, possibly under an FSB contract. At least 5 of them are visible.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/39022/

Also apparently while the MiG-35 contract is pushed back a contract for new-built MiG-29SMTs is close to being signed, for 16 aircraft, with an option for 16 more. Tragic, to put it mildly. A mediocre Fulcrum upgrade from the late 90s, that's getting delivered to the VVS a decade and a half later on new-built airframes.

http://lenta.ru/news/2013/08/20/mig/

 

[alexkvaskov]

Also apparently while the MiG-35 contract is pushed back a contract for new-built MiG-29SMTs is close to being signed, for 16 aircraft, with an option for 16 more. Tragic, to put it mildly. A mediocre Fulcrum upgrade from the late 90s, that's getting delivered to the VVS a decade and a half later on new-built airframes.

Lenta.ru:

Politics again; Mig's supposed to be desperate for orders. At least the SMT is similar to the UPG they're producing for India. But I think it would have made more sense had they ordered upgrades of existing airframes as opposed to new builds.

 

[Feanor]

Politics again; Mig's supposed to be desperate for orders. At least the SMT is similar to the UPG they're producing for India. But I think it would have made more sense had they ordered upgrades of existing airframes as opposed to new builds.

Neither makes sense, the type should be phased out. The existing airframes are old, and worn out from lack of maintenance, and being exposed to the elements. The variant isn't capable enough for new buys. It's outdated already, it'll be even more so a decade from now. Even the MiG-35 as it currently exists is a weak upgrade on the Fulcrum.

Meanwhile the airforce is getting 300 of these light turbo-props, probably as trainers. I say probably because nothing is specified, and the plane is capable of being equipped with skis and water landing gear.

Lenta.ru:

Also, state trails have begun for the Voron-333 UAV, which can carry weapons, including grenade launchers, rocket launchers, and an AK. Iirc the type is already used by other force wielding agencies inside Russia so it shouldn't be too hard to pass trials.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/39069/

EDIT: The MoD has decided to not purchase the AW helicopters citing cost reasons, despite the domestic production deal with AW.

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20130820/957439389.html

 

[Feanor]

News from MAKS, more and more interesting. Apparently the VVS will receive 3 A-50Us this year, two of which have already been handed over. If I'm not mistaken this brings total numbers of upgraded A-50s in VVS service to 5. Meanwhile the A-100 is in assembly at Ulyanovsk right now. And the first set of engines for the tanker variant on the Il-476 have been delivered. Overall it looks like the factory will have its hands full, though plans for new Il-476 are two aircraft next year.

Lenta.ru:
Lenta.ru:
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Also apparently Tactical Missiles Corporation has been testing a hypersonic missile, but have only managed to reach hypersonic speeds (Mach 4.5) for several seconds at a time. In other words an operational missile is a long long way away. Though they do talk about developing missiles with speeds of up to Mach 14. It honestly looks like they haven't gotten far since OKR Holod back in the 80s, the Soviet project for a hypersonic missile.

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Lenta.ru:

Meanwhile the Ka-62 got its second contract, also civilian, for 5 helos, bringing contracted numbers to 12. The MoD talked about buying 100 of them, but no actual contract was signed as of now.

And work is continuing on the Khibini-U EW complex. It's unclear whether it will be a pod, or internalized, but the first aircraft for it will be an Su-30SM. The development contract is for 1.6 billion roubles, so ~50 million USD. Details are, sadly, lacking.

Lenta.ru:

 

[alexkvaskov]

That's curious, I thought they would be using the EW pods already developed for the Fullback on the other Flanker variants.

 

[Haavarla]

In this article, it state that the 117 engine used on Pak-Fa has 15.000kgf wet thrust, and 9.500 dry thrust.

[ame="http://www.scribd.com/doc/113636888/Mladenov-A-2012-Russian-Superfighter-Cleared-Hot-Issue-8-2012"]Mladenov A, 2012. Russian Superfighter, Cleared Hot Issue 8/2012[/ame]

It fit well With the figures on 117S used on Su-35S, 14.500kgf wet & 8.800kgf dry thrust.

Thats 19.000kgf of dry thrust People. Impressive! The same thrust RD-33MK have on wet thrust!

 

[colay]

In this article, it state that the 117 engine used on Pak-Fa has 15.000kgf wet thrust, and 9.500 dry thrust.

Mladenov A, 2012. Russian Superfighter, Cleared Hot Issue 8/2012

It fit well With the figures on 117S used on Su-35S, 14.500kgf wet & 8.800kgf dry thrust.

Thats 19.000kgf of dry thrust People. Impressive! The same thrust RD-33MK have on wet thrust!

I'm confused. Where does the 19,000kgf come from?

 

[Klaus]

Probably both engines combined.

Piotr Bukovski wrote an anrticle concerning UAV development in Russia. It was published by Key Publishing in the september issue of AIR International.He writes that currently four different UAVs are being funded by the MoD: Vega Korsar (reconnaissance, 200 kg), Transas Inokhodets (rec., 1 t), Sokol Altjus (4-5 t) and MiG/Sukhoi Okhotnik (10-20 t UCAV).

This was already known, however, some details are added. The Inokhodets, which will probably resemble the American Predator, will be powered my a Motor Sich turboprop and is due to enter service in 2018.
Furthermore, the new UCAV is apparently being jointly developed by Sukhoi and MiG. The latter company will use experience with the proposed Skat for the project, more precisely a revised design that features a V-tail and slightly larger wings.

Besides that a single Il-22, which has been completely repaired and oberhauled, has been handed over to the VVS. It can serve on for at least ten more years. The total number of Il-22s in service now stands at 16.

 

[colay]

Probably both engines combined.

Ah, OK.. was so focused on the tree, missed the forest.
So the current PAK-FA engine is in the same class as the General Electric F110-GE-132 turbofan powering the UAE Blk 60 Viper.

 

[Feanor]

There were news claiming that Sukhoi will develop a UAV based on the PAK-FA. And a minor detail, the Il-22 handed over was a VKP variant, i.e. an airborne command post.

 

[colay]

Ak

There were news claiming that Sukhoi will develop a UAV based on the PAK-FA. And a minor detail, the Il-22 handed over was a VKP variant, i.e. an airborne command post.

I think I recall reading about it but it struck me as odd. The PAK-FA is primarily optimized for the A2A arena though it will very likely evolve to do the A2G role as well. The latter seems to be what the Indians wanted their 2-seater FGFA to be but now they're stuck with the single-seat variant.
I'm not sure if the Russians are seriously considering an unmanned PAK-FA. Air combat would seem to be a more complex technical challenge than attacking surface targets. And if they did eventually figure it out, it should cost less converting Flankers or MiGs to drones.

 

[Haavarla]

This is confusing..
When you say it will be developed based on Pak-Fa program. It doesn't mean it will be an UAV based on two engines??

Cause that sound like a fail design by Choice.. too costly to build and operate.

 

[Feanor]

This is confusing..
When you say it will be developed based on Pak-Fa program. It doesn't mean it will be an UAV based on two engines??

Cause that sound like a fail design by Choice.. too costly to build and operate.

There is literally no concrete info other then that it will be based on the PAK-FA. What that actually means, who knows.

 

[alexkvaskov]

It could just mean that they will be drawing on their experience creating the PAK-FA when it comes to the UCAV.