Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Feanor]

Apparently the MoD is buying 8 Be-200 amphibious planes. They may be modified for ASW roles, or maritime patrol. It's unclear at this point. They might even get used in their original purpose, as airborne fire-fighters.

Минобороны планирует закупить 8 Ñамолетов Бе-200 Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð½ÑƒÐ¶Ð´ ведомÑтва | ОбороРбезопаÑноÑÑ‚ÑŒ | Лента новоÑтей "РИРÐовоÑти"

 

[Haavarla]

The word is the T-50-3 - first taxi trials performed today.

Source: some Russian spotters, we'll just have to watch Sukhoi.org this week i guess.

EDIT:
The T-50-03 took to the skies at 4.20PM 21.11.2011

 

[Feanor]

The third prototype was supposed to take to the skies soon, with the radar, and some of the avionics.

 

[Haavarla]

Yeah, it will have an Pre-production AESA from NIIP.. it was a NIIP radar right?

It makes me wonder if NIIP allready have a AESA test radar installed on one of Sukhoi's flying test beds, like the Su-30, bort nr 605?
The first Irbis-E radar was installed on one of these years back..

And possible a full suite of the OLS systems, though this could also be a prototype or Pre-production units.

There is roumor that this T-50-03 is the 7th Airframe beeing build, allthough only the 3rd flying prototype.
The other four are used as ground test subjects, for different stress and systems testings.

 

[Haavarla]

Some official news from Sukhoi.

ÎÀÎ "Êîìïàíèÿ "Ñóõîé" - Íîâîñòè - Íîâîñòè êîìïàíèè

FCS and engine test was conducted over an hours + test flight.

'The flight went uneventfull and according the flight plan' said Sukhoi Chief test pilots Sergey Bodgan.

Edit:
It has removed the spair antenna in front of the radome. Must be due to the large AESA radar inside the radom.
I think it has a more finalized versions of the 101KS sensors.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_CSDYFlJO4"]Sukhoi PAK FA T-50-3 Maiden Flight November 22, 2011 - YouTube[/nomedia]

 

[Haavarla]

Voronezh Airbase will within 10 days receive 6 new Su-34 Fighter-Bombers from NAPO. The Pilots will arrivew at NAPO shortly to undergo the VVS inspection of the six aircraft before they are flown to Voronezh newly build special shelters prepaired for these new Strikers Sq.

 ÂÇÃËßÄ / ÂÂÑ Ðîññèè âñêîðå ïîëó÷àò íîâåéøèå áîìáàðäèðîâùèêè Ñó-34

 

[Feanor]

Voronezh Airbase will within 10 days receive 6 new Su-34 Fighter-Bombers from NAPO. The Pilots will arrivew at NAPO shortly to undergo the VVS inspection of the six aircraft before they are flown to Voronezh newly build special shelters prepaired for these new Strikers Sq.

*ÂÇÃËßÄ / ÂÂÑ Ðîññèè âñêîðå ïîëó÷àò íîâåéøèå áîìáàðäèðîâùèêè Ñó-34

I really wonder what the bort numbers will be. I can't tell if 9 or 10 have been delivered to date.

There's a photo of T-50-3 here: http://bmpd.livejournal.com/116991.html

 

[Haavarla]

i dunno, but Voronezh will by end of next week operate over a full strenght Sq of Su-34, and by end of 2012, it will have two full Sq operating.
Better late then never..

 

[Feanor]

It'll be interesting to see whether they do end up replacing the MR and MP variants of the Su-24, with Su-34 derivatives. The MR could be replaced by a medium-long range UAV (if they ever acquire one) but the MP definitely needs a dedicated EW aircraft.

 

[Haavarla]

An EW role should fit an Su-34 just fine, possible an MR(recon) configuration too.
But as of now i think its a little early to for any dedicated roles, as the numbers of aircraft are still low..

On the senter hardpoints, the Su-34 could mount a seroius big MR pod for medium/high altitude recon.

As for the EW role, those huge jamming pods should do just fine, and quite easily to do both EW and striking role at the same mission, but prefferable just as EW support.

 

[Feanor]

The Su-34 aircraft already carry EW gear superior to anything else in the VVS, and one of them was used for EW and SEAD over Georgia in 2008.

 

[Haavarla]

According to this source, the average pilot flying time in VVS are 90 hours per year, and it will increase to 130 hour in 2012.

Makarov Reports to Public Chamber | Russian Defense Policy

 

[Klaus]

The latest issue of AIR International features an article on the procurement of
new helicopters by the Russian Air Force. According to it, the base in Torzhok has taken delivery of another 8 Mi 28N this year. An earlier article stated that until spring 2011 7 preproduction helicopters had been delivered, followed by 31 series production Mi 28s. So the total number including the 6 delivered recently would be 52, of which two or three have already crashed.

Besides that, another pair of Mi 26 will be handed over before yearend.

 

[Feanor]

I'm fairly sure two crashed, one of the crashed was rebuilt and returned to service.Numbers in service around 51 helos sound right. They should be at 3 airbases with 4-12 at Torzhok (344th Flight Center) 16-24 at Buddenovsk, and the rest at another helo airbase (Korenovsk). Torzhok is a Flight Training Center, not a combat unit, so I doubt they will accumulate large numbers of Mi-28Ns. They do pilot training for new helos, testing prototypes and preproduction models, etc. the same way Lipetsk does it for new fighters.

Also a pair of Mi-26 already got handed over, with 2 more before year's end like you said. The Mi-26T2, however, is still some time away. Iirc deliveries for the updated variant are to start 2015-16. There are nice pics of the new paint scheme, and the new machines here:

Журнал Взлёт : ВВС РоÑÑии передано еще шеÑÑ‚ÑŒ Ми-28Ð
Журнал Взлёт : «РоÑтвертол²Ð¾Ð·Ð¾Ð±Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ð» поÑтавки Ми-26 роÑÑийÑкому Минобороны

 

[Klaus]

Looks interesting, I can't remember having seen a photo of a Russian helicopter painted in gray.

What I am asking myself is what the VVS in general does with pre-series aircraft like the Mi 28Ns in Torzhok or the Su 34s which have been used for test flights. Will they be used for training or are they going to be delivered to front line squadrons as well?

 

[Haavarla]

I'm not too familiar with the helis.
But on the Pre-prod Su-34, some are decomissioned, some are still operational, but as Sukhoi company assets(i assume for test purposes only).

And perhaps there is still one or two Pre-prod still at Lipetsk Airbase, function as pilot trainers, since all the serie production Su-34 are moved to Voronezh airbase.

 

[Feanor]

All? Are you sure? As far as I know, they have 6 there as of right now. I think a number of serial Su-34 will be retained at Lipetsk for testing, training, and experimental modifications.

 

[Haavarla]

Reports state, the b/n 48 is company property.
Ill try and find it..

And if all Pre-prod still are at Lipetsk after the last State trials, it would incline they some time recent would have been in the pit for an upgrade, at least on systems.. right?
Why use the for training, if they do not have all the systems as the serial production Su-34 have today?

 

[Feanor]

Reports state, the b/n 48 is company property.
Ill try and find it..

And if all Pre-prod still are at Lipetsk after the last State trials, it would incline they some time recent would have been in the pit for an upgrade, at least on systems.. right?
Why use the for training, if they do not have all the systems as the serial production Su-34 have today?

My point exactly. This is why I think a small number of serial production birds will remain at Lipetsk.

 

[Haavarla]

ah:sleepy3hwell
I see, well I guess the b/n 01 and 02 still could remain at Lipetsk.

The 6 new Su-34 are squeduled to be delivered to Voronezh tomorrow.
Why cant VVS train new crew at Voronezh by now?