Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Feanor]

This is 02 in VVS colors. It arrived at GLITs on January 20th.

bmpd -

And while we're on the subject of cool photos, here's the first An-140-100 in VVS colors at Chkalovsk airfield.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/149231.html

Apparently the AVMF also ordered an An-140-100 making 11 ordered by the MoD total so far.

EDIT: They plan to acquire 30 Vityaz SAMs, and 100 Pantsyr's, by 2020. Deliveries of Pantsyr-S1 are to start this year.

http://lenta.ru/news/2012/01/23/vityaz/

 

[Klaus]

Does "30 systems" mean "30 launchers"?
That wouldn't be that much, but on the other hand the Vityaz probably
won't enter production that soon, so there won't be much time left until 2020
to produce them in larger numbers.

One of the latest news articles on DT states that there still are 370 MiG 31
in service with the Russian Air Force. Can this be correct? I thought the
number would be around 200 or so...

 

[Klaus]

The MoD intends to purchase at least 100 new Il 476 transports. Deliveries
are planned to start in 2014 or 2015. Flight tests of the aircraft will commence
soon (ruaviation.com).

 

[Feanor]

Does "30 systems" mean "30 launchers"?
That wouldn't be that much, but on the other hand the Vityaz probably
won't enter production that soon, so there won't be much time left until 2020
to produce them in larger numbers.

One of the latest news articles on DT states that there still are 370 MiG 31
in service with the Russian Air Force. Can this be correct? I thought the
number would be around 200 or so...

If you count airframes sitting in rot-lots, maybe. Operational? No way. On the Vityaz, I have no idea. The SAM hasn't even been finalized. If it's a TELAR then most likely we're talking about 30 launchers. If it's more like an S-300P, with separate TELs and radars, then likely 30 units will refer to a btln or battery.

 

[Haavarla]

Photos: Sukhoi Su-34 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

10th serial Su-34.
Check out those belly pylons.. it looks like two seperate pylons to me.
Are those wired bombs pylons only?
And just how many pylons do the Su-34 now feature?

 

[Feanor]

Photos: Sukhoi Su-34 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

10th serial Su-34.
Check out those belly pylons.. it looks like two seperate pylons to me.
Are those wired bombs pylons only?
And just how many pylons do the Su-34 now feature?

Now you're confusing me... so previously we had bort numbers 01-09 and 03.01-03.06. These were all serial birds with finalized/semi-finalized tech specs. So this is bort 10, making it the 16th serial bort. Has it been handed over this year? Or is this before handover?

 

[Haavarla]

I'm not sure.
There was two different press release with a short time between them as you say, but i'm not sure how many units were in those batch handover to VVS.

The press often makes a mess of those kind of coverage..
Anyway, i expected there to be an Su-34 b/n 11 too.

 

[nevidimka]

Those are not belly pylons. Those are under engine inlet pylons. And whats with the new black-blue livery? is it the official livery for this plane? It doesnt look good as the plain blue livery on those planes.

 

[nevidimka]

BTW, regarding the PAK FA, are they really working on a new cockpit glass design? The current 1 has way too many metal frames on it.

And why cant they integrate the IRST inside the cockpit canopy right in front of the HUD? That would reduce RCS related to the IRST wouldnt it?
And great news on the 4th prototype flying and testing. They need more complete the testing as soon as possible.

 

[Feanor]

Apparently all S-300P units have been upgraded to the PM standard. Right now upgrading them to the PM2 standard is next.

Also an additional 6 Pantsyr-S1 units have been delivered.

military_press -

The fact that upgrades continue for the S-300P makes me wonder, as does the statement that the Vityaz will replace S-300 units. S-400 deliveries have definitely been slow (4 handed over, two more due by April), but does this mean that two separate systems will take over the S-300 niche?

 

[Haavarla]

Busy day at Lipetsk
That new paint seems to grow on me. I like it.

 

[nevidimka]

Busy day at Lipetsk
That new paint seems to grow on me. I like it.

I think if they make it all black, it will look good. Not a half black and half blue. doesnt match. And perhaps a different shade of black.

 

[Feanor]

Busy day at Lipetsk
That new paint seems to grow on me. I like it.

That doesn't look like Lipetsk. Those bort numbers should be at Voronezh.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Transport Aviation

Can anyone confirm whether Aeroflot transport planes would have been subordinated to the Red Air Force in case of war?; if so, is this still the case?

 

[Feanor]

They would have been. Even civilian trucks and private automobiles could have been requisitioned for military use in war time. I don't know if that's still the case. It could be.

 

[Haavarla]

I little something on the new/upgraded RD-33 engine beeing tested for Mig-29K.
It has an 7% thrust increase over the RD-33MK version.

http://vz.ru/news/2012/1/28/557249.html#

 

[Feanor]

Here are some photos showing the results of 4 Tu-22M3 bombing the landing strips at Kopitnari, Georgia. About 100 unguided bombs were used, most likely FAB-250. There were 5 impacts on the landing strip. The maximum length of undamaged runway is 1.5 km.

Below them is a photo of NATO air strikes against a Serbian airbase in 1999, for comparison. They were done by a single B-2 Spirit using 6 GBU-31 JDAM. Maximum length of undamaged runway after bombing is 500m.

pfc_joker:

Just an interesting comparison of where the VVS is in comparison to the the USAF.

 

[Haavarla]

That doesn't look like Lipetsk. Those bort numbers should be at Voronezh.

Some more stunners from Lipetsk. I believe it is Lipetsk..

fotoejjiki:

 

[Haavarla]

Tu-22M3 are to be upgraded to M3M standard.

" Aircraft of the M3M standard can be equipped with a wider range of weapons.
As of 2008, the Russian Air Force had at least 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.

Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, commander of Long Range Aviation, earlier said that Russia's strategic aviation fleet will undergo extensive modernization while Russia’s next generation strategic bomber, the PAK DA, is being developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau.

He said the modernized aircraft will be equipped with new equipment, communications systems, cockpits and avionics."

Russia to Modernize 30 Tu-22M3 Bombers by 2020 | Defense | RIA Novosti

 

[Haavarla]

Russia will complete development of advanced tactical air-launched missile systems for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter within the next two years, the head of the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), Boris Obnosov, told RIA Novosti.

Russia to Field Air-Launched Missiles for T-50 by 2014 | Defense | RIA Novosti

Quite aggresive time line here..
And it is quite interesting to read that "Some of the missiles intended for the fighters – such as Kh-31PD (AS-17 Mod 2) class missiles – have already been tested using Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) fourth-generation strike aircraft and put into serial production, he added."