Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Haavarla]

I'm using this number on a somewhat older research, but its like 18-20 operational.
Then you can substract a few units that are almost certain hauled in for upgrade.

So perhaps around 14-16 units in operational status right now

NB! note that this is quite the lower number from your total 35 build..
Well we got those demolished at Ukraine, + a small number beeing phased out for different reason. Most certainly the first ones build.

Edit: Was it really 35 build? I was not aware it was that many..

 

[Klaus]

Thanks for the quick answer. I've got an old book from 2000 which says that 35 had been built until that time. Whether this is correct is another question, but certainly several aircraft have been destroyed in Ukraine, while another 3 crashed or were scrapped in Russia, so it's possibly correct.

 

[KiwiRob]

I thought the TU-160 was still in production, wasn't one handed over in 2010 and another is due for delivery this year?

 

[Haavarla]

Your thoughts are spot on. There will be an Tu-160 arriving every 3rd year from production line.
This will go on until they run out of surpluss spares parts that was stored since the good old Cold war times, after its production was canceled.

I know for certain one new Tu-160 was delivered a few years ago, might be two as well..??

 

[Haavarla]

Looks like Russia are building its own Naval Air training center.
They probably find the Ukrainian Naval Air base, problematic and logisticly burden.

bmpd -

Could this be the first step of Russian Navy to aim for a new carrier?

 

[Feanor]

Your thoughts are spot on. There will be an Tu-160 arriving every 3rd year from production line.
This will go on until they run out of surpluss spares parts that was stored since the good old Cold war times, after its production was canceled.

I know for certain one new Tu-160 was delivered a few years ago, might be two as well..??

I doubt it. They should still have some parts, but they're in the process of re-engineing the existing fleet, and don't have the production slots to put together new airframes.

 

[Feanor]

Looks like Russia are building its own Naval Air training center.
They probably find the Ukrainian Naval Air base, problematic and logisticly burden.

bmpd -

Could this be the first step of Russian Navy to aim for a new carrier?

They've been doing this for a while. They don't want to rely on NITKA.

Another interesting tidbit, they're purchasing 5 Ka-32 SAR helos, and one Ka-31 AEW helo. It's an important step in replacing the older ones currently in service.

 

[Haavarla]

New protective coating against radiation and radar waves for the combat aircraft canopy has been developed in Russia

The protective coating against radiation for the combat aircraft canopy has been developed in Russia - News - Russian Aviation - RUAVIATION.COM


The total operating time of PS-90A engines has reached 3 million hours

The total operating time of PS-90A engines has reached 3 million hours - News - Russian Aviation - RUAVIATION.COM

I'm impressed by those PS-90. They will be a huge step forward for its intended platforms.

 

[Haavarla]

Does anybody know how many Tu 160s are operational at the moment? Afaik 35 have been built in total, but many of them had to be scrapped as the Ukrainian Air Force didn't have the money to maintain them.

Found this source on Tu-160.

Russia to Upgrade Over 10 Tu-160 Bombers by 2020 | Defense | RIA Novosti

It states VVS has 16 operational Tu-160, and it looks like they are aiming at 10 new produce as well.


Edit: Looks like the Su-35 export to China are gone..

http://lenta.ru/news/2012/04/17/su35/

I wonder if it was price or ToT copyright that was the problem here, probably both i imagine.

 

[Feanor]

Here are some nice shots of the Mi-35M at Buddenovsk. A total of 10 have been delivered, 4 to Torzhok, 6 to Buddenovsk.

bmpd -

What doesn't make sense to me is the numbers in the contract. 22 helos. 4 are probably going to remain at Torzhok, which leaves 18 to go to airbases. Not only is that a very small number, it's also more then one squadron, but less then two. I'm also rather disappointed that the Mi-35M was purchased at all. Partially it's a response to the incomplete nature of the Mi-28N, which still doesn't have the RLS up and running on most serial birds. Partially it's a response to the difficulty of transitioning from the Mi-24P to the Mi-28N. But I still don't think it's justified. Not when there are already two separate combat helos to be operated for the forseeable future. At the same time the Mi-35M is very much liked by the pilots. Perhaps it would have made more sense to upgrade the Hind airframe to begin with instead of trying to finish the Mi-28N. After all with modern avionics, and target acquisition systems, the Hind is more then relevant.

EDIT: 6 An-124 for the VVS will be upgraded to the An-124-100 standard by the end of this year, decreasing their crew numbers, replacing the engines, and putting in new avionics.

http://www.arms-expo.ru/049057054050124050055052049057.html

This makes a lot of sense. First they managed to restore repair and overhaul of the D-18T engines in Russia, now they're modernizing the existing fleet, and the final step will be resuming production of the full plane. This comes on top of a recent announcement that MChS will purchase 2 planes also.

 

[Insomnia]

2012 and armies can buy cumbersome attack choppers to be an easy target for missiles.

Year 2012 and armies still can buy cumbersome attack choppers like Mi-35M to be an easy target for high-tech missiles or any other way of an air / land attack. Lately updated strong, fast and light T-129B could be a better choice for Brazilian Army needs.

 

[Haavarla]

How real is missiles threat for Mi-35M in Brasil. Whom will get them and use them against these choppers?

Those Mi-35M are exellent means of transport troops accross difficult terrain, which i would say is what Brasil is all about.

They are kind of all eggs in one basket(transport/gunship), however they do come cheap.

 

[Feanor]

Some more interesting news. Apparently 28 Pantsyr-S1 units will be delivered this year, along with 58 airplanes and 124 helos.

ÀÐÌÑ-ÒÀÑÑ

Also, a tender for 50 light training helos has been cancelled because nobody in the defense industry was ready to deliver those quantities. 5 Ka-226 have however been delivered this year.

Lenta.ru:
http://lenta.ru/news/2012/03/23/fail/

The scale of purchases is getting larger by the year, but there seem to be continued problems with making the system run smoothly.

Also it seems that a follow-on Mi-35M contract has been signed, for 27 more of them, deliveries starting this year and ending in 2014. It's logical that purchases aren't stopping at 22 airframes, but honestly I still have my reservations about the justifications for so many different types of attack helos.

http://twower.livejournal.com/780160.html

 

[Haavarla]

Well Russia are in need of a whole new fleet of different helis for different tasks.
And while the Mi-35M is a new production, its not like its a completly new design. So logistics should run as usual.

The trend is clear, Russians are scrapping lots of APC and tanks, for more helis. I think its a wise road to follow.

 

[Feanor]

Well Russia are in need of a whole new fleet of different helis for different tasks.
And while the Mi-35M is a new production, its not like its a completly new design. So logistics should run as usual.

The trend is clear, Russians are scrapping lots of APC and tanks, for more helis. I think its a wise road to follow.

No. They're limiting IFV purchases and MBT purchases, because they are waiting for a new family of armored vehicles. BTR-82 purchases are actually continuing unabated.

 

[Klaus]

If the number of Mi 35Ms to be procured will be increased, does this automatically mean that fewer Mi 28Ns will be bought?
A follow-on contract for the Ka 52 has been signed recently, so I guess they won't cancel it after such a short period of time.

Here you can watch a video, in which pilot training on the new Mi 35Ms in Budyonnovsk is described: http://www.function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=11072941@egNews

 

[Feanor]

If the number of Mi 35Ms to be procured will be increased, does this automatically mean that fewer Mi 28Ns will be bought?
A follow-on contract for the Ka 52 has been signed recently, so I guess they won't cancel it after such a short period of time.

Here you can watch a video, in which pilot training on the new Mi 35Ms in Budyonnovsk is described: Подробнее : Министерство обороны Российской Фед&#

There is a follow-on contract for the Mi-28N also to be signed next year. Honestly I don't know. Probably the answer is yes, because finances are limited, but there might be a problem with production quantities. Though iirc the same plant puts out the Mi-28N and Mi-35M.

 

[Insomnia]

I think Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk would be a better alternative to carry troops than Mi-35M.

 

[Feanor]

I think Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk would be a better alternative to carry troops than Mi-35M.

The Russian military will never purchase the UH-60. Their main troop transport helo is the Mi-8 and Mi-17 (Mi-8AMTSh, or Mi-8MTV-5 variants). Their heavy transport will be the Mi-26T and Mi-26T2.

 

[Insomnia]

The Russian military will never purchase the UH-60. Their main troop transport helo is the Mi-8 and Mi-17 (Mi-8AMTSh, or Mi-8MTV-5 variants). Their heavy transport will be the Mi-26T and Mi-26T2.

We were talking about Mi-35M fleet purchased by Brazilian Army. Sure Russian Army will use their homemade products.