Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[colay]

Update, the second 5 Su-34s that were "handed over" to the VVS last year have just arrived at Baltimore.

bmpd -

Not a very flattering report on the Su-34 if true. The aircraft delivered so far appear to suffer from a variety of maladies and flaws.
Su-34 | Russian Defense Policy

Su-34 Growing Pains

Early this month, Izvestiya’s Aleksey Mikhaylov and Dmitriy Balburov published on “growing pains” in Russia’s procurement of the Su-34 strike fighter. The aircraft is ”not combat capable” according to them.

 

[Feanor]

Not a very flattering report on the Su-34 if true. The aircraft delivered so far appear to suffer from a variety of maladies and flaws.
Su-34 | Russian Defense Policy

Su-34 Growing Pains

Early this month, Izvestiya’s Aleksey Mikhaylov and Dmitriy Balburov published on “growing pains” in Russia’s procurement of the Su-34 strike fighter. The aircraft is ”not combat capable” according to them.

It's probably somewhat exaggerated, but not entirely untrue.

Here's a cool photo of some of the Volvo-based refueling trucks fueling the Su-34 at Voronezh.

Russia deploys new Su-34 bombers (4) - People's Daily Online

I'm not sure if they've been bought for regular service, or are in experimental exploitation.

 

[Haavarla]

The two latest bathes of Su-34 have newer systems and APU.
That article is aimed at the first serials Su-34 which was back in 2006/07 and 2008.

The Baltimore AB is a prioritized AB for VVS with two new Su-34 Sq formed. It should not be an eye raiser that newer ground equipment is procured as well.

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2013/2/1/1498/

 

[Feanor]

Among other news an S-400 unit is deployed to the Far East. Interestingly enough the chassis for the launchers are classic MAZ instead of the new BAZ, and Pantsyr-S1 have been deployed along-side the S-400 units. The Russian Navy Pacific Fleet blog has some nice pics: ТихоокеанÑкий флот ВМФ РоÑÑии - Более 60-ти лет на Ñтраже воздушных рубежей ПриморьÑ

As for the new refuelers, they are definitely more modern and can refuel more simultaneous planes then the old types, but I don't see why this requires mounting them on Volvo trucks. While the level of localization is almost as high as Kamaz and Ural trucks, the differentiation between the Volvo's and the other trucks are not helpful. Not all ZiL-131s have been retired, there are also plenty of older Ural and Kamaz vehicles, in addition to the new unified truck platforms on both of those.

 

[Feanor]

A little update on plans for transports and passenger planes. The MoD is buying 15 An-148 passenger birds, probably through 2020. The purpose of the contract is to help out VASO with An-148 orders, seeing as there are relatively few.

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Lenta.ru:

On the up side this doesn't seem to be a purely economic bailout buy. The MoD genuinely needs a passenger plane to replace the Tu-154M which it seems will no longer be in production. The last Tu-154M was built in december, and there currently are no further contracts. On the downside the An-148 production is slow, and the aircraft doesn't compare favorably to the SSJ, which would probably have been a better choice. Granted KnAAPO doesn't need government contracts nearly as badly as VASO.

The order for 15 planes from the MoD is part of a larger set of government contracts, which are supposed to be 59 AN-148s and 6 Il-96s, probably to be delivered through 2020.

Also the An-124 and An-70 procurement plans have been corrected. The original plan called for 20 An-140s and 60 An-70s through 2020. These were fairly unrealistic delivery time frames. Then there were rumors that the An-124 program was cancelled, and the MoD would instead overhaul and modernize existing airframes. Now the plan is for 17 An-70s (2 will probably be bought from GTK Antonov directly, built at Aviant, and 15 at KAPO). The An-124 deliveries will only start past 2020, making them part of GPV-2025.

It was always unlikely that the program would be cancelled since one of the major buyers is Volga-Dnepr, and both they and the MoD have an objective need for the aircraft. But the delay was probably inevitable given the costs, and the complexity of the program.

bmpd -

 

[alexkvaskov]

Also the An-124 and An-70 procurement plans have been corrected. The original plan called for 20 An-140s and 60 An-70s through 2020. These were fairly unrealistic delivery time frames. Then there were rumors that the An-124 program was cancelled, and the MoD would instead overhaul and modernize existing airframes. Now the plan is for 17 An-70s (2 will probably be bought from GTK Antonov directly, built at Aviant, and 15 at KAPO). The An-124 deliveries will only start past 2020, making them part of GPV-2025.

About time they admitted the GPV is unrealistic, at least the 2020 time frame. I imagine the Ilyushin MTA is next in line for such a 'correction'. Now if only they could stop banging on about the "million man army".

 

[Feanor]

About time they admitted the GPV is unrealistic, at least the 2020 time frame. I imagine the Ilyushin MTA is next in line for such a 'correction'. Now if only they could stop banging on about the "million man army".

Well if my info is correct then the size of the armed forces rose from 690 000 to over 800 000 in the last two years. Even if the current contract soldier turns out to be a flop, the size of the armed forces will still continue to increase, as new contract soldiers are hired. Also as Russia exits the demographic hole of the 90s, the numbers of conscripts available will also increase.

The MTA is a joint project with India. Correcting the timeframe on it will be much harder. Noteworthy is that the current correction primarily affects joint projects with Ukraine. In other words the GPV-2020 is still in it's entirety considered doable. These decisions are a minor course correction.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Well if my info is correct then the size of the armed forces rose from 690 000 to over 800 000 in the last two years. Also as Russia exits the demographic hole of the 90s, the numbers of conscripts available will also increase.

How much of that is part of the ground forces? But the hole is just beginning, with 1991 being the last year of positive growth.. IMHO it'll be another 12-15 years before the number of conscripts really begins to increase.

 

[Feanor]

How much of that is part of the ground forces?

Well I wrote in the Land Forces thread that a number of new brigades were formed last year, including at least one motor-rifles brigade. So some of them are in the ground forces. I don't have anything near a complete picture.

But the hole is just beginning, with 1991 being the last year of positive growth.. IMHO it'll be another 12-15 years before the number of conscripts really begins to increase.

It's not a matter of positive growth. It's a matter of relative birth rates. The 1991 conscripts were called up in '09-'10. Birth rates continued to decline through the 90s, and began to recover again in the early 2000s. So ~'18-'19 is the year when numbers of available conscripts will start to increase again. Interestingly enough the current contract soldiers recruiting program is planned through *drumroll* 2017. So in other words up until then they will try to compensate natural decline in numbers of conscripts with contract soldiers. If it goes really well (as planned) they may even be able to increase the total numbers by a bit. Post 2017, numbers of conscripts available will start to grow again, and if they don't let up on the recruiting efforts they could hit the million-man mark by 2020.

Granted this is all heavily based on projecting current plans and current trends. Who knows what will really happen. The economy could implode again, in which case all bets are off. Or the economy could take off like a rocketship, in which case they could end up with a virtually all-contract army. Most likely, I think, the current situation isn't going to change drastically as far as staffing goes.

Also, the second Tu-214ON is almost complete. It's being painted right now, and will probably begin acceptance trials soon. I wonder if this will accelerate production of other Tu-214R aircraft, since that's a particularly necessary platform. The VVS is in need of modern ELINT platforms. The Il-18-based Soviet-era stuff can't be enough in 2013.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/453537.html?view=12110497#t12110497

EDIT: Apparently the procurement of Yak-130 aircraft will spike post 2015. A total of 240 more aircraft need to be purchased, giving a total of over 300 of them by the next decade. Also IAPO is going ahead with development of the light attack and light fighter variants of the plane. I really wonder if they will be able to complete this ambitious production program along side the Su-30 production, MS-21 production, and the export contracts for the Yak-130.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/453792.html

 

[Haavarla]

Word is the Su-35S b/n 09-11 has left the prod line and are in the prossess of debugging before deliveries to VVS.

If true, this means the Su-35S LIRP is history.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Is it known whether the ballistic missile early warning radars (such as the Voronezh arrays) are used by the air-force and PVO SV units? (for air-picture and sit-awareness)

 

[Haavarla]

Looks like it is confirmed then. Its four new units, which makes prod output close to two unit each month.
Soon up to a full Sq level of Su-35S.

bmpd -

 

[Feanor]

Is it known whether the ballistic missile early warning radars (such as the Voronezh arrays) are used by the air-force and PVO SV units? (for air-picture and sit-awareness)

Unlikely. They're really not that good at integrating cross-service assets. The SPRN is probably not hooked up to anything less then Operational-Strategic level HQ elements. This means that actual VKO regiments and PVO SV would not be able to get real-time info from them.

Meanwhile, a model of the new Altius-M UAV was leaked online. Or "leaked" depending on how you look at it.

bmpd -

Strangely enough work is also continuing on a jet-UAV based on the Tu-300.

 

[alexkvaskov]

The Southern MD is set to receive another 10 Ka-52 choppers over the next 4 months.

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I understand the Ka-52 is night-combat capable like the Mi-28?

 

[Feanor]

Yes. The Ka-52 actually has better sensors then the Mi-28N due to the Arbalet radar in the nose. There are unconfirmed rumors floating around that the Ka-52 has other advantages as far as avionics and sensors go, but I don't know what those amount to.

Among other news, the second Il-476 was spotted. It's not ready to fly yet, but will be soon (the engines still need to be mounted). Third airframe is also in production, at a high state of readiness. Photos here:

MilitaryRussia.Ru / Military.Tomsk.Ru -

EDIT: I recall earlier that there were questions here about DACT in the VVS. If anyone's interested, there have been DACT exercises going on between the MiG-29SMTs out of Kursk and the Su-34s out of Voronezh, with the Su-34s playing the aggressor role, trying to penetrate airspace defended by the SMTs, and strike ground targets.

As part of this training the Su-34 was also tried out in the air to air role, including the use of iirc the R-77. Hopefully the VVS will figure out and adapt to the fact that the Su-34 is a strike fighter with significant air combat potential, and not just an updated frontal bomber to replace the Su-24M.

 

[Haavarla]

Irkut Corporation is developing an advanced strike-fighter


Looks like this is an important market indeed. But the question is, will the Strike Yak be a winner in the global market..

 

[mAIOR]

Irkut Corporation is developing an advanced strike-fighter


Looks like this is an important market indeed. But the question is, will the Strike Yak be a winner in the global market..

I kind of wonder what it's capabilities will be. Because nowadays you can get L-39 quite cheap. Also, they have to contend with the L-159. I wonder what they can offer that sets them apart (other than a much better looking bird).

 

[Feanor]

I kind of wonder what it's capabilities will be. Because nowadays you can get L-39 quite cheap. Also, they have to contend with the L-159. I wonder what they can offer that sets them apart (other than a much better looking bird).

A lot of Russian weapon sales are political in nature. There will be customers who will buy a Yak-130 based light striker because it's Russian.

Also, here's a nice gallery of the A-50U. There are some great pics of the interiors, much better then the grainy stuff from earlier news footage.

*

EDIT: Pics of new Su-35S at Zhukovskiy.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/458666.html

 

[Feanor]

Some more news, the replacement for the Su-25 has been selected. It will be a Su-25UBM derivative, where the second pilot will be replaced with an additional fuel tank, extending flight range to 1000 km (from 300). It will carry a PESA radar, and the Klen targeting system will be replaced with the SOLT-25. The cockpit will be hermetically sealed, allowing the plane to fly above 11 000m. Payload will increase to 6 tons. It will also include unspecified signal management technologies.

The new plane has already been included in the GPV-2020, with serial production to start in 2020 (which doesn't make much sense).

Lenta.ru:

Given current rates of Su-25 modernization, there is no rush to replace them. So if production does start only in 2020, it still won't be an issue. The worn out Su-25UB will be replaced by the Su-25UBM, production set to start in 2016. The Su-25SM can remain in service for over another decade.

Interestingly enough the Yak-130 light strike plane program is still going ahead.

Finally the A-90 project, for a new EW aircraft is continuing. In 2012 two Il-76 were handed over from the VVS, to Sozvezdie for installation of the EW gear.

Lenta.ru:

 

[nevidimka]

Interesting, I was unaware of the Altius-M UAV as you pointed out Feanor. Can you tell me more about this UAV? What are its capabilities in terms of loitering hours and range, and how will it compare to the heavy/medium/light version of Zond UAV's under development in sukhoi ( I hope they are being developed ).
The Altius seems to be sporting 2 prop engines, I wonder how does that affect it in terms of fuel economy? Also from what can be seen, it doesnt seem to be designed with the usual protuding sensors out the front for recon, nor seem to have any parabolic dish internally for satcom, unless this UAV is really big and it doesnt show.

Also another curiosity on those su 35 images posted by havarla. I keep seeing these 2 tone grey cammo on newer planes like these being inducted, and yet I read that after Serdyukov was removed and Shoigu took over the post. He ditched the 2 tone bland cammo scheme in favour of the usual soviet/russian style cammo? So why are the new planes still sporting the grey scheme?