Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Sandhi Yudha]

More Hellducks delivered from NAPO:

http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-8.html

Difficult to keep track, but i think it will be Three in pairs, a total of six.

And unofficial report state, T-50-05 is "engine hot" at the moment..

Thanks for the link, ive downloaded a lot of pictures.....
Maybe a stupid question, and maybe already discussed before, but why do the new batches of Su-34 have a black painted livery? Is that some sort of RAM-coating, or is it just to look cool?
And how many Su-27IB / Su-32FN / Su-34 does the Russian Air Force have now, around 30?

 

[Feanor]

Thanks for the link, ive downloaded a lot of pictures.....
Maybe a stupid question, and maybe already discussed before, but why do the new batches of Su-34 have a black painted livery? Is that some sort of RAM-coating, or is it just to look cool?
And how many Su-27IB / Su-32FN / Su-34 does the Russian Air Force have now, around 30?

Iirc ~35 Su-34s total are in service. At least one of the pre-serial prototypes is in service for training purposes. It may not be the only one. The new paintscheme is just that, the new paintscheme. Honestly it looks like they've tossed uniformity out the window. Some aircraft are completely light gray grey, some are completely darker grey, some are black and light blue, some are still the old Soviet camo scheme, with a light grey bottom...

EDIT: Meanwhile the MD is beginning trials of the Rysachok turbo-prop light passenger plane. It's not clear what kind of trials these are, they don't appear to be state trials. It's also not clear what the aircraft is intended for. It's possible that the purpose of these trials is to determine what roles, if any it can fill.

http://www.arms-expo.ru/049057054050124051051054054053.html

 

[Klaus]

Earlier it has been proposed that the Rysachok could be used as a border patrol aircraft. For that purpose two pylons can be mounted under the fuselage, e. g. to carry rocket launchers.

In the new Combat Aircraft Aleksandr Mladenov reports on the current state of Russian Helicopters. At the moment they are testing both an updated Mi-17 version and the Mi-38. Apparently the Russian state intends to buy both, the first for the armed forces and the latter for t he FSB.
I still wonder why they can't buy a single platform for all services..

Work on the MiG-31 interceptor seems to gain speed, now there are 37 upgraded aircraft in service, out of a total of 122 MiG-31s.

 

[Feanor]

Earlier it has been proposed that the Rysachok could be used as a border patrol aircraft. For that purpose two pylons can be mounted under the fuselage, e. g. to carry rocket launchers.

In the new Combat Aircraft Aleksandr Mladenov reports on the current state of Russian Helicopters. At the moment they are testing both an updated Mi-17 version and the Mi-38. Apparently the Russian state intends to buy both, the first for the armed forces and the latter for t he FSB.
I still wonder why they can't buy a single platform for all services..

Work on the MiG-31 interceptor seems to gain speed, now there are 37 upgraded aircraft in service, out of a total of 122 MiG-31s.

So they want to replace the An-72 gunships with something on the Rysachok base?

Wait so the Mi-17 upgrade is going to the VVS and the Mi-38 is going to the FSB? Why? That makes no sense.

Also there was a readiness report released recently.

bmpd -

According to the material provided there are serious problems with readiness rates among Tu-160, Tu-22, L-39, MiG-25 (recon), Il-80 and Il-82 aircraft. They have readiness rates between 20-25%. A total of 696 aircraft in the VVS are in need of overhauls. Overall 42% of aircraft are ready, 49% of combat aircraft.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Also there was a readiness report released recently.

bmpd -

According to the material provided there are serious problems with readiness rates among Tu-160, Tu-22, L-39, MiG-25 (recon), Il-80 and Il-82 aircraft. They have readiness rates between 20-25%. A total of 696 aircraft in the VVS are in need of overhauls. Overall 42% of aircraft are ready, 49% of combat aircraft.

Does that include in storage airframes? (a question that the posters on that thread brought up)

 

[Feanor]

Does that include in storage airframes? (a question that the posters on that thread brought up)

I have no idea. You'd need to find details on the actual report.

 

[Klaus]

In case of the MiG-25 it probably doesn't include stored aircraft as there are 24 aircraft deployed to Voronezh, out of which only 6 are still flying. Several dozen units are stored somewhere in Russia, so the readiness rate would be under 10% if they would also be counted.

Afaik the Rysachok has only been proposed to become the new transport/patrol aircraft for the border guards, an armed version was displayed at MAKS. Progress claims to have offered it to the military and the border guards as well, but no decision seems to have been made so far.

Unfortunately Mladenov doesn't mention any reasons why the FSB wants a new helicopter platform. I've read several times that the service puts huge emphasis on its helicopters having a side-by-side cockpit and being able to carry weapons, but that would make the Mi-17 the ideal choice (besides the fact that it is cheaper and ready for delivery any time).

 

[Klaus]

A Ka-52 has crashed near Moscow. Fortunately, nobody was killed in the incident. Reportedly, the helicopter belonged to the Kamow company and not to the VVS. The reason for the accident is still unknown.

Ð’ моÑковÑком Жулебино упал боевой вертолет Ка-52 - ÐовÐти Событий - ÐовоÑти Mail.Ru

 

[Feanor]

Meanwhile a couple of Tu-160s landed in Venezuela. Iirc this is the second time. I wonder if one of them is the upgraded aircraft.

And reconstruction of Arctic airfields is continuing. The airfield on Kotelniy island has been rebuilt. The airfield was abandoned, and in 2011 it was reported that the landing strip is in good condition. A Ka-27 attempted to land but failed. Now the airfield has been rebuilt and there seem to be permanent personnel and facilities there.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/42817/

It looks like an airfield near Tiksi is also being rebuilt. Also supposedly near Tiksi is an S-400 regiment.

twower.livejournal.com/1151022.html

EDIT: Here's a photo of NITKA at Eysk. Rumor says it'll be ready or almost ready in december.

http://djoker-lj.livejournal.com/107475.html

More photos here: http://www.gusda.ru/photo/detail.php?SECTION_ID=154

Source, containing photos of a bunch of airfield reconstructions here: http://www.gusda.ru/photo/

It'll be hard to navigate if you can't read Russian.

EDIT2: Meanwhile there was a sudden test of the BMD system and RVSN that involved ballistic missile and anti-missile launches. A Topol and Satan missile were launched. Also SLBM trucks Bryansk and St. George performed launches. They were launched underwater. All the ICBMs struck their intended targets.

Also at Sary-Shagan a short-range anti-missile was launched at an imitation target imitating a ballistic missile.

There were also fires of Tochka and Iskander SRBMs, and test drills of S-300, S-400, and Pantsyr units. They struck 15 complex targets in an EW heavy environment.

The exercises appear to have been unplanned and sudden.

http://vz.ru/news/2013/10/30/657425.html

 

[alexkvaskov]

There's an S-400 regiment at Tiksi? Wow, I must have missed that one. Would have thought it'd be relatively widely reported. Aren't there more pressing fronts that need to be covered with the latest kit? Another reason to doubt S-400 units so far north.

 

[Feanor]

There's an S-400 regiment at Tiksi? Wow, I must have missed that one. Would have thought it'd be relatively widely reported. Aren't there more pressing fronts that need to be covered with the latest kit? Another reason to doubt S-400 units so far north.

I'm not 100% sure on it, but it was reported in some news sources. I think I posted it earlier in this thread. There's an airfield there that in Soviet times was used by Strategic Aviation, so it might make some sense.

 

[Crunchy]

On Vietnamese forums there is the news that a large delegation of Vietnam People's Air Force visited Russia earlier this year.

First:

It's said that the delegation has conducted evaluation of the Pantsir. I'm not sure if it's the pre-procurement evaluation or the pre-delivery evaluation. The Pantsir deal rumour has been around for years like the rumoured Buk-M2E deal, it's not clear if those deals are already signed or not.

Vietnam & Russia haved annouced fighter-jets/naval-systems deals in the past, but never the procurement of SAM systems by Vietnam.

Only when pictures of those system in service in Vietnam show up, then there is confirmation.

Second:

The delegation has also visited the Lipetsk air base and evaluated the Su-34. The delegation was showned the SU-34's ECM/stand-off jamming quality & strike abilities. The interest ist now to procure the SU-34.

But is the Su-34 barred from the export?
But on the other hand why would Russia then show VN the Su-34?
Even if there would be clearance, can Russia even deliver?
What's the production rate of the Su-34?

For now Vietnam uses Su-22 as striker with the Su-20MK2V providing the escort (especially in a SCS scenario).

I do not see any chance why Russia would sell it's premier ECM/striker so early - especially the whole ECM suite. But maybe it's just a ploy for negotations with the Isrealis......

But maybe the people where confusing the Su-35 with the Su-34....

 

[Feanor]

The Su-34 is not banned from export. Last year 10 units were produced, iirc this year it's 14. Russia is quite keen to find an export buyer for the Su-34. Recently Russian sources reported an Algerian contract in the works for the Su-34.

 

[alexkvaskov]

The Su-34 is not banned from export.

Not to mention the fact that they can always fit it with 'export-friendly' electronics.

 

[Feanor]

I think the real problem is it's lack of modern targeting systems. Nothing comparable to Sniper or LANTIRN. Things are in the works, but as is the Su-34 has serious problems working against small targets. That's the kind of info that's been leaking out on the web with regards to use of the Su-34 against the insurgents in Ingushetiya in 2011.The B004 has trouble discrimination small targets on the ground.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Any links? I'd love to read about that. Perhaps it's a Soviet era holdover when the Soviet AF wasn't particularly known for it's precision capabilities? i.e. it was designed for carpet bombing and large targets, although it could be that it's just outdated and not possessed of some inherent design flaw that can't be corrected with modern targeting.

BTW did they decide on which targeting pods, domestic or foreign, they will be equipping the PAK-FA, Su-30/35 with?

 

[Feanor]

No it's not a holdover. The Su-34 can strike targets with high accuracy, just not small targets, and not in an environment with lots of ground clutter. The Su-34 was designed to strike vehicles, fortifications, troop formations, with a high degree of accuracy. Problems seem to be with hitting insurgents in a wooded area.

There's this: Бомбардировщик Су-34 признали небоевым - ИзвеÑтиÑ

And this: Лучший Ñамолет неÑоÑтоÑвшейÑÑ Ð²Ð¾Ð¹Ð½Ñ‹ / ÐвиаПорт.ДайджеÑÑ‚

Which also claims that the Su-34 was only used as an EW platform in the Georgian War, and not strike any targets. Also the fields of vision on the thermal and electro-optics are limited, which made it hard to strike targets in Ingushetiya in 2011.

Now according to this: http://telegrafist.org/2013/04/19/52265/

All the problems have been resolved. I don't know if they've been resolved technologically, by modifying the aircraft, or administratively, by removing the requirements/objections that the MoD had.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Iirc ~35 Su-34s total are in service. At least one of the pre-serial prototypes is in service for training purposes. It may not be the only one. The new paintscheme is just that, the new paintscheme. Honestly it looks like they've tossed uniformity out the window. Some aircraft are completely light gray grey, some are completely darker grey, some are black and light blue, some are still the old Soviet camo scheme, with a light grey bottom...

EDIT: Meanwhile the MD is beginning trials of the Rysachok turbo-prop light passenger plane. It's not clear what kind of trials these are, they don't appear to be state trials. It's also not clear what the aircraft is intended for. It's possible that the purpose of these trials is to determine what roles, if any it can fill.

Минобороны РоÑÑии приÑтупило к иÑпытаниÑм "РыÑачка"  — ÐžÐ Ð£Ð–ИЕ РОССИИ, ИнфÐрмационное агентÑтво

Thank you for your explanation!

 

[Haavarla]

While we are on the Su-34 subject.
Quite possible Three New hellducks handed over the VVS. Bort nr 01-03 Dark-Grey..?

Три новых Су-34 получила Ð²Ð¾ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð±Ð°Ð·Ð° в МорозовÑке - ÐовоÑти - ОТР - ±Ñ‰ÐµÑтвенное Телевидение РоÑÑии

 

[Feanor]

Not handed over, but flown to Morozovsk. It appears that it will be the second base to get them. Those of you who don't know, Morozovsk is right next to Voronezh, further south and east.. I.e. they, like the Voronezh-based ones, seem to be intended to operate in support of operations in the North Caucus. Maybe it's logistically easier to rearm bases close to each other first.

The base is the 2nd Air Group of Airbase 6972. Source: http://bmpd.livejournal.com/665950.html