Just a friendly suggestion, you need to improve your post quality.
Russian Air Force News & Discussion
- Thread starter Haavarla
- Start date
Air Force Brat
Member
sorry, I was attempting to be humorous, has there been any progress returning 055 to flight status?Just a friendly suggestion, you need to improve your post quality.
Maybe you should be thinking the same thoughts about the F-35, that's got a huge exhaust poking out the rear end.
The F135 incorprates tech developed in the mid- '90s as part of the '90sLow Observable Asymmetric Nozzle (LOAN) Program. LOAN explored means to reduce RCS and IR signatures.
Not that I know of, but I haven't been keeping an eye on it.
Su-30M2 deliveries are continuing, as are Su-34, but the Su-35S program seems to be going very slowly.
A nice photoset of the Su-30M2s that East MD recently got.
Smit_Smitty LJ -
They're also buying the trainers they need (flight sim) which is a major improvement from Soviet times, when there was a perpetual shortage of training equipment.
bmpd -
alexkvaskov
New Member
I actually thought it was progressing quite well this year. Didn't they take delivery of at least six?
Yes, that and the sawtooth edges surrounding the nozzle too. These features are distinctly missing from the PAK-FA.
StevoJH
The Bunker Group
What i struggle to understand about the Russian Airforce is why they continue to order multiple different aircraft types in many small batches rather then just focusing on 2-3 types to reduce maintenance overheads.
For example, just buying SU-35 and SU-34, instead of the various Su-30 models, plus the occasional Mig-29 derivative (not counting the Mig-29K purchase for the navy, that was understandable).
For example, just buying SU-35 and SU-34, instead of the various Su-30 models, plus the occasional Mig-29 derivative (not counting the Mig-29K purchase for the navy, that was understandable).
alexkvaskov
New Member
That's because the government needs to support the plants that produce the various Su-30 models. It would be very difficult - and probably blocked by the manufacturers - to retool their factories to produce the same Su-30 build. In my view, even the Su-34 is not strictly necessary - the Su-30SM in large quantities would be more beneficial.
Politics. They want to support manufacturers by buying from them.
Honestly you're right. And the original plan was just that - Su-34+Su-35, transitioning to PAK-FA. Now it's a huge mess.
This is in stark contrast to the US strategy of standardizing on JSF, curtailing buys of -teen jets. Russia will never be able to build enough PAK FAs to replace older jets as they wear out so I see Flanker variant continuing to be built. There's been speculation about tossing MiG a bone to build a smaller and cheaper 5Gen jet to complement PAK FA. China seems to have it‘s hi-lo strategy in place.
StevoJH
The Bunker Group
The problem is that this leads to having multiple struggling companies which have to sell their products at a higher cost, instead of 1-2 prosperous companies with higher outputs that can sell their products with smaller markups.
Especially since some of these different aircraft are produced by different divisions of the same company.
Close the less productive factories, transferring the best staff to the remaining factories.
Order more aircraft of less types, meaning you can keep lower spares stockpiles, and can simplify aircrew training.
Given the starting point, this program would take decades (unless types were removed from service wholesale), but the sooner it is started, the sooner it is finished.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
From what I could find, Sukhoi has two major plants producing military jets. Other than 2 seat or single seat, the current Su30/34/35 airframes are similar except for the naval Su-33. Mission equipment and electronics (maybe engines as well) seem to be the only variables so perhaps these jets have more in common than we think thus making them somewhat easier to maintain. All of these jets are basically derivatives of the Su-27.
StevoJH
The Bunker Group
The airframe is probably the least expensive component on a modern combat aircraft.
The mission equipment, avionics and engines are what you have to keep spare parts for.
Every different electronic item between the types, is another spare part that has to be kept on hand.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Does Sukhoi have no upgrade avionics/mission equipment that can be fitted to the older airframes or is it less expensive to build new airframes to fit more modern avionics/mission equipment into? Surely new upgraded parts after 5 years or so are preferable to original spare parts? Western jets seem to get expensive upgrades over their lifespans (15-30 years being typical).
They have 3 plants. NAPO, IAPO, and KnAAPO. They're producing the Su-30SM at IAPO, the Su-34 at NAPO, and the Su-30M2 and Su-35S and KnAAPO. All the above-mentioned types are being bought by the VVS. Lunacy in my opinion.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
They should concentrate on the Su-35 and eventually the PAK FA. As for how many plants stay open, that problem is not unique to Russia.
Haavarla
Active Member
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,378
http://vonsolovey.livejournal.com/42707.htm
With this last batch delivered, the Hellduck counts 51 units.
There was also two Su-30M2 nd three Su-35S delivered from KnAAZ recently.
The new Flanker fleet are forming up quite nicly.
With this last batch delivered, the Hellduck counts 51 units.
There was also two Su-30M2 nd three Su-35S delivered from KnAAZ recently.
The new Flanker fleet are forming up quite nicly.
Haavarla
Active Member
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,379
No can do.
While they are all under the UAC umbrella, they are total different entity. The different plants are located world apart, and have different staff.
Its a silly notion to put all into one factory. It can't be done.
They are producing each product, but the intersting thing is what they will do once the state contract are completed. There might be some share of the Pak Fa production.. who knowz..
I'm quite sure China is interesting in Su-35S. And a deal will happend soon.
There might be some further export for MK2 Flankers, India will get a few new MKI, but clearly the Flanker prospect is dwindelig.
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Why can't they be consolidated? I suspect it'll have to happen at some point to achieve some sort of efficiency - if you look at the massive upheavals in the UK aircraft industry, leading to aircraft from one manufacturer being reworked in what used to be another manufacturer's plant - it has to happen.
I'll be interested in seeing if China does buy 35's but I'd also be surprised as all hell..
I'll be interested in seeing if China does buy 35's but I'd also be surprised as all hell..