Russian Air Force News & Discussion

[Haavarla]

For the VVS part. All crew and pilots use the Lipetsk training & conversing center to retrain their personel on new equipment.

After they have familirized themself with the new toy, they are graduated and then proceeds to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BI4W7v7HwU

for further military training and tactics with its new toys and its improved/added capabilities.

 

[Haavarla]

General question: how does a military with outdated equipment go about adjusting tactics, training etc to prepare against more modern systems?

i.e. how and what, if possible, would Russia change in its usage of older Flankers barring any upgrades?

VVS are now doing a upgrade on the Su-27S or Su-27P up to the SM3 standard. It means improved communication, Navigation, self protection suite, more modes and better resolution for their N001V radars. Dunno about engines though.

 

[StobieWan]

Russian spy plane spotted over LANCASHIRE: Shock sighting as tensions with Putin boil over | World | News | Daily Express

Hello Everyone.

I just wondered if there is any likely truth in this report and if so what the implications could be? Surely the UK would not allow this sort of incursion?

It's part of the Open Skies initiative - there were RAF personnel on board the aircraft, and they had a look at every image taken. We make reciprocal flights in Russia and so forth. Nothing to see here, Daily Fail fails to report news accurately etc.

 

[alexkvaskov]

VVS are now doing a upgrade on the Su-27S or Su-27P up to the SM3 standard. It means improved communication, Navigation, self protection suite, more modes and better resolution for their N001V radars. Dunno about engines though.

I meant is it possible for an air-force to change their training and tactics for their older equipment to take on better equipped opponents? Is this at all plausible without upgrading their gear?

 

[Feanor]

It looks like there are problems supplying the Be-200 amphibious planes, mostly having to do with the MChS constantly changing the requirements for the planes.

It looks like this may apply to the MoD contract as well.

bmpd - Проблемы Ñ Ð¿Ð¾Ñтавкой Ñамолетов-амфибий Бе-200

The Mi-28NM is being prepared for trials. Unclear whether state trials or factory ones, but my money is on state trials. It's been a while, plus the variant was seen being tested earlier. Supposedly it will have a datalink for UAVs among other things.

Берлога Бр¾Ð½ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ´Ð²ÐµÐ´Ð° - Ðаш ответ AH-64E Guardian

 

[Haavarla]

I meant is it possible for an air-force to change their training and tactics for their older equipment to take on better equipped opponents? Is this at all plausible without upgrading their gear?

Who knows, it might. It depend on improvment in weapons.
And the forcemultiplier support units.

The A-50U and soon to be A-100 will most certain improve upon many levels.

More lethal Anti aircraft system will also play into this.

 

[Nizar]

Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA fighter jet is equipped with an advanced defense system that can neutralize an enemy plane’s stealth capability, a report said , citing a unit of Russian state corporation Rostec. The planes, which will go into mass production in 2017, are claimed to be capable of outperforming the F-22 and fifth-generation F-35 fighters of the U.S. Air Force.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA fighter jet is equipped with an advanced defense system that can neutralize an enemy plane’s stealth capability, a report said , citing a unit of Russian state corporation Rostec. The planes, which will go into mass production in 2017, are claimed to be capable of outperforming the F-22 and fifth-generation F-35 fighters of the U.S. Air Force.

That's all fine and dandy, but keep in mind that fighter jets are never operating in a vacuum. There exists an entire C4ISR system of systems, covering everything from locating and targeting targets, to post strike BDA and communication between platforms and systems. Russia has a way to go in developing a modern C4ISR blanket for their air-force of which a low observable fighter is only one piece.

 

[Feanor]

Some news. Apparently the VVS is getting 50 Tu-160M2 bombers. The current upgrade the Tu-160 is getting would be the Tu-160M. They intend to give them completely digital avionics, and presumably the ability to drop modern PGMs. Production is supposed to restart next decade.

Берлога Бронемедведа - Ðе то и не ÑейчаÑ

Meanwhile the Be-200 project continues to be a mess. 1 plane will be delivered this year, and for some reason work is continuing on OKR Prorubschik-M to create an EW platform out of the Be-200. Lunacy in my opinion. They should use the Tu-214. They're already using it for the Open Skies plane, and the ELINT carrier.

bmpd - Ðемного о деÑтельноÑти ТÐÐТК им. Бериева

Finally the 5th serial Il-38N is finished. They're moving along at a decent pace, but honestly it's a rather modest upgrade. A second contract has been signed, the first one was for the 5 already handed over, but the numbers are undisclosed. A total of 28 are planned for upgrade by 2020.

bmpd - ПÑтый Ñерийно модернизированный Ñамолет Ил-38Ð
alexeyvvo - Программа модернизации противолодочных Ñамолетов Ил-38 до ÑƒÑ€Ð¾Ð²Ð½Ñ Ð˜Ð»-38Ð

Photos of the PAK-FA with the new medium range AA missiles, and the Su-35S with KAB-1500L bombs. The PAK-FA is supposedly in the final stage of state trials. We can expect serial production within the next two years. Of course this will only be "serial" production in name. Just like with the early Su-34s it will be more like LRIP.

bmpd.livejournal.com/1323764.html
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1320629.html
http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/63003/
http://www.military-informant.com/a...stadiya-gosispytanij-istrebitelya-pak-fa.html

The Ural Civil Aviation Plant (the same one that assembles the Israeli UAVs under license) has reached a license production agreement with Bell for the Bell-407GXP helicopter. Russia traditional lacks in a good light helicopter design (though the Ka-226 may see true mass production now that India has chosen it for their light helo tender).

However the Russian military is already buying both the Ka-226 and the Ansat-U. Both have also been purchased by other government agencies, and reportedly even some outside buyers. I'm not sure what this agreement will do to current plans for Ka-226 and Ansat-U production.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1320803.html

The Tu-214ON aircraft are getting replacement camera equipment. This comes after the US refused to allow them to perform overflights, citing concerns that their equipment violated the limits of the Open Skies treaty. Details are hazy.

http://alexeyvvo.livejournal.com/111239.html

 

[Feanor]

Some interesting photos of planes out of Centralnaya Uglovaya. And some new MiG-31BMs. It looks like at this point they're looking at a total of ~120-150 MiG-31BMs eventually. They're currently at over 60 aircraft. Probably more like 70. Other then it's anti-cruise missile capability, I'm not too sure how useful they are.

alexeyvvo - Полеты на Центральной Угловой
alexeyvvo - Полеты на Центральной Угловой. ЧаÑÑ‚ÑŒ 2
bmpd - Отремонтироване на 514-м ÐРЗ иÑтребители МиГ-31 Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð’Ð¾Ñточного военного округа

 

[Klaus]

Recently KEY Publishing published an article about the MiG-31. According to them 63 aircraft have been upgraded so far. As of today 9 VVS squadrons operate MiG-31s, one training unit and a single VMF squadron, all of which are to reequip with upgraded BMs. Strangely the most important weapon to be added to the fighter`s armament, the new R-37, has only entered service in small numbers.

I wonder what happened to the planned air-to-ground capability.

In the latest issue of AIR International it is mentioned that out of 62 Tu-95 in the VVS inventory only 31 are currently airworthy. However, more shall be brought back into service with the current upgrade programme.

 

[alexkvaskov]

Can someone comment on the recent spate of accidents in the RuAF?

 

[Feanor]

Can someone comment on the recent spate of accidents in the RuAF?

Old aircraft combined with a rapidly increasing number of flight hours. They're creating new units, and not getting rid of the old planes. Simple example, the Su-24Ms replaced with Su-34s are going to Marinovka, where they will add a second squadron to the independent recon squadron, making it a mixed regiment. On one of the Tu-95s apparently 3/4 engines failed.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

Old aircraft combined with a rapidly increasing number of flight hours. They're creating new units, and not getting rid of the old planes. Simple example, the Su-24Ms replaced with Su-34s are going to Marinovka, where they will add a second squadron to the independent recon squadron, making it a mixed regiment. On one of the Tu-95s apparently 3/4 engines failed.

Another crash, this time a Mi-28N from Russia’s Golden Eagles aerobatic display team
Russia’s roughly 100 Mi-28s have been grounded until a deeper investigation into the incident can be made
Fatal helicopter crash grounds Russian helicopters - BBC News
Mi-28 helicopter crash kills pilot during Russian air show - UPI.com
Mi-28 Helicopter Crashes at Air Show, One Pilot Escapes (VIDEO) / Sputnik International

Video of crash
https://youtu.be/6s8Ahcxg84g

 

[Feanor]

Another crash, this time a Mi-28N from Russia’s Golden Eagles aerobatic display team
Russia’s roughly 100 Mi-28s have been grounded until a deeper investigation into the incident can be made
Fatal helicopter crash grounds Russian helicopters - BBC News
Mi-28 helicopter crash kills pilot during Russian air show - UPI.com
Mi-28 Helicopter Crashes at Air Show, One Pilot Escapes (VIDEO) / Sputnik International

Video of crash
https://youtu.be/6s8Ahcxg84g

It was pointed out to me that high crash rates (in absolute numbers) are not rare, but rather are a product of so-so or even bad maintenance combined with relatively high flight hours, in many airforces. I'm honestly not sure what's really behind all this, since before this VVS crash rates were very low.

 

[PO2GRV]

Holy Shit, Russia’s Stealth Fighter Can Fly! | War Is Boring

Recent(?) clip of PAKFA flying and doing maneuvers including the ol' Cobra. Of note was what seemed to be what seemed like a flat spin, or rotation on the vertical axis, though its hard to tell with the camera turning as well.

Can anyone with better knowledge of aircraft maneuvers and maneuverability comment?

 

[Feanor]

Second Su-35S contract is planned for MAKS-2015, for another 48 birds. Good news, of sorts. Though as is the aircraft has yet to reach FOC. The contract for 24 with China is still in the air.

bmpd - ПланируетÑÑ Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ñ‹Ð¹ контракт на 48 иÑтребителей Су-35С Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð’Ð’Ð¡ РоÑÑии

And a big photoset of Su-25SM dive-bombers from the Chernigovka airbase, which they share with the Ka-52 and Mi-8AMTSh.

bmpd - Штурмовики Су-25 из Черниговки

 

[Ranger25]

Pak fa

Second Su-35S contract is planned for MAKS-2015, for another 48 birds. Good news, of sorts. Though as is the aircraft has yet to reach FOC. The contract for 24 with China is still in the air.

bmpd - ПланируетÑÑ Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ñ‹Ð¹ контракт на 48 иÑтребителей Су-35С Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð’Ð’Ð¡ Ð*оÑÑии

And a big photoset of Su-25SM dive-bombers from the Chernigovka airbase, which they share with the Ka-52 and Mi-8AMTSh.

bmpd - Штурмовики Су-25 из Черниговки

It's beginning to sound like numbers and production rates for the PAK FA may further slide

The IAF has announced its cutting its buy from 125 to 65

Even the Russians have indicated a willingness to reduce its numbers

"According to Kommersant, the military will buy only 12 fighters initially and, after their operational testing and commissioning, will decide on how many more aircraft of this type it can afford. They had previously made commitments to acquire 52 aircraft according to the State Armament Program until 2020."

Deputy Minister added, the Ministry of Defence reserves the right to revise the number of units purchased. “Given the new economic conditions, the original plans may have to be adjusted,” he explained. “It is better to have the PAK FA kept as a reserve, and later move forward, while squeezing everything possible for now out of the 4+ generation fighters (Su-30 and Su-35 – Kommersant).

Understandable given the current economic situation Putin faces. Certain,y with this possible reduction in serial production aircraft the price per unit will go escalate astronomically

Thoughts?

 

[Feanor]

I think that the most likely reason for the PAK-FA buy cuts from Russia is that the aircraft is just not ready. It will probably be some time before it is. The PAK-FA is not being kept as a reserve, it's just behind schedule. This is not unique for the PAK-FA among new aircraft projects in the world. It's also not unique among defense programs in Russia.

 

[Ranger25]

I think that the most likely reason for the PAK-FA buy cuts from Russia is that the aircraft is just not ready. It will probably be some time before it is. The PAK-FA is not being kept as a reserve, it's just behind schedule. This is not unique for the PAK-FA among new aircraft projects in the world. It's also not unique among defense programs in Russia.

Agreed 100% on delays etc, look at the F35

I was most surprised at the reductions in the IAF procurement given the current state of their fleet and the neighbors they have