VVS Russian Air Force: News #1

The Mi-26 is an amazing helo and in many ways is a VSTOL C-130/An-12, but an 80 ton payload helo would be a VSTOL C-17!

At the same time very useful, but also hard to comprehend...

Aerospace forces to be established in Russia

This is interesting... it sounds to me like the fighter aircraft interceptors (ie Su-27P and MiG-31s) currently in the RuAF that are on call 24/7 for border patrol and airspace protection might revert from RuAF bases/units to VKO forces.

The VKO already has radars on the ground, the air, and in space, and also an enormous number of SAM units... this might add interceptors, which would allow the MiG-31 to get better funding and a replacement developed because it would be for the VKO who will prefer a custom designed aircraft.

If it had remained the way it is now the RuAF might have dropped the MiG-31 and replaced it with the PAK FA which is a very good aircraft but a custom designed aircraft without the stealth would be cheaper and better IMHO.

Speed, big radar, long range, and large capacity for lots of AAMs are very important.. PAK FA is not bad for speed and has a big radar and decent range, but can only carry 4 heavy long range AAMs internally. Carry 4 more externally and it will effect speed and range with the extra drag. The stealthy features are not important and therefore add cost without improving performance.

For the RuAF it would be good enough and removing an extra aircraft type would save money.

For the VKO a new upgraded faster MiG-31 replacement would be well worth the investment.

TR1 wrote:It's Rogozin. He says many things that mean nothing.
What I heard about China and Russia was similar to what eridan said.
Not a Mi-26 replacement, but something smaller.

I had been thinking that Mi-46 concept was going to be the basis for the "heavy lift" cooperative project.
These numbers just seem a bit too far out there, I cannot take them as fact until there is real confirmation for sure...

Few points from excellent interview with Pogosyan

1. Su-34 weapons will be ready by the end of this year
2. New weapons for Su-34 will make of him a true shock weapon
3. Production of Su-35 will grow
4. Experience with PAK-FA will make PAK-FA development faster and cheaper

LINK

UAC balance for 2013 released. Among many other things, seems there is a firm order for 10 Yak-130 and 30 Su-30SM for VMF:
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/879603.html

In related news, contract for an unspecified number of Yak-130s worth 23 billion roubles is in the making (not clear how old these news are and whether the VMF ones are included or not):
http://rostec.ru/en/news/3902

mack8 wrote:UAC balance for 2013 released. Among many other things, seems there is a firm order for 10 Yak-130 and 30 Su-30SM for VMF:
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/879603.html

In related news, contract for an unspecified number of Yak-130s worth 23 billion roubles  is in the making (not clear how old these news are and whether the VMF ones are included or not):
http://rostec.ru/en/news/3902

In the segment of the operational-tactical and naval aviation in 2013 enterprises belonging to the Corporation, made ​​a plan for the delivery of 54 aircraft operational and tactical air (OTA) state defense order
(probable alignment:
Su-30cm - 14 pcs.,
Su-30M2 - 4 pcs.,
Su-34 - 14 pcs.,
MiG-29K/KUB - 4 pcs.,
Yak-130 - 18 pcs.
Su-35s, actually passed in 2014, in the number of delivered yet not included )

Another piece of the puzzle is done   


Completed test cycle Mi-38 helicopter

Nice - new contract expected in 2014 and 2015

KLA and the Ministry of Defense in 2015, sign contracts for another 170 aircraft

Viktor wrote:Nice - new contract expected in 2014 and 2015

KLA and the Ministry of Defense in 2015, sign contracts for another 170 aircraft

OK, some number crunching, corrections welcomed: estimated perhaps 30-50 Yak-130, 30-50 Su-30SM, 48-64 Su-35S, another 24? MiG-29KR/KUBR, 16-20 MiG-29SMT, and perhaps the first 10 pre-production T-50, or perhaps a full order for 48-60 if orders for the other types are on the lower side? Plus the MiG-35 contract (24-48?) seems to be in addition to these 170-180 aircraft, no?

More Yaks; the mentioned the new batch would be bigger than the last one, and that is just VVS.
MiG-29SMT depends on MiG-35 status.
New K/KUB orders is a surprise to me honestly.
New SMs will probably be to fulfill the VMF wanting 50 birds.

mack8 wrote:

Viktor wrote:Nice - new contract expected in 2014 and 2015

KLA and the Ministry of Defense in 2015, sign contracts for another 170 aircraft

OK, some number crunching, corrections welcomed: estimated perhaps 30-50 Yak-130, 30-50 Su-30SM, 48-64 Su-35S, another 24? MiG-29KR/KUBR, 16-20 MiG-29SMT, and perhaps the first 10 pre-production T-50, or perhaps a full order for 48-60 if orders for the other types are on the lower side? Plus the  MiG-35 contract (24-48?) seems to be in addition to these 170-180 aircraft, no?

I think it is still prematurely to speak about on what might those numbers reffer to but I think this info will make worthy addition once singing of contracts starts. Imagine if all

the things you just mentioned are signed during 2014 leaving 170 contract planes to be signed in 2015     

Jabs: AN-70 does not need the Russian Federation, as Ukraine does not eliminate its shortcomings

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20140628/1013986492.html

"I policy in this matter was not engaged, but when I took the Air Force AN-70 was recommended for mass production, but I looked at the act - there are four defects, which is impossible because even if one of them to recommend serial production ", - said Mikhailov in the" General Staff "radio RSN .

Former commander explained that he demanded the removal of the four gaps and complete a full test cycle. "There were conflicts with the documentation, they are not allowed to this day, although Serdyukov money pumped into this program again, quite a lot. Now they're buried and useless again, so you need to anticipate and feel with whom you work, and do not give them any money before time. Flirting in this matter is unacceptable, "- he added.


Mikhailov said that, if we compare the AN-70 and IL-476 in terms of efficiency, cost, and other parameters, "476 car two to three times better in all respects than the An-70."

Interesting recent TV program.

From 2:45 watch the remont/restoration/modernization of Su-25 and other warplanes in the factory.
There are alos other interesting bits in the 20 minute program: Peter the Great cruiser, Space rockets and Terminator.

http://russianplanes.net/id140153
http://russianplanes.net/id140157
http://russianplanes.net/id140157

The new camo for the attack helos. Don't like the Mi-35 one. The Mi-28 actually looks nice.

Something new is coming our way     

SERIAL PRODUCTION OF MODERNIZED MI-28N HELICOPTERS PREPARING TO RUSSIA

They says its for Su-35

http://www.npk-spp.ru/deyatelnost/avionika/126-optiko-elektronnaya-razvedka-.html


Wonder how it works ?

Does this have IR and TV channel or one of them ?

Does it aid weapon system like A2A missile ?

Any one who understands russian can translate ?

The SU 35S & the PAK FA will need to find a replacement for the R-37M .

As far as I can tell there are two replacements for R-73M... the R-73M2 which will have an upgraded seeker and lock on after launch capability but similar range performance to the R-73 with a kinematic range of up to 45km in a high speed high altitude engagement in the head on aspect.

the other missile is called Morfei and will be a much shorter range weapon with full thrust vectoring rocket engine, very few external flight surfaces and an IIR seeker using a QWIP sensor... it will have a range of about 10-15 km in the air to air model and half that for the ground launched or sea launched models.

it will be a fairly high acceleration missile with very accurate guidance and will likely be used as an anti missile missile by both aircraft and ships and ground forces.

Compared to missiles like the IRIS - T the R37M has less G and lacks Lock-On After Launch .

But it does have a much longer range... 300km for the R-37M and 45km for the R-73M, which I think you are really talking about.

That's not to say that the R 37M is not a good missile . It of course has good range and good HOBS capability but the Russian philosophy has always been to defeat enemy fighters at WVR ( something that NATO is realizing of late) . And for this high G and LOAL are an absolute must .

With thrust vectoring aircraft and helmet mounted sights it is less of an issue to be honest. In normal combat the first thing you want is to maximise your kill probability by getting on the other guys tail before locking and firing. With R-73 the pilot really just needs to look, lock and fire, with Seeker sensitivity and ECCM being good enough to get a lock from any angle to the point where getting your shot off early becomes important because the missile closes on the target far faster than an aircraft can get on the tail of an enemy aircraft... Tests in the 1990s where MiG-29s with R-73s fought F-16s about 62% of the time the Falcons got on the tail of the MiGs but 100% of the time the F-16s were shot down already before the Falcons got into a position to shoot.

Up until then the west was paying lip service to the next generation AAMs... AMRAAM and ASRAAM. Once they realised what a threat R-73 was they shifted focus from Sidewinders to AMRAAMs in a big way because even with Uber ASRAAM short range AAMs if the target could launch an R-73 even after you have launched your ASRAAM or IRIS-T or whatever then there was a good chance he was going to get you even if you got him... much better to stand off 20km and fired AMRAAMs.

Wonder how it works ?

Does this have IR and TV channel or one of them ?

The top part is like DAS and is a distributed IR/EO sensor to detect and track targets all round the aircraft.

The lower part is DIRCMs... laser directed dazzler to blind optically and IR and laser guided weapons.

Thanks Garry , So when you say EO you mean video channel or something else.

How does the EO picture looks like ?

GarryB wrote:
But it does have a much longer range... 300km for the R-37M and 45km for the R-73M, which I think you are really talking about.

Yes , but you need to guide such missiles that have such great range .

The MIG 29 used the LAZUR data link but the Su 35S does not use LAZUR .

So obviously the Su 35S ( and PAK FA ) will need a cutting edge Data Link system like NATO's Link 16 in order to share information with other Su 35S (PAKFA) , MIG 31 or even A 50 .

Legacy Su 27 used the TKS-2-27 . But that is only for intra flight datalink and compared to LINK 16 it had inferior bandwith .

The thing Austin posted is just optical missile and aircraft tracking and warning systems. No DIRCM.

And yes, it has been on Su-35 for a while.

New Tu-214ON   

Second Tu-214ON was handed the Russian Air Force

Viktor wrote:New Tu-214ON   

Second Tu-214ON was handed the Russian Air Force

this type is for open skies project between countries

TR1 wrote:The thing Austin posted is just optical missile and aircraft tracking and warning systems. No DIRCM.

And yes, it has been on Su-35 for a while.

So TR1 , This is optical and IR missile/aircraft tracking or just Optical.

Does it provide  firecontrol tracking for weapons like AAM

The lower part is DIRCMs... laser directed dazzler to blind optically and IR and laser guided weapons.

Oops, not, it is a laser marker detector to detect enemy laser target marking systems.

So when you say EO you mean video channel or something else.

How does the EO picture looks like ?

It would include IR spectrum to scan for heat plume of incoming rocket or missile and heated nose tip of incoming rocket or missile, or moving IR signature to detect targets or threats.

the system does not produce and image for the pilot, it collects data on threats and likely passes data to the self defence suite which will then automatically act to defend the aircraft.

Yes , but you need to guide such missiles that have such great range .

No it doesn't. As long as the radar is powerful enough to detect targets at long range it can compute an interception solution and transmit that solution to the missile while it is still in the weapon bay. Upon launch if the target changes speed or direction or both course corrections can be sent via radar link.

The MIG 29 used the LAZUR data link but the Su 35S does not use LAZUR .

So obviously the Su 35S ( and PAK FA ) will need a cutting edge Data Link system like NATO's Link 16 in order to share information with other Su 35S (PAKFA) , MIG 31 or even A 50 .

Aircraft operated by the PVO used digital datalinks since the early 1980s... 1977 for the MiG-31.

the R-37M has been intended for use by the MiG-29M, Su-27M, and Pak Fa since the 1980s. Do you think they would forget to include the necessary hardware?

BTW the first test of R-37M used an Su-30 to track the target and pass back target data to the MiG-31M with the old model Zaslon radar, so it never even saw the target when it launched its missile.

More importantly such a large powerful missile is valuable over shorter ranges as it can be launched from lower altitudes and still outrange most enemy missiles while its higher average speed will get it to enemy targets faster than their shorter range missiles can manage.

But that is only for intra flight datalink and compared to LINK 16 it had inferior bandwith .

Why do you think bandwidth is important? Target coordinates, speed and current course is all that is needed to do the calculations.

Does it provide firecontrol tracking for weapons like AAM

It is not part of the fire control system and does not use the IRST or radar... it is MAWS.

Austin wrote:

TR1 wrote:The thing Austin posted is just optical missile and aircraft tracking and warning systems. No DIRCM.

And yes, it has been on Su-35 for a while.

So TR1 , This is optical and IR missile/aircraft tracking or just Optical.

Does it provide  firecontrol tracking for weapons like AAM

It depend on missiles. If new R-73 or other missile have lock on after launch capabilities, than this complex could easily give azimuth of target to missile to engage it. But anyone, in central computer all datas from all sensors are collected and presented, so through those sensors protection complex will be activated and engagement complex will be activated against those targets. So either pilot will turn plane against it or computer will send a missile against it without turning the airplane.