Different subjects but all involving Russian military aviation for fellow disciples: 😎
First four Russian military aircraft arrive at air base in Kyrgyzstan
Excerpt from report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS
The first four MiG-29 fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force have arrived at the air base near the Kyrgyz town of Kant, ITAR-TASS was told at the Kyrgyz Defence Ministry today.
The source also said that four Su-27 low-flying attack aircraft would arrive at the air base in the next four of five days and would be permanently deployed there.
Kyrgyz foreign minister welcomes opening of Kant air base
The deployment of a Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan is a security guarantee for all of Central Asia, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aytmatov told Interfax on Wednesday [15 October]. “The air base will reliably protect the region’s states from the existing challenges and threats posed by international terrorism. We believe the deployment of an air force component in Kant is an important contribution to peace and stability in Central Asia in general, and in Kyrgyzstan in particular. We proceed from the assumption that by deploying an air base, the Collective Security Treaty Organization is so displaying its efficiency in providing security to its signatories,” Aytmatov said.
“Kyrgyzstan has always supported the development and strengthening of international security cooperation. We are satisfied with the current level of cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The activity of this organization is reflected not in talk and declarations, but in real work and tangible contributions to the improvement of CIS security,” Aytmatov said. “The Russian air base in Kant will contribute to the development of Kyrgyz-Russian military political cooperation and have a positive effect on the development of bilateral trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties. In all respects, we view the presence of the Russian air base as a momentous and historic step in both the context of our bilateral relations and in terms of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s development,” the minister said.
Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, the minister said “the situation in that country is quite complicated”. “Preparations for presidential elections have been launched, which triggered an escalation of political fight in Afghanistan, which may, in turn, trigger an escalation of military confrontation between various groupings,” he said. “The global community should not become calm about developments in that country,” Aytmatov said. The official opening ceremony for the Russian air base at Kant is scheduled for October 23.
Source: BBC Monitoring Central Asia (15th October, 2003)
Only one third of Russian army’s aircraft operational – air force commander
Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax-AVN web site
Bodo airfield, Norway, 15 October: Russian Air Force Commander- in-Chief Vladimir Mikhaylov says that operational aircraft account for about 35 per cent of the Russian army aviation. “The operability of aircraft is the most acute issue for the army aviation. It amounts to about 35 per cent,” Mikhaylov, who heads a large group of Russian aviators paying a visit to their Norwegian air force counterparts, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday [15 October].
The commander-in-chief noted that the 1960s and 1970s-vintage Mi- 8 Hip and Mi-24 Hind, which had long become obsolete, constituted the mainstay of the helicopter fleet of the army aviation. Modern helicopters (of the Ka-50 Hokum type) account for only about 10 per cent of the organic strength, Mikhaylov said.
He emphasized that the process of transferring army aviation units to the air force was competed in 2003, while steps aimed at streamlining the army aviation units and establishment command and control bodies was still under way. [Passage omitted]
Since 1 January 2003 the air force has received in excess of 20,000 army aviation servicemen and 7,000 civilian employees, about 20 military units subordinate directly to the central command, and over 40 units in military districts, as well as a flight school, which trains flight personnel, and a flight personnel conversion training centre. The army aviation operates Mi-24 Hind, Mi-8 Hip, Mi- 26 Halo, and KA-50 Hokum helicopters.
Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union (15th October, 2003)
Russian Pilots Will Show Their Skills In Norway
The delegation of Russian pilots in Norway will take part in joint demonstration flights with pilots from the Norwegian Air Force, reported Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky, chief of the press service of the Russian Air Force.
“The Russian military delegation, headed by Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Colonel General Vladimir Mikhailov, flew in the morning from the aerodrome of Besovets (the Leningrad military district) on board five Su-27 fighters and the Il-76 military-transport plane and arrived in Norway on the military air base Bodo,” said the colonel.
According to him, in the course of five days the Russian pilots will acquaint themselves with the Norwegian Air Force units where they will visit the rehabilitation centre and the museum.
The colonel underscored that the programme of the visit includes demonstration flights of the pilots of the two countries on the F-16 planes of the Norwegian Air Force and the Russian Su-27 fighters.
The Russian delegation consists of about sixty members of the pilot and technical personnel, the majority of whom are from Lipetsk aviation centre of the Russian Air Force, said Alexander Drobyshevsky.
Source: RIA Novosti (15th October, 2003)
Mig-31 Warplane Crashes In Tver Region – Pilots Eject
A MiG-31 warplane belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry crashed near the village of Borovaya in the Staritsa district of the Tver region at 2:54 p.m. Moscow time on Tuesday, spokesman for the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry Col. Viktor Beltsov has told Interfax.
The press service of the Russian Air Force officially confirmed the crash of a MiG-31 at the said location. “During the test flight of a MiG-31, which had undergone repair at the Air Force’s repair plant 514, instruments detected a fire in the right engine,” spokesman for the Air Force Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky said.
“While in the landing approach, the plane banked over 15 degrees at an altitude of 150 meters and at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and the flight commander had to order the crew to eject,” he said.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said there were no casualties or destruction on the ground as a result of the crash.
The crew of the MiG-31 plane, which crashed outside Tver, has been found by a rescue team and brought to the town of Rzhev.
“The pilots are undergoing a medical checkup,” spokesman for the Russian air force Alexander Drobyshevsky has announced.
“Neither deaths, nor destruction has been reported. A Defense Ministry commission is investigating the causes of the crash,” said Drobyshevsky.
Source: Daily News Bulletin/Interfax (14th October, 2003)
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Steve ~ Touchdown-News
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October 16, 2003 at 1:33 pm