Why would Su-30 be out because Indonesia is using them? Malaysian Su-30s are from Irkut, Indonesian ones from KnAAPO, significant differences between the two.

The long term order with the Russian MOD has allowed the Progress plant to increase its workforce by 3000 (!!!!) in the near future. This is music to my ears, the Ka-50 was on its deathroes a few years back.

Of course, the MOD making large scale purchases of 2 attack helicopters is somewhat of a cluster****, but, the Ka fanboy in me weeps with joy.

What “further modernisation” are we talking about? The final batch of upgraded Su-24M2s was delivered in 2009. However I couldn’t find the number of upgraded aircraft. Some sources say that “all” Su-24s will be upgraded (that would be some 350), others claim that only 40 or so have been delivered. So is this “further modernisation” a next step (M2 to “M3”), or the upgrade of the remaining M to M2?

There are two competing upgrades, the Sukhoi one, and the Gefest one. The Gefest one was supposedly better, but guess who has more political pull. Sukohi Su-24M2 had at least 24 aircraft, possibly as many as 48 upgraded. Gefest has upgraded “at least ten”, until now I only saw 5 or so airframes @ Lipetsk.

Fun photo:
http://russianplanes.net/images/to54000/053160.jpg

They were re-painted exports to Syria.

Which? I have never heard of the first batch of ten (that were extensiely photographed @ Pilot’s for example) being Syrian examples.

From pilot’s website, whens omeone asked what the modernization entailed:
“Как бы так сказать, что бы не грубо вышло. Да практически ничем Навигация, СПО, продление ресурса”

No mention of new cockpit, FM1 engines (though I am sure it got new Al-31s), or radar.

New navigation aids were added, airframe life was extended, etc.

They were upgraded, but not to full SM standard. Pilot said it was more a heavy overhaul.