Just a minor correct, “Su-32FN” is a long obsolete designation. The export designation of the Su-34 is simply Su-32 (refer to the NAPO website, for example).

Vympel could you clarify the following –

* From the translated report there are 2 aircrafts mentioned one is the I-21 which is also PAKFA ( at this stage) and is being built by sukhoi whilest the other is a smaller single engined aircraft being developed by Mig .

* From the indian press ( posted by some indian members on this forum) one gets the impression that Mig 5th gen. project is yet to go off the ground and India is interested in going in specially as they can help design this aircraft from the get go to meet their requirments rather then go in with the PAKFA which according to them is much more mature .

Now where does the third small aircraft fit into the picture and what is its status – It was mentioned that one even smaller aircraft is being presented as 5th gen. for the export market . Also what is the confirmed status of the 14-15 T Mig fighter and how mature is its development ?

Sorry, I’m not aware of anything else about the smaller 5th generation projeccts 🙁

Another 37th Air Army exercise:

Russia’s Long-Range Aviation Airplanes Launch Cruise Missiles at Exercises

Russia’s long-range aviation airplanes launched cruise missiles ((KRYLATYE RAKETY)) during command and staff exercises with the 37th air army today, the Russian Federation air force chief of the information service and public communications, Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy, reported to ITAR-TASS.

“During the exercises, two Tu-160 strategic bombers and two Tu-95MS strategic bombers successfully launched cruise missiles against targets at one of the northern ranges,” the air force representative reported. – “The airplanes spent more that 10 hours in the air during the flight and worked through a number of tasks, including aerial refueling. At the same time, six Tu-22M3 bombers carried out bomber and missile launches at the Gur’yanovo and Ehmba ranges.

Source: 24.08.06, ARMS-TASS

They seem to do that a lot nowadays- there’s several Tu-160/Tu-95MS/Tu-22M3 exercises per year it seems.

STOVL for the Russian Navy? Maybe in the “remote future”, but for now, heavily upgraded Su-33s, thank you:

An Aircraft Carrier in the Steppes near the Sea of Azov

Naval commander-in-chief, Admiral Vladimir Masorin, has reported that “in the future the navy will have several aircraft carriers.” – “We don’t need to have 12 of them, as the U.S.A. has, but there must be such ships in the navy.”

The only ship in Russia on which ship-borne aircraft can be based is the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser (TAVKR) “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” (project 11435, code “Orel” ((Eagle)), Kremlin ((sic)) in NATO classification). There were four similar ships in the days of the Soviet Union: the “Baku,” the “Minsk,” the “Kiev” and the “Novorossiysk.” All of them were sold to China and India (the only one of them the “Admiral Gorshkov” – the former “Baku” – is being upgraded right now in Severodvinsk for the Indians, and the remaining ships were let go for scrap or recast as floating entertainment establishments.)

The “Admiral Kuznetsov,” as is known, originally was call the “Tbilisi.” It joined the fleet in 1993. It has a displacement of 55,000 – 67,500 tonnes. Length is 302.3 meters. The maximum speed is 30 knots. It is self-sufficient for 45 days. Crew is 1,960 men. The aircraft wing is 626 men. The air wing ((AVIAGRUPPA)): 36 Su-33 airplanes and 16 Ka-27 helicopters.

The ship was being overhauled from 1996 through 2004. According to various sources, even at the present time the “Admiral Kuznetsov’s” technical conditions leaves something to be desired.

The cruiser received its “Baptism by the wing” of an airplane on 26 August 1994, when ten operational Northern Fleet airmen under the command of the legendary shipborne ace Timur Apakidze landed in Su-33 fighters on the “airfield on the waves.” In the beginning of November 2004, the “takeoff deck” ((VZLETKA)) of the TAVKR which was in the Barents Sea, was touched by the wheels of a new multirole twin-seat Su-27KUB (ship combat training) ship-based fighter. They reported from Northern Fleet headquarters that “despite the fact that the Su-27KUB earlier had been landing only at airfields, the landing on the deck in northern maritime conditions was realized for the first time.”

The following is known about accidents that have occurred on the cruiser: On 5 September 2005, an Su-33 was lost in the North Atlantic on the “Kuznetsov.” On landing, the fighter caught the landing hook on the arresting gear cable (a special installation that shortens an airplane’s run-out along the deck after landing), however, the cable snapped, the airplane continued movement and, having fallen into the water, sand to a depth of 1,100 meters. The airman, Lieutenant Colonel Yuriy Korneev was able to eject safely. A year earlier, on 18 October 2004, during Northern Fleet maneuvers in the Northeast Atlantic, a similar incident occurred with an Su-25UTG attack aircraft. After a “hard landing” on the deck, a landing gear strut on the “Sushka” broke, and the silicon carbide fire-proof deck covering, which had to be repaired, was damaged on the ship. It is interesting that in this accident the arresting gear in particular saved airplane and the aircraft carrier – the attack aircraft succeeded in grabbing the cable with the hook and when the Su-25UTG kept on moving mechanically on the deck superstructure the cable stopped it.

At the present time, the Su-33 (or Su-27KUB) (in the form in which it now exists), has become “boring” to the airmen of carrier aviation. It is not accident that naval CinC Vladimir Masorin declared in July while speaking about the prospects of equipping the domestic navy with “airfield” ships of the “Admiral Kuznetsov” type that “in order to have full-fledged aircraft-carrying ships, it also is necessary to have new airplane equipment.” In particular, as the admiral thinks, a new ship-borne airplane is needed “which, we hope, will in the very near future be created for Russia’s navy.” But while this “very near future” is approaching, navy high command basically is counting “on a new multirole ship-based airplane which is being created as a result of heavy upgrade of the Su-33.” The new fighter, Vladimir Masorin summed up, “has been called upon to replace the fighter, attack, reconnaissance, and naval missile-carrying airplanes serving in the inventory.”

Simultaneously, naval air force and air defense force chief Yuriy Antipov made clear: In that very near future outlined by the CinC, there will not be a vertical takeoff and landing shipborne airplane (SVVP) created. “Naval aviation has transitioned to shipborne airplanes with level landing of the Su-33 type,” the general declared to the Interfax-AVN agency, “and to create another airplane in addition to it with vertical takeoff and landing would be unjustifiably expensive.” At the same time, the naval air commander did not rule out that “in the remote future the development of a flight vehicle with both vertical and level takeoff is possible.” And he hinted that “right now such developments may be under way and, most likely, will be carried out at the level of the design bureaus.”

Let us not that in the Soviet navy, “an airplane which took off and sat down vertically” stood in the inventory from 1974 through 1991 – it is the Yak-38 ship-based attack aircraft. Moreover, by 1991 the supersonic Yak-41 SVVP was ready to start into series production – a unique aircraft, it truly had no counterpart in the world.

However that may be, more than a decade’s endeavors in Russia in the work on the creation of the unique SVVP was crowned with success, and the supersonic Yak-41, which successfully passed both flight and shipborne tests, stood at the threshold of the of future ocean cruises, which 1991 blocked from happening.

By the way, on the threshold of the ‘90s, the designers already had drafts of a new generation of “verticals” – the Yak-43 (Yak-141), Yak-45, Yak-201. It remains to hope that the knowledge ((NARABOTKI)) that then was accumulated, sometime will be required nonetheless.

“Today’s main task,” notes General Antipov , “is the creation of a maritime counterpart of the fifth generation fighter and the upgrade of the existing ship-based Su-33.” The main requirements which are being proposed for this aircraft are an increase of flight range and shortening of the run-out after landing. It is clear, the new “deck craft” should be equipped with new anti-ship weapon. “We also think than a sea state of 4 – 5 balls should not hinder the landing of the new fighter on the aircraft carrier’s deck,” Yuriy Antipov indicates.

In 1994, there were 10 airmen who “Baptized by wing” the TAVKR: Andrey Abramov, Ivan Bokhonko, Viktor Dubovoy, Igor’ Kozhin, Konstantin Kochkarev, Evgeniy Kuznetsov, Pavel Podguzov, Gennadiy Ryzhov, Yaroslav Chibir, and first among them – commander of the mixed aviation division, General-Major Timur Apakidze. They called this group – “Timur and his team.” In particular, Apakidze “trained” the Su-33 at the NITKA simulator (which at the test stage was called the T-10K-8V, afterwards the Su-27K) to land on the deck of the airfield ship.

((Apakidze’s biography snipped. He died of injuries after the crash of an Su-33 of the 444th training center on 17 July 2001.))

Even earlier, in 1996, shipborne aviation lost Vitaliy Kuz’menko: during a landing approach in poor weather conditions in a Su, the aircraft electronics failed. On 11 May 2000, an Su-33 crashed 50 kilometers from Severomorsk, which Colonel Pavel Kretov was piloting: the engine malfunctioned at an altitude of 5,000 meters, the officer ejected from an altitude of 2,000 and survived. By the way, Kretov was the first of the ship-based airmen who, in 1999, made a night landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier during a rough sea.

Source: 23.08.06, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur’er, Correspondent: Pavel Bruntal’skiy

the insurance money for the crashed Yak-130 came in:

Fourth Yak-130 to Be Built Using “Insurance” Money in Second Quarter 2007

((Title says it all. Not further translated.))

Source: 22.08.06, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent: Dmitriy Kozlov

The Air Force’s New Quality

Recently, a clear trend is being found in Russia’s air force for increasing the arrival of new equipment, and also effectively upgrading the airplane and helicopter fleet. In connection with this, it now is possible to speak with confidence about the transition of our air force to a more qualitative high level. In particular, air force commander-in-chief, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov, announced this on the threshold of Russian Air Fleet Day.

According to the air force CinC, in the near future not one, as was reported earlier, but two fifth generation airplanes will appear in Russia. “At the present time two new generation fighters are being created in Russia,” the CinC reported.

Thus, work on the medium fifth generation fighter or future aviation complex of tactical aviation, better known as the PAK FA, is underway according to plans. “A mid-weight ((SREDNIY)) fifth generation fighter is being created and all schedules are being observed. Moreover, all necessary financial questions for this year have been resolved in full,” V. Mikhaylov said.

The fifth generation fighters will be practically invisible for air defense systems in its characteristics. “The airplane will have a minimal signature ((ZAMETNOST’)) for air defense systems,” General of the Army Mikhaylov noted. Speaking of work on the project for creation of such an airplane, Mikhaylov recalled that similar developments were started as early as the ‘80s of the last century and right now with the creation of the fifth generation airplane are considered progressive developments again of the last century.

The heavy ((sic)) and lightweight fighters will be equipped with the same avionics and distinguished, mainly, by the number of engines – one or two. The prototype of the heavy I-21 fighter may be lifted into the air in 2006 – 2007. They already are “blowing” the I-21 airframe in the wind tunnel at the present time and all characteristics have been trued up.

Let’s take note, developments of a new generation of airplanes are continuing also in the U.S.A. In particular, American specialists are working on the creation of a space bomber capable of striking a target located at any point on the globe in 30 minutes. In comparison with modern heavy bombers, the new vehicle will fly 15 times faster while climbing 10 times higher at the same time. Another new airplane, which uses “stealth” technology, and is able to hover in the air is the F-32B Joint Strike Fighter ((in English)), already is undergoing tests.

Meanwhile, the upgrade being carried out by the Russian air force will permit increasing effectiveness of the airplane and helicopter fleet many times. And this is while air force financing, according to the CinC, is only 15 percent of the whole Russian Federation defense ministry “kettle.”

Moreover, on the order of 200 multirole Yak-130 combat training airplanes will reach the air force. This airplane will replace the existing fleet of L-39 airplanes. It is possible to use the Yak-130 both as an attack airplane and as a reconnaissance aircraft. In addition, the “130” is allowed to carry three tonnes of ammunition on its hard points. The Yak-130 may in the future replace the fleet of Su-25 airplanes in the attack aircraft regiments. Work also is on-going intensively on the creation of the MiG-AT combat training airplane.

Besides this, at the present time, Russia has withdrawn from the program for creation of the An-70 military transport airplane together with Ukraine. “This decision is final. Russian is withdrawing from this project,” General of the Army Mikhaylov reported, commenting on an ANTK Antonov press service report that the decisive stage of Russo-Ukrainian tests of the joint airplane will take place in August. – “The defense ministry’s firm decision has been made now that we are withdrawing from this program.”

According to General of the Army Mikhaylov, right now there are definite questions that have to be completed. In particular, all the documentation for Russia’s withdrawal from the An-70 project has to be developed. “There also are financial questions, which require final resolution,” the CinC emphasized. He reported that there are no Russian representatives in the structures who are involved with the airplane’s testing at the present time. “We finally have withdrawn from this program, and there can be no exceptions,” the CinC said.

Answering a question about the new PS-90A engine, the CinC reported that right now the PS-90A-76 has been installed on the Il-76MD which meets the requirements of ICAO chapter 4. These engines will carry a heavy load with high thrust and fulfill flights significantly better along the routes, while departing for necessary points with the necessary altitude. In 2005, tests of the Il-76MF airplane also were completed with this same PS-90A engine with a payload of 60 tonnes.

Speaking of the prospects for unifying the army air defense forces and the air force air defense forces, the CinC emphasized that it is necessary to take this step in any case. “This decision was adopted at the defense ministry. The only thing is, they have not established the schedules for me for the unification, since I think that it is necessary to do this quickly and painlessly in the first place for the officer corps of army air defense,” General of the Army Mikhaylov noted.

Source: 22.08.06, Krasnaya Zvezda, Correspondent: Aleksandr Pinchuk

Unification of army air defense and air force air defense? What does that mean? Army air defense encompasses the units that accompany the tank/motor rifle divisions in battle- in descending order of level responsiblity S-300Vs (front), Buk-M1-2s (army), Tor-M1s (division), Strela-10s (regiment), 2S6 Tunguskas (regiment), etc. I don’t see what that’s got to do with the air force.

and

Tests Taking Place in Primor’ye of First Ka-50 Assembled after Five-Year Break

Tests of the first Ka-50 “Black Shark” helicopter assembled after a 5-year break at the Primor’ye Progress plant are taking place at the present time in the Far Eastern city of Arsen’ev. This enterprise planes to build to more such helicopters this year.

They reported at the Arsen’ev city government that the resumption of the production of combat helicopters coincided with the Progress plant’s 70th anniversary.

The Ka-50 is the first single-seat combat helicopter in the world. They began to manufacture it in series at the Progress plant in 1991. Nearly 5 years ago, because of an absence of a defense order, production of the aircraft was halted.

Production of civilian aircraft equipment also will begin at the Arsen’ev plant this year. Sale of the first Yak-54 sports and training airplane is intended for the beginning of 2007. Moreover, the enterprise will upgrade Mi-34S helicopters. Plant specialists also have begun realization of a project for the creation of the lightweight Yak-152 training airplane, for which there is a demand on the domestic and foreign markets.

Source: 22.08.06, ARMS-TASS