VympelThe Refleks has always been guided. Poorly phrased article from Jane’s there.
VympelVOLGOGRAD, July 13 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is planning to purchase 69 silo-based and mobile Topol-M ballistic missile systems in the next decade, the defense minister said Thursday.
“We are planning to buy 69 [Topol-M] systems by 2015,” Sergei Ivanov said at a meeting with defense industry officials in the Volgograd Region.
Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, said the defense ministry was also planning to procure 60 Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems to equip five missile brigades, 57 Sprut-SD self-propelled guns, 499 Rakushka airborne armored personnel carriers, and several Bereg mobile coastal artillery systems.
The defense minister earlier said that Russia’s 2006 defense order would total $9 billion and increase by 20% to 303.7 bln rubles ($11.2 bln) in 2007.
However, Ivanov reiterated that defense industry enterprises should not rely solely on increasing state orders and must rapidly develop production of dual-purpose and civilian goods to stay competitive.
(the Rakushka is the BTR-DZ, replacement for the BTR-D for the Russian Paratroops).
VympelI don’t think any exist in the public domain.
There is also some controversy as to the relationship between the Russian-only “Iskander-M” and “Tender”. Articles originally described “Iskander-M” as an interim between “Iskander-E” and “Tender”, but now some are saying Tender is now known as Iskander-M.
Recent articles talking about Russian defense procurement reference purchasing “Iskander-M”, by the way.
In any event, Iskander-E and Iskander-M / Tender should look identical.
VympelWhy? Around 3 tons is a reasonable weaponsload for a fighter below 10 tons.
Because it compares badly to the Su-25.
The combat payload of an Su-25SM is 5,000kg (2,000kg more than Yak-130). It has a powerful 30mm internal cannon, I’m not sure the Yak-130 can carry an equivalent (anyone know?). It has a titanium bathtub cockpit for the pilot, and armored titanium engine bays. It also has 10 hardpoints, (8x heavy, 2x AAM only)- compared to the Yak-130s what, six or eight?
If they were add all that to the Yak-130 airframe, what would it’s payload be? Next to nothing, I’d imagine.
No, the Yak-130 is a ****ty airframe to replace the Su-25. I don’t believe the Su-25 even needs replacing, they should just build new Su-25SMs or Su-25TMs/Su-39s. The Su-25SM is much more capable than the original and they’re considering designing a more powerful variant of the Yak-130s production AI-225 turbofans for fitting on the Su-25, which will give it much greater range.
Vympel“We Will Elicit Young People and Allow Them to Fly
((EXTRACT of much longer interview with Russian Federation air force commander-in-chief, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov, on the state of today’s air force.))
– You are known as a supporter for upgrade of airplanes. Is this because new aircraft are not reaching the units in sufficient numbers?
– I really am a supporter of the upgrade of the airplane and helicopter fleets – as a result, we are receiving aircraft with new capabilities, and at times, per se, new. For example, the Su-27SM airplane or the Mi-24PN helicopter. In the 1970-80s of the last century, when these aircraft were being created, the level of aircraft avionics was the same, today it is higher by far. The units and components which took up a lot of room today require space a bit larger than a mobile telephone, and they resolve the missions twice as great at the minimum.
For the time being there are no funds in order to sharply increase the purchase of new aircraft equipment. Nonetheless, we have begun production of the Su-34 airplane, and Mi-28N “Night Hunter” helicopters are being delivered. We already have received three aircraft, and we expect five more before the end of the year. Tests are taking place of the Yak-130 combat training airplane. A medium transport airplane is being created for military transport aviation together with India, although we have in reserve our own aircraft of this class. Work on the lightweight Il-112 is going well. New arrivals are premature for long-range aviation – heavy upgrade of the existing fleet is taking place here. Serious work is underway on unmanned aerial vehicles.
-Have the problems with the Su-34 that was mentioned by you ended?
– This is a splendid 21st century airplane. [We made a very correct step in 2002 – then I adopted a decision to slow down the program for creation of the Su-27IB, as this airplane was called then, in order to re-do its avionics into a new variant which were adapted for the requirements of the new century. We lost 6 – 7 months on it, having slowed down the appearance of the eighth aircraft. Right now it is flying in a new shape. What about this aircraft? Going at night, in clouds, not seeing the ground, the airman drops a bomb which falls with a maximum deviation from the target’s center of only five meters. This is a most splendid result, which has been confirmed by tests, the most accurate weapon you can ever imagine!
– We have been talking for years already about the future tactical aviation aircraft complex (PAK FA). When will we finally see it?
– I shall answer, but first about the upgrade of the Su-27 into the Su-27SM. We have reequipped practically a whole regiment with these airplanes and soon another one will be converted. We still need the Su-27SM because the new avionics which are installed on it is the first stage of that “stuffing” that will be on the PAK FA. Recently we have done a lot in the air force and the aircraft industry in order to unify the avionics for the aircraft. Right now we are making one and the same screens on the MiG-29 for the Yak-130, Su-27SM so that it will be easier for the airman to move from one type to another. In particular, the upgrade will allow making the transition to the PAK FA smooth. We assume it will appear in series in 3 years and before this time we will be perfecting the new programs on the Su-27SM with the flight personnel. I recently sat in the simulator of the future PAK FA. The airman’s work is minimized there, but it is impossible to come to the prescribed parameters right away. And here, undoubtedly, some kind of intermediate training stages are needed.
By the way, we also are upgrading the best interceptor in the world, the MiG-31, transitioning to avionics with a new elemental base – we are developing the cockpit instrumentation, increasing the intercept range, and improving other characteristics. We have [i]a bit more than 100 aircraft of this type in the inventory[/u] in all.
– Why has Russia’s air force selected the Mi-28 as the main combat helicopter? After all there are still the Ka-50 and Ka-52, which are by no means inferior to the lucky beggar.
– The Kamov and Mil aircraft are approximately equal in equipment level. Maybe the Mil are a bit better. The Mi family of helicopters demonstrate astonishing things. For example, they approach for landing with damaged blades. Once in my life I had the “pleasure” to fly in a helicopters, in which part of the blade had torn off. The aircraft’s vibration was very strong. It had happened over a forest, fortunately, the forester’s lodge wasn’t far away in whose garden we also landed.
– It is approximately the same story with the competing Yak-130 and MiG-AT training airplanes. The defense ministry has selected the first one for some reason. But it recently crashed in the Ryazan Oblast’.
– The fact that it happened with one of them very recently during tests is very unpleasant. We are studying the reasons for the accident. The Yak-130 has good prospects and a high export potential. Algeria has ordered 16 airplanes of this type and we are holding negotiations with other countries. Russia need on the order of 200 such aircraft. This airplane will replace the fleet of Czech L-39, besides that, one can easily use this airplane as an attack aircraft, reconnaissance platform and in many other instances. It can replace in the future the fleet of Su-25 attack aircraft which we will not have time to upgrade. There is not one airplane in the Yak-130 class with which to compare it, this is the aircraft of the future.
Source: 11.08.06, Vremya Novostey, Correspondent: Nikolay Poroskop
and
15 Billion Rubles Allocated for Creation of Fifth Generation Fighter
((Title says it all. Not further translated.))
Source: 11.08.06, ARMS-TASS
(15 Billion RUB = 559,785,042.44 USD)
Notice the comment that Russia has a bit more than 100 MiG-31s in the inventory. Seems a bit low- did they move the other ~200 to storage, as was discussed?
The comment about the Yak-130 replacing the Su-25 was also interesting- something about not having time to upgrade the Su-25. Strange, the Su-25SM upgrade is proceeding as far as I know.
The Yak-130 would need to be extensively modified to really replace the Su-25, however. It’s too light to do the job currently. On Yakovlev’s website they’ve had a picture of a “striker” version of the Yak-130 with an Su-25 style nose, so who knows, but I’m ambivalent. I doubt it’d have the payload.
VympelWell it seems that Russia in their defense ministery was lying. That is an RPG-29 projectile out of its storage/launch container (the container mates with the launcher like the French STRIM or the Israeli-B-300).
No, tha’ts an RPG-29 projectile in its totality. The front part is the warhead, the rear is the motor with the pop-out control surfaces. They connect.
Also, all that the PG-29V proves is that Hezbollah has RPG-29s, not where they got them from. Russia sold some RPG-29s to Syria. It’s not a huge stretch to think that Syrian sources passed some on to Hezbollah. It gets even more murky if Iran is producing RPG-29 copies, for example.
Also it’s funny that Israel keeps claiming Metis-M and Kornet-E is present but they’ve shown none, all we’ve seen is TOW, AT-3, AT-4, AT-5, SPG-9D …
In any event, no one should be surprised that Hezbollah’s old anti-tank weapons are taking a toll on Israel’s vehicles- they’re quite vulnerable along the sides, rear, and top, like all tanks. Of all of the weapons we’ve seen, TOW is probably the most dangerous. RPG-29 is very scary though, for a tanker.
VympelAir Force to Receive Five All-Weather Night Mi-28N Helicopters before Year’s End
The next batch of all-weather night Mi-28N “Night Hunter” helicopters will reach the air force before the end of 2006, Russian Federation air force General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov reported to RIA Novosti.
“We already have received three aircraft, and we expect five more before the end of the year,” he said.
It earlier was being reported that the Russian Federation defense ministry plans to buy 67 Mi-28N “Night Hunter” combat helicopters in the coming years.
As the Russian Federation head of the defense ministry, Sergey Ivanov, said, this helicopter corresponds to all worldwide standards and as of today is a leader in its class. “The Mi-28 is equal in all technical and combat characteristics to three Mi-24 helicopters, which right now are the Russian Federation’s armed forces main combat helicopters. In essence, we are tripling the effectiveness of our armed forces,” the minister noted.
The first series-built Mi-28N was lifted into the sky at the end of December 2005 Ìè-28Í in Rostov. The Mi-28N helicopter has no counterparts in the world thanks to a whole series of engineering solutions. Owing to the bringing of the helicopter’s technical characteristics to a high level, during tests the state commission adopted a resolution to conclude a 3-year contract between the Russian Federation defense ministry and Rostvertol for the delivery of the helicopters. The air force will receive more than 20 Mi-28N helicopters in the first stage.
Source: 09.08.06, RIA Novosti
and
Il-112V to Fly Soon
The first flight of the Voronezh Il-112V may take place as early as the middle of 2008. The lightweight military transport airplane will enter the series production assembly line as early as this year. It is planned to develop and send to VASO all the drawings for the airplane’s airframe before year’s end. The necessary volumes of financing will be defined for carrying out engineering preparations for production. Creation and purchase of the Il-112V have been envisioned by Russia’s State Arms Program for the period to 2015. The airplane is intended for transport of cargoes weighing up to 6 tonnes to a distance up to 6,000 kilometers and will replace the An-26 airplanes in service. In the opinion of specialists, the Il will exceed the “Ans” in range and flight speed. It can take off from short runways and also from unprepared fields, the Voronezh State Television and Radio Company reports.
Source: 10.08.06, Regions.RU
VympelEDIT- placed in above post.
VympelSuddenly the low combat radius of 635 km that I argue here seem more logical. Now I know this is a rough estimate but still. Quite far from the 1500, 3000-4000 km numbers often talked about by people on forums.
Did you miss the part how the page you linked to is 1,270km combat radius at sea level? At altitude it’s 3,000km.
Ok so maybe they just have a different definition on combat range and radius ? But then how about the raw facts, a large, heavy jet Do note: SU-30MK’s empty weight of 17700 kg (!). with two engines burning 5270 kg of fuel will not be able to fly very far.
How nice it is then that the Su-30MK can carry almost double that if required for long missions.
The single-engine F-16C with 3105 kg of internal fuel has a combat radius of 925 km.
On the face of it that sounds like total bovine excrement. Source? Weapons? Altitude?
In any event, your entire “myth” argument is based on not reading the page properly.
VympelDo you have a link?
VympelThe Nerpa was built at Komsomolsk-na-Amur- ergo, it’s a Pacific Fleet ship.
I assume “new-generation multi-role lead submarine” precludes Yury Dologurky, so it must be the Project 885 Severodvinsk.
As far as I know, there are no more Project 971 SSNs under construction for the Northern Fleet- only the Kaban at the Pacific Fleet is left since the Nerpa was just launched.
VympelLarge anti-submarine ship “Ochakov” (on modernization)
Really? What are they doing to it? I can’t make out much- all I know is that the Ochakov is a Project 1134.2 “Berkut-B” – aka Kara-class- commissioned over thirty years ago (1975). What reason could they have to modernize it?
VympelThanks for the pics, very nice.
Vympelhttp://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3134&highlight=Su-25SM
It’s not as capable as the Su-25T, but it’s pretty close, all things considered- just subtract the tank-killing capability.
VympelInteresting. I’m not sure if I believe it though. The “Zarevo” system is wrong, it’s Shkval. Zarevo is the FLIR sensor for the Mi-24PN.
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