VympelIIRC, the Su-34 (note SOC, that’s what it is now, I promise! :)) has some sort of active system to assist the pilot during low-level penetration- can’t remember what it was called … something alleviation … system …
VympelRussian Fifth Generation Fighter to Be Lifted into Air in 2007
The Russian fifth generation fighter will be lifted into the air in 2007, The Russian Federation air force commander-in-chief, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov, has announced.
“Right now we are completing the second stage of the airplane’s creation,” he reported in an interview for Rossiyskaya Gazeta. – “We are affirming the preliminary design ((TEKHPROEKT)) right now and in parallel with this recommendations have been developed for the production of individual parts.”
Because of that, I have no doubts that the fifth generation fighter will fly in the established time, that is, in 2007,” Mikhaylov emphasized. Moreover, in Mikhaylov’s opinion, there is not need to replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers in the near future with a new generation of airplanes, ((but)) their upgrade is needed.
“The only problem with the Tu-160, which was developed in the ‘70s, is somewhat aging avionics,” he said. – “The problems will be gone after the upgrade. If necessary – we will perform a second and third upgrade.”
According to the CinC, the airframe itself can fly a minimum of 50 years. Considering that the aircraft reached the inventory in 1986, it still can serve “not less than 30 years.”
There is a similar situation with the Tu-95, Mikhaylov noted.
The Russian Federation air force CinC also reported that the Mi-28 helicopter will be army aviation’s main helicopter, and the Ka-52 and Ka-60 will be exported and for execution of special missions. “The Ka-52 is in principle not a bad aircraft. But it has more deficiencies that, for example, the Mi-28 has. So it is no accident both the president and all the rest adopted the Mi-28 as the basic helicopter for our army aviation,” the CinC noted. “The Ka-52 and Ka-60 – its modification as it were, will be adopted into the inventory in a limited quantity. Including for performance of special operations,” he specified.
Vladimir Mikhaylov also noted that the S-400 “Triumf” anti-aircraft missile complex will be the starting point for transition to air and space defense. “We plan to transition from the S-400 to and air and space defense when the anti-aircraft missiles complexes operate not only against aerial but also against space targets,” the CinC declared. – “There are such products ((NARABOTKI)). One more missile is being made for it and in general we have good prospects here.” According to the CinC, as early as this year the first regiment equipped with the S-400 “Triumf” will be adopted into the inventory. It will be deployed to the city of Fryazevo near Moscow.
The “Triumf” anti-aircraft missile complex was developed by the PVO Almaz-Antey concern. It is intended for the destruction of cruise missiles, airplanes and also the warheads of ballistic missiles in a wide range of altitudes at a range up to 400 kilometers.
Source: 18.05.06, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur’er
And now they’re writing he said 2007 … unless he means first flight in 2006, testing in 2007 ….
VympelHe said the army would receive more than 40 new BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), 100 BTR-80 and BTR-90 armored personnel carriers (APCs), new BMD-2 and BMD-3 airborne IFVs and about 4,500 Kamaz and Ural trucks. More than 350 IFVs, 170 APCs, and 90 airborne IFVs will be modernized, he said.
This quote makes little sense. BTR-80s and BTR-90s I can understand (it almost certainly refers to BTR-80As, however)- but BMD-2s and BMD-3s? What, no BMD-4s, even though some are already in service? The BMD-2 at the very least shouldn’t even be in production anymore.
VympelThe “draggy” versions of Russian bombs you see are designed for use in internal bomb bays, so their exact shape means nothing. The low-drag ones are of course designed for external use.
VympelIsn’t there a proposal being floated by Beriev to re-launch the A-40 with Progress propfans?
Yeah, the A-40M, IIRC. They should really do it, they can’t rely on the Il-38 forever, even if it’s the upgraded Il-38N/ Il-38SD.
VympelCheck the new thread about the interview with the RuAF CinC for info on Hokum’s and Havoc’s- the Ka-52 and Ka-60 are still being acquired for special forces, the Mi-28N for the regular gunships.
VympelThe Yak-130 program is in full swing- Algeria is getting 14 of them, and the first Russian serial aircraft have finished their state tests quite recently and are entering the inventory this year. Apparently, Algeria’s purchase of them gave significant impetus to the program, according to CinC of the RuAF (an interview just this week, posted in another thread).
The Il-112V is still the slated light transport replacement for Russia’s fleet of An-26s etc. I’ve not heard anything about first flights etc.
As for the Il-106- I haven’t heard much. I think Russia is satisfied with the Il-76MF for now.
Have heard nothing about the Yak-52M recently.
VympelThe rationale for the Mi-28A/N mix being that both are capable and reliable low maintainence designs. I would upgrade the Mi-28A to add Thermal sights but not include the radars (MMW and CMW) to reduce costs. Together with models of the Hind that are gradually withdrawn there would be a lot of commonality amongst the fleet.
As it stands the radar for the Mi-28N isn’t fully ready- the latest prototype isn’t equipped with the mast. Really, when even the USA’s Apache force doesn’t have all of them equipped with radars, they shouldn’t do it on Mi-28Ns either.
The Ka-50s that are already pretty much made could be used by the Russian Naval Infantry as an armoured attack chopper, much the same way the US Marines have the Cobra. If the Russians want a professional force with global reach they have two real options… land and sea. ie the VDV or the Naval Infantry. Considering that sea support is easier and cheaper than air support in a global sense I’d go for a global strike role for the Russian Naval Infantry with a support role for Naval Spetsnaz, and use the VDV Russian airborne as a well trained self contained mobile well trained unit for UN duties, and more “local” interventions with support from GRU Spetsnaz where necessary.
I don’t think Russia’s even interested in “global strike” like America is- their Navy have always been tasked more with defence than attack- but the Naval Infantry have always been second fiddle to the VDV- from a purely subjective point of view I like it that way, Russia’s airborne forces are easily the best equipped in the world today (thanks to their numerous air-droppable armor support where others are stuck being basically foot-mobile, with the exception of Germany’s Fallschirmjager).
BTW speaking of which I have seen some photos of the Ka-29 fitted with a 30mm cannon along its side presumably with its ammo inside the cabin with 4 external weapons pylons with two 20 shot 80mm rocket pods and 8 Shturm or Ataka ATGMS.
Does anyone know if these versions include the 7.62mm 4 barrel gatling gun behind the nose panel or not. Quite an impressive beast.
A new variant?
VympelI’ve heard nothing about the talk of getting Ka-52s for special ops since it was announced- it’s possible nothing came of it- see edit by me regarding completion of the incomplete Ka-50 airframes, however.
Personally, I would consider getting a mix of Ka-50s for day work and Mi-28Ns for night work, but supporting two entirely different attack helicopter types is a luxury that’s not worth the trouble- the Mi-28N is all together more capable in any event.
VympelThe Mi-28N is getting procured- 50 gunships by 2010. The Ka-50, as far as I know, isn’t, with the exception of the completion of unfinished airframes at the factory.
Mi-28N to Be Activated for First Time in Russo-Byelorussian Exercises
Mi-28N helicopters will be activated for the first time in forthcoming joint military exercises in July of Russia and Byelorussia.
“A whole aviation complex – from long-range to army, and we will be using two Mi-28 for the first time – will be activated in Byelorussia,” air force commander-in-chief Vladimir Mikhaylov said on Tuesday to journalists.
He added that an airplane control system also will be given a work out in these exercises when commands reach the pilots not in the form of voice reports, but in the form of parameters on an aircraft computer display.
On Tuesday at the base of the Russian Federation defense ministry’s 13th State Scientific and Research Institute in the Moscow suburb of Lyubertsy sessions are taking place of Russia’s air force managing engineering and technical personnel which will last until 19 May. Air force commander-in-chief, General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov, opened the sessions.
Source: 16.05.06, RIA Novosti
The Mi-28s being used in these exercises are probably the two series-production prototypes that have been built.
Three Ka-50 Helicopters to Be Assembled at Progress Aircraft Plant in 2006
The Progress aircraft plant (Arsen’ev, Primorskiy Kray) will complete production of three Ka-50 helicopters, the manufacturing financing of which was put into the defense budget for 2006.
Production of the Ka-50 began at the Progress plant as early as the start of the 1990s. In August 1995, this aircraft officially was introduced into service. Afterwards, series production of the first batch of 12 – 15 aircraft was begun. However, by that time, when in 1998 the order period was approaching the end, the funds for financing the program were exhausted. As a result, only 15 Ka-50 were assembled. In this number, besides the aircraft produced at Progress, are included prototypes and all experimental models which were built at the Kamov firm’s experimental plant outside Moscow. Approximately 17 partially assembled Ka-50 airframes have remained in the warehouses of the Progress plant. In particular, the 3 new aircraft will be completed from them in 2006.
Source: 13.01.06, ITAR-TASS AKOR
VympelI know this is thread necromancy- but I just realized something- unlike the Su-27SKM (Bort 305), the Su-27SM Flanker_Man took photos of don’t seem to have IFR probes. Why has the IRST been offset, since I was under the impression that the only reason they did so was to make room for the IFR probe?
VympelActually I read (in AirTime’s Tupolev Bombers) that there are six at Zhukovskiy- 4 of which are airworthy. One of these was subsequently “destroyed” to find out exactly what happened to the ill-fated Bort 01.
The quote, pages 143-144:
The total number of Tu-160s built to the end of 2000 was 35, comprising three prototypes built in Moscow and 32 series aircraft built in Kazan; another three (unfinished) aircraft are at the Kazan factory. Presently, 15 aircraft [note, this was before Bort 01 was lost] are at Engels and 11 have been scrapped by the Ukranians: one was on display at Poltava museum in Ukraine since April 2000 (under international treaty, Ukraine was required to dispose of its strategic bombers by October 2001). Six aircraft are at the test centre at Zhukovskiy (including four airworthy ones: two belonging to Tupolev and two belonging to the air force). Another two airframes were intended for static and fatigue tests. One Tu-160 (the second series aircraft) crashed in March 1987 after suffering an engine fire soon after take-off from Zhukovskiy; the crew, commanded by Valeriy Pavlov, ejected and survived.
So, 5 original Russian aircraft, plus 8 Ukranian examples, plus 1 new-build in 2000, plus 1 new-build in 2006, plus one refurbished test example from Zhukovskiy.
16 aircraft by the end of 2006. Two more airframes at Kazan, 18 aircraft, 2 more aircraft at Zhukovskiy capable of conversion (or 1?), 20 aircraft. Maybe. It’d be 21 if Bort 01 hadn’t crashed … 🙁
Nice pics by the way!
EDIT: correct me if I’m wrong- but there’s been no new aircraft delivered between the one in 2000 and these two in 2006, right? I mean, they talked about it, but it never actually happened, right?
VympelWhat will not change too much.
Take a look at the YF-22 compared to the F-22.
At least you are in need of a flying prototype similar to a technology demonstrator to start with your FBW-software at first.
See EAP about that. Certain things are not to simulate.
Given their plans regarding the Su-35BM and the T-50, the new FBW system of the Su-35BM (which is itself taken from the Su-47) will likely be used.
VympelThe two systems are Ugroza which is used on the Russian S-8 (80mm rockets), S-13 (122mm rockets), and S-24 (240mm rockets).
The other type I am having trouble finding the name of but it extends the options to include the rockets above plus the S-5 57mm rockets and the S-25 266mm rockets (though the rocket warheads are 420mm and 340mm).
Garry, you’re thinking of this:
The Moscow-based Auto-mation and Mechanical Technology Scientific and Technical Complex (Ametech) joint-stock company is offering guided versions of the standard Russian 57mm, 80mm and 122mm air-launched unguided rockets, writes Miroslav Gyürösi. Intended for use against point targets such as armoured fighting vehicles, the new ‘smart’ rockets require the target to be illuminated by a helicopter-mounted or ground-based laser designator. Target illumination lasts for only three seconds.
Developed around half a century ago, and first fielded in the 1950s, the S-5 (57mm) unguided rockets were intended to provide the former Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies with a family of folding-fin unguided rockets for air-to-air and air-to-surface applications. They were manufactured and deployed on a large scale, and it has been estimated that total production to date could be greater than that of all other aircraft rockets in the world combined. The rockets and their associated warheads and launchers are still in production within Russia and several other countries. The S-5 is normally fired from the UB-8-57 (eight-tube), UB-16-57 (16-tube) or UB-32-57 (32-tube) aircraft-mounted launchers. There is also a 32-round UB-32A universal launcher for aircraft and helicopter use.
Developed in the late 1970s as a ground-attack weapon, the S-8 (80mm) rocket is fired from 20-round B-8V20A (helicopter) and B-8M1 (aircraft) launchers. Development of the S-13 (122mm) rocket was around the same time, and was intended to produce a weapon for use against runways, fortified buildings and concrete shelters. It is fired from B-13L (aircraft) and B-13L-1 (helicopter) five-round launchers.
Existing 57-122mm unguided rockets have fixed warheads, but the new S-5Cor (57mm), S-8Cor (80mm) and S-13Cor (122mm) versions carry a separating ‘smart’ warhead fitted with a semi-active laser seeker and a course-correction system which uses a series of sideways-firing thrusters to correct the trajectory. Known as the Russian Concept of Impulse Correction (RCIC), this system was originally devised for use in ‘smart’ artillery and mortar rounds. At the end of powered flight, the warhead separates from the rocket motor, and guides itself to the designated target.
The smallest rocket is the S-5Cor. Fitted with a BM-5 course-corrected projectile, this is 1,100mm long, and weighs 5.85kg at launch. It has a maximum speed of 430m/sec and a range of 2.5-7km. The warhead contains the equivalent of 0.5kg of Tritol, and can penetrate 200mm of rolled homogeneous armour (RHA).
The larger S-8Cor carries the BM-8 corrected projectile. It is 1,650mm long, weighs 15.2kg at launch, has a maximum speed of 480m/sec and a range of 2.5-8km. In this case the payload is a BM-8 projectile, which is 600mm long and weighs 6kg. The guidance system can provide up to 12 correction impulses, while the warhead contains the equivalent of 1.8kg of Tritol, and can penetrate 400mm of RHA.
A second version of the S-8Cor is known to exist. This carries the BM-8-1 projectile and has longer rocket motor. Although no details are available, this variant probably provides increased range.
The heaviest member of the family is the 70kg S-13Cor, a 3,000m long rocket fitted with the BM-13 corrected projectile. Maximum speed is 480 m/sec and the range is 2.5-9km. The warhead carries the equivalent of 5.2kg of Tritol and can penetrate 700mm of RHA.
According to Ametech, the use of guided payloads increases of cost-effectiveness of the 57mm, 80mm and 122mm rockets by a factor of 3-4, and reduces the number of rockets which must be fired in combat by a factor of 50 or more. It allows fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to launch the rockets from a greater range, increasing their survivability.
The process of upgrading existing unguided rockets to the new course-corrected standard, and of modifying aircraft or helicopters to fire the new weapons can be done at air bases or at storage sites. The hardware and tooling needed can be moved by air, allowing a rapid start to the upgrading process.
These modified rockets are being marketed under the designation Ugrosa, which was first used for the company’s semi-Active Laser-Guided Projectile for the 122mm BM-21 Grad series MRS, a projectile which introduced RCIC guidance to rocket applications.
The RCIC system was originally devised for large-calibre projectiles, and was used to guide the 152mm 3OF38 Santimetr (Centimetre) Semi-Active Laser-Guided Projectile (SAL-GP), which was offered to the Russian Army but rejected in favour of the 152mm Krasnopol laser-guided round. Ametech continued to market the Santimetr and its guidance system for possible export sales. RCIC is also used in Ametech’s 240mm 3F5 Smel’chak guided mortar round, which was developed during the 1980s and field tested with 240mm M-240 towed mortars during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.
Ametech has applied the same RCIC guidance principles to smaller-calibre rounds. It now offers course-corrected rounds for 81mm, 82mm, 120mm, and 160mm mortars, as well as for the 240mm. Course-corrected artillery rounds are now offered in 100mm, 122mm, 152mm, 155mm, 203mm and 305mm calibres, for 100mm, 105mm, 120mm, 125mm and 130mm tank guns, and for unguided rockets of 57mm, 80mm, 105mm, 122mm, 140mm and 240mm. According to the company, mortar and artillery rounds delivered to within 120m of the target can use the RCIC system to achieve a CEP (circular error probable) of between 0.8-1.8m.
30 March 2001
From Jane’s. Pretty impressive.
VympelAny idea what engines this Russian military version has? Surely not the P&W ones?
That would be illegal, so no 🙂
Perhaps the engines of the Ka-60? *shrug*
(or a variant thereof)
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