We do know that the Zhuk-ME of the MiG-29SMTs originally intended for Algeria were modified for Russian use, as were the planes generally. There’s no way the MiG-29K of the Russian Navy is going to be using an “E” type radar for export customers.

India certainly modified their MiG-29Ks with some other kit, but a Zhuk-ME is a Zhuk-ME, AFAIK. But yes, it’ll be a marginal performance difference, not major.

Agreed.
The Russian Mig-29K is not a cosher unit, like the Su-30M2 and Su-35S.
Big different is also the price, i have a feeling that this is partial a state hand out to the troubled Mig RAC.

The Navy needs these planes. Upgraded Su-33s won’t last as long, nor are they as capable for the intended role (i.e. full-on multi-role advanced fighter). And the more planes Admiral Kuznetsov gets, the better.

But yes, MiG does need more orders. I hope they get some MiG-35 success, from the VVS if no one else.

Napo was finnish retooling last year.
Probably has a more modern prod lines vs Sokol (N. Novgorod) plant by now.
It could also mean they both do Mig-31BM upgrade..

Just my two cent.

NAPO’s a Sukhoi plant. Anything is possible, but its not likely. NAPO has their hands full building Su-34s, let alone upgrading MiG-31s.

If anything, this claim of Blue 01 being at all recent is probably erroneous – pictures of a flying Blue 02 MiG-31BM have been around for months.

What insults? They stated they’d build a fleet of carriers, now they’ve had to ditch that plan. Whats so insulting about that?

There’s a big difference between they Navy not starting on a fleet of carriers because there’s no money in the budget and a fighter not getting X-many radars because of the budget. One has nothing to do with the other.

The same will happen with this five radar set-up. It will be quietly abandoned and when bought up they will say it is for the next batch or some other such excuse. I’ve seen this all before a hundred times over.

Uh – when?

So you want to tell us that an engine fitted to a fighter in 2010 will lack a FADEC? The Russians must be backwards by a LARGE margin!
Honestly a FADEC system for the AL.-31F was already tested as early as the late 80s and it is most likely fitted to all newer variants of the AL-31. The AL-41F1 offers an improved control system in comparison to the AL-41F1S, that doesn’t mean it’s no FADEC!

You’re not wrong – the AL-31FM1s fitted to Su-27SM and Su-34s are also digital:-

http://www.salut.ru/Section.php?SectionId=18

Digital full-authority engine regulator instead of analog one;

Can’t read any of that, of course 🙂

Why the discrepancy with what NPO Saturn says? The Su-35S brochure, too, says the engines are FADEC.

I don’t get what he’s talking about re: “the technological gap”.

While the GPS constellation is getting expanded Glonass has perpetual trouble just maintaining adequate numbers for global coverage. Maybe India should have bet on Galileo instead for its military needs.

Launch failures happen. Its not a big deal:-

But the general director of M2M Electronics, a subcontractor specializing in microelectronics for the Glonass programme, said the failure to launch the satellites was “no great tragedy.”

Evgeny Belyanko told Russian state-owned news channel Rossiya 24 that existing satellites already covered all of Russia, had good coverage up to polar latitudes, and “perhaps not quite as good” coverage of the equatorial region. “Therefore the absence of these three satellites … will not have any serious consequences.

There are currently 26 Glonass satellites in orbit, many of them launched by the Proton-M carrier. Twenty of the 26 are in working condition; two satellites are on standby; and four satellites are under maintenance, Belyanko said.

GLONASS has been steadily expanded for years now, and newer model satellites are coming in soon – I’m not sure what ‘perpetual trouble’ you’re talking about. But Galileo? Yeah, lets bet on a satellite constellation that doesn’t even exist. What a deal! 🙂

At the end of the day, its a temporary setback to full coverage. If they’re desperate for it, the 2 standby satellites can be brought in at any time.