ivory coast

No. Both destroyed Frogfoots were doubleseaters.

According to the Belarus government 2 Su-25UB were shipped from belarus in in 2003 and 2 Su-25 in 2004 to Ivory coast. So the caption with the picture is most likely correct. As far as I know the complete Ivorian Air Force was destroyed by the French,so I assume that includes all 4 Su-25s

see: http://disarmament.un.org/UN_REGISTER.nsf

Has anyone seen anything more about the Sudanese Su-25s delivered in 2008 from Belarus, for example video images of the military parade in Khartoum on 31 Dec where they were shown for the first time?

Sudan Su-25

Still not seen picytures or video footage, but:

http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE50002W.html

Sudan unveiled on Wednesday new fighter planes and missiles in a parade seen as a show of strength aimed at critics supporting a war crimes case against its president and Darfur rebels threatening more attacks.

Four jet planes that flew over the crowd were said by the official announcer at the show to be Sukhoi Su-25s which were added to the air force in 2008.

It seems the Su-25 seen in Sudanese colors at a belarussion airbase earlier this year has been delivered.

Iranian S-300

First see and then believe. Claims that Iran was receiving S-300s have been made regularly for many years. Almost exactly a year ago the Iranian Defence Minister claimed there was a contract. This was later denied by both the Russians and the Iranians (not that I always believe what Russian and Iranian sources say.)

27.12.2007

Russia to sell advanced air defense systems to Iran

TEHRAN, December 26 (RIA Novosti) – Iran signed a contract with Russia on Tuesday on the delivery of advanced S-300 air defense missile systems to the Islamic Republic, an Iranian news agency reported on Wednesday.
…
“S-300 air defense systems will be delivered to Iran under an earlier contract signed with Russia,” the Fars news agency quoted Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar as saying.The minister provided no contract details or a schedule for future deliveries, Fars said.

Russia starts S-300 air defense system supplies to Iran – MP

TEHRAN, December 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has started the supplies of components for S-300 air defense systems to Iran, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday.

Esmaeil Kosari, deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on national security and foreign policy told the Iranian news agency IRNA that Iran and Russia had held negotiations for several years on the purchase of S-300 air defense systems and had finalized a deal.

Kosari said the Islamic Republic would deploy S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to strengthen national defense on border areas.

Iran recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a $700-million contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.

The U.S. and Israel, which have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Iran, were earlier alarmed by media reports, which started circulating as early as 2005, on the possible delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran, as these systems could greatly improve Iranian defenses against any air strike on its strategically important sites, including nuclear facilities.

The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making the system an effective tool for warding off possible air strikes.

The Islamic Republic has conducted several high-profile war games this year, including a three-day series of Air Force and missile defense exercises on September 15-18, while promising swift retaliation in the event of any act of aggression against the country.

Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, which it says it needs purely for electricity generation despite Western accusations that the program is geared toward weapon production.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20081221/119041152.html

Sudanese UAV

The UN Panel of experts report on Sudan published 11 November 2008 has pictures and some info on new Sudanese UAVs used in Darfur (see (S/2008/647 , p-29-30). According to the Sudanese Government the UAVs are used for ‘locust control’…
It looks a Pakistani UQAB UAV to me. Compare with: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbidesign/2348655773/
Of course the UQAB could be a Chinese design with a sticker ‘made in Pakistan’ on it.

Unmanned aerial vehicles
77. During the present mandate, the Panel was informed by reliable sources of a
new addition to the aerial military capacities of the Government of the Sudan in
Darfur. The allegation was that the Government, continuing a practice of blatant
embargo violations, had imported three to five unmanned aerial vehicles into its
store of military aviation equipment in Darfur. The sources further stated that the
vehicles, together with a control vehicle and SAF specialist personnel allegedly
trained overseas, of a new military unit within the Western Military Command.
78. Witnessed in the skies over El Fasher by a range of United Nations and
non-United Nations personnel since May 2008, the vehicle in question had in fact
become such a regular sight by July that the local population nicknamed it after a
local insect because of the particular buzzing sound it made when deployed.
79. Upon conducting an independent investigation into the matter, the Panel was
able to confirm the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles in Darfur and witnessed
for itself at least one such vehicle in operation during an August visit to El Fasher
(see photos 9 and 10). It was also noted by Panel members that additional hangars
had been constructed within the military section of El Fasher airport to house the
new military hardware, complete with a suspected control vehicle. Witnesses
interviewed by the Panel during this period allege that the Government has deployed
unmanned aerial vehicles not only to El Fasher but to SAF forces based in
El Geneina and Nyala.
80. The Panel met with the commander of the Western Military Region in August
2008. He confirmed deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles only to El Fasher as of
May 2008 and stated that they were used principally to conduct security operations
in the area.
81. At a subsequent meeting with the SAF military chiefs of staff at their
headquarters in Khartoum, when the Panel requested further information on the
deployment of these aircraft, it received a range of answers. The first response was
that no such vehicle existed on Sudanese territory. The second answer, given mere
seconds later, was that the unmanned aerial vehicle did indeed exist but that it did
not belong to SAF, as the Government of the Sudan could see no possible use for
such a vehicle. The third response was that the vehicles in question were owned and
operated by unspecified non-governmental organizations for the purpose of locust
control.
82. In accordance with the International Convention on Civil Aviation, all civil
aircraft operating in the airspace of a contracting State must be registered in the
national civil aviation registry. Regulatory procedures dictate that national civil
aviation authorities issue certificates of registration for all civilian-held aircraft
within national airspace. These certificates list all ownership, manufacture and
registration details for the aircraft in question in addition to its primary function or
nature of operation (i.e. training, commercial, agricultural or private).
83. The Panel held a meeting with the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority and
requested details of all unmanned aerial vehicles listed on the register of civilian
aircraft allowed to operate in the Sudan. In a written response the Authority stated
that all commercial aviation companies in the Sudan, in accordance with applicable
civil aviation regulations, are obliged to register any and all aircraft operating in
Sudanese airspace. The letter further states that no commercial company has
registered any unmanned aerial vehicles in the national civil aviation register.

any news on the Sri Lankan MiG-29s?

Although is has been reported that the SLAF received 5 MiG-29s in recent months, I cannot find any pictures or other proper confirmation . The only alleged pictures pre-delicery in Russia of the aircraft I found at http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/5/28503_space.html
Anyone else has more info?

‘After many clarification emails with my fellow Spotters from Russia – both retired employees of MAPO-MiG. More details have emerged about the 4 MiG-29SM`s that are to be delivered to the SLAF.

My post last week revealed the FIRST ever pictures of one of the MiG-29 (9-12) aircraft that is to make up the 5 aircraft in the SLAF MiG deal, the 5th being a MiG-29UB.

It was revealed that this aircraft was snapped at the SOKOL Aircraft Production Plant in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. This appears to be only half the story – as clarified later by both my elderly Spotters, and alleged the Photographers who took the following pictures.

The unmarked aircraft in Pictures (1 of 7) and (2 of 7) is one of two MiG-29 (9-12) airframes in the SLAF deal, the other two being MiG-29 (9-13) airframes. Pictures (3 of 7) and (4 of 7) are allegedly pictures of the Second MiG-29 (9-12) Airframe in that deal. All Four pictures were taken at the SOKOL Plant. It appears that both (9-12) airframes emerged from this Plant in early April. However, these pictures did not represent the finished product as I am not led to believe.

According to my Russian Spotters, these two aircraft were then flown to another MAPO-MiG Factory to be upgraded to the `SM` standard.

From there 2 aircraft, a MiG-29SM (9-12) and a MiG-29SM (9-13) were very recently flown to the Russian Air forces Akhtubinsk Test Centre in Astrakhan Oblast. That is apparently where the last 3 pictures were taken (5,6,7 of 7). According to one of the two Spotters, Pictures (5 of 7) and (6 of 7) represent the most likely delivery finish to the SLAF.

Picture (5 of 7) is one of the MiG-29SM (9-12) airframes, with Picture (6 of 7) being of the MiG-29SM (9-13) airframes.

The spotters informed me that the 2 x (9-13) airframes for the SLAF were already upgraded MiG-29SM (9-13) airframes that were kept in storage.

I asked my Russian Friends how they got so close to take these pictures.. their reply.. “We have Friends in High Places“!!..’

African Mirage F-1s

I am looking for information on ex-South African Air Force Mirage F-1AZs. The South African company paramount has bought them all and is now trying to sell them in refurbished or modernized condition to African countries.
Gabon has received 2 in 2006, but is reported to have ordered at least 6, possibly 8 or 12. Anyone seen any further information? Paramount itself reports that a full squadron has been delivered to a West African country. Paramount also reports that a further sale of F-1AZs to an another African country is soon to be announced. Anyone any information about which that counry can be?
Paramount does mention on its website that is has been working on the ‘Establishment of Jet Fighter Capability for Central African Air Force ‘, but it could be that they mean also in this case Gabon, which is after all in West-central Africa.
Pictures and info at:
[http://www.paramountgroup.biz/other….r%20capability

http://www.paramountgroup.biz/page.a…ubCategory=Air

chad and sudan

Looks like Chad has started a nice lil international cooperation there. At Abeche visits of Ukrainian, Swiss (Pilatus), Belgian (FN) and South African (Denel) personnel were spotted. Plus the obvious visitors – Israelis, who are said to be responsible for the Chadian PC-9M now carrying ordnance of various kind. As they say, hard currency never stinks 😉

The Swiss just forbid any furher sales of arms and related stuff to Chad. That includes PC-9s and everything connected to it. When and was it reported that Swiis, belgian etc arms related persons were seen at Abeche?

The Russians have denied the sale of more MiG-29s to Sudan:

‘Meanwhile, a high-ranking representative of the Russian defense industry has told Interfax that the fighters were delivered back in 2004.

“Twelve MiG-29 aircraft, namely 10 combat aircraft and two combat trainers, were delivered to that country not today or yesterday but in 2004. They have taken part in numerous air parades. All this has been widely covered in the press,” the official said.

Russian-Sudanese arms trade has been fully frozen, at least until the removal of the U.N. sanctions, he said.

The official added that Russia is one of the most active participants in the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Sudan. “It would be simply illogical to separate the conflicting sides risking the life of peacekeepers and simultaneously deliver arms fanning the conflict,” he said. ‘

This statement seems to be in contradiction to Russiais own has report that it delivered 4 ‘combat helicopters’ to Sudan in 2007 and more in 2005-2006