With a guy sitting in the cockpit. 😎

Hope that helmet he was wearing was bulletproof 🙂

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Some news….

The Su-35 is back in contention for the new Brazilian FX-3 tender. Apparently Medvedev’s meeting with the new Brazilian president at the BRIC meeting did the trick. That and the renewed interest of the Brazilian AF in the Pak Fa.

original Rus. report
http://www.rian.ru/defense_safety/20110422/367173524.html

and a shorter one in English

Su-35 will return to the Brazilian Air Force tender
http://mysouth.su/2011/04/su-35-will-return-to-the-brazilian-air-force-tender/

“We will substitute the missile system Granit” And with what? Klub? They´ll also remove Fort, and install what, again? Is this “modernisation”? Why the “###” you need such an enormous cruiser to perform the work of a frigate?

You came to this conclusion based on what?

which makes me wonder why Ka-52 was not offered to India, a place with many potential conflict in high altitude conditions.

I think it was offered in a package together with the Mi-28.

also had there been no political issue, would the Army easily chose KA over Mi?

I don’t think politics was decisive in the selection although the pro Ka-50/52 lobby promotes that story.

It seems the VVS sees the Ka-52 as specialised platform fulfilling some niche requirements but too expensive and complicated to be used as the workhorse.

……

On the Apache armour…

It has plexiglass but I’m not sure how resistant it is. In any case, it was designed originally following a different philosophy. The Apache wasn’t really meant as close support helicopter but more of a stand off AT weapon. The Mi-28 was designed to replace the Mi-24 and operate together with the Su-25 in CAS role. That’s way the emphasis was put on the armour and heavy canon.

The co-axial rotor system makes the Ka-50/52 better suited for operations in mountainous terrain (especially high altitude and narrow canyons)

The same goes more or less for the Ka-226 and Ka-32.

Recent example…

A Ka-32 lifts a crashed Swiss AF Cougar. The crash site was at a altitude of 2300m above sea level.

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Mi-26T2 tests continuing. Also pics of the first 2 new Mi-26T for the Ru-AF

http://www.take-off.ru/news/111-news-04-2011/575-mi-26t2-04-2011

Well the Russian AF ordered 22 Mi-35s. Are these additional Brazilian Mi-35s on top of that?

It’s a separate order.

The Brazilians have suspended the purchase of the second batch not canceled it.

There’s a frontal shot with Gibka on the centerline between the gun fire control radars atop the bridge, where the SAM fire control radar unit used to be……

Wanshan you are a legend. 🙂

Russia probably wants to keep RSK MiG busy; I can see them offering a loan to that end.

The article that ‘ink’ posted says that discussions on military matters will follow in the coming period. But that doesn’t mean that getting the Mig-29 is foregone conclusion.