Speaking of small vessels with a powerful punch…

Small Missile-Gun Boat (Pr. 21631)

The first one was laid down a few days ago.

Small Missile Boat for the Caspian Flotilla
(translation-summary)

” Today (27-08-10) at Zelenodolsk Shipyard was laid small missile boat ” City of Sviyazhsk ” – the ship is planned to reinforce the Caspian Flotilla .

The “City of Sviyazhsk” Project 21631 will be created on the basis of small artillery ship Project 21630 type “Buyan” . It will be equipped with powerful missile and artillery weapons , as well as means of electronic countermeasures. Unlike his artillery counterpart in the press he was named “fanged Buyan” (more formally – “Buyan – M” ).

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=87728&cid=25

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According to the images available, Project 21631 small-size missile ship will be armed with 14UKSK vertical launcher for:

– 8 x Kalibr (Onyx (actually KLUB)) missiles
– 1 x 100-mm gun mount A-190M
– 1 x 30-mm gun mount AK-630M1-2 Duet
– 2 x launchers for MANPADS Gibka
– 2 x 14.5-mm and 3 x 7.62-mm machineguns.

It was previously reported that the ship would have following characteristics: length – 74.1 meters, beam – 11 meters, midship height – 6.57 meters, draft – 2.6 meters, displacement – 949 tons, speed – 25 knots.

Project of a river-sea class multipurpose ship was developed by Zelenodolsk Design Bureau, chief designer is Y.E. Kushnir. Major purpose of Project 21631 small-size missile ships is defense of national economic zone.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=10166

AFAIK, this is the first vessel to be armed with the AK-630M-2 “Duet”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfLUvQq6Bfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHk7yUzHCWI

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“Tornado” (Pr. 21632) family of littoral combat ships by Zelenodolsk Design Bureau

http://www.oborona.ru/1437/1440/index.shtml?id=5150

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P.S.: We need a “Space” sub-forum here!

Good idea.

Thank you! I was worried that the PAK-FA would have no IR reduction measures but this clearly isn’t the case. Does the AL-31F on the Su-30 variants also have ceramic lining?

I don’t think so but maybe Quadro-FX can tell us more about it.

It doesn’t say what type of bomb it is.

One of the selling points is that the upgrade enables the use of dumb bombs with greater accuracy – approaching the level of PGMs it’s claimed.

As far as I understand it, other selling points seem to be more automated functions, less man intensive maintenance, quicker preparation for a mission, better navigation equipment, wider range of weapons and so on.

……..

Came across a picture of one of the early T-6 prototypes so I guess this is the most appropriate place to post it…

One more part of the brochure for MK upgrade where an attack maneuver is described: lobbing a bomb at a target while avoiding the kill zone of various air-defences (Roland-2, Manpads and SPAAGs)

Is there any news about the flight tests of the T-50 suspended or is it going on?

It’s going on according to info on Russian forums based on spotters reports….the latest reports are about yesterday and today.

Here’s what the real thing looks like. An upgraded Su-24M

Not via Syria as long as the Iraq and Turkey control the transit routes. Leaving aside the US-forces and sensors in that area. Of cause non can prevent the Iran shipping Su-24s to Syria as long as Syria is willing to bear the political impact from that. 😎

The US wouldn’t be happy about it but can’t really stop 2 countries from exercising together in peacetime.

Hezbollah gets their supplies via Syria which is a much more serious issue from a US perspective.