One more BM….94 Blue

592 Blue before the upgrade (see above for comparison)

The “Sokol” aviation plant in Nizhnij Novgorod carries out the upgrade.

As far as numbers go according to the last report, the Rus-AF plans to keep 9 squadrons of Mig-31BMs (by 2020)….the rest will presumably be slowly retired.

Kilo class submarine B-871 ‘Alrosa’ is on sea trials after overhaul.

(in Russian)
http://vpk.name/news/42509_podvodnaya_lodka_alrosa_vyishla_na_hodovyie_ispyitaniya_posle_remonta.html

At the end of the report it mentions the armament of the sub as 18 torpedoes and a number of ‘Igla’ Manpads (which is news to me)

Rare footage of the Su-15 in the video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p10wosMaJIs

Hardly #42 as it is the T10V-1, the first conceptual prototype (Su-27IB) of later Su-34, pretty far away from the series configuration. I don’t think it has ever carried a radar or weapon systems and its cockpit was just assembled from Su-27 bits, leaving the operators instrument panel almost completely empty. You would not seriously send a thing like that into combat 🙂

It was one of the pre-serial aircraft. I’ll see if I can find which one exactly.

I’m more interested in what the Russians hope to gain from this. They’re paying exhorbitant amounts of money to maintain a fleet they can’t afford. Most of the Black Sea Fleet’s ships will be retiring in the coming decade and the construction rate for new vessels is hardly enough to replace them, even if we disregard the other fleets. In my opinion the Russian Navy should have taken this opportunity to cut their losses and downsize by retiring the Black Sea Fleet by 2017(when the ships themselves retire).

The Black Sea Fleet isn’t going anywhere soon for several reasons.

– First and foremost for historical / nationalist reasons
– Economic reasons (current and planned Oil and Gas pipelines in the area)
– Proximity and access to the Mediterranean
– Presence in the Ukraine and proximity to the Caucasus and Balkans (areas of interest for Russia)

Border dispute resolved.

Disputes are normal between countries, nothing wrong with talking. Seems like people see business disputes such as su 27 series and build it up, like it is sign of future war.

I agree.

China will exert it’s influence over the Eastern Russia economically not via military means. In fact, Russia’s politicians have been slow to take advantage of the economic opportunities that China offers. They’re stuck (like some Russian members here) in the obsolete Euro-Centric point of view and only recently have the politicians slowly started to change their stance.

Regarding the Far East, even a Sino-Indian war IMO is not likely despite all the rhethoric and posturing.

Russia having good relations with both could probably play a role in difussing tensions between them and has tried in the past to bring them closer together via various regional and tri lateral associations.

………………

the latest news…

Russian Air Force to buy over 60 fifth-generation fighters
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100713/159797767.html

2004-2005:

thanks to flateric

Thanks for posting this.

It would suggest that they considered a conventional S-duct but have decided against it??

Also, according to the drawing the Pak Fa carries 6 MR missiles (2 x 3).