The laser warning sensors are much smaller and on the wings — same as on the MiG-35.

The are going to officially announce the stretch version of the SSJ by the end of the month.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/05/24/357114/sukhoi-could-unveil-superjet-stretch-in-june.html

The first prototype composite wing for the MS-21 was delivered today for stress and aerodynamic testing so that program is moving along according to schedule right now.

The 5 engines per month thing for the SSJ has to be disappointing. Power Jet’s production problems have almost certainly cost them orders.

Again, there is no evidence Buk downed more than 1 aircraft — a high flying Tu-22 that should NEVER have been used as a recon asset in that theater

All the other kills were almost certainly by MANPAD and only 1 of them can be credited definitevely to Georgia. The other 4-5 kills were likely Russian fired MANPAD’s killing Russian flown aircraft. The lesson the Russians took home is they need a new C4I system so their infantry stops shooting down their own aircraft. The absence of IFF transponders on all those MANPAD’s is criminal.

Well, the RuAF lost 6 or 7 aircraft in the 5 day war with Georgia, out the 500 sorties or so, for the very small amount of damage caused. The coalition over Libya have yet to lose an aircraft. So, one would have to expect a very wide disparity in the quality Libya and Georgia’s AD system to explain it. Otherwise…

All but 2 of the aircraft were likely downed by friendly fire. MANPAD’s in the hands of Russian soldiers were more deadly to the Russian Air Force than anything the Georgians had. In fact, if anything the lesson from the August war is the Georgians made poor use of their SAM’s, and the Russians negated Buk for the most part by coming in at tree top level — too low for Buk to be of much use.

The Georgians also had completely modern Israeli Syders in service and they failed to make any use of them at all. They now sit as trophies in Moscow….

The poor Georgian performance probably had more to do with poor training than poor equipment though. In the hands of more skilled operators their SAM’s would probably have bloodied the Russians a lot worse.

31 series produced machines delivered. 12 series produced series Ka-52’s have been delivered too so 43 new helos in total in the past few years. Very good numbers considering even Germany only ordered 80 Tigers.

According to this:

http://www.tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/ekipazh_samoleta_a-50_otrabatyvaet_2205.html

the VVS will be getting a brand new A-50U next month. Can anyone confirm that they’ve started up production of new A-50’s for the VVS?

The Zarya sonar on the 20380’s is a new post-Soviet design, right? It’s seemingly nothing like the monster Zvezda series sonars on the Chabanenko and Neustrashimy. Anyone know whether the Yaroslav Mudry carries a Zvezda-1 or did it get something newer?