inkKusch,
for some reason those images only appear as tiny thumbnails when I click on the links – is there some way of seeing the full size images?
inkin exchange for cancellation of the Soviet debt
Thats not what I read – I heard it was in exchange for rights to gas-fields and oil-fields in Algeria.
inkMaybe they could get the An-225 to swoop by and sweep them all up in a gigantic net.
inkI like it. Also I like this business of sticking new stuff onto a design thats known and reliable. I think other countries could do more of that. Crappy name though :(.
inkAnd the 6000 or S-75s delivered to North Vietnam in the 1960s/1970s, or the thousands of SA-6/7/9s, Shilkas etc. sold to those various Arab countries engaged in trying to wipe another country ‘of the map’?
Frankly, selling large, fixed or vehicle-based air defence systems to another country’s military is hardly the same as giving man-portable missiles to an armed guerrila group.
And yet people keep harping on about the the few hundred or so ‘Stingers’ that were delivered to the Mujahadeen in the 1980s – as if it had been greatest treat to world peace ever.
Hardly the greatest threat to world peace… More like passing high-tech weapons to terrorists.
After all, the underlying reason for the success of nearly all Soviet weapon systems, be it an AK-47, SA-7, MiG-21, RPG-7 or whatever, was never so much the actual technical qualities of these weapons, so much as the fact of their widespread availability and supply to all and sundry who wanted to use them…
What you’ve written here is just rubbish so I won’t respond to it meaningfully.
inkDistiller, you’re an idiot.
Schorsch,
I liked that sentence
You’re an idiot too.
Also, Garry is right (though he doesn’t make enough of it) that the US was selling the world’s most advanced MANPADS to the Afghanis before the Soviets even had effective MANPADS developed.
As for helicopters being somehow suddenly super-vulnerable… They’re not. A few get shot down but considering the number of missions they complete successfully its an insignificant fraction… Nothing in the military is invulnerable (except, it seems, F-15s).
inkInteresting news:
VOLGOGRAD, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russian arms exports reached $6.4 billion in 2006, but are expected to total $7.5 billion in 2007, a first deputy prime minister said.
Sergei Ivanov said Monday the share of Russia’s main partners in military and technical exports, India and China, continues to fall.
“We have diversified exports in this sector – the volume is growing but the share of two key countries is falling,” Ivanov said.
India and China remain leading importers of Russian armaments, accounting for some 80% of the country’s total weapons exports. However, Russia has been looking to expand its presence on arms markets in Latin America and the Middle East, and currently supplies weapons to more than 60 countries.
He also highlighted the tenfold increase in exports of spare parts in the past four years.
Ivanov said Russia’s industrial growth reached 104% in 2006 thanks to its military industry, which grew by 110%.
He said Russia’s aircraft industry grew by 125%, its missile industry by 114%, its weapons industry by 108.7%, its ammunition and military chemistry industry by 110.7%, and shipbuilding by 84%.
Ivanov said that industrial wages grew by 21.6%, but warned against slow growth in labor productivity, calling it “disturbing.”
…And what does “slow growth in labor productivity” actually mean?
inkGreat photos! Thanks for the heads-up djnik!
inkWell spotted. Unfortunately its only mentioned as one of the ongoing projects – no further information. But at least it means that work is being carried out on it.
inkThe Serbian Politika newspaper published a news article outlining the projects that are being undertaken by the Serbia’s Military Technical Institute (Vojno Tehnicki Institut). [I can’t be bothered to translate the whole article so I’m going to paraphrase it]. Interesting things are going on; apparently the Institute has received an order for the refurbishment of Indian R-60s (air-to-air missiles) – it doesn’t say how many missiles are involved but the refurbishment will involve the correction of software problems, work on the seeker-head and a replacement of the original Russian fuel with rocket-fuel provided by a company in Serbia. The Institute will also carry refurbish Serbian airforce missile stocks for use on the MiG-29s.
The article also mentions other current projects such as work on upgrading/converting old Matlyutka anti-tank missiles to Matlyutka-2 standard (i.e. adding a precursor charge or replacing the HEAT warhead with a more flexible – probably HE – warhead). Work on the Serbian Bumbar anti-tank missile is said to be almost completed although no more is mentioned in this regard. Also, the Institute is continuing work on the M84-AB1 (T-90 type modernisation of the M84A tank), the Nora self-propelled howitzer and a series of small arms under the so-called “21st Century Soldier” project.
Here’s the article for the few Serbian speakers here – perhaps they will be willing to translate it. I really don’t have the time.
http://www.politika.co.yu/detaljno.php?nid=19636
Ремонт ракета ваздух-ваздух
Војнотехнички институт ради на пројекту усавршавања руске ракете Р 60 за Индију. Усавршавање „маљутке” и система БУБМАР
Противоклопни ракетни систем „ БУМБАР”
(Фото „Одбрана”)Војнотехнички институт из Београда поново је на путу да обнови свој некадашњи утицај. У претходном периоду стручњаци Института радили су на неколико обећавајућих пројеката који, ако се реализују, могу донети земљи знатан девизни прилив. Један од најуноснијих послова јесте ремонт ракета Р-60 руске производње за Индију. После провера код нас и у овој далекоисточној земљи установљено је да су ремонтоване ракете по квалитету једнаке оригиналу.
У питању су ракете ваздух-ваздух са инфрацрвеним самонавођењем, намењене за блиску маневарску борбу. Део су наоружања многих авиона руског порекла, па и авиона „миг-29”.Уз Југоимпорт СДПР-а, техничко руковођење овим послом поверено је Војнотехничком институту, као најкомпетентнијем за област ракетних система, у оквиру конзорцијума у коме су и Ваздухопловни завод „Мома Станојловић”, Институт за Физику, фирма ЕДПРО, Технички опитни центар и Ваздухопловни опитни центар.
– Наручилац је тражио, у оквиру ремонта, и отклањање системске грешке коју је уочио у току експлоатације ракете. Стручњаци „Моме Станојловића” тај проблем су успешно решили. Технолошки значајни резултати, са ширим импликацијама, јесу и високозахтевно ракетно гориво, што је реализовала фирма ЕДПРО, a које је успешно заменило оригинално руско гориво, као и технолошки врло осетљива замена инфрацрвеног детектора у глави за самонавођење коју је, по технологији ВТИ, реализовао Институт за физику.
To отвара могућности ремонта и других ваздухопловних ракета руског порекла што је добра пословна и технолошка шанса за српски војноиндустријски комплекс – каже пуковник Драги Димитријевић.
Инжењер Ненад Цакић, један од чланова тима, каже да је то по обиму ангажованих фирми и сложености технологија то био посао првог ранга.
– Да је још таквих послова, било би то добро за нашу војну индустрију. За нас је било занимљиво да видимо да ли ће техничко решење бити исплативо. Показало се врло исплативим, јер се упола цене добије ракета која има ресурсе као и нова ракета – каже Цакић.
Покренут је и поступак ремонта ракета за „миг 29” у чему такође учествује Војнотехнички институт.
Наша земља има вишедеценијско искуство у ремонту противоклопних ракета. Противоклопна ракета „маљутка”, руског порекла, најраспрострањенија је противоклопна ракета и део наоружања многих армија света. Иако више десетина година стара, као изузетно успешно техничко решење, може да буде још дуго актуелна уз услов да јој се прошири и повећа убојна моћ.
Војнотехнички институт сада развија две варијанте побољшане „маљутке” – прва варијанта је „маљутка-2Т” с тандем бојевом главом способна да уништи и најсавременије тенкове са активно-реактивним оклопом.
Друга варијанта је „маљутка-2Ф” с фугасном бојевом главом способном да уништи шири дијапазон циљева, посебно погодна за противтерористичка дејства.
Иначе, у свету је актуелно усавршавање старијих система противоклопних ракета, па би успешно освајање ових технологија на пројекту „маљутка-2” могло да отвори и шансе за учешће у таквим пројектима.
Треба додати и да је ракетни систем БУМБАР у завршној фази развоја, а освојене технологије отварају могућност учешћа у међународним пројектима усавршавања постојећих противоклопних ракетних система.
Ради се и на усавршавању тенка М-84 у варијанту М-84АБ1 са знатно побољшаним карактеристикама. Она има већу убојну моћ и променљиву борбену главу која може бити кумулативна, за потребе наше армије, а као алтернатива користи се фугасна бојева глава. Овако побољшана може постати и извозни артикал.
Од осталих пројеката наведимо пројекат авиона за обуку под називом „ласта”, ради се и хаубица 152 милиметара „нора” с повећаним дометом и ауторизованим пуњењем што је тренд у свету, ради се стрељачки програм, пушка с бацачем бомби, која је у склопу програма „Војник за 21. век”.
Д. Стевановић
inkWait 10 years and see if USA are still in Afganistan
NATO (i.e. UK troops) has already taken over most of the fighting anyway right?
inkIs the military heliocopter dead?
No.
inkMore on Russia and India:
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Viktor Litovkin) – On January 22, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov arrived in Bangalore on his seventh visit to India.
That same day, high-level managers from the MiG Russian Aircraft Corporation demonstrated the multi-purpose Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29KUB Fulcrum carrier-based fighter to Indian military experts at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in the town of Zhukovsky, outside Moscow.
This warplane, now undergoing flight tests, was developed especially for the Indian navy’s aircraft carrier “Vikramaditya,” formerly called the “Admiral Gorshkov,” which was sold to India several years ago and is currently being upgraded at the Sevmash machine-building plant in Severodvinsk.
In all, the Indian navy is to receive 16 carrier-based fighters, including 12 single-seat MiG-29K warplanes and four two-seat MiG-29KUB fighter-trainers. Moreover, Russia would produce another 30 MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB aircraft if New Delhi confirms this order.
MiG is now completing two MiG-29Ks for subsequent certification tests and has launched production of 16 other similar warplanes at its plant in Lukhovitsy. This co-production arrangement involves several companies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan, as well as a number of French, Indian and Israeli firms.
The MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB stole the show in Zhukovsky and thrilled members of India’s military establishment, TV crews and journalists.
The Indian side is quite happy about the Russian warplanes its air force and navy are receiving under bilateral contracts.
“We have known about the top-class MiG warplanes for a long time, but the MiG-29KUB that was developed by Russia and India is even better,” said Cdr. Jasvinder Chauhan, India’s Air Force attache in Moscow.
This is no exaggeration because Indian experts helped develop this fighter along with MiG engineers and designers, listing all the required specifications. MiG held up its part of the bargain, coming up with an advanced aircraft whose specifications are probably better than those of any similar warplane.
Indian experts helped integrate foreign computers into the MiG-29KUB’s avionics, took part in developing aircraft simulators and also chose its weaponry. Nikolai Buntin, who supervised the MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB project, said Russia’s air force and navy still lack any similar aircraft.
This is an important feature of Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation. Moscow supplies only the most sophisticated military equipment to New Delhi and actively involves Indian experts in research and production projects. It also sells production licenses enabling India to assemble T-90S main battle tanks, Sukhoi Su-30MKI multi-role fighters and other weapons at its own companies.
BrahMos, a well-known Russian-Indian joint venture, turns out its eponymous supersonic anti-ship missiles for the Indian navy, air force and coastal-defense units.
Moscow and New Delhi have signed defense contracts worth $9 billion to date. Last year, Russian arms sales to India accounted for about 40% of its total arms exports of $5.2 billion.
Nevertheless, Sergei Ivanov has brought new proposals for the joint production of military equipment. For instance, Moscow has suggested making RD-33MK power plants for MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB warplanes at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. companies under a Russian license.
The Russian side would first like to supply the first 20 ready-made power plants. India, due to receive RD-33MK kits, will subsequently mass-produce their main units and components. In all, over 80 power plants worth $300 million will be assembled.
This is a very attractive offer because New Delhi plans to upgrade its operational MiG-29 fighters with RD-29 power plants, i.e. the initial RD-33MK version.
The RD-33MK has already been overhauled three times, and its rated power has increased twofold as a result. This more fuel-efficient power plant has cut hourly operational costs by 2.5 times. Moreover, its service life has been doubled. The Indian air force can therefore use the inexpensive and cost-effective RD-33MK to upgrade previously supplied planes.
The Russian and American press has repeatedly reported that India’s old MiG-21 Fishbed fighters-interceptors, now featuring Russian-made Kopye (Spear) radars, defeated the more advanced and powerful U.S. Air Force F-16 warplanes in a mock dogfight.
The Indian air force has about 100 MiG-29 fighters, as well as 135 MiG-27 Flogger aircraft that can also be fitted with RD-33MK power plants.
On January 18, the Indian government approved the RD-33MK production contract, which can be signed by Sergei Ivanov or Russian President Vladimir Putin, due to arrive in New Delhi later this week.
However, this contract has another important aspect. The MiG-35 Fulcrum new-generation multi-purpose fighter, now taking part in the Indian air force’s tender for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program, will have the same RD-33MK power plant.
The MiG-35 is vying against the SAAB JAS-39 Gripen fighter and France’s Mirage-2000 warplane. The Indian air force, which plans to acquire 126 multi-role fighters, will save money if it opts for the MiG-35, because production of RD-33MK power plants will be located in India. This option would be cheaper than purchasing Boeing or Lockheed-Martin aircraft.
The Indian government’s commission on tenders will make the final decision. However, Indian experts and top military leaders will be able to see two fighters with RD-33MK power plants – the MiG-29MOVT with a vectored-thrust engine and the MiG-35 – at the Air India-2007 show, due to open in Bangalore in early February.
Russia’s best aircraft are now flying to India.
inkGarry,
Interesting stuff! But could you please find a way of attaching the original photo – this way its really too blurry to make anything out properly.
inkWith the advent of the railgun on the next class of destroyer, the need for new tactical aircraft is dwindling. We’re reaching the point where many of the tasks done by the air force can continue to be neglected, far better technology is already replacing their need.
I don’t understand I’m afraid. How does a railgun replace an airforce?
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