inkMiG does not really look like disappearing any time soon. They are limping along quite nicely thanks to a recent increase in export orders. Although they may well be swallowed up by some sort of unified aircraft corporation if the Russian government sees fit… Not that Sukhoi will be too pleased about that either.
inkObviously there will be no war between Russia and Georgia but the Russians have to stay involved. If there is further unrest in South Ossetia and Abkhazia (apologies for incorrect spelling) the Russians have to show that they can maintain order – i.e. more peace-keeping/peace-making troops or that sort of thing.
inkIs that a wing re-design I spy? That could be quite handy.
Otherwise the upgrade just seems unnecessary. Replacing the entire cockpit section could be quite expensive and I’m not entirely convinced that the weight saving is worth it. Besides that, its ugly as hell. And not in a good way*.
* Of course attack helicopters should be ugly – but this one doesn’t look menacing – just looks a bit like a dopey, deformed flying giraffe or something.
inkWhat was that saying, “Time goes by but style never goes out of fashion”… Or something like that. I think the same goes for war; times may change but that one thing will always be in fashion.
inkRelevant to the RuAF methinks:
TULA, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – The United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) is likely to be registered by the end of September 2006, the head of the Russian Federal Industry Agency said Wednesday.
“I think the UABC will be registered before the end of September,” Boris Alyoshin said.
President Vladimir Putin signed a resolution February 21 on forming the UABC. The Kremlin said the purpose of the corporation will be to “to maintain the scientific-industrial potential of Russia’s aircraft manufacturing complex, and to ensure the country’s security and defense capabilities.”
In signing the resolution, the president approved a government proposal stipulating that the state would own at least 75% of the corporation’s equity.
The UABC will be a majority state-owned corporation, consolidating aircraft building companies and state assets engaged in the manufacture, design and sale of military, non-military, transport and unmanned aircraft.
State-owned fighter jet producer MiG, as well as aviation companies Sukhoi, Tupolev, and Ilyushin will be integrated into the UABC.
The corporation’s assets are expected to be fully formed in the first quarter of 2007, and its shares will be issued on foreign markets in 2007-2008.
inkA bundle of fun news from RIA Novosti:
MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will sell Uzbekistan arms and military hardware at domestic prices after it completes legal formalities to join a post-Soviet security grouping, the defense minister said Wednesday.
Uzbekistan was readmitted to the Collective Security Treaty Organization in mid-August. Once a CSTO member, the Central Asian nation withdrew from the organization, seen by many as a counterbalance to growing NATO influence in the region, in 1999 along with Azerbaijan and Georgia.
“As soon as Uzbekistan has completed the legal procedure for joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization, our laws on supplies of Russian arms and military equipment at domestic prices will automatically extend to it,” said Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister.
He said bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan was advancing not only in combat training but also in the military-technical sphere, adding Uzbek servicemen had been studying at Russian colleges free of charge since last year.
The CSTO, set up in October 2002, comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
TULA, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – The manufacturer of the Pantsir air defense system has an export portfolio worth a total of $2.6 billion, the company CEO said Wednesday.
Pantsir was developed by the Tula KBP as an upgrade to the Tunguska surface-to-air missile system, offering an extended engagement capability, such as the use of both guns and missiles on the move (Tunguska can use only guns), on the tracked system.
“We have an R&D program through 2011,” Arkady Shipunov said. “In the past few years, we have entered the world market with a new product, the Pantsir air defense system. We have concluded $2.6 billion worth of contracts for the delivery of this system.”
He said the company could expand its export deliveries at an annual rate of 20-25% in the foreseeable future, adding that current export growth was at 15% per annum.
Established in 1927, the KBP is one of Russia’s leading defense systems designers. It has developed more than 130 models of arms and military equipment that have been adopted for service in the Russian Armed Forces.
MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is open to proposals for Venezuela to buy a new batch of helicopters, a defense ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.
Russia and Venezuela are holding consultations on a new supply of helicopters to the Latin American country, and direct proposals have yet to be made. Venezuela has already bought 15 Mi helicopters, which will be assembled by December.
“Russia is ready to consider a proposal from Venezuela on the purchase of Mi helicopters, if it is made,” the source said.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Raul Isaias Baduel said Tuesday the country was considering the purchase of an additional 55 helicopters, comprising the Mi-17 Hip H multi-purpose helicopter, the Mi-35 Hind attack helicopter, and the Mi-26 Halo transport helicopter.
inkFor me the Yak-130s are the more significant purchase. Sukhoi has been doing okay recently as far as orders go and even MiG are selling more and more planes – Yakovlev haven’t sold anything for quite some time and its about time that they did. Also, its unusual for a country to buy aircraft that aren’t in service with any other country – well done to Algeria for being brave enough to do so.
inkThanks Ken. Those photos are priceless.
inkGee, what could China possibly want those for I wonder?
I’m a bit curious about these Zubr landing craft. They probably cost a whole lot more than conventional landing ships (that China could build domestically – thereby recycling the cash) and, apart from speed, I can’t see any other serious advantage. Certainly not one important enough to splash all that money on.
inkMore details of Russian exports to Algeria (as posted by somebody over on tanknet):
On 10 March 2006, during a short visit to Algeria, President Putin signed a set of contracts for the transfer of several weapons systems to Algeria. Information disclosed to the public regarding the portfolio is far from complete, though the aviation contract is relatively clear. For $3.5 bln, Russia is to sell 28 Su-30MKA fighters ($1.5 bln), 28 MiG-29SMT and 6 MiG-29UBT fighters ($1.8 bln, of which up to $300 mln will go back to purchase 36 Algerian MiG-29 as a trade-in), and 16 Yak-130 trainers ($200 mln).
The delivery of Su-30MKA fighters should begin in 2007 and continue for three years. The most likely schedule is for eight fighters to be transferred in 2007, ten in 2008 and another ten in 2009. The Algerian version of the Su-30 will be based on the Indian Su-30MKI version, but with Russian rather than Israeli-made systems, which for the Su-30MKI include head-up displays, digital map generators and overhead laser target indicators.
Deliveries of MiG-29 fighters are set to begin in 2006, including three MiG-29UBT two-seat planes. The transfer of the first batch of Yak-130 trainers is planned for 2008, by which time the aircraft should be fully certified by the Russian Air Force. A second production line is being set up at the Irkut plant to assemble the Algerian Yak-130, while the Nizhniy Novgorod line of aircraft will be used by the Russian Air Force.
Aside from a large purchase of aviation equipment Algeria will also receive many air-defence weapons and armaments for its land forces: eight battalions of S-300PMU-2 Favorit (SA-20) SAM systems, probably for $1 bln, and 300 T-90S main battle tanks for another $1 bln, with the first 40 tanks to be delivered this year.
Aside from these systems, Algeria intends to upgrade its current fleet of T-72S main battle tanks, and to purchase Metis-M1 (AT-13) and Kornet-E (AT-14) anti-tank missile systems, two Project 636 improved Kilo class submarines with Club-S (SS-N-27) missile systems, and Tunguska-M1 (SA-19) self-propelled anti-aircraft gun-missile systems. A range of ships and submarines are to be repaired, and while the content of the options is not known, it is likely that 12-20 MiG-29SMT fighters and 14-16 Yak-130 trainers will be purchased.
ink$15.43 Billion (2005), according to wikipedia, although I suspect it’s grown coupla billions during the last year…
I would expect the foreign debt to have remained the same or to have been reduced by a small margain as Serbia has enjoyed a budget surplus over the last year or so.
inkCan someone tell me how big is Serbia’s Debt and how much is debt’s of countries like Iraq that owe Serbia money.
The Serbian Ministry of Finance probably has a website and its probably possible to find some information on it about the foreign debt status of Serbia. If not, its a good place to start.
inkAbsolutely not. China does not put bases in other countries. Not least of the reasons why is to keep the US from complaining of a Chinese “threat.”
Personally I don’t see why they wouldn’t. If indeed India does have FULCRUMs and whatnot deployed in the region I’ve heard precious little US complaints of an “Indian threat”. And Russia does have all kinds of things deployed there and nobody is bringing back the old “the Russians are coming!” nonsense. As for it being a first, heck, I don’t think that India has a whole lot of ‘foreign’ bases but it hasn’t stopped them… Who’s to say things don’t change?
The idea that Tajkistan is willing to allow itself to operate as a base for a marginal player outside of the US or Russia and open itself to a retaliatory attack from third parties is rather ludicrous. There is no gain in it for Tajikistan. The Tajik government itself had denied any base in their country other than that from Russia.
Actually there is something in it for host nations. The US is paying 150 million USD a year for one of its bases there – I’ll look up which country its in.
inkI read about these central Asian bases once again in Politika today (really can’t be bothered to provide a translation of the article – sorry) and I am still amazed that the presence of four* of the world’s most emminent powers are basing troops and equipment in, strategically speaking, such a small space without anyone paying much attention.
Also, I’m curious about the type of units that are deployed in this region in the varrious bases. Even a vague assesment of the type of units involved would be most welcome.
As far as I know, thus far, the Russians are mostly deploying fighters such as FLANKERs and (again) Politika reports that India has FULCRUMs stationed at a base in the region also. Now, considering the fact that the outside powers have so far explained their presence as being primarily of an anti-terrorist nature the make-up of the forces deployed seems a little strange. Correct me if I’m wrong (although I’m not 😎 ) but aren’t FLANKERs and FULCRUMs a bit, well, rubbish at fighting terrorists? Surely tanks and troops and APCs and so on are better suited to taking on your average terrorist threat than super-sonic fighters**?
Any idea what kind of units the US is deploying? Obviously I’m not so curious about Afghanistan – more interested in their bases in the other ‘stans (apologies to any sensetive members from there-abouts but I’m really miserably informed about the region’s political geography).
* Politika reports that China is making moves to open a base in some former-Soviet ‘stan.
** With, I might add, no air-to-ground capability beyond dropping unguided bombs here and there.
inkFrankly this new Iranian fighter seems pretty handy if you ask me – or at least it has the potential to be.
To argue this I’m going to make a handful of assumptions which, to me at any rate, seem reasonable.
The Iranians need this aircraft primarily as a short-range interceptor to defend Iranian airspace both during peacetime and wartime. If true then its short legs won’t present so much of a disadvantage and it could still prove to be a tricky opponent in a dogfight (que anecdotes of US instructors using F-5s to tear apart Eagles and Hornets in pacy knife-fights). Also, it seems almost a given that its cheaper to send up a few pseudo-F-5s than F-14s or FULCRUMs to investigate peace-time incursions.
In the interceptor role the Saeghe could operate under close guidence by ground based controllers and its lack of radar range might not pose such a disadvantage. Sure, it can’t guide missiles at long ranges but then clever tactics might make up for that.
Also, the new airframe could be significantly lighter and more spacious (inside) than an original F-5s airframe, allowing for more fuel or electronics and, perhaps, better performance. With the right avionics it could prove more than useful. Sure it isn’t an F-15 but then it doesn’t need to be, it just needs to sprint to altitude and make a mess of somebody’s attack plans (whilst inegrating with ground radars and SAMs and other types) – I think its capable of doing that.
It comes with the added advantage of being locally produced; so that money spent on its development and procurement stays in Iran and they’re not at the mercy of international sanctions and trade embargos.
NB, I still think the Iranians should buy FLANKERs or similar.
NB II, I don’t think that the Russians are going to be able to sell FLANKERs to Iran even if they wanted them, the political situation has cooked up far too much now. Maybe if things quieten down in a year or two… as if thats likely.
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