VVS Russian Air Force: News #1

KomissarBojanchev wrote:Ive read in an aviation magazine that due to slow negotiations with the ukrainians the An-140 wont start to enter production until after 2020. Is this true?

Viktor wrote: If we count:

PAK-FA - 60
Su-34 - 124
Su-30SM - 60
Su-35 - 48+48 possibly more
Mig-35 - 48
Mig-29K - 24
YAK-130 - 150 (my prediction - I think we should count it as a light fighter rather than in transport group )
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That are known or to be known orders = 570 fighters.

eridan wrote:Well i certainly put my yak130 numbers in trainers, as that is going to be its primary role. Lets even run with your numbers here, even though additional mig35 and su35 haven't been ordered yet. I will round it up to 400 fighters.

eridan wrote:Then yak130, il476 in transport role, plus tanker plus perhaps a few of a-100 near the end of the decade. Various other special mission airplanes which are being ordered perhaps half a dozen per year. Times 8 remaining years until 2020 that's all, realistically around 300 planes. Actually the first time i said 400 in this category but now I can't figure out how to get over 300.

eridan wrote:Helicopters - well, I saw list of some 50 pieces delivered in 2011 and close to 80 being delivered in 2012. (yes, overall production per year of ALL plants goes over 100, but that is for various other customers as well, not just russian armed forces). So there is 8 more years for that production to escalate. Looking at the current fleet of helos that need to be replaced there is really even no need to go over 1000 helos within 8 years. 100 in 2013, 120 in 2014, 160 in 2016, 200 in 2018 does that sound realistic? Not to me. Such continuous escalation wouldn't make economic sense. What happens once the orders are fulfilled? Production drops to 20% of final levels? That'd make the whole process much, much more expensive. Russian armed forces are in no dire need to overpay their helicopters so much. So, realistically, 800, maybe 1000 helicopters in 8 years.

eridan wrote:The rest, i think, is going to be modernization of existing planes. There's easely a couple of hundred of aircraft in that.

Russia is preparing to allocate about 5 trillion rubles ($163 billion), or a quarter of its rearmament program this decade, to modernize combat aviation units, President Vladimir Putin said.

The country plans to purchase about 2,000 planes and helicopters to bring the share of the latest weaponry to 70 percent of the total, up from 20 percent right now, Putin said at a government meeting in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk today.

Russia's plan to upgrade the military this decade comprises the largest rearmament program since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

"We have to completely re-equip our combat aviation," Putin said. "Our equipment should be better than foreign equivalents."

So, reporetedly, 250+ helos were manufactured in Russia in 2011 and 300+ in 2012? Okay, who were those helicopters sold to? It shouldn't be so hard to make up a list of how many helos went to whom, should it?

Forecast of the main events in the Russian and Ukrainian aircraft industry in 2013


Strategic management and guidance
In 2013, we expect the first flight of the new aircraft AWACS Beriev A-100 - a prototype aircraft is currently under construction at Beria plant in Taganrog. The aircraft is the conversion of the A-50 series. A-100 is equipped with a completely new core electronic system built around a radar with active vertical scanning and mechanical - on the horizon (radome antenna rotates on its axis.) The size and method of installation on two pylons is similar A-50.

Serial A-100 will be issued on the basis of transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A (also known as "product 476"). The first copy of "476-th" first flew in Ulyanovsk, September 22, 2012 The aircraft is powered by four turbojet engines PS-90A-76, and a completely new avionics, as well as a change in the design, including a new wing at 2.7 tons lighter than its predecessor. In 2013, two Il-76MD-90A, intended for testing, should make its first flight.

Recently, the Russian Air Force ordered 39 Il-76MD-90A for a total of about 140 billion rubles, deliveries to begin in 2014

Il-76MD-90A will be the basis for several types of special-purpose aircraft, which, along with the A-100 is also being developed in KB Beriev. In the building is a prototype electronic warfare aircraft A-90, but based on the conventional IL-76, not modify, the MD-90A. The first flight could also take place in the current year.

Beria also launched the next stage of the laser airborne A-60. The first prototype flew in 1981, and tests laser gun began two years later. Initially, the task A-60 was to destroy reconnaissance balloons, the aircraft was equipped with a radar sighting "Ladoga", set in the drop-shaped radome in the nose of the aircraft. The laser gun was mounted in the cargo bay, and the beam was directed to the target by a system of mirrors. In summer 2003, testing of the A-60 have resumed, but the goal was a "blinding" enemy satellites. State test A-60 successfully completed in 2009, and the Bureau Beriev is currently in development of advanced laser-based systems, "476-th."



Return of the "Mystery"

Since 1996, the only instance of flying high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft M-55 (M-17RM) "Mystic» RA-55204 regularly participates in international scientific studies on the state of the atmosphere around the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

In 2013, the operation of the M-55 will continue, but for the first time in a long time by the Russian Ministry of Defence. The aircraft will serve as a platform for testing control systems of three large UAVs, ordered by the Ministry of Defense, "pacer", "Altius" and "Hunter." "Pacer" is a mid-range UAVs weighing up to 1 ton, similar to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator. "Altius" will weigh five tons and will be close to the MQ-9 Reaper. The biggest "Hunter" is a severe shock UAVs.



The first PAK FA Akhtubinsk

In the Russian Air Force tactical aircraft continue testing fighter T-50 and Su-35, in the middle of November 2012 three prototype T-50 took part in the trials. T-50-4 (fourth prototype) must adhere to the testing program. According to head of the KLA Mikhail Pogosyan, the fifth prototype T-50-5 should fly soon. This aircraft will install the full set of electronic equipment: SH121 radar, radar N036 and airborne defense L403 and optoelectronic system 101KS. According to the General Director of the Corporation "Tactical Missiles" Boris Obnosova, development of new weapons for the PAK FA is on schedule, and the first missile launches from the T-50 "soon" will be held. In an earlier statement, Mikhail Pogosyan claimed that "in 2013, will begin joint testing with the Ministry of Defence." This means that the T-50 will be transferred to the Testing Center of the Ministry of Defence in Akhtubinsk.

At the end of December 2012 had to be signed contract between Russia and India in the next stage of development of a fifth generation fighter FGFA based on the PAK FA. In 2010, the two sides signed a contract worth $ 295 million for preliminary design of FGFA. Under the terms of the new contract should be drawn up technical design of the new fighter, and is believed to be the three prototypes to be built in India.

New orders for MiG-35

In 2013, the RAC "MiG" should begin to enter into annual contracts packages to the new MiG-35 of the Russian Air Force, for the first time in many years.

The first of the 24 ships of the MiG-29K, the one ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defense, will be delivered in the coming months.

In accordance with the state armament program for the period up to 2020, the Russian Air Force purchased 40 MiG-35, the first deliveries expected to begin in 2014, the total number of contracted aircraft will depend on the price, which will be able to come to terms. Usually, the Russian Air Force ordered the maximum number of aircraft in accordance with the available budget, and the rest is written in the option.

The final configuration of the aircraft is still unclear. Under current requirements, the aircraft will be equipped with radar "Zhuk-M" with a mechanical antenna as a cheaper and is in series production version. However, the installation of the radar "Zhuk-A" AFAR also being considered. This system is interested in China. If China will order a "Bug-A" for its fighters, by the same token it would be possible to complete the development of, and radar cheaper for Russian Air Force.

110-seat Superjet

Russian civil aircraft is in a long-term crisis, and there is no indication that the situation has improved significantly in 2013, 95-seat aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100 partially exploited, and it is slowly increasing production. Ambitious MS-21 by 150-180 passenger is under development and is supported by large public investments. But his first flight will take place no earlier than 2016

The only program that will be implemented in 2013, may be the official start of the development of the 110 local modifications Superjet. This aircraft was the sudden decision of dry, because not so long ago its representatives claimed that will be developed by the 130-seater. But in November, Mikhail Pogosyan said that was selected 110 local modification, since in contrast to the 130-seat, it allows the use of existing technology Superjet, and no need to develop a new composite wing.

Ukraine: The Beginning of the Antonov An-178

SE "Antonov" is currently in the conversion of the old An-2 in a new version of the An-2-100, equipped with a turboprop engine. The first flight of the new aircraft will take place at the beginning of 2013 was a program used to modernize the An-2, and equipping it with turboprop engine HPT-20 with an index of An-3. Numerous other improvements have been rejected because of the price of more than $ 2 million, and for more than 10 years of conversion was only 20 aircraft.

The new program of An-2-100 involves the installation of Ukrainian Motor MS-14 production of JSC "Motor Sich", the cost per aircraft will be 900 thousand dollars

But remotorizatsiya An-2 is not a priority for the Antonov Design Bureau, as all the power left to develop a new medium military transport aircraft An-178, capable of carrying 15 tons of cargo to a range of 2,000 km. AN-178 will be based on passenger aircraft An-158, taking away most of the systems and the wing. However turbojet engines D-436-148 with the FADEC will be boosted. The fuselage of the An-178 will also be a completely new design, differing availability of rear ramp. Assembly of the first prototype will begin in 2013, the first flight is scheduled for 2014




LINK

Honestly given how GOS is changed every 5 years I would just limit myself to guessing the numbers by 2015. Current contracts will be finished (or will be missed!) by then, and will give good idea of priorities for next 5 years.

GarryB wrote:
Official published information is easy...

Go here: http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php


Note these are exported aircraft ONLY and does not include aircraft bought by the Russian military or government departments.

But still, it's the best resource i've seen so far. I managed to count around 110 helicopters delivered in 2011, up to 140 if one includes the second hand refurbished ones.

That would imply russian non-military customers got delivered some 90 or so helicopters in 2011.

Some food for thought on SAP 2020 and why it might get revised.

eridan wrote:but do we have a list of domestic deliveries? So we don't have to guess? I mean, it's not a state secret, we are not talking about military deliveries. There should be resources that have such info - which private entity bought how many helos, how many went to the police, how many for civilian rescue and medical service etc etc. But western helicopters seem to hold most of the market there. mi8/17 family is too big to be used by new non-military operators most of the time. ka-62 and ansat are too now, they haven't been delivered in 2011. That pretty much leaves ka-226 as the most prospectful platform for domestic, non-military customers. But as far as i could google, since its entry into service, perhaps several dozens have been sold in these ten or so years. We really need a source with a detailed list.

I mean, it's not a state secret, we are not talking about military deliveries.

The armed forces and the military industrial complex must listen to each other and keep their sights on the future, rather than the existing weaponry, Vladimir Putin told a meeting dedicated to the development of combat aviation at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant.
“History will not provide us with another opportunity to accomplish, within the required time-frame, with the necessary quality, and while the money is available, the large-scale tasks that face our country in the area of securing its ability to defend itself,” Putin warned.
The president reminded those in attendance that combat aviation would have to be almost entirely overhauled. “The characteristics of new equipment must exceed the world’s best offerings,” he said. “If we choose today’s equipment as something to aspire to, then tomorrow we will fall behind, and tonight we will have to think about re-equipping again,” the president said, painting a grim picture. “It is necessary to think forward, at least several steps ahead,” he explained.


Deliveries of modern aviation equipment to the armed forces have already started, Putin said, adding that he meant the deliveries of serially manufactured products. He recalled that 25 percent of financing for state defence orders, worth 5 trillion roubles, would be spent on rearming the Air Force. “The plan is to purchase almost 2000 aircraft and helicopters,” he said. This should help increase the share of modern aviation equipment in the Armed Forces to 70 percent by 2020. “Unfortunately, it currently stands at around 20 percent,” the president commented.
Companies in the arms industry must also undergo a deep technological retooling. Putin is confident that increasing output while simultaneously revamping production facilities is a difficult but totally feasible task. The Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant is a good example of this. “If they can do this, then others can too,” Putin said.

The president proposed discussing maintenance too, because it determines the equipment’s combat capabilities, service life and flight safety. He believes that maintenance obligations should be included in existing equipment supply contracts for the entire service lives of aircraft and helicopters.
Putin inspected the Novosibirsk Chkalov Aircraft Plant factory where the multirole Sukhoi-34 bomber is assembled. According to United Aircraft Building Corporation head Mikhail Pogosyan, six out of 14 planes scheduled for delivery this year are undergoing final assembly. Deliveries will start in May this year.

According to a plant spokesman, contracts for the delivery of more than 100 aircraft through 2020 have been signed. Serial production has shaved 250 million roubles off the price of each Sukhoi-34, which cost more than one billion roubles apiece.


What equipment we are expecting
The implementation of the state armament programme will help accomplish a large-scale and quality re-equipment of Russia’s Air Force with new-generation technology by 2020.

Bombers
Two fully fledged Sukhoi-34 bomber squadrons have already been formed. This plane is different from all of its global peers in that it combines perfectly the capabilities of an assault frontline bomber, a long-range interceptor and a heavy fighter on par with the Sukhoi-27 in terms of manoeuvrability.

Fighters
Deliveries of the Sukhoi-35 fighters, whose characteristics put them very close to fifth-generation aircraft, have started.
The Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK FA), code-named T-50, is successfully nearing the completion of certification tests. The Air Force will receive the first batches of a fully fledged Russian-made fifth-generation fighter by 2020.

Carrier-based aircraft, military cargo planes and helicopters
The Russian Ministry of Defence has signed contracts for the purchase of the Sukhoi-34 and Sukhoi-35 jets, as well as for the newest carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB, the Il-476 airlifter, the Yak-130 advanced jet trainer, the Mi-28N and the Ka-52 helicopters, and other aviation equipment.

The Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ is joining the Armed Forces together with the Mi-24N. The Ka-52 is the world’s only combat helicopter with an active system of defence against portable Stinger-type anti-aircraft missiles and a catapult and parachute crew rescue system. A carrier-based version of this machine is reportedly getting ready for production and will be used at Russia’s Mistral helicopter carriers.
Aircraft weapon engineers are finishing the development of new-generation missiles capable of efficiently destroying all kinds of airborne, surface and floating targets.

Austin wrote:I have latest issue of AFM which has a good 12 page article on Russian Airforce will scan the entire stuff and put it up this week