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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 12, 2010 7:35:54 GMT -5
Vid! www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQrmXYVwcfw----- Russian 5th-generation fighter makes 2nd flight. Russia's prototype fifth-generation fighter has made a second test flight in the Far East, a Defense Ministry official told RIA Novosti on Friday. "Russian specialists have been carefully monitoring the U.S. F-22 Raptor, so we can compare the newest Russian fighter with it," the official said, adding that the plane had "a very bright future." After a number of test flights in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the aircraft will be transported to the Zhukovsky airbase near Moscow for final testing. A prototype of the fighter made a 47-minute maiden flight in Russia's Far East on January 29. Russia has been developing its newest fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype, known as the T-50, was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Russian officials have already hailed the fighter as "a unique warplane" that combines the capabilities of an air superiority fighter and attack aircraft. Earlier this week, Russia's Air Force chief said the first batch of fifth-generation fighters would go into service in 2015. MOSCOW, February 12 (RIA Novosti) |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 19, 2010 5:56:04 GMT -5
The T-50's specifications and performance compared to the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor (bear in mind, there is really no official info, just assumptions).  |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 23, 2010 8:15:34 GMT -5
India confirms order of 29 more MiG-29Ks for the navy - news.
Domain-B ^ | 2/23/2010 | Domain-B
Panaji, Goa: Indian defence minister AK Antony has confirmed that India will indeed order an additional 29 MiG-29K combat jets for the Indian Navy over and above the initial order placed for 16 such fighters.
"As per the navy's requirements we will be buying 29 additional fighter aircraft from Russia," Antony told reporters after formally inducting the navy's first four MiG-29Ks.
He, however, did mention any time frame for the supply of the fresh batch.
The induction ceremony was held at the navy's shore-based establishment at Dabolim, INS Hansa, and was marked by a spectacular fly past performed by the newly inducted fighter aircraft.
Antony along with the chief of the Indian naval staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, and several other dignitaries from India and Russia were present on the occasion.
It is being given to understand that the four jets inducted Friday will soon be joined by another two that are currently undergoing tests. Ten more will be received over the coming months.
The aircraft are being brought in from Russia as dismantled kits and being assembled by Russian technicians.
Due to operate from the Adm Gorshkov (to be inducted as INS Vikramaditya in the Indian Navy) aircraft carrier, these naval variants of the Mig-29 'Fulcrum' platform will be ground based and operate from the Dabolim Naval Air Station. Currently undergoing a conversion programme, the INS Vikramaditya, is expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy around 2012.
While it is expect to take onboard the first lot of 16 MiG-29Ks the rest are likely slated for induction onboard the Indian Navy's Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, which after the Vikramaditya will be the navy's second carrier, or the third, if one should also include the venerable INS Viraat.
The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is being built at the Cochin Shipyard.
The new combat aircraft will be lighter than the Indian Air Force's MiG-29 and will also have a radar cross section (RCS) which will be significantly smaller. It will have a larger operating range and wide arrays of armaments that will enable it perform a multitude of tasks.
The aircraft will also boast of a state-of-the-art sensor suite and a very responsive and capable Zhuk-E radar. The pilot's helmet is equipped with the 'Topsight-E' Helmet-mounted Display and Sight, which allows the pilot to shoot at a target by merely looking at it.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 25, 2010 6:58:14 GMT -5
YAK-130 Combat Trainer Aircraft Introduced into Service with the Russian Air Force. Defense Professionals ^ | 2/24/2010 |  The first serial combat-trainer aircraft Yak-130 transferred to the Air Force of Russia has arrived at the 4th Center of combat application and retraining of the flight personnel of the name of V.P.Chkalov. The Commander-in-chief of the Russian Federation Air Force the colonel general Alexander Zelin said: «It is the first Yak-130 from those planned on this year. The plane opens new opportunities for effective trainings of the Air Force cadets. This combat-training complex will allow the young pilots to adapt faster to operate Russian Air Force fighters». The new generation aircraft Yak-130 is developed by Yakovlev Design Bureau, part of the Irkut Corporation. The president of Irkut Corporation, General Director of Yakovlev Design Bureau Oleg Demchenko said: «Yak-130 – the first plane completely designed and built during the Post-Soviet period. We have successfully finished the designing and tests of this plane, but also have set up a basis for its mass serial production. Deliveries of Yak-130 to the military forces will allow pilots substantially improve their trainings on the threshold of adoption of the new generation aircrafts». Yak-130 was chosen for basic and advanced combat trainings of Russian Air Force pilots. First four aircrafts for the Russian Air Force are already built. In November, 2007 «Preliminary resolution on the state joint tests of a sample combat-trainer aircraft Yak-130» has been confirmed. This document has opened the road for producing the first part of serial aircrafts. In April 2009 Yak-130 passed the first stage of state joint tests with basic armament configuration. The tests with the enlarged armament configuration were completed in 2009. The aircraft is intended as for combat trainings of the air staff so as for combat use on earth and land targets in normal and severe weather conditions. Nine external mount units allow the aircraft to carry up to 3000 kg of payload. Advanced aerodynamics, new generation inboard avionics equipment, state of art newest power plant and aircraft systems provide: • effective training of air staff and combat missions; • high level of operating safety; • low cost of flight hour and life cycle. Aircraft performance characteristics and maneuverability of Yak-130 are similar to the modern fighters on subsonic speed of flight. The plane will allow pilots to reach advanced training level for Russian and foreign warplanes of generation “4+” and “5”. Yak-130 is the basic component of the training complex of Russian Air Force including integrated system of the objective control, educational computer classes, aerobatic and specialized training simulator. Irkut concluded the contract with Algeria on delivery of Yak-130 in 2006 and carrying out its contractual obligations. In January 2010 Air Force of Libya has ordered a number of Yak-130 aircrafts. Pre-contract negotiations are carried on for the delivery of Yak-130 to a number of countries. ----- Company or Organisation Portrait: Being the world-recognized leader of the Russian aerospace industry, the IRKUT Corporation is arranged as the vertically integrated holding company with diversified products portfolio, able to conceive, design, build, deploy, and support top-of-the-line aircraft. The IRKUT Corporation has unified a number of prominent design and manufacturing companies — Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Beriev Aircraft Company, Yakovlev Design Bureau, BETA AIR Company and some others. The Corporation employs over 14,000 professionals, involved in design, manufacturing, sales, and after-sales support of a wide range of high-tech products. The current order book of IRKUT is the largest in the aircraft industry and amounts to US$ 3.8 billion. According to the IFRS in 2008 the IRKUT revenue amounted to nearly US$ 1.3 billion, which exceeds the revenue of 2007 by almost 24%. The Irkut share in the Russia’s arms export comes to 15%. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Mar 3, 2010 14:12:20 GMT -5
New Russian fighter to make 2,000 flights before production starts.
airattack.com ^ | 3/02/2010 | airattack.com
Russia's fifth-generation jet fighter, the T-50, is to undergo more than 2,000 flight tests before full-scale production starts, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday.
"Before the jet goes into production, it should complete over 2,000 test flights," Putin said.
He also said now that Russia had a fifth-generation prototype fighter, it should start working on a new-generation long-range strategic bomber that he described as "an airborne missile-carrier."
A source at the Sukhoi aircraft maker said earlier in the day the T-50 would start on a standard flight test program in April, adding it would take "several years" to complete the testing program.
A prototype of the fighter made a 47-minute maiden flight in Russia's Far East on January 29.
Russia has been developing its newest fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in Russia's Far East.
It will be delivered to the Russian Air Force from 2015 onwards.
Russian officials have already hailed the fighter as "a unique warplane" that combines the capabilities of an air superiority fighter and attack aircraft.
The Tupolev aircraft maker said last year that a new-generation strategic bomber would be developed by 2017, while production should start in 2020 to 2025.
However, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, commander of Russia's strategic aviation said a new strategic bomber, which would use stealth technology, was expected to enter service in 2025-2030.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Mar 13, 2010 8:56:58 GMT -5
Russia to make 1,000 stealth jets, eyes India deal.
Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:58pm IST
By Gleb Bryanski
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Russia will build more than 1,000 stealth fighter jets within four decades, including at least 200 for its traditional weapons buyer India, the head of plane maker Sukhoi said on Friday.
Sukhoi test-flew its long-delayed fifth-generation fighter at the end of January, and Moscow said it would be able to compete with its U.S. F-22 Raptor rival built more than a decade ago.
Sukhoi said last week it hoped the fighter, codenamed T-50, would be ready for use in 2015.
"If you talk about warplanes of this type, there is definitely a market for it if we produce more than 1,000 jets," Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan told reporters on the sidelines of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
"We have all grounds to believe that there will not be tough competition on the world market," he said.
He said Russia would produce more than 1,000 of the planes within 35 to 40 years.
After the test flight, Putin said Russia had plenty of work to do on the plane.
Analysts say Russia's plans for a joint venture with India to produce the stealth fighters will likely be watched with unease by India's uneasy neighbour Pakistan and regional rival China.
Pogosyan said an agreement on joint output of the jet with India was still in the works and did not say when a deal might be signed.
"I believe that more than 200 planes will be delivered (to India)," Pogosyan said.
"I think (Russia's) defence ministry will buy no less than this amount," he said. About 600 of the planes would be sold elsewhere, he said.
Analysts say several nations, including Libya and Vietnam, have already expressed interest in the fifth-generation fighter.
"Apart from America, the only other fifth-generation project is Russia's, while the Europeans have given up such plans," Pogosyan said.
"Probably the Chinese will try and promote such a product, but I think they face an immense amount of work to make their product competitive," he said.
(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Paul Tait)
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Post by Dushko on Mar 13, 2010 18:06:45 GMT -5
Serbia is in the market for a new front-line fighter to replace the MiG-21s and the few 29s they have. Could they afford maybe 20 to 30?
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Post by TsarSamuil on Mar 15, 2010 7:25:15 GMT -5
I doubt it, they are hugely expensive, I think the best thing for smaller countries like Serbia & Bulgaria would be to cut some other economic deal with Russia on the side, to get a discount of sorts.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Mar 15, 2010 7:47:40 GMT -5
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Post by TsarSamuil on Apr 14, 2010 11:34:56 GMT -5
Saab Lures Bulgaria to Buy Gripen Fighter Jets.
Novinite.com
Defense | April 14, 2010, Wednesday
The Swedish company Saab has offered Bulgaria Gripen fighter jets at the price of second-hand US F-16 planes.
Daniel Boestad, Director of Saab International for Bulgaria, has stated, as cited by Darik Radio, that the offer is favorable for Bulgaria because it saves money without compromising on quality.
According to Boestad, the fighter aircraft offered by Gripen have a number of advantages compared to second-hand F-16 planes or the Russian MiG-29 planes that are currently employed by the Bulgarian Air Force such as the lower maintenance cost and smaller land teams needed for servicing them.
The Swedish manager has pointed out that the purchase of second-hand fighter jets is very risky and expensive.
“The fact that the exploitation period of the second-hand planes is almost over will mean that Bulgaria will have to launch a new procedure for purchasing fighter jets within several years,” said Boestad.
The state finances and respectively the funding for the Bulgarian Army are in a rather deplorable condition so one of the options for buying new military equipment is the purchase of US fighter jets together with Romania.
The Bulgarian government has made no final decision yet. However, the Head of Defense (formerly known as Head of the General Staff of the Army), General Simeon Simeonov recently stated that Bulgaria needs to buy multipurpose fighter jets, and that it needs to buy new ones rather than second-hand.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Apr 20, 2010 7:53:30 GMT -5
Vid, rt.com/Sci_Tech/2010-04-20/russian-arms-copycat-china.htmlChinese version of Russian jet endangers bilateral relations. RussiaToday.com 20 April, 2010, 07:58 Despite holding the position as one of the world’s biggest economies, China seems unwilling to shed its reputation for producing cheap replicas. And one of their more ambitious copycat efforts may put a strain on Russia-China relations. “This Chinese plane is simply a Russian design stuffed with local electronics,” says Maksim Pyadushkin from the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technology about the Chinese J11B jet’s resemblance to the Russian Su-27. “It's a knock-off.” Last year, Russian aircraft sales internationally topped $3 billion – second only to the US. But others too want a slice of the aviation pie. Vadim Kozyulin, program director for conventional arms from the Russian Center for Policy Studies, says that fake Su-27s are widely offered in the world arms market. “Sooner or later, Russian arms traders will face competition from the Chinese colleagues,” he told RT. China was given the design plans for the Russian fighter jet in 1995, when it promised to buy 200 kits and assemble them domestically. After building 100 planes, the Chinese said the Russian plane did not meet specifications, only for a copycat version soon to appear – "Made in China" – without copyright. The threat from China is real, and it will be difficult for the Russian aviation industry to maintain its lofty position, and soar further unless it manages to better protect its intellectual rights and also find new ways of co-operating with its eastern neighbor. Although it made its maiden flight over 30 years ago, the Su-27 remains the bedrock of the Russian air force, and is highly popular abroad. “I don't think anyone who's flown on the SU-27 can ask for a different plane, unless we are talking about a new generation jet,” believes Lt. Colonel Andrey Alekseyev, Air Force Pilot. “It's maneuverable and has a huge range.” Some are calling for calm over the controversy. While the similarities between the two planes are clear, experts say the Chinese J11B does not have the latest Russian high-tech features and will be no match for it on the international market. The best way to fight copyright violations is to be technologically ahead of your rivals, claims Maksim Pyadushkin from the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technology. “The biggest problem for Russia is that it has been living off the legacy of the Soviet Union, and soon its technology may no longer be the world leader,” he asserts. Rather than a continuing dogfight over the copycat plane, it is possible that Russia and China may yet settle the matter amicably – at the highest political level. But in the shady world of international weapons copyright, similar cases are sure to follow. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Apr 20, 2010 16:59:10 GMT -5
Premier Putin satisfied with Russian fifth-generation fighter tests.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was satisfied with the tests of a Russian fifth-generation fighter jet.
"Flight tests of the fifth-generation fighter are continuing successfully," Putin said.
"Once again I want to thank everyone who worked on this machine, as well as those who are now putting it in the air," the premier continued.
The first Russian fifth-generation fighter jet was delivered to Zhukovsky in the Moscow Region for a flight test on April 8.
The fighter performed its maiden flight on January 29, when the jet spent 47 minutes in the air.
The Sukhoi design bureau started project development of the aircraft after it received the tender in April 2002. Last summer, the fighter's design was approved, and the prototype blueprints were delivered to the KNAAPO aviation construction company based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The T-50 is the domestic name of the plane which had been developed as the Advanced Front-Line Aviation Complex (PAK FA) for Russia's Air Force. The PAK FA can carry either eight next-generation air-to-air R-77 missiles, or two large controllable anti-ship bombs weighing 1,500 kg each. It can also carry two long-range missiles developed by the Novator Bureau which can hit targets within a 400 kilometer range.
MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Apr 23, 2010 6:40:43 GMT -5
Russia, Israel plan joint venture to produce drones.
Moscow, April 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia will set up a joint venture with Israel to produce advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) required for the enhancement of reconnaissance system of the Russian armed forces, a senior official said Wednesday.
State Technology Corporation Rostekhnologii plans to establish a joint venture with Israel Airspace Industry for the production of UAVs.
‘We have already bought 15 drones for testing and we do not rule out a joint production of UAVs with Israel,’ Sergei Chemezov, head of the Russian corporation, told RIA Novosti.
Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vladimir Popovkin said earlier that Russia had spent about 5 billion rubles ($172 million) on the development of drones, which eventually failed their tests.
Russian Air Force commander Col.Gen. Alexander Zelin said last November that Russian UAVs do not satisfy the requirements in speed, altitude or their specifications.
According to various estimates, the Russian military needs up to 100 UAVs and at least 10 guidance systems to ensure effective battlefield reconnaissance.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Apr 29, 2010 7:41:33 GMT -5
Israel to Manufacture Drones in Russia.
Jerusalem, April 28 (Saba) - Russia and Israel are said to be in talks for establishing an assembly line for the production of drones in Russia for the Israel Aerospace Industries at a cost of 200 million dollars, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
The Israeli Maariv newspaper said the assembly line will produce Search1 drones, pointing out that Russia was in need of 100 of the aircraft.
The newspaper said that Israel was seeking Washington's approval of the project and expected that Defence Minister Ehud Barak would get it during his current visit to Washington.
Russia, according to the paper, was also negotiating with Israel the purchase of batteries for Heron drones.
Russia had concluded a deal with Israel a year ago including 15 drones of Bird Eye and Searcher at a cost of 53 million dollars.
Maarif said Russia had invested 172 million dollars in developing a drone project that was a bust.
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Post by TsarSamuil on May 3, 2010 7:43:11 GMT -5
Rivals Join For Next Stage Of PAK FA Engine.
Aviationweek.com
Apr 28, 2010
By Maxim Pyadushkin
Moscow
Russia’s two engine manufacturers are to collaborate on the next stage of engine development for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter after years of going head-to-head as rivals.
The Moscow-based Salut and United Engine Corp. (UEC) have agreed to work jointly on the so-called second-stage engine for the T-50 being developed to meet the air force’s PAK FA requirement. NPO Saturn, now part of UEC, and Salut have been competing for this program for several years, with designs known as Eniseysk-A and Eniseysk-B, respectively.
According to senior UEC executives, the workshare on the engine to replace the T-50’s current Saturn 117 will slightly favor the corporation: UEC will have 54%, and Salut the remainder.
The decision to collaborate is driven at least in part by the likely merger of the two engine producers.
The timescale for development of the powerplant remains uncertain, as the manufacturers apparently are waiting for the military to set its requirements. In March, however, Sukhoi chief Mikhail Pogosyan said the T-50 would enter service with the air force powered by the Saturn 117. He indicated development of the second-stage engine could take another decade.
The 117 was developed by Rybinsk-based Saturn as an uprated modification of the Al-31F engine. The 29,000-lb.-thrust 117 is used on the Su-35 derivative of the Su-27 Flanker. The version fitted to the T-50 prototypes is thought to produce 30,000 lb. thrust and also comes with a new full-authority digital engine control unit.
Salut’s Eniseysk-B design was recommended by the ministry’s tender commission, according to CEO Yuri Eliseev. Under the original program schedule, the two contenders were to have demonstrated the first elements of the engine by November 2008.
Discussing Eniyesk-A, Saturn CEO Ilya Fyodorov, who also is a head of the PAK FA engine program, says the company has studied some new technologies that could be applied to the development of a powerplant for the series production PAK FA in the next in 2-3 years.
The so-called third stage of engine development, a new design, was initially planned to begin at the end of 2009, but this has yet to be announced. “Nevertheless, we have completed the conceptual design of the fifth-generation engine,” says Eliseev.
He also says that in order to minimize technical risks, Salut is already testing the element of the future engine during modernization of the Al-31F series powerplants.
The first stage of this modernization, the AL-31FM1 with a new compressor, was shown at the Engines 2010 exhibition here this month. This engine has a thrust of 27,000 lb., interval between overhauls of 1,000 hr. and service life of 2,000 hr., compared to 25,000 lb. thrust, 500 hr. between overhauls and 1,500 hr. of service life for the serial AL-31F. According to Eliseev, the AL-31FM1 already powers modernized Su-27SM Russian air force fighters. He adds that it has also been approved for installation on Su-34 bombers.
A further development, the AL-31FM2, is being bench-tested, according to the Salut CEO. This engine has a new combustor chamber and turbine and reached 29,200 lb. thrust. “If we receive funding, we are ready to start serial trials of this engine in the next year,” says Eliseev.
Also on display at the exhibition was a new KND-924-3 low-pressure compressor that, together with a new six-stage high-pressure compressor, will be used for the AL-31FM3 modification. This version is expected to have a thrust of about 30,000 lb. Eliseev stresses that all the modifications retain the size of the serial Al-31F and can be installed in versions of the Su-27 in service.
The cooperation between Salut and UEC is underpinned by the anticipated merger between the two manufacturers. Eliseev was appointed deputy head of the corporation two weeks ago. According to UEC executives, the merger with Salut will start after the latter completes its consolidation with Omsk Baranov Production Co.
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