Russian Air Force News & Discussion

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
It seems KXK (Komsomolsk na Amur) gets no Civilian traffic! Does this mean that the Airport is closed for Security reasons? Or that Komsomulsk is operating as a defacto (or declared) closed city?

I can imagine with the Sukhoi Aircraft Manufacturing being based in the City security concerns would be paramount. But the facility is located at a different Airport (UHKD) and there seems to be no alternative Airports for Civilian Traffic nearby (correct me if I am wrong).

It must be virtually unprecedented for such a large and isolated Russian City, over 260 000 people according to Wikopedia, to have no regular Air Service. I would have thought the Aircraft Manufacturing Plant alone would necessitate many Business related flights between MOW and KXK. Not to mention the local population needing to access the outside world for Education, Medical Trips and Holidays. KHV is about a 5 hour drive away.

Can anyone explain this gap in the network?
I honestly couldn't tell you.
 

koxinga

Well-Known Member
If Russia plan to develop an affordable light 5th generation fighter, then i think they make more chance on the exportmarket with a single engine one, as an attractive replacement for the Su-22 and MiG-29.
There's a new promo video out from Rostec ahead of MAKS2021 next week, which teases (0:18). Guess we will know more. Personally, I am skeptical and this might turn out to be another MiG-35 rehash.

Ростех представит на МАКС-2021 принципиально новый военный самолет - YouTube
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
There's a new promo video out from Rostec ahead of MAKS2021 next week, which teases (0:18). Guess we will know more. Personally, I am skeptical and this might turn out to be another MiG-35 rehash.

Ростех представит на МАКС-2021 принципиально новый военный самолет - YouTube
Factory trials of the MiG-35 seems to be finished only a couple of years ago.
The first batch of six MiG-35s was ordered in August 2018, and first two serial aircraft were delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in June 2019. Although the MiG-35 is lower in price than the Su-30SM/-35, its capabilities, performance and quality is also inferior compared to the Sukhois. Countries which can not afford the Sukhois, will likely choose some cheap chinese stuff.

Until now there are no real export orders for the MiG-35, so i dont think we can expect anything serious about the next generation single engine fighter this year.

The lack of detailed information in some recent reports is also an indication that there will be no developments soon.

 
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Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
There's a new promo video out from Rostec ahead of MAKS2021 next week, which teases (0:18). Guess we will know more. Personally, I am skeptical and this might turn out to be another MiG-35 rehash.

Ростех представит на МАКС-2021 принципиально новый военный самолет - YouTube
It totally could be though. A MiG-35 rehash wouldn't qualify as a "principle new military airplane". They might be presenting the PAK-DA though. It's also possible that only the airframe is new, and they built something around a Izd. 30 engine, and a Zhuk-A radar. Presenting also could mean all kinds of things. It might be some digital renders, and a basic presentation of a project. It's also possible that they've been working on this much longer then they've publicly acknowledged.

CAST thinks it's the new single-engine 5th gen.

 

koxinga

Well-Known Member
This has appeared. It is also on Rostec's official twitter account. We will know more next week but it does appear to be a new design.

There seems to be a prominent chine across the fuselage which is indicative of LO designs.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update. Some of these articles are a little dated, my apologies I've been backlogged.

S-400 deliveries continue, to the 185th SAM Rgt in Center MD, 1724th SAM Rgt East MD, 568th SAM Rgt in South MD (I think Samara is South MD). Also the first S-350 regiment has been deployed to South MD, possibly the 1721st Rgt where it replaces the Buk-M1.


Putin has announced that S-500 trials are completing and serial production of the type is next.


The Ansat-M light helo conducted it's test flight. Over 90 Ansat helos have already been delivered to various customers and further development of the type will continue.


The S-70 UAV conducted tests of air-ground munition use against targets. They were apparently unguided bombs.


KRET has developed a photonic radar that they think will be used in 6th generation fighter jets. What this means in practice remains to be seen.


New practice-targets UAVs are being handed over for use in air defense exercises. They are designed to imitate UAVs and smaller helos.


The first serial Su-57 has gone to a line fighter regiment in South MD. 4 more aircraft are planned for handover this year (some sources indicate 2 more not 4 more).


The Il-276 project for a new medium transport aircraft is officially closed. This leaves open the question of how Russia will proceed as the Soviet-era fleet of An-12s is approaching retirement age.


A new line of gliding guided bombs has entered production. The names are not mentioned, but they are 250, 500, and 1500 kgs. There is also info of a new gliding bomb called Drel' (drill) that is allegedly LO. It's unclear whether these are the same.


3 Il-76MD-90A were handed over to the MoD, built in 2020, and the first bird of 2021 has taken flight. The program continues at a very slow pace, though arguably there isn't much need for large numbers of them.


Test launches of the new X-32 AShM were conducted using a Tu-22M3. The X-32 was accepted for service in 2016 but is still in testing making its acceptance questionable.


A new Su-30SMD was seen with the izd. 117S engines. I can't help but wonder about the SMD index. Initially reports were of a Su-30SM1 or SM2 program that would add the radar and engines of the Su-35S to the Su-30SM. Then there was info that the radar upgrade was cancelled, but this was not confirmed. It's possible that SMD is the index for an Su-30SM upgrade that differs from the SM1.


A contract has been signed for the Altius-RU heavy UAV deliveries. It's unclear what this means, development of the type has been fraught with corruption scandals and delays. Though there is some indication of progress, the Altius recently conducted trial bomb strikes.


Trials of a new smaller hypersonic cruise missile produced under OKR Gremlin are planned for 2023.


It appears that Tupolev has missed the deadline for adapting the izd. 506 cruise missile to the Tu-160M bomber. They are now in court where the MoD is suing them.


Combat use of the Orion UCAV in Syria.


A look at the new Izd. 180 presumably BVR missile meant for internal stowage on the Su-57.


A squadron operating Su-24MR recon aircraft is going to be re-armed with UAVs. This is a common theme in many other armed forces but for Russia this is new.


There is work being done to allow the Mi-28NM to work in tandem with loitering munitions. This includes potentially launching them from the helo, identify and designate targets, and control the munition.


There is information that Sukhoi is developing a single-engine fighter jet.


Engine trials for a new supersonic civilian jet have begun using an Il-76 as a flying laboratory.


The RVV-MD, R-74M, has been adapted for use on the MiG-31. On the one hand this suggests the type has a future within the VVS, on the other hand it's an odd choice.


The first 8 Su-34Ms are to be delivered this year. It appears the variant is primarily meant for carrying advanced recon pods, though there was earlier mention of additional munitions as well.


Two Soviet-era Tu-22M fuselages in storage at KAPO will be completed as Tu-22M3Ms. A total of 4 fuselages are there, one being used as a monument.


Full cycle production of Diand DA-42s has begun at the UZGA factory in the Urals. The aircraft was previously license-assembled from imported components since 2013, with allegedly 100 DA-42s and 150 DA-40s assembled to date. These light aircraft are used for training purposes in Russian flight schools. The engines are still imported, but planned for replacement with a localized version in 2024. The same factory license-assembles Czech L-410s

 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
Factory trials of the MiG-35 seems to be finished only a couple of years ago.
The first batch of six MiG-35s was ordered in August 2018, and first two serial aircraft were delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in June 2019. Although the MiG-35 is lower in price than the Su-30SM/-35, its capabilities, performance and quality is also inferior compared to the Sukhois. Countries which can not afford the Sukhois, will likely choose some cheap chinese stuff.

Until now there are no real export orders for the MiG-35, so i dont think we can expect anything serious about the next generation single engine fighter this year.

The lack of detailed information in some recent reports is also an indication that there will be no developments soon.

Well, it seems i was totally wrong.

But to be honest, i really didn't expect they will come with a complete new design.

Feanor and Koxinga, thank you for sharing the images!
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
single engine design, F-35 with the twin, cantered vertical stabilizers
I going to bet after this pictures distribute around, some Russophile Enthusiasts, Local Analysts and the so called nationalists media and politicians in Indonesia, India, Malaysia or even Philippines will talk loud this as F-35 alternative. If US doesn't want to give us F-35, then we go with Russia new stealth.

After all for those kind of people, exterior is the most important thing. They will sell this thing will have same stealth capabilities with F-35.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
I going to bet after this pictures distribute around, some Russophile Enthusiasts, Local Analysts and the so called nationalists media and politicians in Indonesia, India, Malaysia or even Philippines will talk loud this as F-35 alternative. If US doesn't want to give us F-35, then we go with Russia new stealth.

After all for those kind of people, exterior is the most important thing. They will sell this thing will have same stealth capabilities with F-35.
We shouldn't even care about more or less stealthy than the F-35.
I think we have to think about two more important things:
- 1. When will this new jetfighter be available for export? 15-20 years from now? We can not wait for that.
- 2. CAATSA.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
think we have to think about two more important things:
- 1. When will this new jetfighter be available for export? 15-20 years from n
Agree if we talk about logics. However there're many people that does not think on logics. Especialy within Political circles. There're Political circles and their supporters in media or on line forums that thinking CAATSA is the yoke from US imperialism or CAATSA is paper tiger.

The last one is quite high in Indonesia for example. Those come from so call 'nationalists' that think on their emotion of Indonesia Grandeur and US will not dare to enforce CAATSA with Indonesia. That kind of segment also available in India, Philipines and Malaysia.

Anti US still loom high in South and South East Asia. They will use any opportunity to create internal discord to create public displesure to US. Just like the talk of F-35 to Indonesia, US did not say Indonesia can not have F-35, but before move to F-35, Indonesia must invest on building soft capabilities to master technology on supporting 5 th gen Fighters. However they already spin it as US did not want Indonesia to have F-35..Period.

My point is, any F-35 potential competitors either from Rusia or China will gain potential political tractions of attractiveness from some Political circles and their supporters in South and South East Asia. They will not talk logic, as their logic only 'as long as is not Murica'.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I going to bet after this pictures distribute around, some Russophile Enthusiasts, Local Analysts and the so called nationalists media and politicians in Indonesia, India, Malaysia or even Philippines will talk loud this as F-35 alternative. If US doesn't want to give us F-35, then we go with Russia new stealth.

After all for those kind of people, exterior is the most important thing. They will sell this thing will have same stealth capabilities with F-35.
On the one hand you have a good point. On the other hand, if US/Western fighters aren't acceptable for political reasons, and you still need a modern fighter jet then this becomes potentially a viable option. But we will of course have to wait and see.

EDIT: A photo comparing the still covered-up new Russian fighter with other single-engine 5th gens.

 
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John Fedup

The Bunker Group
I would think the most viable alternative for countries that can’t get F-35s would be China’s J-31 not a Russian one. However China has likely optimized the J-31 for CATOBAR naval operations so it may no longer be price competitive.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I would think the most viable alternative for countries that can’t get F-35s would be China’s J-31 not a Russian one. However China has likely optimized the J-31 for CATOBAR naval operations so it may no longer be price competitive.
I suspect it would depend on things. Consider the Su-30SM which is an Su-30MKI derivative. It was initially something that competed for contracts in countries like India, Algeria, Malaysia. However as production volumes became sufficiently large, and the cost of the type vs. other jets went down, it became the go-to aircraft for Russia's security partners like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, etc. It's entirely possible that the initial export customers for the new jet could be someone like Algeria, or Egypt, or even Vietnam, if the VVS adopts the type, and we see enough produced, it could be the go-to jet for Russia's security partners that can't afford something like the Su-57.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
A collection of photos from various angles of the tarp-covered aircraft. Also apparently the project is called LTS (Light Tactical Airplane presumably). Allegedly the prototype is using an advanced Al-31FN variant, but the final version is slated to carry the same izd. 30 that's meant for the Su-57.

 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
The air intake in the model remind me with Boeing X-32, while the overall silouete under tarp off course shown similarities in concept with F-35. Despite China talk on exporting J-31, however Russia have more long term customers. Similar engine with Su-57 will provide more affordable alternative for Su-57 for most Russian long term customers.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
The air intake in the model remind me with Boeing X-32, while the overall silouete under tarp off course shown similarities in concept with F-35. Despite China talk on exporting J-31, however Russia have more long term customers. Similar engine with Su-57 will provide more affordable alternative for Su-57 for most Russian long term customers.
I suspect the entire thing is related to information about the UAE funding a single-engine light fighter by Russia's UAC. And given what they can (and can't) afford I wouldn't be surprised if it shares many (if not most) systems with the Su-57, and other existing jets.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
suspect the entire thing is related to information about the UAE funding a single-engine light fighter by Russia's UAC.
If this true, then it's more likely the Project really aim for export market. The UAE usually fund/Invest projects that can provide export market potential. This part of their strategy on getting their Financial Industry more export financing market shares, to make Dubai larger share as financial hub.

This can provide alternative for current Mig 29 users.
 
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