Air Force Plans to Begin Purchases of New Transport Airplanes in 2008

((Includes development and purchase of medium and light transports, in particular the Il-112V.  Not further translated.))

Source: 04.04.08, Gudok 04.04.2008

Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant to Deliver Mi-171 Helicopters to Pakistan

((Two for combating narcotics trafficking.  The contract was signed the summer of 2007.  Not further translated.))

Source: 04.04.08, Gazeta.RU

Creation of Il-114-300 Airplane Transport Modification Possible

((The new transport, based on the Il-114-300, would replace aging fleet of An-24T and An-26 aircraft.  No further information.))

Source: 04.04.08, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

OAO Tupolev Developing Wide-Body Airplane

((The ShBSMS - Wide-Bodied Short-Medium Range Airplane - would replace the Il-86 and possibly be designated the Tu-534, but that was not confirmed.  The source doubted it would carry 300 passengers and have a flight range of 3,200 kilometers using two PS-90A2 engines.  Not further translated.))

Source: 04.04.08, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

Contract with Air Force for Tracking Creation of MiG-AT with RD-1700 Engines Being Readied

The Russian air force is preparing a contract for the tracking of work on the creation of the RD-1700 aircraft engine developed by Tushino's Soyuz Machine Building Design Bureau and the MiG-AT combat training airplane (UTS) with these engines, a defense industrial complex representative reported to AviaPort.

"In accordance with the planned contract, the air force will control and track all RD-1700 aircraft engine and MiG-AT RD-1700-equipped tests being made," he noted.

The RD-1700 aircraft engines are being created for the MiG-AT UTS, mostly in the interests of the Russian air force. "In fact the tracking by the leadership of RD-1700 tests is a formalization of earlier adopted decisions by RSK MiG leadership and the former air force commander-in-chief, Vladimir Mikhaylov," the agency source specified.

Despite the fact that the Yak-130 was selected as the primary training and combat training airplane for the Russian air force, the Russian air force is interested in the tests of all examples of new aircraft equipment which is being created by the developers without using defense ministry funding.

Source: 03.04.08, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

Myasishchev EhMZ and Il'yushin AK Enter into Agreement on Joint Operations

The state unitary enterprise V.M. Myasishchev Experimental Aircraft Building Plant (the Myasishchev EhMZ) and OAO S.V. Il'yushin Aviation Complex (the Il'yushin AK) have entered into an agreement for joint operations, a representative of the defense industrial complex has reported to AviaPort.

He specified that the cooperation of the two developmental enterprises of new aircraft equipment contemplates joint operations both on the part of the upgrade of existing aircraft equipment (the Il-20/22) and on future Il'yushin AK developments using the scientific and technical groundwork of the Myasishchev EhMZ.

According to the agency source's information, at the present the Myasishchev EhMZ and the Il'yushin AK are upgrading special purpose airplanes based on the Il-18 -- Il-20 airplanes, which is being done using mature serial technology.

After the Myasishchev EhMZ goes public, the enterprise will be included structurally into OAO The Unified Aircraft Building Corporation (OAK). The most optimal for the Myasishchev EhMZ would be to include the enterprise into the OAK Transport Aviation business unit," the source believes.

Source: 03.04.08, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

M-55 "Geofizika" Airplane Being Readied for Flight to Malaysia

Source: 03.04.08, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

Upgrade of Field Su-24M Begins at Sukhoy's Novosibirsk Plant

The Novosibirsk V.P. Chkalov Aviation Production Association (NAPO) has begun upgrade and overhaul of a regular batch of Su-24M tactical bombers. A satellite navigation system and new equipment, parts and components will be installed on the airplanes which arrived at the plant from the Far East Military District. Upon conclusion of the work which is being carried out within the framework of NAPO's fulfillment of the 2008 state defense order, the bombers will return to the place of their permanent deployment.

In 2007, the Sukhoy Aviation Holding Company successfully fulfilled the state defense order. At its plant -- the Komsomol’sk-on-Amur Yu.A. Gagarin Aviation Production Association and the V.P. Chkalov NAPO work on the upgrade and overhaul of tactical Su-24M bombers, the manufacture and overhaul of Su-27SM fighters and the organization of the assembly of the newest Su-34 tactical bombers was fulfilled as planned. The company also has fulfilled a plan for the delivery of spare parts and components for aircraft equipment being manufactured for the Russian Federation defense ministry. New training classes and simulators were assembled for flight training centers.

Source: 02.04.08, OAO Sukhoy Company

Tu-160 airplane crews of the Sevastopol' Red Banner Heavy Bomber Regiment which is based at Ehngel's is training during exercises by launching missiles at the northern ranges and performing elements of flight training, the air to the air force commander-in-chief, Colonel Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy, reported to RIA Novosti on Saturday.

"The command and staff exercises begin on 31 March and will continue until 4 April under the command of the 37th air army commander, General-Major Pavel Androsov. The crews have been tasked to train on the most complex element of flight readiness -- in-flight refueling from an Il-78 airplane," the CinC's aid specified.

According to him, this element is considered "the peak of flying skills," when two 200-tonne aircraft are connected via a soft "cone and hose" refueling system at a distance of 20 meters with a speed of 600 kilometers per hour.   At the same time, special attention will be devoted to training young crews.

Source: 31.03.08, RIA Novosti

MiGs Heading for the Future

MiG-29 airplanes serving in the national air force inventory will be upgraded. This will allow increasing the combat capabilities and significantly expanding the range of weaponry. After 2010, the procurement of new future multirole aviation complexes is planned.  ((Article ends here.))

Source: 31.03.08, Krasnaya Zvezda 31.03.2008