Date Posted 20 August 2009

Tupolev Company Developing New Strategic Bomber

The Russian defense ministry and OAO Tupolev have entered into a contract for the development and creation of a principally new strategic bomber, Lenta.RU reports referring to RIA Novosti, the company's general director, Igor' Shevchuk, announced on 19 August ((2009)).

"We signed a contract this year regarding scientific research and experimental design work still being planned for a future long-range aviation complex.   It is in essence a new flight vehicle," Mr. Shevchuk specified.

We note that at the present time Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 airplanes serve in the Russian air force strategic aviation inventory.

Financing of the creation of the future long-range aviation aerial complex (PAK DA), which should replace the present fleet of strategic bombers, began in 2008, though work on it has been under way for a long time already. The airplane will be created based on the supersonic Tu-160 bomber, and its first flight is planned for 2015.

Requirements for the new airplane already have been formulated by the military, the publication states.

Source: 19.08.09, Avia.RU

Russian Federation Air Force Begins Tests of Second PAK FA Prototype

The Russian Federation air force has begun tests of the second prototype of the fifth generation fighter, RIA Novosti reports referring to the Russian Federation air force commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Zelin.

"The second aircraft, which is undergoing ground tests, is already here in Moscow," Zelin said.

At the same time, the CinC acknowledged a problem in the creation of an engine for the fifth generation fighter. For now the airplane will be flying with a Saturn engine, he pointed out.

Source: 20.08.09, Avia.RU

Russian Air Force to Have Nine MiG-31 Squadrons

The Russian air force will have up to nine squadrons of MiG-31 fighter interceptors, ARMS-TASS reports referring to the Russian Federation air force commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Zelin.

There will be up to 12 airplanes in each of the squadrons.

"The goal is increased combat effectiveness of the fighters by increasing the radar capabilities.  The airplane will receive long, medium and short range guided weapons, an improved navigation system and satellite navigation system," the CinC said.

Source: 20.08.09, Avia.RU

Avionika to Begin Shaping Complex for First Flying T-50 in August - September 2009

The Avionika concern will begin shaping a complex for the first flying example of the T-50 airplane in August - September, 2009, the OAO Avionika Concern president, Givi Dzhandzhgava, announced at a press conference at MAKS-2009.

"As of today, a computing environment has been built (a computer with six processors) and visualization aids. The airplanes flight navigation complex is having the bugs worked out on the bench," he added.

Today the main question regarding the T-50 is the network architecture of the complex, that is integration of the airplane into the structure of the military systems of combat control. "It would allow increasing the effectiveness of the complex by many time," G. Dzhandzhgava emphasized.

Source: 20.08.09, AviaPort.RU

Yak-130 Tests Conclude in September - Russian Federation Air Force Commander-in-Chief

((State tests.  Not further translated.))

Source: 20.08.09, RIA Novosti

Tu-214SR Airplanes Begin "Combat" Mission

The first two Tu-214 SR airborne relay airplanes built at the Kazan' Aviation Production Association (KAPO) have begun to fulfill a "combat" mission accompanying flights of the state's highest leaders, the president and general designer of  OAO Tupolev, Igor' Shevchuk, reported at a press conference Wednesday, held within the framework of MAKS-2009.

According to him, fulfillment of the state order for the delivery of six special purpose airplanes is a great responsibility, both on the airplane's developer and on its builder. Fulfillment of the state order is included in the number of OAO Tupolev's highest priority operations.

The special purpose airplanes, created on the basis of the Tu-214 passenger airplane, have excellent characteristics. During flights in February of this year, a Tu-214SR spent 13 hours 15 minutes in the air while not fully running out of fuel. "The flight range of the airplanes can reach 10,000 kilometers," I. Shevchuk noted.

He also reported that as of today it is planned to assemble 12 Tu-214 airplanes ordered by the state in special usage and application variants. Moreover, the state has kept open an option for an additional order (option) for the delivery of 12 more special purpose airplanes.

((A photograph of the aircraft in-flight at http://www.aviaport.ru/news/2009/08/20/179686.html reveals a long fairing above the fuselage.))

Source: 20.08.09, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent: Dmitriy Kozlov

Russia Delivers One of Three A-50 Airplanes to India

Russia has delivered one of three A-50 early warning airplanes to India, the FGUP Rosoboronehksport deputy general director, Aleksandr Mikheev, reported on Wednesday.

"Russia is successfully realizing the contract for the delivery of A-50 airplanes, the Russian counterpart to the AWACS system.  The order was for three airplanes and we already have delivered one airplane," Mikheev said.

Source:  19.08.09, Gazeta.RU

Sukhoy Begins Manufacture of Su-30MK2 Fighters for Vietnam

((For eight aircraft.  Not further translated.))

Source: 19.08.09, Avia.RU

Irkut Concludes Certification of Be-200 Amphibian Airplane to European Standards

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source: 19.08.09, ARMS-TASS

Pratt & Whitney or Rolls-Royce Will Provide Engines for MS-21

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source:  19.08.09, RIA Novosti

Date Posted 19 August 2009

Russian Air Force to Receive 48 Su-35S Fighters

The largest deal in Russia in recent decades for the purchase of combat airplane was entered into within the framework of the aerospace salon that opened today in the Moscow suburb Zhukovskiy.

The Russian Federation defense ministry and the Sukhoy company signed three state contracts for the delivery of aircraft equipment, according to which the aircraft building holding company will manufacture and transfer to the Russian air force in the period from 2010 to 2015 inclusive 48 of the newest multirole, ultra-maneuverable Su-35S fighters, and in 2009 - 20100, 12 Su-27SM and before the end of 2011 - 4 Su-30M2.

Chief of Armed Forces Weapons, deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin and the Sukhoy company general director, Mikhail Pogosyan, put their signatures on the documents.

In 2008, the defense ministry and Sukhoy signed a state contract for the delivery to the Russian Federation air force of 32 Su-34 tactical bombers. Series production of these aircraft is underway at the Novosibirsk V.P. Chkalov Aviation Production Association (NAPO).

In the opinion of the Sukhoy company's general director, Mikhail Pogosyan, entry into the long-term agreements for manufacture of the new airplanes will allow providing full-fledged loading of the holding company's series manufacturing plants on the part of the manufacture of military aircraft equipment and shift the accent from programs for upgrade of airplanes serving in the Russian air force inventory to the manufacture of new product. The delivery of the new fighters will allow not only increasing the country's defense potential and manufacturing rearmed combat aircraft, but also realize a smooth transition to the usage of principally new technologies of next generation fighters. The company is ready fully and in the agreed periods to fulfill the signed contracts.

Source: 18.08.09, Avia.RU

Technical Requirement Signed for Development of Upgraded An-124-100 "Ruslan" Airplane

((No further details.  Not further translated.))

Source: 19.08.09, Avia.RU

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Resume Work on An-70 Program

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source: 19.08.09, Avia.RU

Date Posted 18 August 2009

New Radar Tested on MiG-35

The next stage of MiG-35 flight tests with the "Zhuk-AEh" radar (BRLS) with an active phased array antenna has been concluded successfully, Lenta.RU reports referring to the Interfax agency.

As the deputy general director for science of the developer Fazotron-NIIR, chief designer Yuriy Gus'kov, declared, all modes of its operation against air and ground targets both in the rear hemisphere and in a dog fight were tested during the MiG-35 test flights with the Zhuk-AEh radar. The radar detected and tracked three aerial targets at ranges up to 148 kilometers. The test pilots gave high marks to the radar's capability and the results achieved, Gus'kov emphasized.

We note that the Zhuk-AEh radar was developed especially for installation on the multirole MiG-35 fighter, the publication specifies.

Source: 18.08.09, Avia.RU

India Allocates 122 Million Dollars for Upgrade of "Admiral Gorshkov" Aircraft Carrier

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source: 18.08.09, Avia.RU

Igor' Tkachenko Submitted Resignation Prior to Catastrophe

Russian honored military airman Igor' Tkachenko, who died 16 August in the collision of two "Russian Knights" Su-27 fighters in the skies over Zhukovskiy, had submitted his resignation from the armed forces not long before the catastrophe, Izvestiya writes today.

The Russian Knights were supposed to move to a new base - from Kubinka to Lipetsk. The Knights' commander, Tkachenko, had refused to move from Moscow and submitted his resignation from the air force. "They called him into headquarters and said: 'well, fly at MAKS and you are done.' Igor' thought about it a moment and replied: 'Okay'," a colleague of Tkachenko's told the publication.

It is recalled that yesterday defense minister Anatoliy Serdyukov decided to award Tkachenko posthumously for bravery and heroism.

Source: 18.08.09, Avia.RU

Date Posted 17 August 2009

((Fazotron, who is supposed to be upgrading 63 Indian fighters basically is broke because MiG has not paid them for radar installations.  The Zhuk-MEh builder is being sued by its creditors.  Not further translated.))

 Source:  17.08.09, Avia.RU

Two Well-Known Russian Pilots Lost in Separate Accidents

In the first of two deadly accidents, a single-place Su-27 collided with a twin-place Su-27 of the Russian Knights aerobatic team as they reformed to head back to the airfield after a rehearsal for MAKS-2009, which begins today (17 August 2009). 

Team leader/solo pilot Igor Valentinovich Tkachenko was killed. Igor' Kurilenko and Vitaliy Mel'nik survived. Their injuries are not life-threatening.  Kurilenko has a concussion and broken left ankle.  An earlier report had said he had broken his back, but that was not the case.  Mel'nik has bruising of the soft tissue of both feet. According to one report, there was a bird strike just before the collision. 

Five people were injured on the ground in the village of Rybaka.  All were members of a local gardening society and in the same building when the crash occurred.  They received burns from the resulting fire and all were taken to the hospital.

Four team members were killed in Vietnam in December 1995.

In addition, absolute champion of Europe, Svetlana Fedorenko, who also was supposed to fly at MAKS this week, was killed along with a student in the crash of a Yak-52 sports plane yesterday not far from the village of Gur'evo, Kaluga Oblast'.  Her student, Andrey Khachkovskiy, was the son of the famous military airman, Dmitriy Khachkovskiy, who had flown with the Russian Knights for several years. The Yak-52 had taken off from and airfield in the Serpukhovsk region outside Moscow at 12:40 Moscow time and crashed for unknown reasons.

While it will be business as usual at MAKS-2009 this week, the Russian Knights will not perform.