Date Posted 12 February 2010

More Impetuous and Threatening

The second flight of the Russian fifth generation fighter turned out just as successful as the first. This time the airplane was tested in a new appearance - it was painted in Russian air force colors.

The second test flight of the new Russian fifth generation fighter took place at the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur airfield on Friday, which turned out to be just as successful as the first. "The flight lasted almost an hour - 57 minutes. All airplane parts and systems performed excellently. Honored test pilot of Russia Sergey Bogdan piloted the fighter, a source in the defense industrial complex reported to Interfax-AVN.

According to the agency's source, a flight of the future tactical aviation aircraft complex (PAK FA) - what they still are call this fighter - took place exactly two weeks ago, on 29 January. "The fighter was dispatched in a new appearance already in the second test flight - several days ago it was painted in the colors of Russia's air force - gray and blue disrupted camouflage. The aircraft looks even more impetuous and threatening from it," the agency's source said. At the same time he added that it is planned to make several more test flights at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur, after which the fighter will be rebased to the Moscow suburb Zhukovskiy at the Gromov Flight Test Institute, where it will undergo the main part of flight tests.

"As regards the PAK FA tests for combat usage, they will take place at the Russian Federation ministry of defense State Flight Test Center at Akhtubinsk (Astrakhan Oblast')," the source noted.

The PAK FA being developed by the Sukhoy company will be distinguished by high intellectualization of the aircraft, all-round instrumentation, and all-aspect targeting. PAK FA characteristic features also will be multi-role capability (ability to resolve missions for both aerial and ground targets in any weather and time of day); super maneuverability; low observability in the optical, infrared and radar wave ranges; supersonic cruise flight and the ability to take off and land using runway section 300 - 400 meters long. The fifth generation airplane is equipped with a principally new avionics complex, an integrated "electronic pilot" function and a future radar with an active phased antenna array (AFAR). It reduces the workload on the airman to significant degree and allows concentrating on the performance of the tactical missions. The new airplane's on-board equipment allows exchanging data in real time both with ground control systems and within an airborne group.

It is planned that serial deliveries to the troops of the PAK FA will begin from 2015. The first prototypes of the preproduction batch is supposed to reach the Lipetsk Center for Combat Application and Cross Training of Flight Personnel in 2013.

Source: 12.02.10, Interfax

A Fighter with "Human Intelligence"

((This very long article (over 3,000 words) is not translated here; however, sub-heads are translated and the translator includes comments where he deems necessary, within double parenthesis as always.  Anyone wishing a full translation may contract with your friendly translator at his usual rates.))

The Russian military complex has created a fifth generation airplane that will cost less than American counterparts.

The T-50's start has inspired air force reform

((Deliveries to begin in 2015.  Because of the T-50's capabilities, the air force will be reorganized into one tactical or operational tactical command, eliminating separate strike and air defense elements.))

In pursuit of the American Raptor

((Work on a fifth generation aircraft actually began in the 1980s, but the collapse of the Soviet Union meant Russia had to shelve the idea for some years.))

The "Berkut" did not succeed

((Test pilot Igor' Votintsev made first flight in the S-37-1 "Berkut" on 25 September 1997.  It was recognized as having no future early in the beginning of the 21st century.  Many experts believe the PAK FA already will be obsolescent by the time it enters service in 2015, even if it does reach the troops by then.))

The "fifth" ((generation fighter)) has been tried out piecemeal

((Elements of the T-50 have been tested on the Su-27 and Su-30, and the Su-47 "Berkut" became its flying laboratory.  Nearly 70 percent of the T-50 was built using composites, according to information available to Gazeta.))

The new airplane is not a detriment to customers

((Because elements of the T-50 are being used in exported aircraft.))

Tooling without paper

((There are no drawings of the aircraft, only computer models. Everything was compiled in electronic format, most likely CAD-CAM.))

What propels the fighter

((So far the T-50 is powered by an upgraded Su-27 engine as the final engine still has not been selected from the two being built by Salyut and Saturn.))

Honored test pilot and hero of Russia Colonel Igor' Malikov: "It's no secret that military aircraft are unprofitable"

Fire and forget

((Weapons systems.))

Climate control is not enough for comfort

((They are trying at least to make the ejection seat softer and more comfortable.))

Thrust vectoring sometimes is earth-oriented

The fifth generation - satisfaction does not come cheaply

Russian air force commander-in-chief General-Colonel Aleksandr Zelin: "The appearance of a new air defense system is inevitable with the appearance of fifth generation airplanes."

Russian Federation armed forces armaments chief (1994 - 2001), General-Colonel Anatoliy Sitnov: "We will finish the T-50 more quickly than the Americans did their F-22."

Konstantin Makienko, deputy director for the Center of Strategy and Technologies Analysis: "Fifth generation airplanes have one deficiency - a huge price tag."

Source: 12.02.10, Gazeta, Correspondents: Anastasiya Novikova, Liliya Biryukova, Denis Tel'manov, Nadezhda Tikhomirova

Date Posted 10 February 2010

Vietnam Purchases 12 Su-30MK2 Fighters from Russia

((To be delivered in 2011 - 2012.  Vietnam also will receive weapons for the aircraft and spare parts both for these 12 aircraft as well as Sukhoy fighters purchased previously.  Boat stuff not translated.))

Source: 10.02.10, Interfax

First Batch of MiG-29K Fighters Undergo Flight Tests in India

((Flown by Russian pilots after aircraft were reassembled at Hansa airbase.  Not further translated.))

Source: 10.02.10, Avia.RU

Date Posted 09 February 2010

Signing of Contracts for MS-21 to Begin in 2010

There was a press conference today at the transportation ministry in which the Russian Federation minister of transportation, Igor' Levitin, the general director of the Aeroflot airline, Vitaliy Savel'ev, and the deputy manager of GK Rostekhnologiya, Igor' Zav'yalov, took part.  

According to Igor' Levitin, contracts are to be signed in 2010 with Russian airplane for obtaining MS-21 airplanes.

The MS-21 is a short to medium range airplane project which is supposed to replace the Tu-154 and the Tu-204 family by 2016. The MS-21 program is being developed jointly by the Yakovlev Experimental Design Bureau and the Irkut corporation.

The MS-21 project is intended to carry passengers, baggage and freight on domestic and international flight routes and should be able to compete successfully with Western counterparts on all geographical markets. The creation of a family of airplanes is being planned that are distinguished in length and passenger capacity -- 150, 180 and 210 seat respectively.

It is expected that construction of prototypes will begin from 2010, the airplane will make first flight in 2014 and the airplane's certification and deliveries will begin in 2016.

Source: 09.02.10, Aviation Explorer
Date Posted 08 February 2010

Kamov Counting on the "Little One"

They are preparing a new helicopter for mass production

Certification of the new Russian Ka-226T helicopter will be over in 2012, the managing director of the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPP), Sergey Mikryukov, reported yesterday to Vremya Novostey. He thinks that this lightweight helicopter will be the main product of the enterprise that right now is specializing in the output of heavy rotary-winged aircraft.

The Ka-226T is participating in a tender announced by the Indian government. The winner will receive an order for the delivery to that country of 97 aircraft and the organization of licensed production of 100 more helicopters in India itself. Regardless of the tender results, marketing results of the Vertolety Rossii ((Helicopters of Russia) holding company, in which KumAPP is included, estimates the sale on the export and domestic markets of not less than 800 Ka-226T in the next 15 years.

However, right now KumAPP's main business is the Ka-27/28/31 maritime helicopters for various purposes and the transport and firefighting Ka-32, which was designed on the very same platform.  In which connection, 80 percent of this product is going for export, Mr. Mikryukov reported.

Kamov is the only company in the world that designs coaxial helicopters - with two rotors rotating in opposite directions, without a tail rotor. This feature imparts specific capabilities to the Ka aircraft that are especially required at sea: The ability to take off from a pitching deck and return to it and to hover motionless in the air.

KumAPP is fulfilling an order for 18 aircraft of the Chinese navy - nine Ka-28 antisubmarine (six of which already were delivered last year) and nine electrical intelligence and targeting Ka-31 helicopters. The enterprise also has a contract among orders on hand for five Ka-31 for India's navy and two Ka-32 for Azerbaijan (deliveries are expected as early as this year). It also is known that the Russian military submitted an order last year to KumAPP for the 23D2 "internal" Russian version of the Ka-31 radar helicopter. Mr. Mikryukov refused to discuss the physical and financial parameters of this order, referring to state secrecy and he added only that Vertolety Rossii is negotiating with the defense ministry about deliveries of the Ka-27, an antisubmarine helicopter which is a counterpart to the "Chinese" Ka-28.

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