ROY'S RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT RESOURCE

The "Berkut" Will not Go to England.  In its Place, the Su-32 Will be Sent to the Airshow at Farnborough

((EXTRACT/GIST))  The Su-32 will be shown at Farnborough this summer, according to Mikhail Pogosyan.  This aircraft can destroy target not only in the traditional way with medium range R-27 air-to-air missiles of various modifications and short-range R-60 and R-73 missiles, but also with medium range RVV-AE missiles with active seekers, air-to-surface Kh-29 missiles with television and laswer guidance, KAB-500 and KAB-1500 guided bombs of various modifications, the Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles, the Kh-31A anti-ship missiles, and also the Kh-59 with television and command guidance (((TELEVIZIONNO-KOMANDOE NAVEDENIE)). 

The Russian air force is very interested in the Su-32, which is to replace the aging Su-24.  It is expected that after a cycle of tests of this aircraft is completed that the air force will begin to procure them if it is able.   As regards foreign customers, first on the list is Libya where there are 60 Su-24 on the roles. 

The technological and scientific potential of the Sukhoy AVPK (including the Sukhoy OKB, the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk aircraft production enterprises, and also the Taganrog Beriev ANTK) allows this largest of Russian defense complexes and leader of domestic military aircraft construction to succesfully concentrate on contracts and deals with foreign customers because of ther work on the construction of a new generation of combat aircraft.  They are conducting this work on the basis of the fifth generation S-37 "Berkut" prototype with forward-swept wings.  According to Pogosyan, this aircraft has completed three serious test stages, during which the sound barrier was overcome.  The secrecry surrounding thi S-37 remains tight. 

As it has become known, despite original plans, the "Berkut" will not fly to the airshow at Farnborough.  The Ministry of Defense, the FSB, and the Russian Federation's State Technical Commission have come out against its  appearance in England.  These departments all are afraid that the British intelligence service, MI-6, wwould use the aircraft's appearance on its territory as an optportunity to become familiar with design details of this aircraft, of which no ther similar aircraft exists in the world.

Source:  27.06.00, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Igor' Korotchenko