Russia Aircraft and Aerospace Programs

[Test7]

New details on KB SAT’s AR-10 stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) which is a spin-off of Russia’s first forward-swept wing trainer aircraft SR-10, has emerged.

 

[Saithan]

Russia's New Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle - C4 Defence

Recently, graphics of Russia's new unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) AR-10 were shared

www.c4defence.com

 

[Test7]

Back in 2016, a short notice appeared on the Zakupki public procurement website about an impeding purchase of two Diamond DA42M-NG Twin Star light twin-engine surveillance aircraft for the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service). Given the relatively modest price the sale went almost completely unnoticed. Now, after a few years, we come back to report about the fate of the DA42 aircraft in service with Russia.

The story of using the DA42 as trainers with the Russian Ministry of Defence dates back to 2010-2011 where the requirements for a specialized training version of the DA42 NG, designated DA42T, were written down. Few years later, in 2013, the UZGA (JSC Ural Civil Aviation Plant) factory in Yekaterinburg received a contract from the Ministry of Defence for arranging series assembly of single-engined Diamond DA40s and twin-engined Diamond DA42s, alongside the venerable L-410UVP light haulers once developed by the Czechoslovak company LET Kunovice. The reported order for the Diamond DA42Ts was 35 aircraft in total.

It took the company another few years to achieve the required 100% level of localization of parts and the first three fully locally assembled aircraft (serials 051, 052, 053) were finally delivered in December 2017, with 17 followed in 2018 and 15 in 2019. The DA42Ts, and also the single-engined DA40s, went to the Saint Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation located at the campus in Aviagorodok (Aviation town) next to Pulkovo Airport.

Further DA42Ts were delivered to Balashov Aviation Training Centre of the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation Pilot School (KVVAUL) and are used for training cadets of Russian military transport aviation before they move on to mult-engine aircraft like the An-26 transporter. Due to political sensitivity the aircraft are rarely photographed, the only noted numbers in St.Petersburg are 004, 051, 052, 053 and 054 and in Balashov 02, 06 and 019 Black, with some additional noted construction numbers from photos from the factory in 2019; 42.TR009, 42.TR010 and 42.TR012.

Now, back to the mentioned surveillance version. This one is most likely based on Diamond’s own DA42N Guardian type. An aircraft of this version, coded 402 Black (reported c/n 25402, Russian name Ratnik), has been spotted at the UZGA factory back in 2014, albeit with mock-up of the opto-electronic equipment installed at that time. This aircraft is most probably only used for demonstration purposes. The final version for the FSB, for which two aircraft are known at this moment, was developed by a company RTI AKS (RTI Aerospace Systems) which added a digital aerial surveillance complex, and a broadband and satellite communication line, thus forming an airborne segment of an integrated monitoring system allowing real-time high resolution monitoring of ground and air objects around the clock in all weather conditions. Each of the two aircraft has different onboard equipment – the 421 Black is focused on the optoelectronic sensors, carrying a multifunctional FLIR ball under its nose while the 422 Black carries a BLRK airborne radar electronic complex in a semi-recessed pod under the fuselage. These aircraft are aimed at demonstration of the interaction between the particular components of the entire system via satellite communication channels, as well as assessment of the technical capabilities of the sensors. It is likely that in the future this surveillance system will be used with the unmanned version currently designated as DA42B.

The two already delivered DA42M-NGs went to a Federal State Institution called Military Unit 55056, which, according to open sources, relates to the Department of Material and Technical Support of the FSB of Russia. The maximum price of the contract is was set at RUB 758,28 million (USD 10,2 million in FY 2016) and the delivery was to be completed by 25 November 2017.

Just like the DA42T trainers, the DA42M-NG is also equipped with AE300-E4 series aircraft diesel engines manufactured by Austro Engine which can run on a classic Jet A-1 fuel. All aircraft are sporting the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit consisting of two 12in LCD display panels (Primary Flight Display and Multifunction-Display), GMA Audio Panel, GMC Remote Controller and GRS77 Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS).

Photos: Goncalo Guimaraes, kindly provided by Jetphotos.com and Evgeniy Lebedev, kindly provided by OneSpotter.com

Diamond DA42 – the little known asset of the Russian Armed Forces

Diamond DA42 – the little known asset of the Russian Armed Forces Back in 2016, a short notice appeared on the Zakupki public procurement website about an impeding purchase of two...

www.scramble.nl

 

[Test7]

he first prototype of the upgraded Tu-160M strategic bomber (serial number 4-05, tail number "14", name "Igor Sikorsky", registration number RF-94103), which arrived from Kazan at the flight test and development base of PJSC "Tupolev" in Zhukovsky, 10.03.2021 (c) of PJSC " United Aircraft Corporation"

The plane flew from the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. P. Gorbunov, a branch of PJSC Tupolev. The missile carrier was piloted by the crew under the leadership of the Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation Henri Naskidyants, the flight was carried out in normal mode, the systems and equipment worked without comments.

"The new Tu-160M missile carrier is equipped with new NK-32-02 engines and upgraded on-board equipment, which has improved the characteristics of the base vehicle. The aircraft successfully passed the factory tests. Today, the new missile carrier was transferred to the flight test base of PJSC Tupolev to prepare for the next stage of flights - preliminary tests," the Rostec aviation cluster reported.

The Tu-160M is a modernized strategic missile carrier equipped with four new NK-32-02 engines manufactured by the United Engine Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation). The first prototype Tu-160M was created as part of a large-scale program of modernization of combat aviation complexes of strategic and long-range aviation, which is carried out by PJSC Tupolev.

From the bmpd side, we recall that the first prototype of the modernized Tu-160M strategic bomber was converted from a combat bomber with the serial number 4-05 and the name "Igor Sikorsky", which previously had the tail number" 14 " and the registration number RF-94103. The aircraft made its first flight after the completion of the conversion at the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. P. Gorbunov-a branch of PJSC Tupolev (part of PJSC UAC of the Rostec State Corporation) on February 2, 2020. Then, the new NK-32 series 02 (NK-32-02) engines were installed on the aircraft for testing, the first flight of which was made at the KAZ airfield [...] on November 3, 2020. Now, after the completion of the flight test stage, the first prototype of the upgraded Tu-160M strategic bomber (serial number 4-05, tail number "14", name "Igor Sikorsky", registration number RF-94103) flew to continue testing from Kazan to the flight test and finishing base of PJSC Tupolev in Zhukovsky.

The Tu-160 combat strategic bomber with the tail number " 14 "(serial number 4-05, registration number RF-94103) was named" Igor Sikorsky "in Engels in 2012 in honor of the famous aircraft designer and creator of the world's first multi-engine heavy aircraft" Russian Knight "and"Ilya Muromets". This aircraft made its first flight in 1988 and is one of eight Tu-160s received by the Russian side in 1999 from Ukraine from the former 184th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment in Priluki (where this aircraft had the tail number "22").

The NK-32-02 engine is an upgraded version of the standard NK-32 engine for the Tu-160, and is designed and manufactured by Samara PJSC Kuznetsov (part of PJSC United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation). The NK-32-02 is intended to replace the NK-32 engines on the Tu-160 combat bombers being upgraded to the Tu-160M variant (a total of 15 aircraft are expected to be upgraded), and should also be installed on the new production Tu-160M2 bombers (a total of 10 aircraft have been contracted, the first flight of the aircraft is expected at KAZ in 2021).

It is officially stated that the NK-32 engine of the 02 series has significantly improved characteristics compared to the NK-32, which will allow the Tu-160M/M2 aircraft to increase the flight range by 1000 km.

Serial production of the NK-32 engines was carried out from 1983 to 1993 at the Kuibyshev (Samara) plant.) SPE "Trud" (now PJSC "Kuznetsov"). Since 2013, PJSC "Kuznetsov" has been working on the resumption of production of the NK-32 in the modernized appearance of the "second series". Under the first contract of 2016, PJSC Kuznetsov was to deliver the first four NK-32-02 engines of the installation batch by the end of 2018, which, however, were actually accepted only in August 2020 and then installed on the Tu-160M prototype. In 2018, PJSC Kuznetsov received a State contract for the production of 22 more NK-32-02 engines (presumably for the first four serially upgraded Tu-160M and the new-built head model Tu-160M2, plus two spare ones).

The first prototype of the upgraded Tu-160M strategic bomber (serial number 4-05, tail number "14", name "Igor Sikorsky", registration number RF-94103), which arrived from Kazan at the flight test and development base of PJSC "Tupolev" in Zhukovsky, 10.03.2021 (c) of PJSC " United Aircraft Corporation"

The first upgraded Tu-160M bomber arrived in Zhukovsky

On March 10, 2021, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation) announced that it had handed over the first upgraded Tu-160M missile carrier with new NK-32 02 series engines for preliminary tests. The aircraft will continue to perform the test program at the flight...

vpk.name

 

[Test7]

Seems bomber aircraft died because of tankers I would guess.

and long range guided missiles. Now, instead of dropping tons of bombs to destroy targets, you can hit the target from 90 with smart missiles.

 

[Philip the Arab]

and long range guided missiles. Now, instead of dropping tons of bombs to destroy targets, you can hit the target from 90 with smart missiles.

Problem is it is hard for Egypt to get those items considering MTCR limits on everything. You must make your own items.

Imagine a modernized H-6 with long range cruise missiles, now that would be lethal.

 

[Vergennes]

Three members of a Russian bomber's air crew died when their ejection seats accidentally activated during preflight checks, the military said.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the incident happened at an airbase in the Kaluga region, about 145 kilometres south-west of Moscow.

It said the crew of a Tu-22M3 long-range bomber was preparing for a training mission when its ejection system malfunctioned and accidentally shot the crew out.

The ministry said the altitude wasn't enough for the parachutes to open and three of the four crew members died of injuries.

Russian media reported the victims included Colonel Vadim Beloslyudtsev, the commander of the bomber unit stationed at the Shaikovka airbase near Kaluga.

Russian news reports said the fourth crew member survived the incident and was taken to hospital.

An official investigation into the incident has been launched.

The accidental activation of the rescue system is extremely rare and some experts speculated that it could have been caused by an electrical malfunction or human error.

The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic twin-engine long-range bomber, which is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

About 60 are estimated to remain in service with the Russian air force, and some have flown bombing missions to strike militants in Syria from their bases in Russia.

Three Russian bomber pilots killed when seats accidentally eject

www.9news.com.au

 

[Test7]

Il-112V military transport plane
© Elena Ruzanova/TASS

VORONEZH, March 30. /TASS/. Russia’s latest Il-112V military transport plane successfully completed its second flight from the airfield of the Voronezh Aviation Plant on Tuesday.

The Il-112V took to the skies for its second flight at 11:35 Moscow time and successfully completed it, landing at 12:04 Moscow time.

The new military transport plane performed its debut flight from the aerodrome of the Voronezh Aviation Plant on March 30, 2019. The second flight scheduled for April 2020 was cancelled over the reconstruction of the runway that is now completed.

After its first flight, the Il-112V plane was finalized. In particular, the aircraft manufacturers reduced its weight that was larger than the mass specified by the customer.

The Il-112V is the first military transport plane developed in Russia from scratch in the post-Soviet period. The work on the plane’s development has been going on at the Ilyushin Aircraft Company (part of the United Aircraft Corporation within the state tech corporation Rostec) since 2014.

The Il-112V is designed to carry up to 5 tonnes of cargoes and transport personnel, military hardware and armament. Russia is developing the plane to replace An-26 and An-24 turbo-prop planes. Its serial production is planned from 2023.

Russia’s latest Il-112V military transport plane successfully completes 2nd test flight

The Il-112V is the first military transport plane developed in Russia from scratch in the post-Soviet period

tass.com

 

[Cabatli_TR]

Data acquired by plane-tracking site FlightRadar confirms redeployment of at least two Russian A-50 Aerial Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the country’s western border.

According to an account by a user who posted one of the FlightRadar screengrabs to the Russian Telegram social media site, two Russian A-50 aircraft taking off from Ivanovo (150 miles northeast of Moscow) and landing at Rostov-on-Don (close to the border with Ukraine) and Kaliningrad (Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania).

Russia deploys A-50 airborne early warning aircraft on western border

Data acquired by plane-tracking site FlightRadar confirms redeployment of at least two Russian A-50 Aerial Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the country’s western border. According to an account by a user who posted one of the FlightRadar screengrabs to the Russian Telegram social...

defence-blog.com

 

[Isa Khan]

MOSCOW, May 6. /TASS/. Russia’s latest Mikoyan MiG-35 generation-4++ multirole fighter jet is undergoing its final state trials, Director of the MiG-29M, MiG-35 and Light Multi-Purpose Frontline Aircraft Programs Directorate at the MiG Aircraft Corporation (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) Musheg Baloyan told TASS on Thursday.

More details:- https://tass.com/defense/1286929?fbclid=IwAR1_W5vuaBS-bJB30InrwhvG2MH_C2cuTJfl7-Oap5PwvJD9QxTy69R815Y

 

[TR_123456]

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Russian Su-30 fighter on Tuesday intercepted two Dassault Mirage-2000 fighters and an aerial refuelling tanker of the French Air Force that were approaching the Russian border, Russia's Southern Military District said.
According to the military, Russian radars detected aerial targets approaching the Russian border over neutral Black Sea waters earlier on Tuesday.
"A Su-30 fighter was scrambled to identify the targets and prevent illegal border crossing ... The crew of the Russian fighter identified the aerial targets as two Mirage-2000 tactical aviation aircraft and one S-135 aerial refuelling tanker of the French Air Force, and escorted them over the Black Sea", the Southern Military District said, stressing that any illegal crossing of the Russian border had been prevented.

Russian Su-30 Intercepts Three French Military Aircraft Over Black Sea

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Russian Su-30 fighter on Tuesday intercepted two Dassault Mirage-2000 fighters and an aerial refuelling tanker of the French Air Force that were approaching the Russian border, Russia's Southern Military District said.

sputniknews.com

 

[Vergennes]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1392104172531630085

 

[Vergennes]

French Fighters Packing High-Tech Surveillance Pods Just Probed Russian Defenses​

French Fighters Packing High-Tech Surveillance Pods Just Probed Russian Defenses

A Russian fighter crew caught a rare glimpse of a secretive French surveillance operation this week.

www.forbes.com

 

[Isa Khan]

Russian plane maker Sukhoi is developing a next-generation single-engine fighter, an industry source has told TASS news agency.

According to TASS, Russian state aerospace company Sukhoi is now developing new light tactical fighter aircraft.

“The Sukhoi company is developing a single-engine light tactical plane with the takeoff weight of up to 18 tonnes. The plane’s maximum speed will be above 2 Mach. It will also have super-maneuverability and improved takeoff and landing performance, thanks to a thrust vector control engine. The plane’s thrust-to-weight ratio will be above 1,” news agency reported, citing an industry source.

In general, a single-engine aircraft is better in terms of cost and (less) maintenance requirement and Russia plans to develop new light combat aircraft to replace the aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 close-support aircraft.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told reporters in December 2020 that the company was working on the concept of an advanced single-engine light-and medium-class piloted and unmanned combat plane.

“Work is underway to develop a combat aviation system of the future in its light and medium classes. Under the design, this may be a universal platform in the manned and unmanned versions. The company is working on the concept and the operational requirements for such a platform. We are doing this on our own initiative so far, without [federal] budget funds,” the Rostec chief said.

Russia develops new single-engine fighter aircraft

Russian plane maker Sukhoi is developing a next-generation single-engine fighter, an industry source has told TASS news agency. According to TASS, Russian state aerospace company Sukhoi is now developing new light tactical fighter aircraft. “The Sukhoi company is developing a single-engine light...

defence-blog.com

 

[Isa Khan]

https://www.facebook.com/UAC.RUSSIA/posts/4617751981573348

The first heavy transport aircraft Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A, assembled at the new assembly line at the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP (part of Rostec's UAC), was transferred to the flight test station of the aircraft factory.

"This is a landmark event for the enterprise. It confirms the ability of the Ulyanovsk aircraft manufacturers' team to effectively solve the most important tasks. The introduction of the new technological process will further contribute to increasing the volume of serial production of more than ten aircraft per year," said Sergey Sheremetov, Managing Director of Aviastar-SP.

In contrast to the previously used technology, the new assembly line in Aviastar-SP will reduce the complexity of aircraft assembly by 38%. The line consists of ten workstations for docking the fuselage, wing, and tail compartments and stations for mounting the aircraft's power plants and systems. It is equipped with a laser positioning system of units, which ensures high accuracy of docking of all elements of the aircraft

It was announced in 2010 that the production of a modernized Il-76 Candid, the Il-76MD-90A (also known as project Il-476 during the design stage), would begin; a proposed new production line would be located in Aviastar's facility in Ulyanovsk, Russia, and be operated in cooperation with the Tashkent works. At that point, the construction of two Il-76MD-90A prototypes had begun at the Ulyanovsk facility. The 1st Il-76MD-90A was rolled out at Aviastar's Ulyanovsk plant on 16 June 2014. On 29 April 2015, it was reported that the Russian Air Force received the first Il-76MD-90A built at the Ulyanovsk plant "Aviastar-SP" from the 2012 contract for 39 aircraft. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) received its first serial production Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A airlifter on 2 April 2019. As of early 2021, 27 aircraft are ordered to be delivered in the period up to 2028 and 9 had been built.

First in-line Il-76MD-90A assembled and handed over for testing in Ulyanovsk

The first heavy transport aircraft IIlyushin l-76MD-90A, assembled at the new assembly line at the Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP (part of Rostec's UAC), was transferred to the flight test station of the aircraft factory.

www.airrecognition.com

 

[TR_123456]

After the foreign military plane turned away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield

MiG-31 fighter
© Lev Fedoseyev/TASS

MOSCOW, June 4. /TASS/. A MiG-31 fighter intercepted a US Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea, the Northern Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.
On June 4, Russian radars detected an aerial target over the Barents Sea approaching Russia’s state border, the press office said in a statement.
"A MiG-31 fighter of the Northern Fleet’s air defense quick reaction alert forces was scrambled to identify the aerial target and prevent the violation of the Russian state border. The Russian fighter’s crew identified the aerial target as a US Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft," the statement says.
After the foreign military plane turned away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield, the press office said.


"The Russian fighter’s flight proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace. No violations of the Russian state border were allowed," it stressed.

Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepts US military plane over Barents Sea

After the foreign military plane turned away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield

tass.com

 

[Ryder]

Russia still uses MIG 31's??

Damn!!

 

[Ghost soldier]

Russian Armed Forces are to deploy an additional fighter squadron on the Kamchatka peninsula, according to local media.

Russia has sent a “squadron” of Sukhoi Su-35 “Flanker-E” heavy fighter jets to the 1250km-long Kamchatka peninsula located in the country’s Far East.

Bordering the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka is one of the most important outposts in the region where the interests of the United States, China and Japan collide.

Russian media said that Su-35S fighters will join MiG-31 interceptors of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s 317th Composite Aviation Regiment at Yelizovo airfield. The regiment currently operates two squadrons of MiG-31B and MiG-31BS aircraft, two squadrons of Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, a squadron of Il-38 ASW aircraft, as well as Forpost and Orlan unmanned aerial vehicles, small transport aircraft, and other helicopters.

Earlier, the journalists learned that the Yelizovo airbase is expected to be seriously updated. At airbase will build concrete shelters for new combat aircraft and modernize communications and navigation systems. Work has already begun this spring.
source:

https://defence-blog.com/russia-deploys-su-35s-heavy-fighters-to-kamchatka-peninsula/

 

[Cabatli_TR]

Russian state media reported Tuesday that a An-26 passenger plane went missing over the Kamchatka Peninsula. Photo by British Ministry of Defense/EPA-EFE/RAF
Enlarge Photo
July 6 (UPI) -- A Russian passenger plane with more than 25 people on board has gone missing over the eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday, according to state-run media.

The Russian An-26 airplane with 22 passengers and six crew on board was en route from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the village of Palana in far eastern Russia when it stopped communicating, the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the Kamchatka Territory said, TASS news agency reported.

"Communication with the An-26 of the Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise, heading from Petropavlovsk to Palana village was interrupted," the Far Eastern Transport Prosecutor's Office told the news agency. "The vessel did not land."

Russia has experienced several major airplane accidents in recent years, including in May 2019 when a burning Aeroflot plane crash-landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in May 2015, killing 41 people.

The worst plane crash in the country's history occurred on Oct. 31, 2015, when a passenger airliner crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing the 224 people on board.

This is a developing story.

More than two dozen feared dead after plane crashes in east Russia - UPI.com

Russian authorities said Tuesday they have found the wreckage of a missing passenger plane in the Kamchatka territory, nearly 2 and a half miles from the airport in Palana.

www.upi.com

 

[Isa Khan]

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport is holding talks with five countries interested in buying the Su-57 fifth-generation multirole fighter, Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said at the MAKS-2021 air show on Tuesday.

"This is one of the world’s best fighters based on its operational characteristics. It undoubtedly has various advantages. Here, at the air show, we will hold a presentation for our partners that will feature the latest aircraft-launched weapons both on external and internal hardpoints. That is why, we expect high demand for this aircraft in coming years. Five countries have already shown interest in this project. We are holding consultations," the chief executive said.

The Su-57 has triggered great interest, considering that a government contract has been signed for this fighter under Russia’s state armament program, the Rosoboronexport chief said, noting that there was fierce competition from US, European and Chinese companies on the world combat aircraft market.

Delegations from about 20 foreign countries have arrived to attend the MAKS air show, Mikheyev said.

Russia’s Su-57 fighter​

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian-made fifth-generation multirole fighter designated to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing a supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment. This includes a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), and a radar system spread across its body along with some other innovations, in particular, an armament placed inside its fuselage.

Five countries interested in Russia’s state-of-the-art Su-57 fifth-generation fighter

The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing a supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment

tass.com