Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Russia's Lethal Yak-130 Fighter: The Tiny Terror NATO Should Fear

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In the world of Russian jet fighters, Moscow’s finest — such as the Flanker and the fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50 — tend to grab the most headlines.

But the Yakovlev Yak-130, a comparatively non-glamorous twin-seat jet trainer, is quietly turning heads … because it’s obviously more than just a trainer. The twin-engine jet dubbed “Mitten” by Western intelligence is now showing its credentials as a genuine multi-role fighter.

When an air force wants to maximize its combat potential, a trainer — even a jet-powered one — might not be the most obvious choice of aircraft.

But today’s multi-role combat trainers are a viable and comparatively low-cost alternative to conventional fighters — even one that originates from behind the former Iron Curtain.

Like many post-Soviet military projects, it took a long time before any pilots got their hands on the Yak-130. But now the aircraft is showing up at the Russian air force’s advanced flight training schools.

Further, the Kremlin has
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to Belarus, a close military ally of Moscow. Previously, the Kremlin delivered Yak-130s
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, another established customer of Russian-made warplanes.

The Yak-130 has three hard-points under each wing. That means it can carry up to three tons of air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, free-fall bombs, rockets, gun pods and external fuel tanks.

Another two stations at the wingtips can carry air-to-air missiles or decoy launchers to spoof enemy heat-seeking missiles. That’s not at all. Under its belly, the plane can carry a hard-hitting 23-millimeter cannon.

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reveal the next stage in the Yak-130’s maturation to a combat aircraft. In the photos, a Yak wearing the latest Russian military markings has a characteristic “bump” in front of the cockpit. This could house the LD-130 laser rangefinder and TV camera for identifying targets and improving the accuracy of its weapons.

Another option for a future upgrade is a flight refueling probe, which would expand the jet’s range for offensive missions.

A fully armed and fueled Yak-130 tips the scales at 22,700 pounds. That’s only a little more than half the weight of a fully-loaded F-16 Fighting Falcon, the primary multi-role fighter of the U.S. Air Force and many of its allies.

Hang two 500-pound bombs, a gun pod and a pair of fuel tanks on a Yak-130 and it will have a maximum operational radius of 367 nautical miles. That’s fairly respectable compared to the F-16, which will haul two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9 Sidewinders and a pair of external fuel tanks over a radius of 740 nautical miles.

The subsonic Yak-130 belongs to a class of aircraft known as lead-in fighter trainers — or LIFTs. For a modern-day air force, LIFTs allow student pilots to familiarize themselves with the advanced technology they’ll encounter once strapped into a front-line fighter’s cockpit.

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Miragedriver

Brigadier
Russia Developing New Interceptor, and Progressing with Bomber
Russian air force commander Gen. Victor Bondarev has revealed development of a new interceptor, which will be a MiG, with no connection to the Sukhoi T-50 program (inset). Bondarev also gave updates on other acquisitions. (Photos: Vladimir Karnozov)

Russia will fly the prototype next-generation strategic bomber in 2019 and develop a new interceptor by 2020 to replace the MiG-31 fleet. Addressing the media on Russian Air Force Day (August 12) the service’s commander, Gen. Victor Bondarev, also said a new combat aircraft with forward-swept wings is under development and could emerge soon as a prototype.

Production of the PAKDA strategic bomber will start in 2021-22, with flight-testing concluding in 2023 so that the aircraft can enter service later that year, according to Bondarev. The commander confirmed that the new bomber is subsonic. It will eventually replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160.

In a recent media exchange, Vladislav Mosolov, head of Russia’s United Engine Corp (ODK), was quoted as saying that the PAKDA’s engine will be a development of the Tu-160’s NK-32 “second edition” engine and use its gas-generator (core). ODK intends to invest $220 million of its own money in the project over and above the approved government funding.

The new interceptor is sometimes referred to as the MiG-41. Bondarev said it forms part of the current Russian armament program, which ends in 2020. Plans call for replacement of the entire MiG-31 fleet by 2028.

Meanwhile, operational examples of the Sukhoi PAKFA fifth-generation fighter (manufacturer’s designation T-50) will be delivered to the Russian air force in 2016. Military pilots are already flying one industry-owned T-50 at the flight-test and armament trials center (Russian acronym Glits) at Akhtubinsk airbase in southern Russia.

Bondarev confirmed that earlier this year the Russian MoD placed an order worth more than $470 million for 16 MiG-29SMT multirole lightweight fighters. Delivery is scheduled for “within two to three years.” These will supplement 28 such aircraft already in service. Bondarev further stated that the contract for the MiG-35 will be signed later this year. The Russian air force will continue upgrade efforts on the MiG-29 fleet to keep the type in service for “another 10 to 15 years, maybe more.”

The commander also revealed the cancellation of plans for a light strike aircraft based on the Yak-130 jet trainer.

Bondarev expects deliveries of Il-76MD-90A strategic airlifters to begin later this year, with 39 contracted for delivery by 2020. The air force also wants to receive some Il-96 airliners, from the order for 14 placed recently by the Russian government, for delivery by 2024. The military would use the aircraft as tankers and transports, according to Bondarev.

The Russian air force continues to build its presence in the Arctic. It has reopened Temp and Rogachevo aerodromes, and work is in progress in Tiksi, Anadyr and Vorkuta. “We must withhold that region. Almost 49 percent of the Arctic territory belongs to Russia, and we shall defend it,” Bondarev said. Plans call for complete radar coverage of Russia’s northern regions.


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...
what's more interesting (comes the same TV report) is this:
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briefly in English:
...
... you can read about it from Jane's
Russia's long-range strikes in Syria come to an end
Russia's assertion that it has doubled its air power over Syria by using its long-range bombers has proved to be a temporary expedient.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that aircraft flying from Russian bases carried out the first long-range strikes on 17 November, but no additional strikes have been reported since 20 November.

The Russian MoD said 101 air- and sea-launched cruise missiles were used against targets in Syria during that period and that 18 were launched by naval vessels of the Caspian Flotilla, meaning the other 83 were launched by long-range bombers.

Russian military video imagery of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers being loaded and launching weapons showed the cruise missiles included both the Kh-555, a variant of the Kh-55 with conformal fuel tanks, and the reduced radar cross-section Kh-101.

The Russian MoD said a total of 1,400 tonnes of ordnance was used during the strikes, a figure that included the unguided bombs that were seen being dropped from Tupolov Tu-22M3 aircraft in a video released by the MoD.

The weapons started hitting their targets within hours of the Kremlin confirming that the Russian airliner that crashed in Sinai on 31 October was brought down by a bomb, as claimed by the local branch of the Islamic State.

The Russian MoD said the long-range strikes hit Islamic State and 'terrorist' targets in Idlib, Aleppo, Al-Raqqah, and Dayr al-Zawr provinces. It released footage of airstrikes hitting oil facilities in parts of eastern Syria that are controlled by the Islamic State.

Colonel Steve Warren, the spokesman for the US-led operation against the Islamic State, confirmed on 18 November that a Russian "air armada" had attacked the Islamic State stronghold in Al-Raqqah, but described the Russian tactics as "antiquated".
source:
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Oct 20, 2015
now Project 22350 ...
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sailed for the final part of State acceptance-trials (before commissioning), of "technical means and weaponry" ...
... and recently, while at the White Sea, test-fired the Kalibr-family missiles against
  • a land target
  • a simple sea-target
  • a complex sea-target
(I wouldn't know the details :) am just posting what the source
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said)
 

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Ten Russian Navy ships involved in anti-terrorist operation in Syria — defense minister
The Russian Caspian flotilla warships on Friday launched 18 cruise missiles at terrorist positions in Syria hitting seven targets

MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Ten ships of the Russian Navy are involved in the anti-terrorism operation in Syria, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

"The naval group comprises ten ships, six of them are in the Mediterranean," the minister said.

Shoigu said the Caspian flotilla warships on Friday launched 18 cruise missiles at terrorist positions in Syria hitting seven targets.

"On November 20, the Caspian flotilla warships launched 18 cruise missiles at seven targets in the Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces of Syria. All the targets were hit," Shoigu said.

On October 7, the Caspian flotilla warships took part in an operation against the Islamic State terrorist group. They delivered a massive cruise missile strike at the IS targets in Syria from the Kalibr NK sea-based complex from the Caspian Sea water area.

Russia has banned the Islamic State in its territory as an extremist terrorist organization.



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Miragedriver

Brigadier
What Happened to Russia's Last MiG-29 Regiment?
Three advanced Su-30SM fighter jets have reportedly been put into service at a Russian Aerospace Forces regiment based in the country's Rostov region.

A Russian Aerospace Forces regiment stationed in the country's Rostov region got its first three sophisticated Su-30SM fighters, according to the press service of the Southern Military District.

The press service said that twenty more such warplanes will be delivered to the Rostov regiment before the end of this year.

Experts from the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies have, meanwhile, argued that the regiment is the last Russian Aerospace Forces unit to still include the Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters.

The experts referred to the unit as the 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 1st Mixed Air Division of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

They said that in light of the planned deliveries of the Su-30SMs and MiG-29SMT to the Rostov regiment, it is already safe to say that the "career" of the MiG-29 fighters in the regiment has come to a close.

The MiG-29SMT is an improved version of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft, designed by the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG.The plane is equipped with high-precision air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, which can deliver high combat efficiency against aerial-, ground-, and sea-based targets. The aircraft incorporates enhanced cockpit and avionics, additional fuel tanks, an upgraded engine, and increased weapons carriage capacity.

As for the Su-35SM, it is a super maneuverable multirole 4++ generation Russian jet fighter. It was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau as a modernized version of the Su-30MK fighter family.

Its equipment has been adjusted to meet the requirements of the Russian Aerospace Forces, including its radio-radar and communication systems, modernized ejection seat as well as advanced support systems.

On August 1, 2015, the Russian Air Force, along with the Aerospace Defense Forces and the Air Defense Troops, was merged into a new branch of the Armed Forces: the Russian Aerospace Forces.

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, "the single command unites aviation, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, space forces and means of the armed forces."

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Miragedriver

Brigadier
After the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian Su-24, Moscow has decided to deploy some air defense systems to western Syria.

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Following the downing of a
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on Nov. 24, that caused the death of one pilot (the other one was rescued and brought back to Latakia on the following day) Moscow has decided to put in place some new measures to protect its air group operating in northwestern Syria.

First of all, all the Russian attack planes will be escorted by
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during their missions against ground targets in Syria (previously, they operated without air cover).

Second, Moscow has decided to deploy at least one S-400 SAM battery to Latakia, to protect its planes from aerial threats in a range of 250 miles. As explained
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, the S-400 (SA-21 “Growler” according to the NATO designation) is believed to be able to engage all types of aerial targets including VLO (Very-Low Observable) aircraft within the range of about 400 km at an altitude of nearly 19 miles.

Third, Russia has already moved the
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off the coast of Latakia. Equipped with early warning systems and outfitted with 8 S-300F Fort anti-air systems with a range of 90 km and ceiling at 25,000 mt. Actually, the cruiser has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean to provide cover to the Russian air forces in Syria
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The following infographic, prepared by
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details most of the weapon and sensor systems aboard the Slava-class cruiser.

Needless to say, with all the air defense systems amassing in the area, the 18 Turkish Air Force F-16s currently on CAP (Combat Air Patrol) station at the Syrian border, while the Russian jets conduct airstrikes in the Turkmen mountains (more or less in the same area where Su-24 pilots ejected yesterday), have something more to be worried about.


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Miragedriver

Brigadier
Russian Defense Ministry Video Proves Su-24 Never Entered Turkish Airspace

While authorities in Ankara have insisted that it shot down the Russian Su-24 bomber after the aircraft entered Turkish airspace, the Russian Defense Ministry has released video proving that the plane never left Syrian airspace.

According to a leaked letter written to the UN Security Council by the Turkish Ambassador, Turkey’s military justified the shooting down of a Russian bomber by claiming that the aircraft had entered Turkish airspace for 17 seconds.


But flight data released by Russian Ministry of Defense shows that the Su-24s never entered Turkey, and were attacked while performing legitimate maneuvers over Syria.

On Tuesday, Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian Su-24M Fencer bomber. One of the pilots has been confirmed dead by Russian authorities, shot by rebel ground units after ejecting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incident as a "stab in the back, carried out against us by accomplices of terrorists."

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