Indian SSN plans and Nerpa leasing

''Nerpa will help India in its objective to have three SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines with long-range missiles) and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the long-term" - wrights Rajat Pandit  in 'The Times of India'. His article was written in the wake of the news from Russia, confirming, that a group of Indian personal (50 crewmen with 8-10 officers between them) is coming to Russia for training on Akula-II class submarine.

Interestingly, I was right, when early have supposed the existence of Indian SSN ambitions and the link between them and the Nerpa leasing. It's despite only few information was about this in media. But sometimes it's easy to guess... I think, I will not be much wrong if say, that 1) the design works are already started and 2) the prospective Indian SSN will be based on Akula-II technologies and constructive solutions.

Putin's trip in India. Results

After many unofficial commentaries in press it's may be interesting to bring briefly the list of outcomes according to Russia's Government site:

Documents signed:

1) Intergovernmental agreement about cooperation in nuclear sphere.
2) The road map of peaceful nuclear cooperation for 2010.
3) Joint venture for GLONASS equipment - establishment document.
4) Inter-ministerial memorandum about bilateral trade of fertilizers .
5) Framework agreement on fertilizers trade.

Verbal agreements (as resulted from Putin's speech):

1) Two Indian astronauts in 2013.
2) Cooperation in space research and particularly - in Lunar program.
3) Follow cooperation in mil. sphere including 5th gen. fighter program.
4) Russia confirmed literally: 'to not cooperate with Pakistan, taking into consideration India's concerns'.
5) Joint fighting terrorism.
6) Students exchange activation.
7) Mutual recognition of university certificates.

Early signed:
1) + 29 MiG-29K/KUB's for Vikramaditya carrier.
2) Additional agreement on Vikramaditya price.

Early declared:
1) + 42 Su-30MKI agreement in negotiation, will be signed till 2010 end.

Don't I miss something?

Topol-M and other stuff video

The May 9 Victory Day rehearsal in Russia. First time Topol-M missiles on an 8-axle chassis are demonstrated in number.

PAK FA with 'Brahmos'

The PAK FA chief designer Alexander Davydenko said, that during development work, the fight between T-50 and F-22 was modeled with good outcome for T-50. He also informed that the new avionics, weapon systems are already exist but will appeared latter since the 1st prototype is not ready for actually weapon carrying. The 2015 as the end term for starting serial supply was confirmed too. 

Most inportant he said, T-50 will be built together with India 'in parity principle 50 and 50%', and can be equipped with 'Brahmos' missiles. It's first official confirmation about possibility of 'Brahmos' installation on PAK FA/FGFA fighter. However, it's not clear whether these missiles would be installed internally or externally. Anyway, it can be 1-2 missiles only due to heavy weight of 'Brahmos' supersonic missile. 

PAK FA and PAK DA plans

More 3 prototypes of PAK FA will be built in 2010 end - 2011 years for tests intensifying, - said Sukhoi chief Pogosyan after the big meeting with Putin, where all aircraft and engine design bureaus chiefs have speeched. Details - latter, follow updates of the blog!

Pogosyan: The 2nd stage engine for PK FA will be ready after 2015

Russian 'United Airbuilding Corporation' (UAC) will be the system integrator of 2nd stage engine for 5th gen fighter,- said today Mikhail Pogosyan, the Sukhoi corp chief.

According to ARMS-TASS, he also have said, that the 'United Engine-building Corporation' will merge 'Salut' corp - second prominent center of gas-turbine manufacturing and design in Russia. 'The specification of the prospective engine is decided, but the whole time of development will take 10-12 years, so this engine will not be ready in 2015 for sure'? - he said.

He also marked that there is nothing critical with the fact that the tests of PAK FA have started with 1st stage engine. 'THe plane took-off with the engine, which was projected for this fighter, 'it's very modern device, allowing long term exploitation of the plane'. The plane will start its service in RuAF with the 1st phase engine.

As regards 2nd phase engine, the terms of the program need elaboration, it will be decided during 2010 - 2011 maximum , he added. During Putin visit to 'Sukhoi' facility in Moscow Pogosyan also declared that 27 degree AoA was achieved throughout last PAK FA testing. 'When Su-27 was tested, such AoA was achieved only after some months of active testing' he added.

PAK FA from technological POV

An interesting video about T-50 program was published by Russian 'Roscosmos TV'. The follow text is my translation to English:

Short acceleration – 200 m only – and the take-off is done! Other aircrafts can do this only from carriers. However, the Russian 5^th gen fighter has a number of features allow it to take-off from a short horizontal airstrip. The 5^th gen engine effectively provides it.

Ilia Fedorov, the Supervising Director of NPO 'Saturn', deputy general director of the Russian 'United Engine-building Corporation' (UEBC) tells about the difference of  t-50's engine: 

-         "It has different thrust, naturally different tuning control. The number of constructive differences allow better thrust with lower fuel consumption. And the most important – it has totally different system of control".

The Russian 5th generation

An interesting article of Peter Butowsky appeared in the French Air&Cosmos Magazine. I put here the original text and the translation in Russian. From interesting moments could be noted a sentence that the light 5th gen tactical aircraft variant will be developed starting from 2012.

PAK-FA: the first flight

The new 5^th  generation fighter prototype T-50-1 ('izdelie 701'), developed within the framework of the Indo-Russian PAKFA/FGFA program, has made its first flight at Jan. 29 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. It was 47 min on the air. Despite the wrap of secrecy, the look of the fighter appeared very close to that, previously described in the most reliable Russian publications. So, everybody can now compare what was said about the PAK FA specs before, and what exists actually. 

Unofficial specs:

- wings 14.2 m
- square 78.8 m2
- length 22 m
- height 6.05 m
Weight:
- max 37000 kg
- normal 26000
 - void 18500

 Now it is clear, that in its airframe design the fighter is closer related to American F-23 prototype, than F-22 or JSF, but with bigger internal payload bay. However, it has unrepeatable impress of Sukhoi design house, clearly looking as a thoroughbred Su-linage. According to the most reliable estimations, T-50 has 10 internal and 2 additional external hardpoints on the wings (the 'mystery' triangle thickening under the wings). With this great payload capability and much space for the fuel T-50 can became a true military 'workhorse' of the future battlefield! 

New tank conditioner

The new compact conditioner for tanks, armored and civilian vehicles was developed in Russia. It used Peltier effect: thermoelectric cooling, based on creating a heat flux between the junction of two different types of materials. The most problem successfully solved was effectiveness of the Peltier modules. It's all solid state freon-free device, without any negative effect on ozone layer and global warming. Also it's very compact and stress-withstanding. Unlike current models it can be installed inside the Russian MBT tank T-90A. However, the more probable target for the new conditioner installation is 'Burlak' - the modernized version of T-90 tank currently over the tests. It could be installed on the export version T-90S or T-90M instead of the external conditioner, which can be seen on the Algerian and Libian T-90s. Naturally the Russian Future MBT, which published name is T-95, would be equipped with a conditioner based on the same principles, if the program succeeds.

Т-90М. New Specs.

The new pictures and main specs of T-90M (ob.188M) were appeared on a Russian site. This tank was first time demonstrated for Putin in Dec.10 at N-Tagil. It has got:

- New bigger turret without weakened frontal areas and with the all-aspect ERA covering.
- ERA 'Relict'
- Additional roof protection against atop attacking munition.
- New additional autoloader, placed on the aft part of the turret and able using the new longer sub-caliber rods.
- Aft ammo storage.
- Panoramic 3-channel IR commander site with improved anti-split/rounds protection.
- 7.62 mm automatic turret instead of 12.7mm.
-  Totally new 2A82 125 mm MG (2A46M5 - optional).
- FCS with the net-centric module.
- New radio.
- New navigation system.
- New anti-split kevlar layer instead of the standard Russian anti-neutron layer.
- new anti-fire system.

India and Russia is negotiating space programs

India wants to use the Russian experience in spacecrafts building  to accelerate its own progress in space technology. The negotiations about this are in initial stage however, informed Russian new agency ARMS-TASS. According to a 'RosCosmos' source, was added, the basis for the Russian-Indian joint project will be 'Soyuz' spacecraft, but the dimensions and the weight will be reduced somehow to fit Indian missile capability. The  negotiated plan proceeds till 2020. In addition the Russian spacecrafts design house 'Energia' president said the possibility of Indian astronauts space missions on Russian-made 'Soyuz' spacecrafts is under negotiation too.

Yak-130. The status of program.

In answer to a question. Yak-130 - is a program of high-subsonic trainer and light ground attack plane. Has started in 90th independently and became the first non-soviet military plane program. Further they have cooperated with Italian 'Aermacchi' while 'Yakovlev' intellectual property rights was merged with 'Aermacchi' financing. Then the problem for Italians was that they needed urgently a subsonic trainer which could fly with controllability on 40 degree angle of attack for 4th-5th gen fighter simulating. No early generation jet trainers can do it. After some years of joint venture they splitted and followed their (successful) project independently (M-346 trainer).

The first Yak-130D variant was purely trainer, without even radar being put in nose cone (specifically shaped). Two Slovakian made DV-2S x2200 kgf engines (soviet licensing AI-25TL derivative) were used. In 2002 the Russian Air Forces asked for a combat-trainer variant with a radar (in addition for currently tested trainer). Thus the Ukraine-made AI-222-25 engine with 2516 kgf without afterburner was chosen for both. It allowed to rise the max mass from 8500 to 9000 kg. The newborn 'Saturn's Al-55 is remained a reliable reservoir engine for the program in case if the cooperation with Ukraine is broken down.

Project 855 'Yasen' SSN

Due to a great interest of the readers for prospective Russian submarine projects and repeated questions, I put here the essential from the article about Pr. 855 'Yasen' SSN. In general, two pr. 855 subs are under building in Russian 'Sevmash' plant on White Sea. One - 'Severodvinsk' - is in advance stage of building. Additional one - 'Kazan' - is only started in July 2009, and is made by modified 'Yasen-M' project with some advance features.

(Update: the mooring tests will start in May, 2010. ARMS-TASS, Dec, 23.)

The specs of pr.855:

- full underwater displacement , t                 13,800
- lenght, m                                                   119
- reactors                                               water-water OK-650B
- reactor life (without reload), years              25-30
- speed underwater  , knots                          31
 - max deepness, m                                      600
- autonomity , days                                      100
- crew                                                          90 (Seawolf, Virginia - 134)
- officers number                                          32 (Seawolf, Virginia - 14)
- acoustic                                                     Irtysh-Amphora
- FCS                                                          "Morinformsystema-Agat", NPO 'Aurora'
- EW                                                           5th gen on 'Yasen'-M', domestically made only.
- main caliber                                               8 triple=24 P-800 'Onyx'
- guiding                                                      submarine+satelite based MKRTs 'Legenda' + self guiding
- missile seeker                                            active/passive
- range of lock-on , km                                70-90 depending on target RCS
- torpedo apparata                                       533 mm
- mines
- imitation measures

- All kind of domestic torpedos and missile-torpedos can be used, with conventional and nuclear warheads, torpedo-launches 'Caliber-PL' (domestic 'Club' analog) for hitting surface target on distance up to 300 km, enemy subs on 40 km distance.

- Nuclear cruise missiles: the old 'Granat' - 3000 km range, a prospective one 'Grom' with 5000 km range.

The original Russian OCRed text is below:

First 'Gepard 3.9' fregat for Vietnam launched

The first from two frigate 'Gepard 3.9' for Vietnam based on pr.11661 was launched in Dec. 12 in Zelenodolsk (Russia). The light frigate is intended for operation against hostile ships and submarines in both the littoral and deep sea water. It can operate alone or as a part of a battle group. It's used to become a big instrument for protection of the national Vietnamese economic zone. At last Russia and Vietnam have started a number of joint projects including oil exploration in the shelf. A year ago Russia has officially offered to Chanoi to turn using national currencies for trade progress.
Update, specs:
-total displacement — 2090 т,
- 102 m lentgh, 10 isolated sections
- CODOG
-full speed — 27-28 knots,
-speed with only diesels — 20 узлов.
-range — 5,000 mil.
-Autonomy — 20 days,
-crew - 103 per.
-76,2 mm AK-176M
- 'Palma' AAMS
- 2x30mm Ak-630M
- RBU-6000
-  2x533 mm torpedo units
- Ka-28/31
Pictures:

T-90ME was demonstrated first time

The export version of modernized T-90M tank was demonstrated for Russian PM Putin today in 'UVZ plant (N-Tagil). The tank has a new, bigger turrets,
- 'Relict' ERA on the turret (but not on the hull),
- a new panoramic commander sight with 360 degree vision,
- new commander hatch with better accessability
- different placement of the air conditioner
- new tracks
-  stronger rolls and some improvement in the chassis
- possibly 1200 hp engine

1971. The War of Nerves in Bengal Bay

Today, December 6, the visit of the Indian PM Mr. Manmohan Singh in Moscow has started. I'm glad to see how the meetings between the two leaders of the countries become more often and (hopefully) will become a diplomatic routine, like let's say the meetings between leaders of Germany and France. As I have already written before, there was a meeting between Indian PM and the Russian journalists in Delhi, and now is published the short interview of mr. Manmohan Singh to Russian 'Izvestia' newspaper. He said before the visit: 'We hope, Russia will be able to influence Pakistan and persuade it to not use terror as a mean for the state policy since such policy is counter-productive and contradicts to peaceful neighborhood principles. Russia is an important factor of stability and security in the world. Nobody else can give us what the cooperation with Russia does'. He also marked the common 5th gen fighter project and MTA, as the most prioritized Indo-Russian cooperation project in military sphere.

In addition:
1) The Agreement for cooperation in military sphere on 2011-2020 will be signed/
2) The Agreement for after-selling service for Russian mil equipment wil be signed too during the visit.
3) The planned trading between two countries in 2010 will rech $10 bil.
4) New places for Indian atomic power stations will be discussed with Medvedev and Putin.

Also the big interview with Mr. Manmohan Singh was published in Russian 'Trud' newspaper.

But some days ago, in December 3, was 38 years anniversary of the Indo-Pakistan conflict, 1971. Then the Russian (Soviet) involvement has played an important role in prevention the Anglo-Saxon pressure on India which was directed to save face of their Pakistani ally and not to allow Bangladesh secession. This video is a part from the Russian TV program 'Strike Forces' and it's involved the witnesses of those events. The translation from Russian is mine.

'Bars' upgrade potential

Because repeating questions about possibly 'Bars' ESA radar upgrade for Su-30MKI, I put the NIIP's chief engineer Tamerlan Bakirbayev's article again in my blog. This article was published in Russian 'Army & Navy Review' magazine, issue 4, 2009.
The OCRed text is below.

AIRBORNE RADARS

BARS RADAR SYSTEM TANGIBLE ADVANTAGES

Tamerlan BEKIRBAYEV

Currently, an increased interest has been shown in the Su-30MKI fighter performance. The international Red Flag exercise held in July-August 2008 in the United States, the outcomes of virtual duels between Russian Su-series aircraft and an American advanced F-35 fighter conducted in Hawaii in the presence of the Australian Air Force representatives, as well as the results of polls taken by the British Flight magazine in November 2008 suggest that the Su-30MKl is superior to the US F-15 fighter and comparable to the newest F-22 Raptor.

The Su-30MKI lias become the world's first series-produced aircraft featuring supermaneuverability and the first export fighter fitted with the BARS electronically scanned radar.

'Borei' and 'Bulava'

As I predicted before, US and Russia have not reached the new agreement about strategic forces in time. In December, 5 the term of the START treaty was expired, but no new accord was signed. In the common declaration yesterday Obama and Medvedev have officially confirmed their failure.

Is a new nuclear race probable now?

Anyway, due to the new circumstances the modern Russian strategic programs become more interesting to everybody. This article from Russian 'Army & Navy Review' magazine 4, 2009, is about 4th generation 'Borei'-class SSBN and 'Bulava' missile. Interesting comparable data between 'Bulava' and early competing 'Bark' program are published in the article. Because limited time I cannot translate the article in full, sorry. Thus, use, please the online translators.

A cheap alternative for submarine launched ICBMs

Dec. 5, 2009 the SALT-1 Agreement is expired. I want to be wrong, but personally I think there is only a few possibility to finalize the new Strategic Weapon limitation treaty between US and RF. The difference in positions is too wide and the time remained is too little. So, the ideas about what to do if a new nuclear race starts, are still actual as well despite some progress occurs in US-Russia relations during Obama presidency. This article is the opinion of a Russian military expert in the Russian English-language magazine 'National Defence', issue 1, 2009.