A new universal VLS for Club/BrahMos

This are pictures of new universal VLS for Club and BrahMos missiles based on frigates:

Source: paralay.com
- Russian designation 3R-14UKSK-Kh. The fire control system is including. Provided:
- supply in modular plug and play containers, 4 or 8 missiles in each container
- installation
- maintenance
- power supply system
- computing system
- networking system
- means of loading

Lada's close-up

Some close distance pictures of Pr. 677 'Lada', made by me in San-Petersburg:

Kirov saga: how it was started

Since returning 3 remained Kirov class cruisers to service was declared, it would be interesting to look how it was started. This is a Soviet Navy video (from early 80th) about first Kirov class cruiser capability, recently declassified.

Project 667 Lada from inside

The internal rooms of Russian last generation non-nuclear submarine was show first time in video, at July's end, 2010. This sub is competing to be a basis for the next after Scorpene Indian submarine 'Project-75(I)'.

Drill before 'Indra-2010' Indo-Russian joint exercises in October, 2010

- In North Ossetia

Status of Brahmos program, update

Great news IMHO! The submarine version of 'Brahmos' will start testing soon from a semi-drown launch platform, said Mr. S. Pillai to ARMS-TASS on the 'Space-EXPO 2010'. Also he has confirmed at 2012 the testing of air-based version will start, and 2013 - is the planned year of MKI-based 'Brahmos' induction in IAF.

Indo-Baltic Spirit

Joint Indo-Russian naval exercises in Baltic Sea, June, 2009. Ru Navy Pr. 20380 'Steregushchy' Corvette is working together with IN F37 Fregat Beas against common enemy.

New weaponary for Su-34

A new video about Su-34 fighter-bomber. The main conclusions:
1) A new GLONASS-guided bomb 2 times more accurate, than last American one, - the tests were finished.
2) Net-centric system of information exchange gives the new options for attacks.
3) The cockpit look was shown
4) Su-34 simulator in work

Russian NxRA for LAVs

An interesting article about last development in Russian ERA. From NII Stali:

"The change in geopolitical situation in the world, less probability of global military con-flicts and, quite on the contrary, increased number of local and asymmetrical conflicts require  complete revision of the armed forces structure,  including the structure of the Armor, practically in  all world powers. These changes do not imply the  use of large numbers of main battle tanks, but rely  on a wide range of types and a great number of  light-armored vehicles (LAV). Recent military conflicts (Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Middle East)  have clearly shown that light-armored vehicles  are the most efficient solution for such situations,  provided the vehicles feature sufficient all-round protection, high mobility and firepower. The world and European markets of weapons and military equipment have immediately responded to these changes. Thus, for the last decade the sales of tanks has dropped by more than 30%, and the forecast for the near future is unfavorable. At the
same time, the sales of light-armored vehicles, and in the first turn of infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), self-propelled guns and other LAV has been growing steadily, and the highest growth (up to 40%) in the nearest future is expected in the sales of IFVs. One of the most critical requirements to LAV is the desired level of protection. It is actually the criterion which determines the final profile of the vehicle, and it is the focus of main efforts of LAV designers. It should be mentioned that high level of protection is required not only from IFV,
but also from other LAV including APC, armored cars etc.

Russian UAVs. Part 1

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Unmanned aircrafts - is one of the most promising branches of the modern warfare. Traditionally it's used to think that Russia - is in backward position in this domain. But is it true? First of all, it's partially true, that Russian army is a very conservative body regarding any new revolutionary implementations, and till now has shown low interest to UAV\UCAVs. A number of UAV\UCAV programs were financed by Russian DM since soviet time, but with except of 1-2 systems ('Pchela', 'Tipchak') no UAV system was accepted on the service. This paradigm was suddenly changed after August 2008 Caucasian war, where the need for unmanned aircrafts was awaken, and the number of Israeli UAVs were bought 'for study'. In May, 9 the UAV systems were first time shown during the Victory parade on Red Square .

However, other security forces - FSB, Internal Ministry, border guard - were more innovative, having started to use UAVs early. There is too an intensive use of UAVs for purely civilian purpose like pipelines technical support, forest fire recognition etc. It's a bulk and profitable market, which allowed for Russian UAV manufacturers to develop the models that can be further be used for different military purposes too.

There are more than couple of tens firms in Russia which manufacture tens of UAV models, more than hundred models are in different stage of development. This is a list of the most prominent Russian UAV makers. Between them there are the world known aircraft design houses and practically unknown abroad firms.

A new video with PAK FA was published in Internet

How to win in the missiles race. Part 2

 This is the second part of the interview with KTRV chief, taken by 'Expert' journal.

Q - Besides the missiles and the aircraft bombs your corporation develops   the sufficiently wide spectrum of sea weapons    . How is developed the cooperation of [KTRV] with our Navies?

A - We have proposed to the Navy commander Vladimir Vysotskiy to develop the whole     program of sea weapons creation. In it the phase of     new ships production and weapons for them must be clearly connected. There before was frequently that there are new torpedoes, but the submarine still stands in the dock. We presented our operating times, I think, this question will succeed in solving in the working order soon.

Q - What new armaments for the Navies does now develop [KTRV]?

A - First of all, this are the torpedoes, including of the large diameter (more than 500 millimeters). They are made by Moscow enterprise “Region”, which forms a part of our corporation. This is chief implementing agency on the sea underwater weapon. It's part is approximately 60 percent of all experimental design works, carried out on this thematic along with Navy, and about 48 percent of the series production. We now complete the tests of the system of antisubmarine complex “Packet- E/NK', which includes new torpedoes and anti-torpedoes for the protection of ship from the submarines. This system allows to counter the attack of enemy and to secure ship, and other hand - to deliver effective retaliatory attack. Furthermore, we continue works on the torpedoes “Squall”, which are capable of under water move at a rate of 100 meters per second. This is the most terrible naval weapons, which was created in the USSR. And I am glad, that it was possible to follow this thematics.

How to win in the missiles race. Part 1.

This is an interview with the chief of Russian 'Tactical Missiles Weapon Corporation' Boris Obnosov about the latest development. Initially it was published in 'Expert' journal.

The tendency toward the total liquidation of strategic carriers and warheads, fixed in the new Russian- American agreement  , unavoidably will lead to the fact that the role and the significance of conventional weapons    will sharply grow   in the very near future. But if with our arsenal of strategic weapon we actually can on the equal talk with the Americans,   in the sphere of conventional armaments there is no basis for parity. For example, the number of our contemporary combat aircraft   is approximately 15 times less than in the USA, the disparity in the number of 'blue water' combat ships between USA and Russia is as 20 times. This means that in   “global nuclear zero” situation Russia has no enough against its potential enemies.

The problem here is not in the quality of our tactical armaments, but in their quantity. While the Americans during the last ten years stocked up more than hundred thousands   aircraft bombs alone,   our army within the same period purchased the air based weapons for only   one day of war. This is so despite the fact that the new Russian missiles,   are not worse than American, but even they are better in a number of characteristics. The main developer of them is "Tactical missile weapon corporation' (KTRV in Russian abbreviation). This is one of most secret corporation in whole Russian  military-industrial complex [VPK in Russian abbreviation]. It was created about eight years ago during the consolidation process of Russian MIC, now it includes almost two ten different enterprises, plants and design houses, dealing in the sphere of air, ground-based and naval weapons. The general director of KTRV Boris Obnosov said us  about the development of new missiles and torpedoes and how they differ from the American analogs, why we should fear China and in what direction   it is necessary Russia to develop its air-based weapon .

New Indian T-90S cammo

- Taken from the Internet, via a Russian forum. To those who know the original source, please answer!

Jai hind!

Before I finish the long promissed translation of an article about new Russian AAMs development, some important news: the new issue 2, 2010 of new 'AirIndustry' journal  is mainly dedicated to Russo-Indian ties in this sphere. Most important facts from the issue:

1) An-148 - the negotiations with 2 Indian companies for 8 (+ optionally 11) for passenger and 10 - for cargo version. THe suppositional start of the supply is expected in the first 2011 quarter . The   partner of UAC in India in this program promotion is HindAvia Aeronautical Services Pvt Ltd.

2) India has a half of whole current Russian military export contracts ($16 bil from $32 bil).

3) Till 2007 India preferred the light PAK FA variant of RAC MiG, but then changed its position.

4)  IAF has already contracted 45 MTA with option for 45 more.

5) Il-38SD contract is fully realized. There is information about negotiation for 5-8 more planes, independently of P-8I purchasing progress.

6) They are sure that after 16 + 29 MiG-29K\KUB India will buy more 20 planes. Together with RuAF contract (24-26 units) it will be  as 90 MiG-29K\KUBs, so this plane becomes the world second after F\A-18 SH carrier based fighter.

7) RD-33MK on MiG-29K\KUB and F414 on SH have just the  same specific characteristics
RD-33MK:         980 kg,      5500\9000 kgf dry\wet thrust, 0.11 kg\kgf.
F414-GE-400:    1107 kg,    6690\9990 kgf dry\ wet thrust, 0.11 kg\kgf
but MiG-35 (Mig-29K too) is as 30% lighter, so its thrust\weight characteristics are much better, than on SH : 1.03 vs 0.92
By its weight and range the characteristics of MiG-35 and MiG-29K are most close to EF.

8) Zhuk-AE  with 680 MMICs, its TWS\attack number is 30\6.
however, the 688 mm 1064 MMICs variant is ALREADY INSTALLED on MiG-35 and went to Indian tender tests!

The interview with S-400's chief designer.

“The thought of Russian engineer works more rapidly than the thought of Russian bureaucrat”

The Director-General of GSKB “Almaz- Antey” Igor Ashurbeyli about the rocket business

           

The newspaper “Kommersant”   № 77 (4377) from 30.04.2010

Recently the views of the officials, servicemen and economists on Russian military-industrial complex were split. Sometimes they call it 'the main locomotive' of the development of advanced technologies, sometimes – 'the main brake' of this development. How locomotive and brake go together in its most highly technological branches - creation of air defense systems? Also,   who is behind whom   in reality and how all this is going at the end? About all this the general director of joint stock company “main system design bureau “Almaz- Antey” Igor Ashurbeli spoke to 'Kommersant'.

- What is the primary task and the basic ideology of the concern “Almaz- Antaey” now?

- Well, I can say only about the design branch – GSKB “Almaz- Antaey”. We already grew from the pure air defense, and our future is with the aerospace defense. We overgrew the height of 30 km, which was our upper threshold (ceiling of   the existing anti-aircraft missiles lethal area). Therefore our strategy is: to go from air defense through the antimissile defense to the defense of aerospace.

Funny advertizing of T-90S tank :)

"If you are crazy because the traffic jams, if you are infuriated by the road police, if you are annoyed by the foreign cars, if you are bothered by the tires, so especially for you: the powerful full-gear crossover T-90S! The enforced chassis, the invincible armor, the diesel engine and the individual anti-missile system: all in one! We already don’t need rearward mirrors, because we don’t care… Donate the security belts to the adversaries! The ultimate answer to any problem: T-90S! Let'em  laugh the last time! T-90S: quality, which terrified the whole world…"

MiG-35's new pics, interpretation

Since a number of new important articles were published in Russia at last I come back for posting  most interesting of them. The strange lack of information about MiG-35 participation in MMRCA competition was solved by the publication in 'Take-Off' journal. They informed that two new MiG-35 prototypes were built in 2009: №961 and №967. The last was built on the base of MiG-29KUB №947 . It's in addition to the first prototype (MiG-35 №154). It  confirmed too, that both new planes took participation in flying tests in India in October, 2009. Then, they turned to Russia where Zhuk-AE radar was installed on MiG-35D (№967). This spring both planes followed the testing in Zhukovsky. Different loads and flying systems were tested during these program.

Interestingly, both plane was made in Lukhovitsy, where MiG-29K\KUB program successefully started early. Other potential MiG-35 manufacturer - Sokol' plant - was not involved in the building. The pictures show regular nozzles without TVS. All these facts push to conclusion that MiG company stakes on maximal unification of the offered MiG-35 with the serial MiG-29K\KUB for Indian Navy. Probably it reflexes the wish of the Indian side too. If MiG-35 wins the tender, the total Indian fleet of last gen MiGs will reach 126+45=171 units. In such case the logistic burden would be significantly reduced, and the investment in RD-33 engine manufacturing in India would be justified. Also it allows to limit the manufacturing base to Lukhovitsy and not ti wait three years when 'Sokol' plant will be ready to MiG-35 production, if needed. Indeed the Indian tender conditions suppose production of only 18 planes abroad and the remained will be produced in India anyway.

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?