Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Pendulum swings.

Post-USSR, Russian military aircraft production fell off a cliff, especially deliveries to the country's own armed forces - exports mainly to India and China were practically the only business sustaining the industry. The charts don't really include this period which lasted until 2010 approximately - else the whole notion that there was a decline at all would be ludicrous. What followed was a catch-up phase where 20 years worth of procurement and modernization backlog were cleared on top of a normal pace of re-equipment, adding more than 350 4.5 generation fighters in 10 years. That's twice the rate of delivery of Eurofighter partners UK, Germany and Spain (comprising 3 of the top 5 EU economies) *combined*, which accepted approximately the same number of aircraft, but spread out over 20 years! Is the tempo declining from this abnormally high level? Sure, but that frenzied pace was never going to last indefinitely, nor was it planned to. Recent economic problems may make the slow-down more marked than it otherwise would have been, but production is not going back to near-zero either.

Fire damage at Admiral Kuznetsov has not yet been calculated - USC head

01/22/2020 13:57:47
Moscow. January 22. INTERFAX - The calculation of the extent of fire damage on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft-carrying cruiser has not yet been completed, the commission’s work is expected closer to the end of January, head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation Alexey Rakhmanov told Interfax.
"Not yet, we agreed to wait until the end of January," Rakhmanov said, answering the corresponding question.
In February 2017, Admiral Kuznetsov returned to Severomorsk from a campaign in the Mediterranean Sea, during which for the first time in the history of the Navy the combat use of carrier-based Su-33 and MiG-29KR fighters in Syria was carried out. According to official figures, the “Admiral Kuznetsov” lost two carrier-based fighters during the campaign. Accidents occurred during the approach, the pilots ejected. Media noted that on a trip to the coast of Syria, the Russian aircraft carrier smoked heavily. On the night of October 30, 2018, one of the largest floating docks in the world, the PD-50 sank at the 82nd shipyard (Roslyakovo microdistrict, Murmansk) when Admiral Kuznetsov left it. As a result of the accident, one of the floating dock cranes fell on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
On December 12, 2019, a fire broke out on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which was put in for repair at a plant in Murmansk. According to preliminary data, a fire arose during welding. He was put out a day. As a result of the fire, two people were killed, another 14 were injured. A criminal case was opened on the fact of a fire on the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier on the grounds of a crime under Art. 216 of the Criminal Code (violation of safety rules during construction or other works).
The cause of the fire could be the human factor, then head of USC Rakhmanov told Interfax. "The incident occurred during scheduled coordinated welding operations. Scale fell on the lower decks. Local fire ignited on the deck due to the dismantled equipment and fire hazardous liquids. The equipment is dismantled, combustible objects or liquids, or their remnants, which the reasons weren’t removed. The human factor, ”Rakhmanov said.
On December 16, Rakhmanov told Interfax that Admiral Kuznetsov had not received critical damage as a result of the fire, that he would be repaired and returned to the Russian Navy. "The ship is afloat. I have not lost stability. So, it will live," said the head of the USC.
The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, said in December that the total amount of damage would be understood by the end of the first quarter of 2020.
The aircraft carrier should return to the Russian Northern Fleet in 2022.
The military contract with the Zvezdochka ship repair center for the restoration of technical readiness and the modernization of the aircraft carrier was concluded by the military in April 2018.
A heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser was laid on a slipway of the Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant in 1982. A ship can carry more than 50 aircraft.
During the modernization, Admiral Kuznetsov will receive a marine version of the Pantsir air defense complex, new boilers, pumps and new flight and communication systems.

1st 20385 Gremayashchiy class ship 337 completes testing phase with

2nd 22350 Gorshkov class ship 431

H2O said:

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Just build the damn thing already instead of just saying you will. It really things like this that gives Russian military industry such a bad rep.

"We are going to build it. When ? Soon, very soon, possibly in the near future, we are looking into it, we are about to put the first nail in honestly............"

They had done much more with their smaller vessels with half the fuzz.

I found this on Russian forum. Apparently quad packed naval TOR, and there was mention of a second unit being installed forward of the hangar? If so, that is alot of medium range missiles.

Another image from overhead shows the old rotary Kinzhal launchers removed from the ship.

Looks interesting, Udaloy getting a nice refreshment it seems.

BTW my first post after lurking for years

Viktor Jav said:

Just build the damn thing already instead of just saying you will. It really things like this that gives Russian military industry such a bad rep.

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I remember back in 2007 or '08 Russia stated they would build aircrfat carriers.

Discussions and rumors of a “future Russian aircraft carrier” began at least as early as 2007, when Admiral Vladimir Masorin, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, told to the media that the country’s next aircraft carrier will have nuclear propulsion, a displacement about 50,000 tons, and carry some 30 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft (

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, June 23, 2007).

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So far not one piece of steel has been cut by the Russians.

"
Bulgaria signs 4 mln euro deal for purchase of MiG-29 jet equipment"

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"The equipment is expected to be delivered within 17 months, the ministry said in a notice."

Eh, it's not the greatest sale MiG had done but still a win is a win in these times. If only they could convince Bulgaria to upgrade from the Mig-29A to at least the 29M.

Anlsvrthng said:

This is a deeply political post, and it is not based on observations / facts.


To mention "trust" and the "USA" in the same sentence laughable as a starter, considering the track record of the USA to step out from any previous agreement / obligation or anything else if anyone in the Capitol feel like it gives short term benefit for her/him.

This is the issue with the military service, makes the thinking of the person captured by the general impression of the military from inside, and the experience with the mates expanded to the whole government - without any justification .

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Sorry, but you post does not reflect reality in the least as respects the topic it was about and you responded to.

The fact is, more and more countries are buying the F-35A and F-35B...lots more.

The us has all three versions out and flying, with the F-35A and the F-35B already in the operational mode of the aircraft.

You have numerous countries buying the F-35B to counter other potentially aggressor nations aircraft carriers and doing that with much smaller carriers that can launch and sustain the F-35B, a 5th generation, stealth, strike fighter that has shown better than expected maneuverability, and shown the advertised and expected data fusion and cost decreases.

Japan will have two Isumo carriers with each carrying 28-30 F-35Bs which will be able to take on and defeat the airwing of Chinese carriers with 48 J-15 (Advanced Su-33). The J-15 is a good fighter. It is however not going to be able to compete against the F-35B.

Korea is doing the same with its two Dokdo carriers.

Italy will do the same. The Royal Navy is doing the same with its two larger carriers capable of carrying up to 50 F-35Bs.

Spain is probably going to do the same. India would like to put at least one squadron of F-35Bs on their first two carriers, and it is possible that ultimately the Australians will do likewise. with their Canberras.

There are already upwards of 300 F-35As and Bs flying with various nations and the numbers a going to grow quickly. Why?

Because these nations are not stupid, and they are not just trying to pad Lockheed's pockets. They see the results and realize that those results and capabilities are critical for the defense of their nations. Not just because they want to "please" America. Such foolish notions will not defend a nation...but proven capabilities of aircraft that have advanced, proven capabilities can and that is what is driving the F-35 procurement at this stage. They are seeing that the aircraft are very capable of doing precisely the things they need.

And I will bet you that the Chinese are puling out all of the stops to develop and procure, and deploy a 5th generation stealth aircraft for their carriers They almost have to do so at this stage.

The US is going to have 4-6 of its LHDs/LHAs configured to be escort carriers with up to 24 F-35Bs themselves. This allows the US to have its five super carriers for the Pacific (and five more for the European theater, 4-6 smaller American carriers with F-35Bs, two Japanese, (who are very capable of building two more even larger carriers if the Chinese continue to build them), two Korean, two and maybe three Indian, perhaps two Australian, two Italian, two Royal Navy, and One Spanish (and perhaps two).

BTW, I would not be surprised to see Turkey try and get the F-35B as wel.

Anyhow, the Chinese can not hope to maintain a lead in carrier development or deployment in the foreseeable future with the western allies now able to do with the F-35B. Their two and maybe three carriers soon, may have to face upwards of 15 or more carriers.

Do not get me wrong. it is amazing what the Chinese have done in a few years, bootstrapping a very decent carrier program and Amphibious program with all of the surface escorts necessary to support them.

But they need better submarines, and they are going to have to get 5th gen stealth aircraft on those carriers if they hope to face off against the western capability that is now developing very quickly and in large numbers..which in itself is also pretty amazing.

@bd popeye @SamuraiBlue @Air Force Brat @Deino @siegecrossbow @asif iqbal @duncanidaho l

@Deino what has happened to further development on the SU-37. I was under the impressions that they had continued despite the probklems they had back in 2007-2008...but I have also heard from credible sources that they in essence cancelled the program. I thought they had s decen number already not only in production, but that were operational.

Perhaps I am gtting the SU-37 mixed up with the SU-35S. I believe that is probably the case. It seems the SU-35S is the ultimate 4.5 gen SU-27, being a mix of SU-27M, SU-30, and SU-37 technologies. I believe what I am really talking about is the SU-35S which I know went to Syria and which I believe the Russians have about 150 or so in operational capability.

Not sure if this is based in reality,
Admiral Nakhimov
8 x 8 Morfei (TorM2)
30 x 8 Redut
30 x 8 UkSk