First photos of Iraqi BMP-3s

This afternoon the first photos of Iraqi BMP-3s appeared in twitter. The first 10 vehicles were supposed to have been delivered in February but no photos had been made available.

References:

- Copyrigth can be seen in the photos.

Syrian MiG-29 with RVV-AE missile

7-7-2018: New photos

This photo was just published in twitter. Behind the pilot being interviewed there is MiG-29 with a RVV-AE BVR missile. The image is significant because it confirms the modernisation received a few years ago. Syrian MiG-29s have not been so used as MiG-21/23 or Su-22. They are the most modern type and have an advanced air to air capability. It is likely that the Syrian Air Force does not want to risk loosing them.

The last 2 appeared -as to mu knowledge- in July 2018. Note that the aircraft is in much better condition than MiG-21s or MiG-23s.

9-10-2016.

23-9-2017.

 23-9-2017. 

References:

- Photo from twitter.
- http://alejandro-8.blogspot.co.uk/modernizacion-rusa-para-los-mig-29.html

Indian Air Force fighter squadron strength

It is no secret that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been struggling to maintain its envisaged number of fighter squadrons. In the next few years many MiG-21/27 squadrons will be deactivated and there is not an obvious replacement.

Originally the IAF planned a total of 39.5-42 fighter squadrons in order to cope with a 2 front war (Pakistan and China). The delays and lack of funding have led to an actual number which is much lower, around 32-33 squadrons. See table for more details.

There are a number of solutions to remedy this issue in the short term. The following aircraft could be acquired:

- Su-30MKI: This aircraft is a mature design and already produced under license. It would provide work to HAL.
- Rafale: Another package –maybe together with Navy- would help increasing the fighter strength.
- MiG-35: RSK MiG is in a position to produce many in a short term (36 per year). The type is already in service with the IAF.

Tejas is another option, but the design/fielding has been marred by delays. As a consequence MiG-21s had to be upgraded to make up for the delay. A Mk 2 version is now expected.

References:

- http://ajaishukla.blogspot.co.uk/
- http://www.sldinfo.com/
- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/
- http://www.indiandefencereview.com/

First photos of the prototype T-50-10 prototype

On the 7th of March the first photos of the prototype T-50-10  appeared on the net. Apparently this was one of the birds sent to Syria. Camm is similar to T-50-11.

Summary of prototypes (Paralay).

References:

- Photos from VK network.
- http://portierramaryaire.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1566&start=765

Sukhoi Su-57 in Syria?

It seems that the Russian Aerospace Force (VKS) has deployed it's latest fighter in Syria. A couple of the prototypes were seen arriving at Hmeymin escorted by a Su-35. The Sukhoi Su-57, fifth generation fighter, has not even entered service. It has not been officialy confirmed, and in the past there were fake news on similar stores (MiG-31s in Syria). Perhaps it is better to take the information with a pinch of salt.

It does not make much sense to deploy the type in Syria. Perhaps the company wants to get the label "deployed in combat conditions". Some of the prototypes should be able to carry out combat missionss as they already have the combat equipment.

It would not be the first time that a combat aircraft enters combat before officialy entering into  service. The Su-25 was deployed in Afghanistan before completing the testing.

References:

- https://twitter.com/

Israeli F-16 shot down over Syria (10-2-2018)

Last night an Israeli F-16 was shot down when carrying out a mission over Syria. The aircraft was subjected to" massive AAA fire" and hit. Both pilots ejected and are safe, one of them suffered light injuries while the other suffered heavy injuries.

F-16 remains (Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images).

 S-200 SAM remains.

The sequence so far is as follow. An Iranian UAV took off from Palmyra and penetrated Israeli airspace to collect information. The Israel Air Defence had detected the incoming UAV and sent an Apache helicopter to shoot it down, which it did. Following prototcol an attackwas launched against the location where the UAV had taken off, and this is when the F-16 was hit. Later several attacks were carried out against Syrian and Iranian targets.

References:

- https://www.nytimes.com/
- http://www.iaf.org.il/4470-49981-en/IAF.aspx

Military parade in North Korea to celebrate 70° anniversary of it's Army

North Korea has celebrated the  70° anniversary of it's Army with an imposing military parade in Pyongyang. The latest ICMBS were shown, together with other novelties, such as the Bulsae-3 AT missile integrated in the Seon'Gun tank. According to some analists, the Bulsae-3 is a copy of the Russian AT missile Kornet, but it does look smaller in size.

One big novelty was the new SRBM, with a similar shape to the Russian Iskander.

SLBM KN-1 (I was not able to see it in the videos).

New SRBM missile (1).

New SRBM missile followed by Pukguksong-2 . 

 Hwasong-12.

Hwasong-14

  Hwasong-15.

 

 Hwasong-15 (2).

Trucks with canisters for missile transportation -never seen before-.

Seon'Gun tank with AT missiles.

Chonma tank.

122 mm self propelled gun M1991.

120mm MLRS.

240mm MLRS.

Soldiers carrying AK-74 with cylindrical magazines. Note nightsights.

170mm Kolsan self propelled gun.

Main view of the ceremony.

An-2 (or Chinese Y-9) using flares during parade.

References:

- https://edition.cnn.com  

- https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3086645.html

- Blog: Tests with AT missile Bulsae-3

- blog: Chonma tank in military parade (24-5-2017)

- http://thehill.com/policy/international/ 

YPG attack on a Turkish M60 (5-2-2018)

One of my blog's readers (:yomismo_ ) sent me this video showing a YPG attack on a Turkish M60 Patton. The vehicle is in a static position providing overwatch, and is probably hit by a Konkurs or Fagot AT missile. The attack was filmed in Buka, Barbul district.

References:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvvgkVpiIYI

Dassault completes the modernisation of 10 Rafale M

This month Dassault  shoudl complete the upgrade of 10 Rafale Marine F1 delivered after 1999. These aircraft were urgently handed over as the french Navy had to replace it's fleet of F-8. The cost of the upgrade to the F3 standard is 300 million euros (equivalent to 3 new aircraft). The first upgraded aircraft were delivered in 2014. The F3 version has the following capabilities:

- Use of 30mm gun and MICA IR/AM missile sin air to air missions and interceptions
- Laser guided bombs GBU-12/24 and Hammer, 30mm gun for ground targets
- Buddy refuelling
- ASMP-A nuclear missile
- Air-sea missile Exocet AM39 Block and other types
- Aréos for reconaissance

References:

- https://www.meretmarine.com/
- https://www.escadrilles.org/histoire-et-histoires/10-ans-rafale-12f/
- http://www.colsbleus.fr/articles/3100

RAAF EA-18G Growler catches fires in Red Flag

A RAAF EA-18G Growler caught fire when participaring in the Red Flag exercises. It could be A46-311. The bird can probably be fixed, but at a heafty price. 

References:

Photo vía twitter.

Russian aircraft practice landings in a motorway section

A couple of Russian Su-30M2s and a Su-34 have practised landing maneouvers in a motorway section between  Rostov and Volvograd. In the link below it is possible to see a video of the exercises.

Video

You really have to wonder if it is worthy to practise this type of solution in a country like Russia. It's nuclear arsenal guarantees that it never have to resort to these measures. Also, the network of bases, huge range of the Flanker, and fleet of tankers should be enough to cover all territory.

References:

- http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4880422

Flight hours of the Royal Air Force aircraft fleet

The table below shows the flight hours of the RAF fleet for the fiscal year 2016/17. The transport fleet (C-130, C-17) has logged many more hours per airframe than the combat fleet. 

In the last few years the EF-2000 has logged more hours than the Tornado, which is expected because the latter is being phased out.

Eurofighter:

- Fiscal year 2016/17: 22,220
- Fiscal year 2015/16: 19,650
- Fiscal year 2014/15: 17,550

Tornado

- Fiscal year 2016/17: 11,760
- Fiscal year 2015/16: 14,340
- Fiscal year 2014/15: 14,390

References:

- https://twitter.com/JoedeBrig

- http://portierramaryaire.com/foro/

Infographic on the Su-57 fighter

United Aircraft Corporation has published this infographic with a summary of the PAK FA project (Su-57 fighter). Below is possible to see the first flights for the prototypes, including the latest T-50-10 in December, which is equipped with the new engines.

Indian Navy tender for carrier-based fighter

7-1-2018

Livefist has informed that the Dassault Rafale F3M and F-18 Block III. Saab and RSK MiG proposals have been discarded (1). No details on the reasons has been given; Gripen was a no go because of it's single engine configuration, which was the reason given to reject a naval Tejas. The Navy was also looking for a mode advanced type than MiG-29K.

In my opinión de Rafale is still the favourite because it is already in service with the Air Force and the logistics would be simplified.

26-1-2017

The Indian Navy has opened a tender for the supply of 57 naval fighters. The request for information can be read in the link below. An offset of 30% of the contract's value is expected. First deliveries would take place 3 years after signing the contract and would have to be completed in 6.

The Indian Navy's fighter is the MiG-29K Fulcrum. A total of 46 have been ordered. The F-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale are likely candidates. The later has been acquired by the Air Force, which could be an advantage. It is unclear if the Super Hornet will be still in production when the decision is taken. So far the LCA Tejas is not a candidate, but an improved Mk 2 version could be marketed.

References:

- http://tenders.gov.in/viewtenddoc.asp?tid=del877328&wno=1&td=TD
- https://www.livefistdefence.com/navy-dogfight-begins-india (1)

Supply of new combat and training aircraft to Russian Armed Forces (2008-2017)

The analysis blog bmpd.livejournal has published a table with the yearly deliveries of new combat and training aircraft to the Russian Armed Forces from 2008 to 2017. The data do not include updated aircraft. Since 2013 the acquisition rythm has been very significant, and has surpassed 100 per year. To give an idea, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) plans to have ~700 combat aircraft.

In 2008 the only supplied aircraft was a single Su-34. On this year Russia was still recovering from the 1990s economical crisis, and up to this period, priority was given to modernisations and research. The peak in 2009 is caused by the 28 SMTs acquired and later rejected by Algeria.

Table 1: Supply of new combat and training aircraft (2008-2017).

The acquisition of Su-27SM3 and Su-30M2 was widely discussed because of the origin of these birds. The Su-27s could have been manufactured from components originally produced for China. In 1995 this country signed an agreement to produce under license 200 Su-27SKs, but it was cancelled in 2004. The upgrade to the SM3 variant is logical because the original version was obsolete.

The possible origin of the Su-30M3 is similar. The production is actually quite spread during several years. In 2016 the last ones were delivered. Nowadays they operate in 3 regiments (22, 23 and 38 IAP) belonging to different variants.

The other types are well know. It is likely that the deliveries have been adjusted to make room for export contracts and to take into account the economical crisis. In 2016 Russia exported 33 combat aircraft:

- 6 MiG-29K to India.
- 8 Su-30MKA to Algeria.
- 2 Su-30SM to Kazakhstan
- 4 Su-30MK2 to Vietnam.
- 4 Su-35 to China.
- 4 Yak-130 to Belarus
- 3 Yak-130 to Myanmar.
- 2 Yak-130 to Bangladesh.

In 2017 deliveries were reduced to 49. MiG-29SMT has been completed, and Yak-130s deliveries have slow down. Yakovlev have been working on an improved version, and several have been exported.

Deliveries of Il-76MD-90A have slowed down. A while ago the factory producing the type had to renegotiate the contract as it was losing money. Other deliveries were 1 Tu-204, 2 An-148-100 and 3 DA42T trainers. There will be no more deliveries of An-140-100 because the company producing them in Russia (privately owned Aviakor) has gone bankrupt.

In the next few years Flanker and Fulcrum will continue. Russia's State Armaments Program 2020 should include +20 MiG-35, and the contract should be signed this year. It will be interesting to see upgraded Su-34M for follow on contract.

The exports for 2017 were also 33:

- 15 MiG-29M/M2 to Egypt
- 6 Su-30MKA to Algeria
- 2 Su-30SM to Kazakhstan
- 10 Su-35 to China
- 3 Yak-130 to Myanmar

References:

- http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2358587.html
- http://www.easternorbat.com/html/russian_air_force_eng.html

- Summary of aircraft and helicopter contracts for Russian Armed Forces
- https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3036294.html