Friday 29 April 2016

First flight of the 6th PAK FA protoype

On Wednesday Russian sources informed that the 6th PAK FA protoype made it's first fligth. At the moment there are no prototypes. The first flights of the prototypes took place on the following dates:

T-50-1: 29th January 2010.
T-50-2: 3rd March 2011.
T-50-3: 22nd November 2011
T-50-4: 12th December 2012
T-50-5: 27th October 2013.
T-50-5R: 16th October 2015
T-50-6: 27th April 2016

References:

- http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/77024/

Sunday 24 April 2016

First flight of Mitsubishi X-2

A few days ago the Japanese technology demonstrator Mitsubishi X-2 flew for the first time. The Japanese government has not really anounced. The X-2 is an experimental aircraft which will be used to test advanced fighter technologies. So far there are not a lot of details, it's somewhat smaller than a F-16 (14.2 meters long and 9.1 meters wingspan). It has 2 IHI XF5-1 engines with 49 kN thrust each. The fuselage has been designed to include stealth characteristics. 

The radar will be an AESA type, which Japan has already fielded in the f-2 fighter. The flight control system can adjust the control surfaces in case one is damaged. The 3D nozzles are very interesting (second photo).

  General view (Unknown copyrigth).
3D nozzles  (Unknown copyrigth).

It will be interesting to see the project's progress. By looking at the cost (+300 million $) and configuration is rather likely that it won't be produced in large numbers or without extensive modifications. Currently, it will be used to test new technologies.

References:

- https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-mitsubishi-x-2-completes-maiden-sortie-424499/

Friday 22 April 2016

Russia acquires another 20 BTR-82

Russian Ministry of Defence has ordered another 20 BTR-82. This version is based on the BTR-80 but has many upgrades. The main one is the up to date FCS for the 30 mm gun.

BTR-82A (Army Recognition).

The acquisition of these vehicles has gone unnoticed. It is a rather small quantity. It is likely that more acquired because Boomerang is a few years ago from being produced in large quantities.

References:

- https://news.rambler.ru/politics/33302350/

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Images of Sebastopol Aircraft Plant

In early April Russian viceprime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, visited Crimea. He has promised that the government will provide work to the aircraft and ship maintenace facilities in Crimea.



The news show this images of Sebastopol Aircraft Plant, which repairs Mil and Kamov helicopters. It is possible to see a Kamov belonging to the Russian Navy.
References

- http://lenta.ru/news/2016/04/02/rogozin/?t
- http://sevairpl.narod.ru/english.htm

Tuesday 19 April 2016

T-90 damaged and captured in Syria

A few hours ago this photo appeared on the internet. It shows a T-90 that has been hit in the turret by a RPG/AT missile. Some of the ERA bricks are gone. Shtora system is also damaged. One of the projector is gone and the other one damaged.  Jabhat al-Nusra claims the vehicle has been captured from Hezbollah. the rest of the vehicle seems in good condition.



References:

- http://gurkhan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/90_58.html

Monday 18 April 2016

Photo of a Syrian MiG-29

Nice view of a Syrian MiG-29. Sadly, from this angle it is hard to chek for any upgrades. The aircraft looks like a vanilla MiG-29 9.12. Maybe in the next few days the content of the interview shows up.


References:

- Image found in twitter.

Friday 15 April 2016

Azovets combat vehicle

A year ago designers from Azov militia started designing a “tank for urban combat”, commonly known as Azovets. The development has been funded by donations and crowd funding. This month the vehicle started the final testing.

Azovets has been the sibject of many jokes in Russia. It’s viceprime minister Dmitry Rogozin –famous for his comments- congratulated the designers because they had created a tank from dump containers.

In reality the project is much more serious than what it looks at first sight. The designers have experience in Lvov and Kharkov tank factories. Staff with combat experience in the Donetsk campaign have collaborated. The work has been carried out in a tractor factory that went bankrupt a few years ago and has been taken over by the militia.

Currently there are no official specs, but enough information is available to allow an analysys. The chassis is from a T-64, and a hull to accommodate the crew has been installed. Most sources state that crew is 4, but in the diagrams only 3 are shown. 

Front.

Rear.

The designers decided to eliminate driver’s periscopes as they are targeted by enemy snipers. They also create a weak spot in the armour, Driving and fighting is done using cameras. The commander will have a panoramic camera with a thermal sight.

The armament is integrated in 2 unmanned turrets. Each has a 23 mm gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun and Stugna/Korsar missiles. There are plan to install 2 UAVs.

Armour consists of “Nozh” ERA installed over the aluminium hull. On the front there are 2 layers. Engine is the same as in T-64BV, a 5TDF engine with 700 HP.

Crew position, only 3 can be seen.

After looking at the configuration, there are several aspects that could be improved –in my opinon-. The 23 mm guns are not optimal for urban warfare. Russian BMPT is equipped with 2×30 mm and it has been critisised. The new version is likely to have a single 57 mm model.

The 2 combat modules are not a bad idea. There have been a few comments comparing this setup with early T-26 variants, but in this case each one is controlled by an operator. Lack of thermal sights is an issue, although it is likely that they get an image from commander’s sight. In any case, these expensive devices have to be imported.

Rear light/camera.

The UAV does not seem very efficient. It is not clear who would operate them, and they are likely to overload the crew. The vehicle would have to carry them and field them. A BMS (Battle Management System) would be more effective.

The choice of AT missiles is intereting. Both are 100 mm, but the Stugna has twice the range, 5000 meters against 2500. No reason has been given for the installation. Maybe it is simply that they are alsready available.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

PAK FA testing dumb bombs

PAK FA prototype testing dumb bombs. The weapons are closer to WW2 standards than a fifth generation fighter...


References

- Photo by Evgeny Volkov.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

A Russian Mi-28N crashes in Syria

The Russian Ministry of Defence has anounced that a Mi-28N attack helicopter has crashed near Homs. Both crew member have died. The helicopter was flying near Homs and came down at 1:29 Moscow time.

Mi-28N (Unknown copyrigth ).


References:

BMP-1 destruction by A-10 in Syria

This video shows the destruction of an ISIS BMP-1 whcih was being used asa  SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device). As it was racing towards NFD forces it was hit by 30 mm rounds from an A-10.


References

Monday 11 April 2016

Jordan, possible interested in Su-34

Russian newspaper Kommersant has informed that Jordan could be interested in acquiring an unspecified amount of Su-32, the export version of the Su-34. According to this source, the interest is a consequence of the operations in Syria.




Su-34 en Siria (vía BBC).
 
The author is rather catious about the information, as Jordan operates large amounts of US equipment and the contracts with Russia have been rather modest.

References:

- http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2961098
 

Sunday 10 April 2016

Weapon trials on PAK FA

Fifth generation fighter PAK FA carries on with the testing. A few days ago these pictures appared. They show the second prototype (T-50-2 "052") testing Kh-31 and RVV-MD missiles. Note that the weapons are carried externally.





At the website russianplanes.net more photos of this aircraft are available. From the distance it is hard to tell if the missile is a RVV-MD or a R-73 derivative.

References:

Saturday 9 April 2016

Armenian T-72 destroyed by Azerbaijan

The video below shows the remains of an Armenian T-72 destroyed by Azerbaijan. The tank was reversing when hit. The ammunition stored inside the vehicle detonated and led to its complete destruction. According to the journalist, the crew died.


The most likely reason for the destruction it is an AT missile with top attack capability.
References:

Thursday 7 April 2016

Azov militia will develop a new T-64 variant

Azov militia is going to develop a new T-64 variant named "T-rex". According to designers, it will be superior to T-64BM Bulat in mobility and night fighting capability. It will also be superior to T-84M Oplot in some aspects.

T-64 T-Rex, click to enlarge.

The first artist view cab be seen in the Ukrainian journal "Defence Express" (above). I till be interesting to see final design as the concept looks rather different to T-64 chassis. It seems that the crew will be placed on the front hull, like in Armata -note periscopes. The chassis looks taller and wider. There seems to be a IR projector in the turret, when a thermal sight would be expected.

References:

Wednesday 6 April 2016

Kuwait confirms Eurofighter EF-2000 contract

Kuwait has signed a contract with Finmeccanica to acquire 28 EF-2000 for an estimated 7-8 billion euros. The Typhoon had been selected a few months ago but the contract had not been formally signed.

This new contract is a boost for the Eurofighter consortium, as the extra aircraft will lead to more work and financing to integrate new equipment.

Spanish Air Force EF-2000 (Unknown author).

Kuwait is also keen on acquiring another 28 F-18E/F, but the contract has not been signed yet. The Air Force currently operates 27 F/A-18C.

References:

- http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/impresa-e-territori/
- http://alejandro-8.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/eurofighter-para-kuwait.html
- http://portierramaryaire.com/foro

New weapons and EW pod for Russian Su-35

A Russian news journal show a video of a Su-35 based at Dzemgi, near Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where this fighter is produced. It was very interesting because weapons shown included air to air missiles Izd 170-1 and a EW kit L-265 "Khibiny-M"


The VKS is slowly getting AMRAAM type missiles. A few weeks ago they were seen in Syria. Due to the 1990s crisis  acquisitions were stopped, and it was only recently that they were bought in large numbers.
References:

- http://djoker-lj.livejournal.com/216237.html

Tuesday 5 April 2016

New data on Tu-22M3M modernization

New details have appeaed on this aircraft's modernization. According to the data posted by alexeyvvo at forums.airforce.ru, a NV-45 radar is being installed. This model, manufactured by Leninets, derives from the P-38 Novella used in Il-38N. So far there are no details on the performance. The P-38 can track detect targets at 320 kms. The cost of 4 NV-45 sets is 8.33 million $.

Modernización de un Tu-22M3 en Kazan (lenta.ru).

The installation shows that the main mission of Tu-22M3M will be ground attack/strike. A few years ago there were talks about installing a radar similar to the Su-35 and air to air missiles.

References:

- http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1828679.html
- http://bastion-karpenko.ru/novella-p-38/

Declassified T-90 photos

A few days ago Jim Warford uploaded these photos at tank-net forum. They show one of the first T-90 produced in Russia. They were taken in December 1993. This early variant can be identified because of the cast turret, Kontakt-5 ERA and Shtora jammer. No thermal sight was available yet. 

Monday 4 April 2016

Presentation - welcome

Dear all

My name is Alejandro. I am the author of a blog about history and military technology in Spanish, “Historia y Tecnología Militar”. In the last couple of years, I have received suggestions about publishing articles in English, as many readers struggle with the translation tools available. I have decided to give it a go and create a version in English.

I will be translating some of the material into English. All feedback is more than welcome.

Alejandro.