Myanmar signs order for six Su-30s

Myanmar is to obtain six Sukhoi Su-30 fighters under a deal signed during a visit by Russia's defence minister to the Southeast Asian nation. TASS news agency quotes deputy defence minister Lt. Gen. Alexander Fomin as saying that the aircraft will be the main fighter aircraft of the Myanmar air force. The mainstay of Myanmar's combat fleet are 39 Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft. The country is also shown as having orders for 16 Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 fighters.
flightglobal

Russia flies first Su-57 fitted with new Product 30 engine

Russia’s latest fighter aircraft flew on 5 December for the first time with the NPO Saturn “Product 30” engine, which will be the production standard for the Sukhoi Su-57.
Sukhoi has built and flown nine flight test prototypes of the Su-57 fighter powered by NPO Saturn Product 117 engines, which are derived from the AL-41F-1S afterburning turbofans developed for the Su-35.
But the Russian air force plans to replace the Product 117 in series production starting in 2020 with the Product 30 engines, possibly featuring a new engine core of which few details are known.
Russian government officials have said the Product 30 will provide more thrust and fuel efficiency, with reduced weight and maintenance requirements.
The 5 December test flight by Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan from the Gromov flight test centre at Zhukovsky AB lasted 17min, according to Russia’s Ministry for Industry and Trade.
Photos and video of the flight shows the Product 30 installed in the No. 1, or port-side, engine position, with a Product 117 engine remaining on the starboard side. The Product 30 features a serrated engine nozzle, compared to the flat nozzle on the Product 117.
The flight test was conducted by the second Su-57 aircraft prototype, also known as T-50-2.
flightglobal

Flight tests of Russia’s PAK FA 5th-generation fighter jet "practically completed"

The tests confirming the flight characteristics of Russia’s fifth-generation PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) fighter jet have been actually completed, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV Channel on Monday.
"Several planes are now primarily testing airborne avionics. The tests proving the aircraft’s flight characteristics have practically been completed," the deputy defense minister said.
Deputy Defense Minister Borisov earlier told the media the Russian military would purchase only a squadron of PAK FA fighter jets, compensating this with a larger order for Sukhoi Su-35.
tass.ru

Sukhoi Su-35 To Replace Indonesian F-5 Tiger Aircraft

Indonesia has selected Russian Su-35 fighter aircraft to replace 16 F-5 Tiger aircraft.
The Ministry of Defense considered Sukhoi as a replacement for the F-5 Tiger, he said, because Air Force pilots are accustomed to flying Sukhoi.
If the deal goes through, it will be the first export of the Sukhoi Su-35 outside of Russia. China too is reported to be negotiating to buy the aircraft.

Russia to Begin Testing Three More T-50 PAK-FA Stealth Fighter Prototypes

United Aircraft Corp. plans to deliver three more prototypes of an advanced stealth fighter jet to the Russian military for testing as early as next year, a company official said.
The president of the Moscow-based company, Yuri Slyusar, said three more of the T-50 PAK-FA, a fifth-generation stealth fighter made by United Aircraft subsidiary Sukhoi, will be transferred to the Russian air force in late 2016 or early 2016 as part of a test program.
That will bring the total number of T-50 prototypes to eight, according to a fact sheet distributed at the event. The PAK-FA first flew in 2011.
Compared to the previous generation fighters, the PAK-FA combines the functions of a strike aircraft and a fighter, thus offering a number of unique capabilities, the fact sheet states. As the fifth-generation aircraft, it has an essentially new thoroughly integrated avionics package providing superior automatic control and intelligence support.
While the T-50 has experienced some development challenges such as engine flameouts, the aircraft is performing well in tests.
The governments of Russia and India have partnered to develop an export version of the aircraft. Russian officials have trained their Indian counterparts and supplied with them data and software to work on research and development.
The Indian version of the aircraft “will have some differences from the Russian prototype due to specific requirements of the Indian air force,” the fact sheet states.
Unlike the previous Paris Air Show, when Russian aircraft such as the Su-35 dominated the skies and dazzled the crowds, the government doesn’t have any military aircraft performing at this year’s event largely because it wanted to focus attention on new civilian aircraft such as plans for a new wide-body airliner to be developed in collaboration with China.
Slyusar also said the company expects to sign a contract this year to sell 24 Su-35s for the Chinese military and is in talks to ink a deal to perform more maintenance work on Russia aircraft.
defensetech

Sukhoi delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russian MoD

Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi has handed over the first batch of Su-34 frontline fighter bombers to the country's Defence Ministry under the 2015 State Defence Order.
Last year Sukhoi successfully completed the 2014 State Defence Order and delivered two combat aircraft above the initial yearly plan.
The Su-34s are replacing the Su-24 frontline bombers which are presently in service with the Russian Air Force.
The Russian Defence Ministry has placed an order for over 100 Su-34s to be delivered to the Air Force by 2020.
The multi-role Su-34 fighter bomber is designed to attack land-based, sea- and airborne targets by day and night in all weather conditions.
brahmand

Russia to Begin Serial Production of PAK T-50 Fighters in 2016

Russia plans to start production of fifth-generation T-50 fighter jets in 2016.
Four more prototypes will be available for tests this year, after manufacturers said last month that five fighters were carrying out test flights.
Sukhoi, the Russian company behind the T-50 project, also plans to produce an export version of the fighter for India.
sputniknews

Russia, India Complete Draft Project for FGFA

Russia and India have completed the preliminary design for the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
While the Russian version of the fifth generation fighter jet is operated by a single pilot, the Indian Air Force prefers aircraft that are operated by two pilots.
The Sukhoi PAK FA (T-50) is the Russian Air Force’s first stealth fighter, intended to succeed the Sukhoi Su-27, as well as the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets. The aircraft conducted its first test flight in 2010 and deliveries are set to begin in 2016. The FGFA, developed jointly by Russia’s Sukhoi and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is a derivative from the PAK FA.
sputniknews

Russia plans to receive 55 PAK-FAs by 2020

The Russian Air Force (VVS) will have received 55 Sukhoi PAK-FA (T-50) fighter aircraft by 2020, according the deputy director of the United Aircraft Corporation's (UAC's) combat aircraft department.
The first PAK-FA deliveries are scheduled for 2016.
Five PAK-FAs have been produced and three more are now being constructed at the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company.
janes

Thailand signs contracts with Russia to buy three Sukhoi Superjet 100 for VIP Transport

Thailand signed contracts with Russia to buy three Sukhoi Superjet 100 medium-haul airliners.
The amount of the deal has been kept secret. The contract was signed last year to supply two airliners. In August 2014 the contract was concluded to supply another airliner.
itar-tass

Indian Air Force Grounds Its Entire Sukhoi-30 Jet Fleet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its entire fleet of Russia-developed Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft to undergo safety checks, following the latest accident in Pune.
The fleet of about 200 Su-30 jets currently grounded represents almost a third of the country’s fighter fleet. The IAF is due to purchase another 72 of the aircraft from Russia.
An IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI crashed into a field in the Pune district on Tuesday. There were no casualties as both the pilot and the co-pilot had ejected to safety.
The Su-30 MKI is the IAF’s elite fighter-bomber. It was built under license by India's Hindustan Aeronautics.
ria.ru

Sukhoi handed over a batch of Su-35 and Su-30M2 aircraft to Russian Air Force

Today the Sukhoi Company handed over a batch of Su-35 and Su-30M2 fighter aircraft to the Ministry of Defense in the framework of the common day of acceptance of the military equipment delivered by the defense industry. The transfer ceremony took place at the airport of the Sukhoi Company’s branch — Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant.
sukhoi

Sukhoi transferred a batch of Su-30M2 fighters to the Russian Air Force

Sukhoi transferred a batch of multipurpose Su-30M2 fighters to the Russian Air Force in the framework of the 2014 State Defense Order. The Russian Air Force Commission checked the technical documentation on the combat aircraft at the airport of Sukhoi’s subsidiary — Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant (KnAAZ). The military pilots tested fighters on the ground and in the air. Afterwards the new aircraft flew to the place of their deployment. This year the Air Force will receive a few more Su-30M2.
sukhoi

Sukhoi to sign another contract with India on FGFA

Sukhoi plans to sign another contract with India in the framework of the joint project for the construction of a fifth generation multipurpose combat jet.
The intergovernmental agreement on this project was signed back in 2007. Three years after, the sides inked a general contract on joint design and production and then the first engineering development contract. Works under this agreement were completed in 2013.
In December 2010, Rosoboronexport and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi Company signed a preliminary design development contract worth $295 million for the new aircraft.
The IAF had initially planned to order 166 single-seat and 48 twin-seat fighters, but India’s chief of air staff said in October 2012 that New Delhi would now go for only 144 single-seat jets, with domestic production slated to begin in 2020.
rbth.com

Russia to modify engines of India Su-30MKI

India Air Force frontline fighter jet Sukhoi-30MKI will be modified under new specifications laid down by its Russian manufacturers to fix mid-air engine trouble in its fleet.
The move comes after the IAF faced an unusually high number of mid-air engine failures over the past two years (January 2102 onwards) and asked the Russians to rectify the problem in the fighter jet. The IAF has a fleet of 200 Sukhoi aircraft and another 72 are on their way from Moscow.
The modification will be carried out on 400 engines of the twin-engine aircraft, besides installation of some spares for emergencies. The Russians will install modified engines on the next lot of 72 jets, sources say.
The modified engines will first be tested on the aircraft, before being fitted to the entire fleet. The refit will be carried out in batches over the next 18-24 months.
The Russians have assured India that the modifications will eliminate the problem of mid-air engine failure.
Some of the engines — the AL-31FP — produced by NPO Saturn of Russia have been behaving inconsistently over the past two years. Since the engines powering the jet are still being produced, there is a scope for modification.
The IAF had flagged the Russians after studying each failure in detail between 2012 and 2013. The matter was taken up at a meeting between the two nations in February and later in June.
The instances of single-engine Su-30MKI landings were very high during the period. This was lowering the operational ability of the fleet, besides raising questions about war readiness.
While the aircraft is based at Bathinda, Halwara, Sirsa, Bareilly, Jodhpur and Bhuj in the North and West, its two squadrons are based at Tezpur and Chabua in the East.
Another squadron is based in South to augment the Indian Navy’s fleet of MiG29-K and Sea Harriers aboard aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat, respectively.
tribuneindia

Russia Delivering Weapons to Iraq

Russia has begun supplying military helicopters and fighter jets to Iraq, as Iraq’s defense minister visited Moscow to press for equipment to thwart a jihadist offensive.
Deliveries of Mi-35 helicopter gunships and Su-25 fighters that provide close air support for ground troops have begun.
Iraq also has contracts for Mi-28 attack helicopters and mobile Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air and anti-aircraft artillery systems and it's believed that up to 10 Sukhoi fighter jets would be delivered by the end of the summer.
Russia and Iraq in 2012 signed contracts to supply 36 of the Mi-28 attack helicopters and 48 Pantsir units. Later were signed contracts for six Mi-35 helicopters and Su-25 fighters.
Despite the billions of dollars spent on training and equipment by the United States during its eight-year occupation, Iraq’s million-strong army completely folded when insurgents attacked last month.
Within days, the Islamic State jihadist group and allied Sunni factions conquered Iraq’s second city of Mosul and large swathes of the north and west.
The front lines have since stabilised and Baghdad has already received intelligence assistance from Washington and Sukhoi warplanes from Russia and Iran.
defensenews

Su-30MKI engine failures worry IAF; Russia told to fix snag

The Sukhoi-30MKI fleet of the Indian Air Force has been encountering mid-air engine failures for the past two years. India has officially flagged the matter to Russia seeking a correction.
Repeated engine failures and the newly introduced precautionary measures have affected the availability of planes for various operations. The IAF has a fleet of 200 Sukhois.
After a failure, the engine is replaced after testing before allowing the plane to fly again. The process of removing and replacing an engine usually takes four-five days, but can be extended depending upon the damage.
As a stopgap arrangement, the Russian side had suggested some measures.
The IAF has so far not arrived at a conclusion of its findings, but as a precautionary step, it has started servicing the engine after 700 hours instead of the mandated 1,000 hours of flying, adding to the non-availability of the aircraft.
Sources said the matter was taken up at the India-Russia meeting in June this year and also in February when a Russian delegation visited the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL's) Sukhoi-30MKI plant at Nashik.
The IAF had told Russians after studying each failure in detail that Sukhoi's engines - AL-31FP produced by NPO Saturn of Russia - had been functioning inconsistently for the past two years (2012 and 2013). The number of single-engine landings by planes in two years is high and not healthy. It lowers the operational ability of the fleet, besides raising questions about war readiness.
A single-engine landing is necessitated after one of the power plants fails mid-air. The Sukhoi-30MKI is a twin-engine plane and a mid-air failure of one of its engines means the second engine allows it to land. Such a situation would be unacceptable during a conflict when the pilot would need an optimum speed to attack or to withdraw after an attack. The power of both engines is required to lift eight tonne of payload - missiles and rockets.
The IAF and the Ministry and Defence have always considered the Sukhoi as a "safe and reliable" warplane. So far, only four have crashed since phased- induction in 1997. A pilot had died in the first crash in 2009 and at least one of the crashes is attributed to engine trouble.
In northern and western India, the Sukhoi-30MKI is based at Bathinda, Halwara near Ludhiana, Sirsa, Bareilly, Jodhpur and Bhuj.
tribuneindia

Iraq have bought Sukhoi Jets from Russia and Belarus

Iraqi Presiden said that Iraq had bought a number of used Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia and Belarus. He said the aircraft could be flying missions in Iraq "within a few days".
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the crisis with Mr Maliki by phone last Friday, the Kremlin reported on its website at the time.
Russia has confirmed his full support for the government's efforts to rid Iraqi territory of "terrorists", they said, without giving details.
bbc

Fire damages PAK-FA prototype on landing

Sukhoi has played down the impact on its T-50/PAK-FA programme of a fire that damaged one of the five flight test aircraft while on the ground at Zhukovsky air base near Moscow on 10 June.
The company says smoke was observed coming from the fighter’s starboard engine air intake during landing, and a fire broke out shortly afterwards.
However, the blaze was “quickly extinguished”, says Sukhoi, and the aircraft will now be repaired. “This incident will not affect the timing of the T-50 test programme,” it adds.
flightglobal

New batch of Su-34 front-line bombers was transferred to the Russian Air Force

Sukhoi Company has transferred to the Russian Air Force the first batch of serial Su-34 front-line bombers under the 2014 State Defense Order. The aircraft took off the airfield of the Novosibirsk aircraft plant and headed to the place of their deployment. The new bombers were delivered according to the 2012 State Contract for a large batch of Su-34s. The 5-year State Contract for Su-34s signed in 2008 was fulfilled last December.
sukhoi