Russian Su-35 Shot Down Ukrainian Su-25 & MiG-29 Jets During Combat Sortie

A Russian Su-35S multirole fighter jet successfully engaged and shot down Ukrainian Su-25 and MiG-29 aircraft during a combat sortie, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The pilot of the Su-35S fighter jet, said that a pair of Su-25s and one MiG-29 were spotted at a distance of around 200 kilometers. Apparently, the Su-25s were preparing to carry out the ground attack, and MiG-29s must have been escorting them.

According to the pilot, after the missile was launched, the tags from the radars disappeared. Further, intelligence confirmed: two aircraft were shot down, and the cover fighter left the escort zone.

However, Russian fighters have remained very effective and lethal against Ukrainian aircraft throughout the war, particularly the Su-35S armed with the R-77-1 air-to-air missile (AAM), according to a recent study on the Russian Air War in Ukraine, conducted by London-based Royal United Services Institute.

Ukrainian fighter pilots cited by the experts at RUSI admit that Russia’s Su-30SM and Su-35S completely outclass Ukrainian Air Force fighters.

eurasiantimes 

Russian Navy Fighters Conduct Air Interception Exercise

Russian naval pilots have conducted military drills on off-shore target interception and air fight. The flights on Russia’s fighter jets, Su-33 and naval trainer Su-25UTG have been performed during daytime and at night.
Special attention has been paid to exercising the elements of elementary, advanced and stunt aerobatics at all altitudes, speeds, and accelerations. The crews of the carrier-based fighters also completed military exercises in intercepting off-shore high-altitude and high-speed targets, exercised skills in air combat using attack and defense maneuvers at mid- and low-level altitudes,” the Northern Fleet press service said in a statement.
The Su-33 is a single-seat ship-based STOBAR fighter, with upward folding wings and horizontal tail surfaces (for hangar storage); it is equipped with probe-and-drogue flight refuelling capability. The Su-33 is designed for defence of naval ships from aerial threats.
Su-25UTG, is Russia’s naval trainer based on Su-25UT.
sputniknews

Nigeria looking for more attack aircraft

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has received a proposal from a defence company for the sale of six Puma gunship helicopters, four Sukhoi Su-25KM ground attack jets, and two upgraded Su-25UB trainers.
According reports unidentified company had "reached an agreement with the NAF to substitute the initial order for Cobra AH-1V with alternative attack platforms".
The US State Department confirmed in November 2014 that it had blocked a deal to sell Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria because of concerns about its military's human rights record and ability to operate the aircraft. The Nigerian press reported that the attack helicopters would have been ex-Israeli Air Force Cobras.
The only Pumas upgraded into gunships were Romanian-built IAR 330s that were converted into the SOCAT armed version with a chin-mounted 20 mm gun and Rafael Spike guided missiles with the help of the Israeli company Elbit Systems between 2000 and 2005.
Elbit Systems was also involved in the Su-25KM 'Scorpion' upgrade programme along with Georgia's Tblisi Aircraft Manufacturing company.
janes

Kazakhstan to acquire Su-30SM fighters

Kazakhstan is to acquire the Sukhoi Su-30SM 'Flanker' as it looks to recapitalise its Soviet-era fighter force.
The disclosure was made by the Commander in Chief of the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces , during a visit to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant where the Su-30SM is built.
The government announcement did not disclose aircraft numbers or delivery timelines.
The Su-30SM has been developed from the Indian Su-30MKI and is intended by the Russian Air Force as a stop-gap until the Su-35 and Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA enter service later in the decade. The two-seat Su-30SM features an improved radar, communications, and ejector-seat system. In addition, the aircraft's weaponry configuration has been adjusted to Russian specifications.
Kazakhstan currently fields MiG-27, Su-25, MiG-31, Su-27, and MiG-29, all inherited from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
Kazakhstan has recently been procuring Western aircraft for the first time in the guise of the Airbus C295 transport aircraft, as well as EC145 and Bell UH-1 Huey II helicopters (and has been touted as a potential customer of the Airbus A400M transport aircraft).
janes

Iraq Strikes ISIS With Su-25

Iraqi pilots on Russian Sukhoi SU-25 fighter jets bombed Islamic State targets near the city of Tikrit, forcing militants to flee the area, a local military source said.
According to the source, these are the first Sukhoi flights to take place near Tikrit.
Iraq received a batch of Russian-built Su-25 aircraft in June, after the United States delayed delivery of F-16 fighter jets, which the Iraqi Air Force had planned to use in the fight against the Islamic State.
sputniknews

Iranian Phantom jet strikes the Islamic State in Iraq

An Iranian McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II jet has struck Islamic State targets in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, footage shot by regional media shows.
At least one F-4 is seen conducting a bombing run against ground targets in the footage shot by Al Jazeera , which erroneously identified the aircraft as an Iraqi fighter. Iran and Turkey are the only regional operators of the F-4, and the location of the incident not far from the Iranian border, and Turkey's unwillingness to get involved in the conflict militarily, indicate this to be an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) aircraft.
While the IRIAF is known to have contributed Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' ground attack aircraft to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq (ostensibly donated to the Iraqi Air Force, but believed to be crewed by Iranian pilots), this footage is the first visual evidence of direct IRIAF involvement in the conflict.
The Al Jazeera footage, which was shot on 30 November, shows the IRIAF F-4 supporting Iraqi forces retaking the town of Sa'adiya in what was purported to be the government's largest operation against the Islamic State since June. Its release shows reported growing evidence of Iranian involvement in the war in Iraq.
Video footage and photographs shown on social media sites have increasingly been showing Iranian military hardware in the hands of Shia militias fighting in Iraq.
While the US-led effort to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been widely publicised by the Department of Defense (DoD) and its coalition allies, Iran's involvement has been altogether more opaque.
Iran was the first country to pledge and deliver military support to Iraq when the Islamic State began its offensive earlier in the year. At the time that the first IRIAF Su-25s arrived over Baghdad in late June, there was much speculation that Iran and the United States may come together in some form of joint operation against the Islamic State. However, the recent détente between the two countries is still in its very early stages, and neither side much relished the prospect of military co-operation to such a degree.
As such, there appear to be two parallel military campaigns being waged against the Islamic State, with the United States and its allies conducting their air campaign over Iraq and Syria, and Iran pursuing its own military agenda in Iraq at the same time. So far, this dual approach does appear to be working (at least in terms of de-conflicting the two military campaigns), but should they happen to cross paths over the coming weeks and months it would no doubt muddy still further an already complicated conflict.
janes

Bulgaria Plans to Ground Its MiG-29, MiG-21 and SU-25 Russian-Made Jets

Bulgaria's military will scrap three dozen of its Russian-made fighter jets and bombers to reassert its independence from Moscow.
The plan to get rid of all Russian-made aircraft is part of Bulgaria's military development program through 2020 to further integrate the former Soviet bloc nation into the Western NATO defense alliance.
The military will present to parliament within six months a list of new airplanes to replace the 15 Russian-made MiG-29 and six MiG-21 fighters and 14 SU-25 bombers that remain in Bulgaria's air force.
themoscowtimes

Su-25 Attack Aircraft Production May Resume

Ulan-Ude Aviation may resume the production of Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, according the plant’s managing director:
“We used to produce the Su-25 jets and today our equipment is still in good condition, so the question is under consideration. Some serious investment will be needed, and it is likely that another factory will take up the production. But if the government orders us to do it, we shall do it. If the production is to be transferred to somebody else, so be it”.
ria.ru

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

Iraq's Latest Su-25s Come From Iran

The latest delivery of Russian-made Su-25 Frogfoot aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force originated from Iran, according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). The close-air support and ground attack aircraft are using the same serial numbers used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which operate the aircraft.
In a video posted by the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, the aircraft appeared with wing-mounted fuel tanks; the Russian-supplied aircraft were disassembled and flown into Iraq.
Iranian Su-25s have been assigned a narrow range of six-digit serial numbers, all with the prefix 15-245x, with the last two digits repeated on the aircraft nose. While the full serial numbers are not present, the three individual examples identified on the video each featured two-digit numbers on their nose. Two are coded 51 and 56, while 58 is visible on the sole Su-25UB, correlating with identified Iranian numbering.
The camouflage scheme visible on the three aircraft is also identical to that currently applied to Iranian Su-25s, a scheme not adopted by any other operators.
These aircraft are externally in much better condition relative to that of the recently delivered Russian Su-25s thought to be drawn from storage.
Although these aircraft were likely delivered to Iraq by Iranian pilots, it is unclear who will now be responsible for crewing and maintaining them.
It seems increasingly unlikely that Iraq retains the capacity to operate this type of aircraft in any significant number without some level of external support.
defensenews

Russian Pilots Set to Fly Over Iraq

Russia may not have boots on the ground in Iraq—yet. But it will have them in the sky; Russian pilots could be flying over Iraq within days.
While the Obama administration struggles to speed up delivery of U.S. military assistance to the government of Iraq, Vladimir Putin has already delivered not only fighter jets but also the pilots needed to fly them, according diplomatic sourcest.
On Monday, Russian television trumpeted the arrival of the first five of 12 promised Sukhoi Su-25 combat fighter jets to the Iraqi government, saying it had also sent “trainers” to help the Iraqis use them.
Russian pilots will fly the planes due to a lack of Iraqi pilots with the proper training. Neither Russia nor Iraq as explained how the Iraqi air force could possibly have pilots trained and ready to fly the Russian fighters. The Su-25 planes were used in the Iraq-Iran war but have not been employed in Iraq since at least 2002.
thedailybeast

Iraq receives first Russian combat aircrafts

The first batch of the Sukhoi of five Su-25 combat aircrafts from Russia has arrived in Iraq on Saturday, to enhance the combat capability of the country’s Air Force.
The aircrafts were delivered to Iraq on board an Antonov-124-100 of the Russian Air Force. Iraq’s Defence Ministry has published on its website a video of unloading. Iraq’s Air Force office said the aircrafts would be used “within next 3-4 days to support combat operations against ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorist group).”
The officer said Russian specialises who had arrived in Iraq would provide necessary technical service.
itar-tass

New planes arrive at Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan

A unit of Sukhoi Su-25 fighter bombers has arrived at Russia's Kant Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. The unit includes a Su-25UB dual cockpit plane.
In 2013, Kant Air Base crews took part in two international counterterrorism exercises, used unguided aircraft-launched missiles on more than 200 occasions, used aircraft guns on more than 300 occasions, and dropped some 80 bombs.
The average number of flight hours for the air base's pilots stands at 128, and 148 for young pilots.
voiceofrussia

U.S. F-22 stealth fighter pilot taunted Iranian F-4 Phantom combat planes over the Persian Gulf

Earlier this year, Pentagon Press Secretary, said that an IRIAF F-4 Phantom attempted to intercept a U.S. MQ-1 drone flying in international airspace off Iran.
IRIAF F-4 Phantom jets came to about 16 miles from the UAV but broke off pursuit after they were broadcast a warning message by two American planes escorting the Predator.
The episode happened in March 2013, few months after a two Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes attempted to shoot down an American MQ-1 flying a routine surveillance flight in international airspace some 16 miles off Iran, the interception of the unmanned aircraft failed. After this attempted interception the Pentagon decided to escort the drones involved in ISR (intelligence surveillance reconnaissance) missions with fighter jets, either F-18 Hornets with the CVW 9 embarked on the USS John C. Stennis whose Carrier Strike Group is currently in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility or F-22 Raptors like those deployed to Al Dhafra in the UAE.
New details about the episode were recently disclosed by Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh who on Sept. 17 not only confirmed that the fighter jets providing HVAAE (High Value Air Asset Escort) were F-22 stealth fighters but also said that:
“He [the Raptor pilot] flew under their aircraft [the F-4s] to check out their weapons load without them knowing that he was there, and then pulled up on their left wing and then called them and said ‘you really ought to go home’”
theaviationist

Fuerza Aérea Rusa recibe el primer lote de Su-25SM3 aviones de ataque.

El ejercito ruso de la Base Krasnodar, en el Distrito Militar del Sur, recibió el primer lote de 10 aviones de ataque Su-25SM3. La entrega de una nueva tecnología es parte de la Orden de Defensa del Estado. Según la agencia de noticias RIA Novosti, el distrito militar del sur ya se correspondió con el reciclaje de los nuevos pilotos para controlar el tipo de aeronave, y hasta la fecha el 60 por ciento de los miembros del equipo han sido re-entrenados.

Los primeros vuelos regulares con aviones Su-25SM3 se espera que ocurra en la segunda mitad de febrero de 2013. En la actualidad, todos los aviones entregados a la Base Aérea de Krasnodar son sometidos a trabajos de mantenimiento. Según el representante del distrito, "Su-25SM3 es una versión totalmente modernizada del avión de ataque Su-25 , con una capacidad para llegar a pequeños objetivos terrestres móviles y fijas en condiciones meteorológicas adversas, tanto de día como de noche. "


poderiomilitar-jesus

El Su-25 podría volver a producirse/ Production of Su-25 could resume

La planta de Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAZ), en el oriente de Siberia, podría volver a producier el avión de ataque Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot, debido a pedidos del Ministerio de Defensa de Rusia y la United Aircraft Building Corporation.
(leer más)
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The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAZ) in Eastern Siberia could resume production of Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft on orders from the Russian Defense Ministry and the United Aircraft Building Corporation.
How likely is the country's Defense Ministry to purchase them? What are their strengths and where could they be used
(read more)