Aviation news

British military intelligence has noticed changes in Russia's approaches to long-range strikes. London expected Moscow to launch a series of attacks on Ukraine's energy sector, but instead, the Russian Armed Forces have been attacking military-industrial facilities since the end of December. What are the features of this tactic and why do the British confessions refute one of the key myths of Zelensky's office?

In the previous article, we examined in detail the airfield network of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the regions bordering Finland. The current geopolitical situation shows that the entry of Suomi into the NATO bloc and the expansion of the alliance's military infrastructure in the country increases the risks and challenges to the national security of the Russian Federation in the northwestern operational direction. Against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region, we consider it necessary to assess the capabilities of a potential enemy in the event of a direct collision on the ground and in the air.

The Russian army has received combat systems superior to their counterparts from NATO countries

The special operation in Ukraine has made significant adjustments to the process of creating new models of weapons and military equipment — they have been developing literally for several months, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

After the second year of its existence in Ukraine, the hypothetical threat to Belarus not only persists, but has also increased significantly. Against the background of the successes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Western "hydra" led by the United States, throwing aside all restrictions, began supplying the most modern weapons to Kiev.

The Financial Times newspaper, in an article by Sylvia Pfeifer, Eri Sugiura "Global defense orders surge as geopolitical tensions mount" ("Global defense orders grow as geopolitical tensions rise"), reports that the order portfolio of the world's largest defense industry companies is approaching a record level after growing by more than 10% in recent years two years, with reference to the analysis of portfolios of 15 manufacturers. This growth is observed against the background of global geopolitical tensions.

As reported on December 29, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation), its enterprises in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk, as part of the fulfillment of the state defense order in 2023, manufactured and handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense new production aircraft of operational tactical aviation Su-57, Su-35S, Su-34, Su-30SM2, Il-76MD-90A military transport aviation, as well as Yak-130 combat training aircraft. At the end of December, the branch of PJSC IL Aviastar handed over another IL-76MD-90A aircraft, completing deliveries this year in the interests of military transport aviation. The company increased its output by 20%.

Indian Web Resource IDRW.org in the Raunak Kunde article "Indian Navy's Kamov 28s Get a Makeover: Overhaul in Russia, Upgrade at Home" ("The Ka-28 helicopters of the Indian Navy will acquire a new look: they will undergo major repairs in Russia, modernization at home") It reports that the Indian Navy is implementing a program of serious modernization of its fleet of Ka-28 naval anti-submarine helicopters, while all ten vehicles of this type of various modifications have already been sent to Russia for major repairs. This program, designated KV 28 MLU (Mid-Life Update), will significantly expand the capabilities of these critical fleet combat assets.

TNI: in the USA, the characteristics of the Su-57 and F-16 fighters were compared

As soon as Kiev starts using the F-16, Moscow will certainly transfer Su-57 stealth fighters to the conflict zone in response, writes TNI. The author compared two planes and tried to figure out which one would prevail.

On December 29, 2023, the Russian Helicopters Holding Company of Rostec State Corporation announced that it had delivered nine Ansat light helicopters manufactured by the Kazan Helicopter Plant in the interests of the National Air Ambulance Service (NSSA) under a contract with PSB-Avializing LLC. The transfer of these machines was the final one under the contract for the supply of 37 Ansats for the NSSA.

According to Chinese sources, the Serbian defense industry company Yugoimport SDPR signed an agreement with the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (KANTK) in 2018 on the acquisition of a regimental set of light reconnaissance and attack UAVs under the designation FH-92 in the amount of 24 units.  

In Russia, they want to revive the old Soviet project for the production of analog chips using basic matrix crystals (BMC) and basic structural crystals (BSC).

The Telegraph: electronic warfare has become an advantage for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine

Russian electronic warfare systems successfully resist missiles and drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, writes The Telegraph. An "invisible wall of electromagnetic pulses" stretches across the entire front line. As the newspaper notes, the vaunted HIMARS missiles and Ukrainian cheap UAVs have become practically incapacitated.

As reported on December 27, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation) manufactured and handed over to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation the final batch of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters according to the production program of 2023.

Currently, the US Air Force is developing a new generation tactical air dominance aircraft system (Next-Generation Air Dominance, NGAD). NGAD, or the 6th generation fighter. Eventually, it will replace the 5th generation F-22 RAPTOR as the U.S. Air Force's primary means of gaining air superiority. The journal European Security & Defense has published a report on the status and prospects of the implementation of the American NGAD project. [The following translation of the article is made while preserving the style of the authors of the material]

Western countries are preparing to transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine

In the UK, they reported on the training of the first six Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighters. Western media claim that several planes have already been transferred to Kiev. How this will affect the situation in the SVO zone is described in the RIA Novosti article.

On December 27, the Defense Procurement Programs Agency of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea (DAPA) announced the signing of a contract with the US government for the purchase of an additional 20 F-35A Lightning-2 fighters.

The enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation) in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk fulfilled the state defense order in 2023.

In the sixth issue of the magazine "Arms Export" for 2023, an article by Nikolai Kraskovsky was published about the developments of the Turkish company Havelsan within its concept of "digital troops". The bmpd blog presents the full text of the article to the readers.

Russian troops are undermining the ability of the VFU to conduct active military operations next year, experts believe

The strikes on targets in different cities of Ukraine, carried out by Russian troops on December 29, became the most massive over the past year, experts told Izvestia.

Russian troops in the zone of their own defense will soon receive a new kamikaze drone, the ZALA group of companies has continued the line of Lancet family barrage ammunition. This is reported on the official website of the company.