NationStates Jolt Archive


My air force

Willink
25-05-2005, 19:22
MIG-31M (http://www.warmachines.50g.com/planes/mig-31/mig-31_4.jpg)-The MiG-31M is a highly improved version of the original MiG-31. It has new IRST and phased-array radar to engage six targets at the same time. It is capable of carrying the R-37, which is an improved version of the R-33 AAM. And it is also capable of carrying the R-77 (AA-12 Adder), instead of the R-40TD, which was used on the MiG-31B. The cockpit was redesigned and features three color multi function displays. Other changes include larger fuel capacity, no gun, uprated engines, aerodynamic improvements, larger brake chute housing, and a redesigned nosewheel.
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MIG-29M (http://www.blue-chips.net/images/Russia/MiG-29m.jpg)- MiG-29M/MiG-29M2 single-seat/two-seat aircraft versions are actually new vehicles exhibiting longer range, state-of-the-art airborne equipment, fourfold redundant, three-channel, fly-by-wire system, higher weapon load and extended range of carried weapons.

The cockpits are equipped with liquid-crystal multifunction displays and their interior realizes the HOTAS concept.

The integrated weapon control system incorporates the radar fire-control system built around the ZHUK-ME airborne radar, IR search and track system and helmet-mounted target designation system.

The aircraft external stores can carry the RVV-AE, R-27ER1, R-27ET1, R-27R1, R-27T1, R-73E air-to-air missiles, the Kh-29T, Kh-29L, Kh-31A, Kh-31P, Kh-35E air-to-surface missiles, the KAB-500KR (OD), KAB-500L guided bombs, as well as rockets and free-fall bombs. Besides, the aircraft have the GSh-301 built-in gun.

The airborne radar provides facilities for detection of air targets at ranges up to 120 km, track-while-scan of ten targets and attack of four targets at a time. In scanning surface targets, the radar detection range of destroyer-type target is 250 km and that of missile launcher-type target is 150 km.

The MiG-29M/MiG-29M2 aircraft boast:

High efficiency under adverse operating conditions;
Superb performance data;
Excellent maintainability, reliability and flight safety characteristics;
Up-to-date logistic support and low direct operating costs;
In-flight refueling system;
Digital three-channel four-fold redundant fly-by-wire system;
Contemporary avionics system, cockpit information-control system, HOTAS concept (commonality with MiG-29K and MiG-29SMT aircraft);
Integrated weapon control system incorporating the upgraded fire control system built around the ZHUK-ME airborne radar featuring longer detection range, multi-channel firing, air-to-surface up-to-date modes, and IR search and track system and the helmet-mounted target designation system;
Contemporary navigation, radio communication, electronic countermeasures, monitoring and recording systems, and optronic and reconnaissance pods;
The weapon system includes the RVV-AE, R-27ER1, R-27ET1, R-27R1, R-27T1, R-73E air-to-air missiles, the Kh-29T(TE), Kh-29L, Kh-31A, Kh-31P, Kh-35 air-to-surface missiles, the KAB-500KR(OD), KAB-500L guided bombs, rockets, free-fall bombs and the GSh-301 built-in gun.
The aircraft can be retrofitted for installation of equipment and weapons of non-Russian origin.
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SU-37 (http://wmilitary.neurok.ru/su-37-1.GIF)-Su-37 Super Flanker is a single-seat and/or two-seat multi-role combat aircraft that was first shown in model form at 1991 trade shows. Some wind tunnel tests completed as the aircraft entered the basic design stage in 1992, with foreign partners being sought for development. Unlike the other twin-engine Su-27 derivatives, the Su-37 concept originally featured a single Soyuz/Tumansky turbofan engine rated at 180 kN (40500 lb st) thrust with afterburning. What finally emerged from the design process was a supermanoeuvrable version of the Su-35 with a pair of AL-37FU afterburning turbofans with axisymmetric, steerable nozzles and thrust vector control (TVC). When the Su-37 was shown at Farnbrough in 1996 it stole the show, performing an astounding aerobatic display.

The Su-37 is a super-maneuverable thrust vectoring fighter derived from an Su-35 prototype. The Su-37 represents a new level of capability compared with the Su-27 and Su-35. The Su-37 test aircraft made its maiden flight in April 1996 from the Zhukovsky flight testing center near Moscow. This impressive single-seat all-weather counter-air fighter and ground attack aircraft, derived from the SU-27, has an updated airframe containing a high proportion of carbon-fibre and Al-Li alloy. The engines, avionics and armaments are also improvements on those originally installed in the SU-27. The AL-37FU engines are configured for thrust vector control, with the axisymmetric steerable thrust vector control nozzle is fixed on a circular turning unit. The steel nozzle in the experimental engines is replaced in production engines by titanium units to reduce the weight of the nozzle. The nozzle only moves in the pitch axis, and the nozzles on the two engines can deflect together or differentially to achieve the desired thrust vector for a particular maneuver.

The Su-37 has a variety of other innovative equipment such as a radar configured for simultaneous surveillance of airspace and the ground and a high-precision laser-inertial/satellite navigation system. The all-weather digital multi-mode phased array radar operates in either air and ground surveillance modes or in both modes simultaneously. Ground surveillance modes include mapping (with Doppler beam sharpening), search-and-track of moving targets, synthetic aperature radar and terrain avoidance. The Su-37 is also equipped with a rearward facing radar in the tail stinger area of the fuselage. The Su-37 features fly-by-wire and relaxed static instability, which along with 3D thrust vectoring give the aircraft tremendous agility. It incorporates state of the art ECM in wing-tip pods, allowing improved survivability in electronic warfare environments. The Su-37 can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons on 12 stations. The number of missiles and bombs carried can be increased to 14 with the use of multi-payload racks.

At the 1996 Farnborough Air Show, Sukhoy’s SU-37 astounded international observers with maneuverability previously unseen in a combat aircraft. The thrust-vectoring SU-27 variant stole show headlines with flight demonstrations widely described in the aviation press as “spectacular.”1 One air show reporter opined that the SU-37 shows that the Russian aviation industry “is still alive.”

The Su-37's astounding maneuvers included the "Super Cobra", demonstrated for the first time. In this move, the aircraft enters with a speed of 400 kmh and is pulled through to an alpha of 135 deg, then recovered to the vertical and held in place for 4-6 seconds. The nose is then allowed to fall to the horizontal position, emerging at 150kmh with no loss of height. Another used the thrust vectoring to flip the Su-37 onto it's back, and then to rotate it upright and continue in the opposite direction. The most impressive manouver was the kulbit (somersault). With an entry speed of 350 kmh the aircraft flipped onto it's back (a full 180 deg) facing the opposite direction, inverted and practically stationary. After 'pausing', thrust vectoring completes the kulbit (a 360 deg somersault) with a nose down angle of 30 deg and an exit speed of 60 kmh.
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SU-34 (http://www.flyconsult.ch/dsu34p.jpg)-Su-34 (Su-27IB - Istrebitel-Bombardirovshchik) is a two seat ("arm-to-arm") strike variant that first flew in 1990. It features frontal wings and a large flattened nose with sharp edges (like the SR-71) reduce radar cross-section. This new ship-borne fighter is fitted with two AL-31FP engines with vectored thrust. Using them allows either the take-off distance or maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of the aircraft to be increased by 10-15 per cent. In the nose is a new multi-mode phased-array radar with terrain-following and terrain-avoidance for low-level attack. The aircraft has a distinctive large "sting" in the rear which contains the NO-14 radiolocation system, a radioelectronic countermeasures system, and a fuel tank. The NIIP NO-12 rearward radar that monitors enemy fighter activity behind the aircraft, and as needed, direct R-73 short-range and R-77 medium-range AAMs at the targets. The Su-32 and Su-34 have been developed and are in serial production in Novosibirsk for the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Su-34 fighter-bomber is intended to replace Russian Su-17, Su-24, and the MiG-27.
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SU-33 (http://www.airwar.ru/image/i/fighter/su33-i.jpg)-Su-33 (Su-27K) is a carrier-based variant that first flew in May 1985, and entered service in the Russian Navy in 1994. The air regiment comprising 24 fighters of the type was formed up on Russia's only operating aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.

The armament is similar to the basic Su-27, with 12 pylons. The Su-33 can carry guided missiles such as the H-25MP. The Su-33 is used in both night and day operations at sea, and operate with the command center ship and with the Ka-31 early-warning helicopter. With the R-27EM missiles it can intercept antiship missiles. The air-to-ground capability appears to be equivalent to the Su-27SK. It is reported to carry the Kh-31 (AS-17 `Krypton') ASMs underwing. Although it was exhibited with an inert 4,500 kg Kh-41 (3M80 Moskit: mosquito) anti-ship missile on the centerline, this considered as impracticable as an operational load.

It has extra small wings near the pilots cabin which shorten the take-off distance and improve manoeuvrability. While it is not assisted by a catapault the Su-33 has a higher thrust to weight ratio and also, due to better aerodynamics, generates more lift. Flaperons were replaced with slotted high lift flaps to increase lift and control at low speeds. Due to the lower approach and take off speeds a number of changes were made. Moveable foreplanes were attached which also aided maneuverability and controlability throughout the envelope. The outer wings fold for more compact storage on the aircraft carrier. To avoid tail scrape during landing and take-off the long tail cone on the land based versions was shortened. The landing gear was also streangthened, with a double wheel nose unit, an arrestor hook was added and specialized naval navigational aids were also added.
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SU-39 (http://www.tigerbot.com/images/QMS/su-39b.jpeg)-The Su-39 (also known as the Su-25T or Su-25TM) is a Frogfoot variant incorporating post-Afghanistan lessons-learned. It is based on the Su-25UB two-seat trainder, with the rear seat and cockpit replaced with a fuel cell and extra avionics. The Su-39 carries the Kopyo-25 multi mode radar in a pod under the fuselage. Armament includes ground attack missiles such as the AT-16 Vikhr , anti-ship missiles, and AAMs such as the R-27, R-27ER, R-60, R-73 and R-77. A four-fold reduction in thermal signature has been achieved through cooling intakes on the upper surface of aircraft, and a new center body which masks hot turbine blades. Only a few dozen of these aircraft have been built. Reports in the mid-1990s that the Su-39 designation had been assigned to a primary trainer derived from the Su-26 and Su-29 aerobatic competition aircraft, designed to replace the Yak-52, are apparently incorrect.

Two aircraft of the Sukhoi Attack Aircraft Concern (Sturmoviki Sukhogo in Russian) shown at a static display during the MAKS 2001 air show. The Su-39 (Su-25TM) had been displayed earlier and was well known, while the Su-25SM upgraded by the Air Force's 121st aircraft repair plant at Kubinka was shown for the first time. The Su-25 upgrade is aimed at expanding their combat capabilities, enhancing lethality and slashing operating and maintenance burden. The plane's navigational accuracy is improved by an order of magnitude while its ordnance's efficiency is increased two to three times. The upgrade increases combat payload on the new MBD3-U2T-1 bomb racks up to 5,000 kg and expands their ordnance list allowing R-73E air-to-air guided missiles and S-13T rockets.
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SU-24 (http://www.aviation.ru/Su/24/Su-24.jpg)(as a trainer aircraft)-Designed from the outset as an all-weather, low-level attack aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' bears a resemblance to the American F-111, altough the Soviet jet is somewhat smaller. Entering service after the F-111, but before the Tornado, the 'Fencer is comparable in performance with the two premier Western interdictors, being somewhat faster and with better rough field capability, but having less advanced avionics and attack systems. At least 500 attack 'Fencers' have been built. the type is also used for maritime strike/reconnaissance and for electronic jamming/Sigint/reconnaissance. The eight weapons pylons beneath the Su-24's fuselage, wing gloves and outer wing panels can carry a wide variety of weaponry, ranging from tactical and defence-suppression bombs and missiles through to nuclear weapons.

The wings are high-mounted, variable, swept-back, and tapered. There are twin turbofan engines. The air intakes are tapered away from the body, rectangular-shaped, and mounted on the body forward of the wings’ leading edges. There are twin exhausts. The fuselage is long, slender, with pointed, solid nose, and rectangular-shaped body from the air intakes to the exhausts. There are two belly fins and four pylons. There is a bubble canopy. The dorsal spine extends from the cockpit to the tail. The tail fin is swept-back and tapered with square tip. The flats are high-mounted on the fuselage, swept-back, and tapered with angular tips.
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MIG-35 (http://www.ifrance.com/aviaweb/Mil/Proto/Mig-35_1.jpg)-The new MiG Multirole Front-Line Fighter [MFI - Mnogofounksionalni Frontovoi Istrebiel ] was unveiled publicly on 12 January 1999. The project has been under development since 1986, is variously designated the 1.42, the 1.44, I-42 and I-44 - the "MiG-35" and "MiG-39" designations are informally applied by some observers. 1-42 and 1-44 believed to be designations of the two prototypes, with the 1.44 used for the flight-test airframe(s). This multi-functional front-line fifth-generation fighter was developed by the MIG [Mikoyan & Gurevich] aviation scientific and production complex of the MAPO military-industrial corporation. The MAPO-MiG enterprise claims the new fighter would be able to outperform the F-22 Raptor, the most advanced US air-superiority fighter. Although the primary mission of the MFI is air-superiority, unlike the F-22 the MFI is also capable of performing strike mission, and thus in both conception and configuration is more directly comparable to the similar multi-role EFA2000 Eurofighter. Like the American F-22, the MFI has a thrust vectoring system that allows it to make sharp turns. It also has similar stealth capabilities, with the canard, wing and fuselage structures incorporating carbon-fiber and polymer composite materials. Other stealth features include radar-absorbing covering, screening of radar-visible structure elements, and reduced heat signature. The fifth-generation pulse-doppler radar has a phased-array andtenna with electronic scanning to simultaneously attack over 20 targets. The aircraft can carry long-range air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, and it is armed with a 30-mm cannon.
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Yak-141 Freestyle (http://home.iae.nl/users/wbergmns/big/yak141.jpg)-The Yak-141 (formerly Yak-41) was intended originally to replace Yak-38 for air defence of Kiev class carriers/cruisers, with secondary attack capabilities. Designed for carrier-borne operations as an air interceptor, close air combat, maritime and ground attack aircraft, the Yak-141 has the same multi-mode radar as the MiG-29, although with a slightly smaller antenna housed in the nose radome. It features a triplex full authority digital fly-by-wire system.

The Yak-141 continues previous Soviet V/STOL principles, combining a lift and propulsion jet with two fuselage mounted lift jets in tandem behind the cockpit, with cruise power provided by a single Tumansky R-79 jet engine. The R-79 has a rear lift/cruise nozzle which deflect down for take-off while the two lift engines have corresponding rearward vector to ensure stability. The airframe makes extensive use of composites materials, with some 28 percent by weight constructed of carbon-fibre, primarily in the tail assembly, while the remainder of the structure is mainly aluminum lithium alloys.
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TU-22M (http://www.airwar.ru/photo/tu22m/tu22m3_4.jpg)- Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO 'Backfire') is a supersonic medium bomber which was designed to replace the subsonic Tu-16 and the troublesome Tu-22 missile carriers. Although its designation may suggest that the 'Tu-22M' Backfire is basically a modified Tu-22 'Blinder' it is a completely different and new design with only a few small Tu-22 features maintained. The Tu-22M design features a variable geometry wing which is also found on contemporary tactical fighters and the American B-1B bomber. The two turbofan afterburning engines are unlike almost every other bomber located in its fuselage body, with large shoulder mounted intakes, resembling the configuration of tactical fighters as the Su-24 and Tornado.

The aircraft can be equipped with up to three Kh-22 air-to-surface missiles, with one under each wing and a third under its belly, semi-recessed into the bomb bay. The second ASM option is the Kh-15 (NATO AS-16 'Kickback') on a six-round launcher carried in the bomb bay. Up to four external bomb racks can be equipped, each rack capable of carrying nine conventional 250kg general purpose bombs. Also the 500, 1500 and 3000 kg conventional bombs can be equipped. The Tu-22M is equipped with a Leninets PN-A attack radar in the nose and a OPB-15T television sight for optical bomb aiming located below the fuselage just in front of the nose gear.

The Tu-22M has a crew of four: commander (left front), co-pilot (right front), communications officer (left rear) and navigator (right rear). All crew is sitting on KT-1 ejection seats which fire up, a much improvement after the downward firing seats in the Tu-22 Blinder. The rear crew have no forward visibility, but have a large side window each.
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TU-160 (http://worldweapon.ru/images/sam/tu160/tu160_11.jpg)-The Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' is a supersonic intercontinental bomber designed during the Cold War to carry and launch Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM). The Tu-160 is the heaviest and most powerful combat aircraft in the world today. The aircraft is capable of a maximum speed of Mach 2.05 or 2200 km/h (1367 mph) and has a maximum range of 13950 km (7,533 nm).

The aircraft has a slender long blended wing-body design with a variable-geometry wing. The four NK-32 afterburning turbofans are arranged in pairs under the mid-wing each with variable-area intakes. The undercarriage consists of one front double-wheel leg and two six-wheel bogies (three tandem pairs), which are located between the engine pairs. Along the aircraft's centreline between the two gear units there are two weapon bays, which are divided by the wing carry-through structure.

The nose of the aircraft contains the Obzor-K (Survey) radar, which is used for both ground and air observation. It also contains another radar, the Sopka (Hill), which is used for terrain following when flying at low altitude. The upper center part in front of the windscreen contains the retractable inflight refuelling probe. Under the front fuselage there is a forward looking OPB-15T optical bombing sight and video. Behind the sight, there is the nose gear. The four man crew enters the cabin through the front gear bay. The pressurized cabin has four fighterjet-like K-36LM ejection seats. There are two control sticks for commander pilot (front left) and co-pilot (front right). The Tu-160 has a conventional flight deck, which is divided by a central console with the thrust and flap selection levers for the co-pilot. Behind the pilots there is the navigator/offensive weapons operator (left) and the navigator/electronic warfare and communications operator (right). Behind the crew there is corridor leading to a galley and a toilet.

The weapons carried in the weapon bays comprises of six (or a maximum of 12) Raduga Kh-55SM (NATO AS-15B 'Kent') cruise missiles, which are launched from two six-round MKU6-5U revolving launchers located in the forward area of each bay. The nuclear warhead loaded Kh-55SM is a development of the subsonic Kh-55 cruise missile. For guidance of the Kh-55SM the Tu-160 is equipped with the Sprut-SM (Octopus) navigation/attack system, which automatically aligns the coordination axes of both aircraft and weapons. It also generates a digital map of the terrain which is transferred from the aircraft to the missile before launch. Alternatively the Tu-160 can be equipped with up to 24 Raduga Kh-15 (NATO AS-16 'Kickback') short-range attack missiles (SRAM) or Kh-15P anti radiation missiles, which are both launched from up to four MKU6-1U revolving drums. However reportedly the Kh-15 capability has not been implemented on any production aircraft.

The variable-geometry wing has three positions. 20 degree sweep for landing, 35 degree for cruise and 65 degree sweep for high speed flight. The inner portion of the wing forms a vertical plane for directional stability when the wings are fully swept backwards. When the wing is swept forwards this portion lies flat to fill the gap between wing and fuselage and forms the most inner part of the flap.

The Tu-160 houses a Baykal self-defence systems of which most systems are located in the 'carrot' tail cone. These systems include a Mak (Poppy) infra-red missile launch sensor, radar warning receiver, electronic jammer and a battery of APP-50 chaff/flare dispensers. The underside of the tailcone houses the brake chutes. Directional control is provided by an all moving fin
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Su-30K (http://faq.bigip.mine.nu:8008/guide/images/su27/su-30k.jpg)-Codenamed `Flanker' by NATO, the twin-seat SU-30, a derivative of the Su-27, is a multi-role fighter bomber and air superiority aircraft which can also be used in the maritime strike role. The Flanker has and operational radius of around 1500 km, and are equipped with an inflight refuelling facility extending their radius by another 500 km.

The Mirage-2000-5 and the SU-30K were the two aircraft that were considered to be feasible alternatives to replace obsolescent aircraft that the Air Force(India) planned to phase out. While both aircraft were still under development, the Mirage-2000-5 was designed ab initio as a multi-role aircraft with identified avionics systems and weaponry. The SU-30K on the other hand was designed only for an air defence role.
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Please tell your oppinons.
Madnestan
25-05-2005, 20:02
The best Russian planes at the moment. My airforce uses MiG35B as fighter/interceptor and MIRAGE 2000 as CAS. Those 2 types of first line planes in it, as I isnt yet well funded enough to purchase long-range bomber or such. I took the Mirage rather than SU34 as grond attack and close support plane mostly because it looks cooler. Can't really name any better planes than those listed above - from RL, that is.
Willink
25-05-2005, 20:18
The MIG-35/39 is way more cabable than the mirage 2000 but its very expensive to maintain them. I have a very little amount of TU-160 Inter-continetal bombers, about 10. The MIG-31M is very useful in defense of willink, and it proved invaluable in shooting down of several ICBMs after rentering the atmosphere. I plan to replace my SU-30K's with More SU-37's and maby even a few Mig-47's (i belive that is what they are called, the reversed swept wing russian fighter)
Madnestan
25-05-2005, 20:29
As I am everything but an expert, really, I decided the planes of my airforce mostly by Googling like "best russian fighter" and then read the descriptions, taking what I thought were the best of them. If 2 planes were somewhat equal or I just couldn't tell which was better, I took the one wtih cooler looks :D .
Reversed wings look stupid, so I decided not to include them. But yea, the stats were great. Just not handsome enough for my airforce.
Neuvo Rica
25-05-2005, 20:31
The Yak 141 provides me with a valuable insight into modern VTOL aircraft. I was looking for a new carrier based attack aircraft and this plane fits the bill. Well done for bringing it to my attention...
Willink
25-05-2005, 20:49
The Yak-141 program was scrapped, but im using them on the new V/stol carrier im building, along with ground defense and on my 3 Conventional carriers.I think its way cooler than the harrier.
Trailers
25-05-2005, 20:58
OOC: Not bad. :) Very well set up and very informative.
Willink
26-05-2005, 00:05
Bump
Neuvo Rica
26-05-2005, 09:16
The Yak-141 program was scrapped, but im using them on the new V/stol carrier im building, along with ground defense and on my 3 Conventional carriers.I think its way cooler than the harrier.

Youre right there...
Willink
19-09-2005, 21:47
Bump for added info.