International Aerospace Discussion

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Sep 2010 11:48

http://www.eurasiareview.com/2010070846 ... nkers.html

The Il-78 (Il-78M) Midas, based on the Il-76 military transport plane, is Russia's only flying tanker. Russia has 19 such planes equipped for midair refueling of the Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers and the A-50 Mainstay early warning and control planes. This is certainly not enough.

The U.S. Air Force has 250 KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker air-to-air tanker aircraft and there are more in-flight refueling planes in the National Guard and in reserve. This allows the United States to project its military might by quickly redeploying large Air Force units from one theater of operations to another.

Russia also lacks aircraft capable of being refueled in midair. For example, the Su-27 Flanker and the MiG-29 Fulcrum multipurpose combat planes are not equipped for this, mostly because in the Soviet era there were enough military airfields with a large number of aircraft in all the strategic locations.

Modern Russia cannot keep so many planes at so many airfields, which is why it is becoming critically important to equip fighter planes for midair refueling. All new and all modernized planes have such equipment, and some tactical aircraft can be used as flying tankers. In particular, the Su-24 Fencer has outboard fuel tanks and a refueling system.

But this is not a good solution as these planes usually have a shorter range and cannot be used as bombers, which would undermine a bomber squadron's potential.

The Tu-22M3 Backfire-C long-range bomber has no refueling equipment for political reasons: if it had a flight refueling probe, this would have made it an intercontinental plane and hence subject to START reductions.

Equipping a bomber with midair refueling equipment is fairly simple.

But the biggest problem concerns the crew. The most responsible missions in Russia are still assigned to crews led by senior officers (majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels) who have considerable practical experience. The ability of other pilots to fulfill such missions is not assured.

Another problem concerns transport planes, something the Air Force needs to support distant operations that involve the redeployment of combat planes. Russia has one of the world's largest fleets of transport aircraft, but they are still not enough given the country's huge territory and the need to transport a large amount of military cargo.

These problems can only be resolved comprehensively; a simple supply of flight refueling probes will not do. The country's leadership and military should approve the production of refueling planes and the training of the necessary crews for the Air Force. Taken together, this should increase the number of planes capable of long-range missions.

At the same time, the Il-78 Midas is too big for refueling tactical aircraft, which need a smaller, cheaper plane, possibly based on the civilian Tu-204 medium-range airliner. A few dozen such planes in the Air Force would dramatically improve its position.

Besides, the purchase of large batches of flying tankers based on the Tu-204 would save the airliner, which is breathing its last breaths.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 30 Sep 2010 17:03

Russia, Ukraine to build 60 An-124 cargo planes

"The contracts have not been signed yet but we have already received orders for the production of 60 planes," the statement said.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 30 Sep 2010 17:22

^^^ Wake me up when the first new An 124 takes to the air.

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 30 Sep 2010 18:49

Boeing wins 12 billion dollar Pentagon contrac

The Pentagon on Wednesday awarded Boeing a 12-billion-dollar contract to help modernize B-52 weapons systems over eight years. "The contract provides for the acquisition and sustainment activities needed to support B-52 weapon system modernization," the Department of defense said in a statement.

On Tuesday Boeing said it had been awarded a separate three-year, 5.3-billion-dollar contract with the US Navy to build 124 fighter jets. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing from 2012 to 2015 will deliver to the US Navy 66 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 58 EA-18-G Growlers. The Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare craft that replaces the EA-6B Prowler.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 30 Sep 2010 20:59

Seems like An-148 is in trouble.

Russian airline slams new An-148 regional jets as unreliable

"The reliability of An-148 planes is below the previously declared level, and is not enough to provide safe and regular flights," said GTK Rossiya, which has five An-148 planes in its commercial fleet.

The airline said in a statement that 235 malfunctions occurred during 1,725 flight hours from June to August. Maintenance and repair works took 2,139 hours, or about 89 days.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 01 Oct 2010 10:16

Molniya/M SLV retired today after nearly 50 years of launch service. It made 297 launches , 276 were successful and 21 failures. Today was its last launch which carried EW sat of US-KS series

Russia’s Molnia-M booster successfully orbits military satellite

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 01 Oct 2010 15:02

Russia Will Test New Launcher At Baikonur

The Rus M is planned to replace it and in turn be the basis for a “superheavy” launcher able to lift as much as 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit, says Perminov. “We plan to develop it in several phases,” Perminov says. “The first phase is the development of the Rus M launch vehicle, which will be able to put into orbit unmanned cargo vehicles and piloted spacecraft.”

The first flight of the Rus M should come after 2015, he says, and the new vehicle is scheduled to fly both cargo and crew missions by 2020. After that, he says it will be upgraded to be able to orbit 50-60 metric tons and, beginning in 2030, Russia intends to begin developing the superheavy version.

That will track with the follow-on Soyuz crew vehicle RSC Energia is developing, the first flight of which is scheduled for 2018, Perminov says. Those flights likely will be launched from Baikonur, Perminov says, along with continued launches of existing vehicles.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 01 Oct 2010 15:08

Northrop Grumman receives radar contract

Northrop Grumman has received a $120 million contract for technology development for the U.S. Department of Defense's Air and Missile Defense Radar.

The AMDR is envisioned as a complete radar package, a scalable solid-state radar suite for future surface combatants and includes S-band and X-band radars, being able to provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense discrimination and missile communications

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 02 Oct 2010 00:25

Now this comes as a surprise and I am the first to say that I expected it to be cheaper..

DSCA press release

So, the Royal Thai Air Force is looking to upgrade 18 F-16A/B Block 15 fighters to MLU (Mid-Life Update) standards with the APG-68(V)9 radar, same as that used on the F-16 Block 50/52. And the cost for the upgrade is estimated to be $700 million and doesn't include any new weapons..that means $39 million per unit ! That is nearly the same price as what we'll be paying to Dassault for upgrading the Mirage-2000H/THs to 2000-5Mk2 standard.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 02 Oct 2010 23:44

Problems with the F-35's STOVL version lead to its grounding. Its nice to see that they are transparent about the issues and give some perspective into the different issues that can arise during flight tests. We never get to hear the full details about our Tejas and people wonder why a fighter hasn't flown for 2 days or so..Its a complicated task and issues have to be resolved before flight tests resume. I hope others read this and understand this aspect.

By Stephen Trimble

Lockheed Martin has grounded the F-35 to fix a newly-discovered software problem that can cause a fuel boost pump to shut down in flight.

The manufacturer announced the grounding order only a few hours after releasing a statement saying the F-35 was restricted from operating above 10,000ft because of the same problem.

The grounding is expected to last at least through "early next week" while Lockheed and fuel boost pump supplier BAE Systems install a fix, which has already been identified, Lockheed says.

One of the F-35's three variants could still face flight restrictions even after the grounding order is lifted.
All flights in short takeoff and vertical landing mode (STOVL) are also suspended after a post-flight inspection on the BF-1 flight test aircraft detected an "issue" with the auxiliary inlet door hinge located immediately aft of the lift fan.

Lockheed is still working to identify the root cause of the auxiliary inlet door hinge issue that has stopped all STOVL-mode tests.

The STOVL-capabile F-35B has to complete at least 50 vertical landings to clear the flight envelope to launch a series of shipboard tests scheduled in March 2011. Completing shipboard testing is critical to meeting the USMC's plan to enter service with the F-35B in December 2012.

A series of previous reliability problems, including problems with the inlet doors activated during STOVL flight, had caused the F-35B type to fall further behind schedule in June and July, although the number of flight tests rebounded in August.

The software-based grounding and the STOVL restrictions mean the F-35B could fall further behind schedule with two years left to stand up the first operational unit for the US Marine Corps.

F-35 grounded to fix new software problem

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2010 14:26

F-111: Deadly Strike-Fighter to be Trashed

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 04 Oct 2010 14:48

Maritime Laser Demonstration System Shows Higher Lethality

neerajb · Post by **neerajb** » 04 Oct 2010 15:57

First flight for 'flapless' plane

Cheers....

neerajb · Post by **neerajb** » 04 Oct 2010 16:10

Sorry if posted earlier.

Qatar C-17 in commercial colors

Cheers....

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 05 Oct 2010 05:48

Saab’s Mysterious S-2000 AEW&C Customer

Pakistan

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 07 Oct 2010 09:28

Craig Alpert wrote:Saab’s Mysterious S-2000 AEW&C Customer
Pakistan

most likely not. Why would they need any training when it was already provided for in the first contract for 4 Erieyes ?

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 07 Oct 2010 09:29

A-330 tanker gets military certification

Article link from Flight Global

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2010 09:55

KHP celebrated its 70 th anniversary by rolling out the second Mi-38

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2010 10:00

First Il-76MF ( IL-476 ) aircraft for Jordan takes to the air

lL-76MF is a modification of the serial military transport aircraft Il-76MD extended to 6,6 m fuselage, which provides an increase of a quarter of the cargo compartment (from 321 to 400 m3) and capacity (from 48 to 60 tons). The maximum takeoff weight of the car has increased from 190 to 210 tons, and in the power plant includes the new PS-90A-76 take-off thrust of 14,500 kg (on production of IL-76MD used engines D-30KP2 a thrust of 12,000 kgf).

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Oct 2010 12:04

Yes,the JSF's STOVL version is in trouble,pity,as this version would be an excellent bird to have on any carrier.Russian reports about a naval 5th-gen fighter say that that version will only appear by the decade end.This will complicate plans for our future larger carrier's configuration.STOBAR or CAT?

Intriguing report.Ck link for video clip.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... nutes.html

Chinese scientists 'filmed UFO for 40 minutes'
The UFO world is alive with speculation that China is about to reveal details of startling and detailed footage of an unidentified flying object taken during the solar eclipse on July 22.

Scientists at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing are reported to have confirmed that they filmed a UFO during the eclipse for 40 minutes. They say that they will spend the next 12 months studying the footage before drawing any conclusions.

Related Articles
Record year for UFO sightings
UFO or pterodactyl over lake? ?
140 years of UFO sightings - Part I

The director of the observatory, Ji Hai-sheng, told sina.com that scientists would not be speculating publicly on the nature of what was captured on film until it had been properly studied.

He added:"'Purple Mountain Observatory and Chinese Academy of Sciences said that during the July 22 total solar eclipse observation, China had discovered near the sun, by observing staff, an unidentified object, it's physical nature remains to be further studied.

"Currently manpower is being organized to deal with this data, complete the data analysis and reveal the scientific results and this will take at least one year's time to finalise."

The incident follows a series of UFO sightings in China which culminated in an object being captured on film by students in Deqing. The footage, which was featured on Chinese television, appears to show the object repeatedly changing shape after initially appearing as a glowing blue sphere.

jai · Post by **jai** » 07 Oct 2010 12:34

Qatar C-17 in commercial colors

Seems to be a good idea...dual use by the Airforce and Airline, should provide greater utility and returns.

Wonder if we can explore a similar model to create another parallel fleet of dual use cargo aircraft with Air India. The planes could be called in by IAF when needed, and support commercial operations the remaining time. Both could share the costs or the airline could order/pay for the aircraft - considering finally its coming from GOI.

If the same aircraft as in use with IAF are used - C 17's/130's/IL 76 etc, then IAF crews could comfortably take over the Aircraft when needed, the airlines could use retired pilots from IAF to fly these otherwise.

This way, we may be able to increase our lift capacity without creating any alarms in the neighbour hood and possibly recover the investment made through commercial operations by the airline.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Oct 2010 12:46

imo for domestic cargo traffic such a large volume a/c maybe overkill. a fleet of cargo A321/737 co-owned by IAF and leased out to domestic cargo cos for
ops in india and neighbouring countries might work.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2010 14:20

Russia's Bulava missile hits target in test

A test warhead from a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile successfully hit its target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 07 Oct 2010 17:58

Just got some pics from the IL-76MF first flight that happened on 30th September 2010 in near Tashkent.

Photographs from Ilyushin IL-76MF First Flight on September 30th 2010

(Click on thumbnails of larger versions)

chiru · Post by **chiru** » 07 Oct 2010 19:23

^^^ the tail gunners cabin is removed in the MF

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2010 19:48

Nice Pics Sri , It certainly looks stretched and sleek Do you have the cockpit pics of this aircraft ?

I stand corrected by a poster from mp.net , the aircraft seen is one of the two IL-76 MF ordered by the Jordanian Airforce , IL-476 prototype is still under construction in Ulyanovsk's Aviastar plant

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2010 20:58

Upgraded Tu-142M ( Gydroaviasalon 2010/via mp.net )

More pics from Gydroaviasalon here

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 08 Oct 2010 05:34

Russian rocket blasts off carrying three astronauts to ISS

BAIKONUR: A Russian rocket carrying a U.S. astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts has blasted off successfully from Kazakhstan.

They were seen off early Friday by an unexpected visitor to the Baikonur cosmodrome _ Russian spy Anna Chapman, seen in public for the first time since being deported from the United States in July.

The three-man crew of Scott Kelly and Russia's Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka is due to reach the International Space Station in two days.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 08 Oct 2010 16:54

^^^ Video of above launch
Ex-spy Anna Chapman waves off astronauts at Soyuz launch

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 09 Oct 2010 21:57

Sukhoi’s Su-35S - not your father’s Flanker
Surface to Air Missile Effectiveness in Past Conflicts

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 09 Oct 2010 23:15

RAAF recieves its first A-330 tanker transport, christened KC-30A, after it recieved its military certification..program was running 1 year late due to some modifications requested by RAAF

article link

MILITARY certification has been given for the RAAF's new multi-role tanker, paving the way for the delivery of the Airbus aircraft under a $1.4 billion contract running a year late.

The RAAF has provisionally accepted one of a five-aircraft order with two more of the advanced tanker planes to be delivered by mid-November, a spokesman for Australian Aerospace told The Australian Online.

The wide-body aircraft have been specially modified for air-to-air refuelling and personnel transport.

To be known as the KC-30A, the latest addition to the RAAF's fleet will be able to carry 45 tonnes of cargo or 300 troops, in addition to refuelling fast jets using two underwing hose and drogue pods.

“This is an enormously gratifying moment for all. It confirms the A330 MRTT has satisfactorily demonstrated its global military airworthiness and the maturity of all its systems, and its full readiness to enter service with its customers,” Airbus Military said in a statement.

The aircraft, regarded as the most advanced of its type in the world, has also been ordered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Britain.

Aircraft delivery was delayed due to a non-contract request by the RAAF for the installation of two interior consoles for the boom operators.

One other hurdle has to be overcome - installation of the plane's self-defence measures, work the US government says must be done in America due to sensitivity about the cutting-edge technology.

Defence hopes that like Britain, the federal government will be able to convince Washington to have the installation work completed in Australia.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 11 Oct 2010 12:23

New Digital Soyuz TMA-M will replace old TMA.

Soyuz TMA-M – a new series of the legendary Soyuz spacecrafts

SriSri · Post by **SriSri** » 11 Oct 2010 18:27

Russian Air Force to receive first Su-35 by year end - SukhoiThe Russian Defense Ministry will receive its first Su-35 fighter plane by the end of the year, Russia's Sukhoi Aircraft Design Bureau said on Monday. The first modernized Su-35 was presented at the 2007 MAKS air show outside Moscow. T..

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 12 Oct 2010 12:11

Chang'e-2 spacecraft enters working orbit

China’s Chang’e-2 spacecraft has successfully entered its designated working orbit after completing its third and final braking.

The unmanned lunar probe entered the 118-minute, round working orbit after completing its third and final brake on Saturday which changed its apolune (farthest from the Moon) from 1,825 km to about 100 km, according to a report in the China Daily which quoted the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).

The satellite will begin scientific exploration activities soon, it said.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 12 Oct 2010 20:00

SriSri wrote:Russian Air Force to receive first Su-35 by year end - SukhoiThe Russian Defense Ministry will receive its first Su-35 fighter plane by the end of the year, Russia's Sukhoi Aircraft Design Bureau said on Monday. The first modernized Su-35 was presented at the 2007 MAKS air show outside Moscow. T..

For a deal that was signed at the 2009 MAKS, this delivery is lightening quick!

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 12 Oct 2010 23:34

Where is the report that India is going for 40 strategic aircraft and it is going to be SU-34 ot SU 35. thx

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 13 Oct 2010 00:48

^^ Reports of 40 Strategic aircraft is 100% True, as for whether they are Su-34/35 BOGUS! SU-30 MKI ONLY

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 13 Oct 2010 04:29

Craig Alpert wrote:^^ Reports of 40 Strategic aircraft is 100% True, as for whether they are Su-34/35 BOGUS! SU-30 MKI ONLY

One senior member told me this.

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 13 Oct 2010 06:17

There is something about the last 2 ordered tranches of 40 MKIs each that we're missing.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 13 Oct 2010 09:21

Kartik wrote:
Craig Alpert wrote:Saab’s Mysterious S-2000 AEW&C Customer
Pakistan
most likely not. Why would they need any training when it was already provided for in the first contract for 4 Erieyes ?

Its for the Saudis.

The comments come after a report published in Jane’s Defence Weekly, one of the world’s foremost publications on the defence industry, revealed Saudi Arabia as the buyer in a 4.5 billion kronor ($669 million) deal for a Saab-produced advanced early warning radar system.

The system, known as the Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning & Control system, includes Saab 2000 aircraft equipped with the advanced ERIEYE radar system, as well as ground equipment and logistics and support services.

Saab announced the deal last week, but didn’t divulge the name of the client.