Russian Air Force (VVS)

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The upgraded model can be identified by its four smaller wing pylons and pilot’s periscope, here raised.

MiG-31BMs ‘Red 35’ and ‘Red 34’ of the 790th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Khotilovo air base, where they serve alongside Su-27s. Note in this shot, the six-barrel 23mm GSh-6-23 cannon ‘scabbed on’ to the starboard fuselage. The gun is provided with 260 rounds

MiG-31BM gets airborne from Bolshoye Savino. During a parliamentary hearing in April 2013, the then Russian Air Force commander-inchief Lt Gen Viktor Bondariev admitted that the MiG-31’s top speed of Mach 2.83 is no longer attained: “The aircraft flies at Mach 1.5; the [cockpit canopy] glass does not withstand [Mach 2.83] any more.”
Radar
The main purpose of the MiG-31BM upgrade was to enable the Foxhound to carry new types of AAMs as well as providing the radar with new modes and extended range. The upgraded Zaslon- AM (S-800AM) fire control system has an improved 8BM radar controlled by a new Baget-55-06 computer that replaced the old Argon-15A. The radar’s passive electronically scanned antenna remains unchanged.
The range of the upgraded radar is claimed to be 130nm for a fighter-type target, twice the previous range. It can track 24 targets and engage six of them simultaneously. Zaslon-A radars are repaired and upgraded to Zaslon- AM standard by the radar’s manufacturer, the Leninets plant in St Petersburg, under a project defined by the Tikhomirov NIIP institute in Zhukovsky. The 8TK IRST remains unchanged.
In the pilot’s (front) cockpit, some analogue instruments are replaced by a 5 x 5in (127 x 127mm) LCD mounted on the upper righthand side of the instrument panel. The WSO’s (aft) cockpit is retrofitted with two 6 x 8in (152 x 203mm) LCDs in place of the former cathode-ray tube (CRT) screens at the centre and right of the front panel.
The aircraft is retrofitted with new communication devices (R800L radios) and an improved navigation system including the A737 satellite navigation receiver. The airframe and engines remain unchanged; however, the airframe is overhauled to extend its lifetime to 30 years or 3,500 flight hours. It is possible that a subsequent round of repairs will provide another life extension.
Kinzhal hypersonic missile

MiG-31 ‘93 Red’ carries a Kinzhal missile during tests at Akhtubinsk in the winter of 2017-18. Russian MoD
Thanks to its high-altitude cruise speed of Mach 2.35, the MiG-31 is a useful platform for various weapon systems, in addition to its standard interceptor function. On March 1, 2018, during his state of the nation speech, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin presented a video display about a strike system named Kinzhal (dagger). This consists of a MiG-31 carrying an Iskander ballistic missile on the centreline pylon. The 9M723 Iskander (SS-26 Stone) surface-to-surface missile has been operated by the Russian Army since 2007; it is 24ft (7.3m) long and weighs around 4 tonnes. The video presented by Putin showed the take-off of a test aircraft belonging to RAC MiG, MiG-31 ‘592 Blue’, with the missile carried on the centreline pylon. After the missile’s separation from the aircraft, the forward and aft fairings were jettisoned, and the rocket motor started. Next was an animation showing the missile hitting targets, comprising a warship resembling a US Navy Ticonderoga-class cruiser and a building. During his speech, Putin said that evaluation of the Kinzhal had been completed and “since December 1 of last year, the complex commenced test-combat duty on airfields of the Southern Military District”. Other sources indicate that the Kinzhal has been deployed at the 929th Test Centre at Akhtubinsk. Putin disclosed that “the missile flies at hypersonic speed, ten times greater than the speed of sound, performs manoeuvring on all flightpath segments that allows it to overcome with guarantee all existing and, I think, future anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence systems, and to deliver nuclear and conventional charges to targets at a distance of more than 2,000km.” On March 10, Russia’s defence ministry released another video shot at Akhtubinsk and showing the take-off of MiG-31s ‘91 Red’ and ‘93 Red’, each with a single Kinzhal missile under the fuselage. Deputy commander of the Akhtubinsk centre Valery Antsibor said that “since the beginning of this year, over 250 flights have been made within testcombat duty and combat training of the crews.”
Externally, only two details distinguish the MiG-31BM from previous versions. The large weapons pylon (previously intended for the R-40TD; AA-6 Acrid) is removed from the wing and replaced by a smaller pylon, suitable for R-73 (AA-11 Archer) and R-77-1 AAMs. R-73 and R-77-1 missiles may also be carried on the second underwing pylon, previously used only for a drop tank. Another new detail is a small periscope added in the cockpit canopy above the pilot’s head.
The MiG-31BM’s maximum take-off weight is 103,253lb (46,835kg), a little more than the basic version. Most of the performance details remain unchanged, except the ceiling of 65,620ft (20,000m) and range of 1,242nm, in an undisclosed configuration.

New missiles
The MiG-31BM’s weaponry is being supplemented by four R-37M AAMs with a range of 108nm. An example of the Vympel R-37M (izdeliye 610M; AA-13 Axehead) was launched for the first time by a MiG-31 during 2011 and the weapon completed state acceptance evaluation in early 2014. It is in series production at the Tactical Missiles Corporation’s factory in Korolev. The missile is powered by a dual-mode solidpropellant rocket motor. It flies to the target on a lofted trajectory profile controlled by an MFBU-610MSh seeker. The inertial navigation system receives mid-course radio corrections from the carrier aircraft, while a dual X- and Ku-band active-radar seeker is used for the terminal phase. The MiG-31BM also carries up to four R-73 short-range AAMs that replaced the very old medium-range R-40TDs and the small and obsolete R-60s (AA-8 Aphid).
In subsequent stages of the MiG-31BM upgrade, it is expected that the R-77-1 (AA-12B Adder) and then the K-77M mediumrange AAMs will be introduced. The variant is intended to carry up to four such missiles under the wing. Looking further ahead, the MiG-31 could be retrofitted with the ‘izdeliye 810’ very long-range AAM now being developed for the Su-57 fighter. The Zaslon radar software is scheduled for improvement next; a new IRST and an advanced self-defence suite are also being considered. Finally, a new KSU-31 flight control system is under development.

The business end of a MiG-31BM. Using its Zaslon-AM fire control system with upgraded 8BM radar, the MiG-31BM can detect a fighter-type target at twice the range of the previous radar. It can track 24 targets and engage six of them simultaneously.

 

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Where are the Foxhounds?
After a first prototype was flown on September 16, 1975, the Nizhny Novgorod plant completed 519 interceptors between 1976 and 1994. These included 349 initial MiG-31 versions, 101 MiG-31DZs and 69 MiG-31Bs. Largescale series production lasted until 1990, before it slowed down and permanently stopped in 1994. The final MiG-31 left the production line in April that year. The first unit equipped with the MiG-31, the now defunct 786th Fighter Aviation Regiment, based at Pravdinsk near Nizhny Novgorod, became operational in 1983.
The Russian military now has approximately 130 operational MiG-31s. Another 130 are in storage and around 65 of these are at the repair plant in Rzhev. Russian MiG-31s are operated by units at Bolshoye Savino (Perm), Kansk, Khotilovo, Monchegorsk, Tsentralnaya Uglovaya, Yelizovo and Savasleyka (the evaluation centre). Approximately ten aircraft are used for various tests by the 929th State Flight-Test Centre of the Ministry of Defence at Akhtubinsk.
The sole non-Russian operator of the type is Kazakhstan, which inherited 43 aircraft at Zhana-Semey, near Semipalatinsk. The Kazakhstan Air Defence Force maintains two 12-aircraft squadrons of MiG-31s at the 610th Air Base at Karaganda. In the early 1990s, Russia expected China to order MiG-31s and began manufacturing a batch of aircraft in the MiG-31E export configuration. However, China then decided to order Su-27s. These MiG-31Es were subsequently offered to Libya and Syria, without success.
The 130 MiG-31s in storage would enable several new units to be established, if funding were available. In the Far East, re-formation of the 530th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Chuguyevka is being considered. This regiment was formed in 1951 with La-9 fighters; it then operated MiG-15s and MiG-17s. From 1975 it operated MiG-25s and from September 1988 is flew MiG-31s. It was from this unit that Lt Viktor Belenko defected to Japan with his MiG-25P on September 6, 1976. The regiment at Chuguyevka was disbanded in 2009, whereupon a squadron of airworthy MiG-31DZs was moved to Tsentralnaya Uglovaya and incorporated into the unit based there. The airfield at Chuguyevka is still used periodically; for instance, in a satellite photo taken in June 2016, 11 MiG-31s (as well as 15 Flankers) are visible. The neglected condition of the base indicated that it was a temporary deployment for an exercise and these were probably aircraft from Tsentralnaya Uglovaya. As part of its build-up of forces in the Arctic, Russia has announced the creation of new MiG-31 bases at Tiksi (Yakutia) and Anadyr (Chukotka), but actual work on these has not begun.

The busy flight line at Bolshoye Savino, where two squadrons of MiG-31s are assigned to the 14th Air Force and Air Defence Army. The air base is co-located with Perm International Airport. ‘Blue 20’ (RF-95454) is a MiG-31DZ variant. Right: This MiG-31BM carries a typical missile load, comprising four semi-active radar-guided R-33s in tandem pairs under the fuselage and two R-73s on the outer underwing stations. Note the retracted 8TK IRST immediately ahead of the nose gear.
Future proposals
Various sources report that RAC MiG is working on two new modifications of the MiG-31 with the ambiguous designations ‘izdeliye 06’ and ‘izdeliye 08’. Perhaps one of them relates to the Kinzhal (see accompanying boxed item). The other may be simply a new version of the interceptor, but it may also be an aircraft of totally different purpose, for example a satellite interceptor.
More than 30 years ago, in January 1987, the MiG-31D (izdeliye 07), a satellite interceptor carrying the 79M6 anti-satellite missile, made its first flight. The aircraft and the missile together created the 30P6 Kontakt antisatellite system. Two MiG-31D prototypes were completed. In 1991, work on the MiG-31D and its MiG-31DM developmental version with the improved 95M6 missile was stopped. After the collapse of the USSR both MiG-31D prototypes remained at the Sary Shagan test range in Kazakhstan, where they had been undergoing evaluation.

MiG-31BM ‘37 Red’ (RF-90901) returns from a night mission. The aircraft is assigned to the 712th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kansk.

Originally published in AirForces Monthly Magazine​

 

[Fatman17]

RED STAR BOMBERS OVER SYRIA​

1. Aviation Features
2. RED STAR BOMBERS OVER SYRIA

By Tim Ripley 1st February 2018
FEATURE

For two years, Russia’s Long- Range Aviation supported Moscow’s military campaign in Syria. Combat Aircraft looks at how Tupolev Tu-22M3, Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers have hit targets across the war-torn country.
HIGH ABOVE THE Euphrates Valley, a formation of six Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 ‘Backfire-C’ supersonic bombers cruised towards the last so-called Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Syria, around the town of Abu Kamal. One after another, the aircraft took turn to disgorge their payloads of six FAB-500-62 1,102lb (500kg) unguided bombs in rapid succession, obliterating everything below them.
The whole evolution was filmed from the cockpits of Sukhoi Su-30SM ‘Flankers’ that were accompanying the strikers. Once the ‘Backfires’ had delivered their deadly cargo, they turned to make the long journey home.
During November and December 2017, Russian Tu-22M3s made this foray over eastern Syria on at least 14 occasions to pound what remained of IS, helping enable Syrian government troops and their allies to take Abu Kamal and a string of towns along the Euphrates. The bombing surge against Abu Kamal was the culmination of a two-year-long campaign by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ (VKS) Long-Range Aviation command. It was a campaign that involved all of its main bomber types: the Tu-22M3, the Tu-95MS ‘Bear’ and the Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’, and saw the combat debut of two types of air launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) — the Kh-101 and Kh-555. The Kh-101 was first used on November 17, 2015 when deployed from a Tu-160, and subsequently from a Tu-95MS on the same date one year later. The Kh-555 also made its debut on November 17, 2015, from both a Tu-95MS and a Tu-160.
In perhaps the most significant development, the Russian bomber and missile strikes were co-ordinated with real-time video surveillance of their targets from Israeli-designed but Russianassembled ‘Forpost’ unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Russian combat jets such as the Su-34 ‘Fullback’ were used to good effect for pre-strike reconnaissance to help build a picture of the target area. In turn, forward air controllers helped with the final phases of the attacks.

Tu-22M3s, once thought likely to be consigned to the history books, have seen extensive combat action over the past few years. They are now set to be not only retained, but upgraded.
Dmitriy Pichugin
Long-range regeneration
The then Soviet Union was one of the pioneers in establishing strategic bomber forces, and the term Long-Range Aviation first appeared in 1940. The Cold War set off an arms race to develop strategic bombers capable of delivering nuclear weapons on targets at great ranges. It gave rise to the venerable Tu-95 with its huge contra-rotating Kuznetsov turboprops, as well as the swing-wing families of supersonic ‘Bacfires’ and ‘Blackjacks’.
The end of the Cold War saw hundreds of Russian bombers cut up for scrap or left to rot as the Soviet Union unraveled. When Vladimir Putin became Russian President in 2000 he set in train a series of military reforms to overhaul the country’s lumbering and increasingly obsolete armed forces. This soon gathered momentum and began to impact on Russia’s heavy assets, which were reorientated from their old nuclear mission to embrace more relevant conventional or theater-level missions.
The use of ‘Backfires’ to strike targets in Georgia with iron bombs during the 2008 war was a good illustration of Long-Range Aviation’s evolving concept of conventional strike operations, but it highlighted weaknesses in both readiness and equipment as a Tu-22M3 was downed by anti-aircraft fire. Over time, aircraft were overhauled and brought back into front-line service. A few new weapons were integrated — although the crude ‘dumb’ bombs have also prevailed — but crucially, money was released to begin ramping up exercises to increase crew competence alongside new tactics and operational procedures. Snap military drills tested the ability of bomber crews to fly to forward operating bases with minimal notice, and long-range patrols over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans restarted. Although the VKS was augmented by the transfer of a dozen Tu-22MRs from the Russian Navy in 2011, the overall number of airframes in front-line service was reduced due to continuing budget cuts. In 2015, it was estimated that 16 Tu-160s, around 60 Tu-55MS/MSMs and between 66 and 70 Tu-22s were in service
Going to war
The Russian intervention in Syria that began in 2015 was a chance for the revamped Long-Range Aviation to flex its muscles. When a Metrojet Airbus A321-231 was blown up in the skies over Egypt on October 31, it was clear that Russia was now an IS target. The 224 passengers killed were mostly Russian citizens. Almost as soon as the cause and the culprit of the airliner bombing had been clearly identified, the VKS’ Long-Range Aviation arm swung into action. In Operation ‘Reprisal’, Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers completed their first live combat missions alongside the veteran Tu-22M3s between November 17-20.
A key part in the Russian campaign was the activation of a so-called Air Force Group in Syria. However, the long-range bombers tended to fly to Syria from their home bases or from forward operating bases. When their routing took them over the Caspian Sea, Iran and Iraq, they tended to fly unescorted. Their northern route via Norway to the Mediterranean saw Il-78 tanker support joining them at crucial phases of the mission, together with fighter pick-up at the Iraq-Syrian border by the deployed Su‑30SMs from Latakia/ Khmeimim air base.

The majestic Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ has made its mark with high-profile cruise missile strikes on Syrian targets.
Evgeniy Kazennov

Kh-555 conventional cruise missiles have been launched by Tu-95MS strategic bombers. The missile’s pop-out wings deploy soon after it leaves the bomb bay.
Dmitriy Pichugin

A video screengrab of a Tu-160 dropping a Kh-101 on the November 17, 2015, mission
Russian MoD
With aircraft drawn from various units, a reinforced squadron with 12 to 14 Tu‑22M3s operated out of Mozdok in North Ossetia as a forward operating base. The base’s huge flightline as well as its extensive fuel farm and bomb dump made it an ideal operating location for them. Imagery released by the Russian Ministry of Defense over the following two years indicated that aircraft came from the former 52nd Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment at Shaykovka and Olenegorsk’s former 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Regiment. Over the years the jets started to sport mission markings and some even featured sharks’ teeth around their engine intakes.
Looking at the specific waves of Long- Range Aviation missions, they kicked off on the morning of November 17, 2015. A dozen Tu-22M3s set off from Mozdok bound for eastern Syria to unload their cargo of iron bombs on targets near Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor at dawn.
Some four hours later, a second wave of five Tu-95MSs and between three and six Tu-160s from the 6950th Guards Air Base Unit embarked on their respective combat debuts. They departed from Engels air base in central Russia and headed south towards Iran, before turning west and into northern Iraq and subsequently Syrian airspace. They launched 34 Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles at targets around Aleppo and Idlib, additionally marking the first combat use of these weapons.
Later that day President Putin strode into the National Command Center in Moscow to hold a remarkable event. Putin took a seat on the stage and started to issue orders to his military commanders for a series of further strikes in full view of the cameras, live on Russian television. Over four days, the Russian bombers repeatedly returned to targets over Syria, with the Tu-22M3s continuing their bombing and the larger Tu-95s and Tu-160s firing volleys of cruise missiles. The lighter attack aircraft forward-deployed in Syria also surged their efforts.
The finale of this bombing campaign was an audacious raid by a pair of Tu-160s on November 20. Having departed from their home base at Engels they ‘pit-stopped’ at the naval aviation base at Olenegorsk. They then circled Europe in a counter-clockwise direction, around the west coast of Ireland and through the Straits of Gibraltar, to fire cruise missiles from the eastern Mediterranean at targets in Syria, before returning to Engels after a flight of about 13,000km (8,078 miles) and a flight time of 16 hours and 20 minutes.
This impressive strike caught Britain and other NATO allies somewhat off guard. A rather bemused Royal Air Force press spokesman in London initially laughed at the idea when questioned by reporters about the raid.
At the conclusion of this series of missions on November 20, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued statistics for the short campaign. It said that 101 cruise missiles had been fired by all participants, including 18 from naval vessels in the Caspian and Mediterranean Seas. It’s worth noting that up to 12 ALCMs can be carried by a Tu-160. With the unguided bombs dropped by the Tu-22M3s factored in, the total of ordnance dropped came to around 1,400 tons. It marked the biggest operation by Long-Range Aviation since WW2.
It suggested that efforts spearheaded by Lt Gen Anatoly Zhikharev to rejuvenate his force had made considerable progress, albeit from a fairly low starting point. Equally important had been the ability of the Russians to marry the operations with an information operation to not only project fire power onto targets in Syria, but to reap political and diplomatic benefits from the bombing campaign both at home and abroad.
The finale of this bombing campaign was an audacious raid by a pair of Tu-160s on November 20

Tu-22M3s flew Syrian missions forward-deployed from their home stations.
Dmitriy Pichugin

A map of the bomber routes on the November 20, 2015, raids

Armorers load FAB-500-62 1,102lb (500kg) unguided bombs into a Tu-22M3’s main weapons bay. The Syria missions saw the ‘Backfires’ carrying the weapons internally instead of on external racks.
Dmitriy Pichugin
‘

 

[Fatman17]

Backfire’ action
The next phase of the Russian strategic bombing effort focused on the besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor in the east of the country. Syrian troops and 100,000 civilians had been trapped in the city by thousands of IS fighters since early 2014 and were relying on precarious air-drops of supplies. In January 2016, after IS fighters launched a ground offensive and captured a large army barracks on the edge of the city, the Mozdok operation was remobilized. Eight Tu-22Ms deployed back to the base, and from January 22 seven raids were mounted on the perimeter of Deir ez- Zor over a two-week period. Packages of up to six ‘Backfires’ each dropped sticks of up to 24 OFAB-250-270 munitions to ‘carpet-bomb’ IS fighters as they pressed the city’s defenses.
Russian strategic bomber operations then paused for five months until Mozdok was again reactivated to help an ill-fated Syrian Army advance eastwards from Palmyra to try to punch through to Deir ez-Zor. Six waves of Tu-22M3s were launched against targets in central Syria up until mid- August, dropping OFAB-250-270 and FAB-500M-62 dumb bombs as well as RBK-250 cluster bombs. However, Mozdok was now in the midst of a major upgrade, including the construction of a new runway, which meant it then had to be closed to enable the work to progress.
Russia turned to Iran as a temporary means of keeping the ‘Backfires’ close to the fight. On August 15, four Tu-22M3s arrived at the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF)’s 3rd Tactical Fighter Base (TFB.3) at Hamadan/Nojeh. Soon after their arrival, the ‘Backfires’, loaded with OFAB-250-270s, flew in two separate two-ship formations to bomb targets in the Aleppo, Idlib and Deir ez-Zor provinces, escorted by pairs of Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters.
When the details of the deployment were leaked by the Russian Ministry of Defense there was considerable disquiet in the Iranian parliament about foreign forces being based in the country. As a result, the detachment was curtailed after the Tu-22M3s flew their last mission on August 18.
An interesting feature of the summer 2016 campaign was the emergence of pre- and post-strike video imagery collected by Russian drones. The choreographing of the bomber attacks with unmanned assets to enhance their accuracy was a new tactical development for Russia. This technology would be used to even greater effect a few months later as the battle for Aleppo reached its climax, when ‘Forpost’ unmanned systems were used to find targets for cruise missile strikes by bombers. Two Tu-95s flew from an Arctic air base, over the eastern Atlantic and past the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland before heading into the Mediterranean. After flying through the Straits of Gibraltar and past Sicily and Crete, they launched a handful of Kh-101 ALCMs at targets west of Aleppo.
Amid further deterioration in the situation around Deir ez-Zor, six Tu-22M3s struck the area on January 21, 2017, each bomber unloading a stick of between 12 and 24 OFAB-250-270 bombs. Further raids were revealed by Moscow on January 23, 24 and 30, each involving six Tu-22M3s flying from Mozdok. Another Kh-101 strike was made against Raqqa in February 2017, this time from Tu-95s flying southwards over Iran and Iraq. This process was repeated in July when Tu-95s fired three more Kh-101s at targets in Hama province.

A screen-grab from the November 24, 2017 mission during the final phase of the assault on Abu Kamal.
Russian MoD

The first Tu-22M3s to arrive in Iran were ‘16 Red’ (RF-95144), ‘42 Red’ (RF- 34038), ‘43 Red’ (RF-34039), and ‘57 Red’. Supported by two Il-76MD transports, the bombers landed at the Iranian air base TFB.3 on the evening of August 15, 2016.
via Babak Taghvaee
Striking Abu Kamal
By November 2017, IS was imploding. Iraqi troops had captured Mosul, US-backed Kurdish fighters had taken Raqqa and Syrian troops had finally lifted the siege of Deir ez-Zor. The last IS fighters had retreated down the Euphrates Valley and staged a final stand around the town of Abu Kamal, near the border with Iraq. At this point the Reinforced Air Wing was again activated at Mozdok, this time with eight Tu-22M3s, designed to deliver the coup de grâce against IS. This would be the most intense period of strategic air and missile attacks since the four days of strikes in November 2015. On November 1, six ‘Backfires’ got airborne from Mozdok and flew south over Iran and Iraq to hit targets near Abu Kamal, again using ‘dumb’ iron bombs. Moscow said the bombers hit ‘strongholds, ammunition and armament depots of the insurgents’. Over the following month the Tu-22M3s flew some 84 sorties, on two occasions co-ordinated with cruise missile strikes launched from Russian submarines in the Mediterranean.
During the final assault on Abu Kamal, Syrian forces and supporting militias massed outside the town in a blitz of air support and artillery fire for the closing battle. This time, drone imagery was withheld, making it impossible to assess the success of the bombers. However, aerial imagery depicted Tu-22M3s each dropping a stick of six FAB-500-62 unguided high-explosive bombs to shock and disorientate IS enclaves.
President Putin flew to Khmeimim air base on December 11 to declare victory. He ordered a wind-down in the Russian air campaign, and the following week several squadrons made high-profile returns to their home bases. The ‘Backfires’ were afforded top billing by the Kremlin’s public relations machine, being filmed taking ff from Mozdok and arriving at Shaykovka, Irkutsk/Belaya and Olenegorsk. With accompanying swathes of online footage, the Tu-22M3’s role in the Syrian war was well and truly out of the shadows.
Important lessons
The fact that the VKS turned to Long- Range Aviation shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, given the history of its operational rationale and the messaging that accompanies the use of such strategic assets. It is impressive that the bombers were integrated to an extent with unmanned aircraft and strikes from the sea in a global ‘kill chain’. Demonstrating the ability to launch a ‘Bear’ from the Arctic to press home a cruise missile in Syria with the use of real-time intelligence from a UAS (and other intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms) circling over a target was quite an achievement. However, the accuracy of such strikes is still not independently corroborated, and there were reports of Russian ALCMs going astray. Furthermore, the ‘Backfires’ relied solely on relatively inaccurate unguided bombs. One could point to Western bombers that use one small bomb on one target thanks to GPS/laserguided weapons and advanced targeting pods. Launching a formation of Tu-22M3s to fly thousands of miles to dispatch a relatively crude load of iron bombs was a very diff erent approach. Indeed, with only around 10 per cent of the Russian strikes being precision-guided, ‘carpet-bombing’ was a tactic designed to mitigate weapons delivery errors.
However, the actions have signaled a rejuvenated bomber community. Before the start of the Syria intervention in 2015, plans had been set in motion to restart Tu-160 production, and continue slow-paced modernization efforts for the Tu-95s and existing Tu-160s, as well as a new ‘Backfire’ upgrade plan. The upgraded Tu-160M2 has new avionics, electronics, cockpit, communications and control systems, as well as new weapons. New NK-32 series 02 engines of increased thrust are to be incorporated. Series production of the improved Tu-160M2 for the VKS will begin in 2023. It’s planned that two to three Tu-160M2s will be produced annually by the Gorbunov Aircraft Plant in Kazan under a contract signed by UAC and the Russian Defense Ministry. In October 2016, deputy defense minister Yuri Borisov announced that the VKS had a total requirement for 50 Tu-160M2s.
When President Putin spoke during his December visit to Syria, he warned against terrorists daring to ‘rear their heads’ again. He said Russia would strike them ‘as they have never seen before’. Retaining a credible bomber force is part of ensuring the Kremlin can deliver on such threats — therefore the future of Russian Long-Range Aviation is not just guaranteed, but set to be enhanced to meet an uncertain world.

A Tu-22M3 complete with mission marks bangs down as it returns to its home base after forwarddeployment to Mozdok.
Dmitriy Pichugin

‘Backfires’ look set to receive modest SVP-24 navigation and mission upgrades under the Tu-22M3M project, and possibly the new Kh-32 missile.
Dmitriy Pichugin

Originally published in Combat Aircraft Journal​

 

[Soldier35]

The Kalashnikov concern has begun serial production of the Russian modernized complex with the Granat-4 UAV; the drone is already in use by the troops. The UAV is produced by the Izhmash - Unmanned Systems company and is designed for reconnaissance of terrain using photo, video and thermal imaging equipment and transmission of the received information over a distance of up to 70 km. Upgraded in 2024, the Granat-4 UAV can now illuminate targets for use by artillery, adjustable artillery ammunition "Krasnopol", "Kitolov" and "Gran", target designation range is up to 3 km. There are few details about the new version; it is known that the control point based on the KamAZ truck used since 2022 has been abandoned. Now remote sets of equipment and more mobile vehicles are used. The Granat-4 UAV is made of composite materials and weighs 30 kg. The UAV is equipped with an internal combustion engine and reaches speeds of up to 140 km/h, with a flight altitude of up to 2000 meters, the UAV flight time is up to 6 hours. The Granat-4 UAV is launched from a catapult and lands by parachute.

 

[Soldier35]

Russian military transport aviation ceases operation of the world's largest turboprop transport aircraft, the An-22 Antey. From 2024, the operation of An-22 aircraft will cease, as announced by the commander of the Military Transport Aviation, Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov. The lieutenant general clarified that during the existence of the project, a total of 67 An-22 aircraft were produced, some of them are located in Ukraine. According to Benediktov, the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division currently uses the world’s largest mass-produced aircraft, the An-124 Ruslan. The AN-22 made its first flight in 1965; it was produced at the Tashkent aircraft plant; in 1976, turboprop engines began to be considered obsolete and AN-22 aircraft were no longer produced. Instead, they began to produce the Il-76 turbojet military transport aircraft. The AN-22 has a mass of 114,000 kg and is capable of transporting up to 60 tons of cargo over a range of up to 5,250 km, developing a cruising speed of up to 560 km/h and a maximum speed of up to 760 km/h, with a flight altitude of up to 9,000 meters. The practical flight range of the An-22 is up to 10,950 km, crew up to 7 people. The height of the An-22 aircraft is more than 12.5 meters, length is 57 meters, wingspan is 64.4 meters. At the moment, the only air unit using these aircraft in Russia was the 12th Military Transport Aviation Mginskaya Red Banner Division, based at the Migalovo airfield in Tver. As of 2024, it included four An-22s.

 

[Soldier35]

The second stage of joint training of units of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons took place in Belarus. We previously showed the first stage of the exercises, the military worked on receiving special training ammunition for the Iskander tactical missile system, equipping launch vehicles with them and covertly advancing to the designated position area. The exercises used Iskander missile systems with Iskander-K and Iskander-M missiles, Tu-22M3 aircraft with Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles, and MiG-31 aircraft with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units to use non-strategic nuclear weapons.

 

[Soldier35]

At the HeliRussia-2024 exhibition in Moscow, Belarus showed the second version of the Hunter drone helicopter, developed by KB Unmanned Helicopters. The unmanned, upgraded Hunter attack helicopter is designed to engage UAVs, naval drones, personnel, armored vehicles and reconnaissance. It is possible that Russia will purchase it, since the search for maritime drones is now important for the Russian army. The UAVHELI HD-300 system is installed on the UAV, which includes an automatic tracking system, an inertial module, a laser range finder, a TV camera and a thermal imager. The UAV is equipped with an on-board defense system, with an radiation warning station and a device for releasing false thermal targets. The Hunter UAV is armed with a turret with a 7.62 mm machine gun, two launchers for eight unguided missiles or 16 aerial bombs weighing 2.5 kg each. The helicopter is equipped with a 268 hp internal combustion engine. The maximum take-off weight of the helicopter is 750 kg, the payload is 200 kg, the helicopter reaches speeds of up to 190 km/h, at altitudes of up to 3500 meters, flight endurance of up to 6 hours.

 

[Soldier35]

The heavy attack-transport UAV "Perun" was received by Russian troops. The drone was developed by former Wagner military personnel. It is not clear whether the military personnel themselves assemble the drone from foreign components, or whether it is a ready-made design; the drone’s software is reportedly Russian-developed. In the video you can see a soldier being transported by a drone, as well as the Fagot ATGM installed on the drone; we previously showed these tests. The drone is currently being tested to deliver cargo to military personnel, so it can be used for evacuating the wounded, reconnaissance and dropping ammunition. The drone can deliver landing groups behind enemy lines. During further testing, they plan to attach a machine gun and a installation for launching unguided aircraft missiles to the Perun drone. The carrying capacity of the Perun drone is up to 200 kg, the price and other technical characteristics are not reported.

 

[GoMig-21]

The heavy attack-transport UAV "Perun" was received by Russian troops. The drone was developed by former Wagner military personnel. It is not clear whether the military personnel themselves assemble the drone from foreign components, or whether it is a ready-made design; the drone’s software is reportedly Russian-developed. In the video you can see a soldier being transported by a drone, as well as the Fagot ATGM installed on the drone; we previously showed these tests. The drone is currently being tested to deliver cargo to military personnel, so it can be used for evacuating the wounded, reconnaissance and dropping ammunition. The drone can deliver landing groups behind enemy lines. During further testing, they plan to attach a machine gun and a installation for launching unguided aircraft missiles to the Perun drone. The carrying capacity of the Perun drone is up to 200 kg, the price and other technical characteristics are not reported.

That is AWESOME! What a great idea, a drone large enough to be able to lift a soldier and operate as an SAR platform, even civilian ambulatory evacuations from places difficult to reach by manned helicopters. Great idea.

 

[Yommie]

At the HeliRussia-2024 exhibition in Moscow, Belarus showed the second version of the Hunter drone helicopter, developed by KB Unmanned Helicopters. The unmanned, upgraded Hunter attack helicopter is designed to engage UAVs, naval drones, personnel, armored vehicles and reconnaissance. It is possible that Russia will purchase it, since the search for maritime drones is now important for the Russian army. The UAVHELI HD-300 system is installed on the UAV, which includes an automatic tracking system, an inertial module, a laser range finder, a TV camera and a thermal imager. The UAV is equipped with an on-board defense system, with an radiation warning station and a device for releasing false thermal targets. The Hunter UAV is armed with a turret with a 7.62 mm machine gun, two launchers for eight unguided missiles or 16 aerial bombs weighing 2.5 kg each. The helicopter is equipped with a 268 hp internal combustion engine. The maximum take-off weight of the helicopter is 750 kg, the payload is 200 kg, the helicopter reaches speeds of up to 190 km/h, at altitudes of up to 3500 meters, flight endurance of up to 6 hours.

This could be a game changer.

 

[Soldier35]

Rostec handed over the first VK-650V engines to the Kazan helicopter plant for testing the imported Ansat helicopter. “The first prototypes of the VK-650V engine were produced at the St. Petersburg enterprise ODK-Klimov, they successfully passed preliminary and life tests. They are currently undergoing certification tests. They plan to receive the certificate by the end of this year, and next year they plan to begin mass production of the engine. VK-650V is the first Russian helicopter engine in the 650-750 hp power class. The power plant will replace the American Pratt & Whitney PW207K engine on the Ansat helicopter; it will also be used on the Ka-226T helicopter, as well as in other promising Russian helicopters and aircraft with a take-off weight of up to 4 tons. Compared to foreign analogues, the VK-650V will have greater take-off power and better specific characteristics. Dry weight of the VK-650V engine is 105 kg. The declared specific fuel consumption at takeoff is 245 grams of fuel per horsepower per hour.

 

[hyperman]

Russian Su-57 production is planned to be doubled with 24 planes to be delivered this year, and 2024 production and onward is apparently the new Al-51 engine.

 

[Soldier35]

Footage of a Russian Su-35 fighter flying next to an American MQ-9 Reaper UAV in the sky over Syria. The shooting was carried out over the village of Es-Sukhneh, Homs province of Syria at altitudes from 7000 to 8000 meters. The Su-35 was armed with R-73 and R-77 missiles, and the MQ-9 Reaper UAV also had missile weapons.

 

[Soldier35]

Personnel training of Russian FPV drone operators of Airborne Forces units. Before flying drones, operators are trained in computer simulators. Drone operators are improving their skills in controlling drones, in particular, in conducting reconnaissance, searching for high-priority targets, and adjusting the fire of various artillery systems. The training is carried out under conditions of simulating the enemy's active use of jamming by electronic warfare systems.