Saab 2000

The Saab 2000 is one of the fastest turboprop airplanes in existence; it is able to cruise at a speed of over 665 km/h (360 kt). It is a stretched version of the Saab 340.
Saab decided to build the 2000 in December 1988 due to perceived demand for a high speed turboprop which could approach the speeds of jet aircraft while retaining the efficiency provided by turboprop engines. The Saab 2000 first flew on 26 March 1992 and entered into service in 1994, a few months after its certification by the Joint Aviation Authorities in March and the Federal Aviation Administration in April.
The Saab 2000 had a 15% greater wingspan than the Saab 340, and being over 24 ft. 9 in. (7.55m) longer could fit up to 50 passengers. The 2000 was the first commercial aircraft to use Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engines (then built by Allison), driving slow turning six-bladed Dowty Rotol propellers. One engine was mounted on each wing, as in the 340, with the engines placed farther from the fuselage than those of the 340.
Sales of the Saab 2000 were fairly limited, although 34 were operated by Crossair, an airline Swissair had shares in. Due to poor sales, Saab stopped production of the Saab 2000 in 1999. By the year 2000, only 54 Saab 2000 aircraft were in service. The primary reason for poor sales was the success of low-cost regional jets such as the Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ 145 family which provided better performance and passenger comfort for the same initial price

Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly spoken as "Seven Oh Seven". Boeing delivered a total of 1,010 Boeing 707s, which dominated passenger air transport in the 1960s and remained common through the 1970s. Boeing also offered a smaller, faster version of the aircraft that was marketed as the Boeing 720.
Although it was not the first commercial jet in service, the 707 was the first to be commercially successful, and is generally credited as ushering in the Jet Age. It established Boeing as one of the largest makers of passenger aircraft, and led to the later series of aircraft with "7x7" designations.

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It is the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 50 nations. In December 2006 the C-130 became the fifth aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, B-52 Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95, and KC-135 Stratotanker—to mark 50 years of continuous use with its original primary customer, in this case the United States Air Force. The C-130 remains in production as the updated C-130J Super Hercules.
Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling and aerial firefighting. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 50 years of service the family has participated in countless military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations.

Mirage III

The Dassault Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade. Some of the world's smaller air forces still fly Mirage IIIs or variants as front-line equipment today.

Sukhoi T-4

Sukhoi T-4, or "Aircraft 100", or "Project 100", or "Sotka" was a Soviet high speed reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft that did not proceed beyond the prototype stage. It is sometimes incorrectly named Su-100.
Contents[hide]
1 Development
2 Testing
3 Survivors
4 Specifications
5 References
6 External links
7 See also
//

[edit] Development


Despite design similarities the Sukhoi T-4 was not intended as a Soviet equivalent of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, but was rather intended to take advantage of many of the XB-70's aeronautic innovations to develop a smaller reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft capable of reaching Mach 3. In this respect the T-4 is more closely a Soviet attempt to develop an aircraft comparable to the proposed North American XF-108 Rapier or Canadian designed Avro Arrow.
The T-4 was made largely from titanium and stainless steel, and featured a fly-by-wire control system but also employed a mechanical system as a backup. The aircraft's nose lowered to provide visibility during takeoff and landing. A periscope was used for forward viewing when the nose was retracted, and could be employed at speeds of up to 373 mph (600 km/h). Braking parachutes were used in addition to conventional wheel brakes.[1]

[edit] Testing
The first T-4, designated "101," first flew on August 22, 1972. The test pilot was Vladimir Ilyushin, son of famed aircraft designer, Sergei Ilyushin (ironically Vladimir never served in his father's bureau), and navigator Nikolai Alfyorov. It has flown only ten times for a total 10 hours and 20 minutes. It is believed to have reached at least Mach 1.3 using four Kolesov RD36-41 engines. These engines each produced 16,000 kgf (35,300 lbf or 157 kN) thrust with afterburners. The aircraft was designed to achieve speeds of up to Mach 3.0, but the program was canceled before the full performance of the aircraft could be reached. The T-4 is also believed to be the "aircraft 101" that set a 2000 km circuit speed record of Mach 1.89. This would seem to indicate that it couldn't cruise at its designed speed of almost Mach 3 and could be a reason the program was canceled.
Another reason of cancelling the project due to the VVS (Soviet Air Force) issuing the requirement of 250 T-4s. Meanwhile, some other high rank officers argued into gaining other more practical and supportive fighters instead of having such a huge flying steel plate in the air. When Marshal Andrei Grechko was made the Minister of Defense, he was told by a staff, "You could have your enormous MiG-23 order only if the T-4 would be abandoned". In an afterthought, perhaps it was a smart bargain because producing a T-4 would not be easier and cheaper than making an XB-70, which ended up being canceled due to cost overruns and technical difficulties.

Boeing X-32

The Boeing X-32 was a multi-purpose jet fighter in the Joint Strike Fighter contest. It lost to the Lockheed Martin X-35 demonstrIn 1993, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter project (CALF). The project's purpose was to develop a stealth-enabled design to replace all of US DoD lighter weight fighter and attack aircraft, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, and short takeoff / vertical landing (STOVL) AV-8B Harrier II.[1] Around the same time the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) project was started.[2] In 1994, the US Congress ordered the two to be merged into the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
Many companies took part in the first phase of this project, which involved drafting concept aircraft designs for submission to the Department of Defense. However on 16 November 1996, only Boeing and Lockheed Martin were awarded contracts, allowing them to produce two of their concept aircraft each. Under the contract, these fighters were required to demonstrate Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL), carrier take off and landing (CV version), and short take off and vertical landing (STOVL). They were also expected to include ground demonstrations of a production representative aircraft's systems, such as the Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC).
One major departure from previous projects was the prohibition of the companies from using their own money to finance development. Each was awarded $750 million to produce their two aircraft – including avionics, software and hardware. This limitation promoted the adoption of low cost manufacturing and assembly techniques, and also prevented either Boeing or Lockheed Martin from bankrupting themselves in an effort to win such an important contest.

[edit] Designing the X-32
The X-32 featured a large chin mounted air intake and a large one piece carbon fiber composite wing, neither of which contributed to the sleek, awe-inspiring look expected from a high tech fighter, though the design does resemble the design of some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The wing would prove a challenge to fabricate.[3] Boeing had proposed in the 1960s a similarly aesthetically challenged supersonic fighter with a mid-center-of-gravity mounted engine with vectored thrust nozzles, but this never proceeded beyond pictures published in Aviation Week. By comparison, the Lockheed entry looked like, if anything, a sleeker version of the larger F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. Aesthetics would play no role in official scoring, but many defense analysts commented that fighters usually looked right, though the highly successful "double ugly" F-4 Phantom was a notable exception to this rule.ator which was further developed into the F-35 Lightning II.

F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multirole aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air superiority fighter missions. The F-35 has three different models; one is the conventional takeoff and landing variant, the second is short takeoff and vertical-landing variant, and the third is a carrier-based variant.
The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. Its development is being principally funded by the United States, with the United Kingdom, and other partner governments providing additional funding.[4] It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as major partners.[4] Demonstrator aircraft flew in 2000,[5] with the first flight on 15 December 2006.[6]

Yakovlev Yak-141

The Yakovlev Yak-141 (NATO reporting name Freestyle) was a supersonic VTOL fighter aircraft from the Soviet Union.
Contents[hide]
1 Design and development
2 Variants
3 Operators
4 Specifications (Yak-141)
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
//

[edit] Design and development
The Yak-141, the development prototype of the Yak-41, was an attempt by the Soviet Union to produce a supersonic VTOL aircraft. The program was initiated in 1975 as the Yak-141, a development of the Yakovlev Yak-38. The first conventional flight of the Yak-41 was on 9 March 1987, and the first hovering flight on 29 December 1989. The Yak-41M designation was adopted around 1991 to reflect a shift to a multi-role configuration.
The Yak-141 gained VTOL ability through a combination of a lift and lift/cruise engines, as did earlier Yak VTOL designs. The two lift jets were mounted behind the cockpit. These contributed only to take-off and once in horizontal flight were switched off. The main engine was installed in the rear fuselage area, with a swivelling nozzle and an afterburner. For take off and hovering the exhaust from the jet was vectored downwards through 90° working in conjunction with the forward lift jets. To obtain sufficient power for vertical take off, the afterburner had to be used, which imposed serious limitations on the types of runway surfaces that could be used.
The Yak-141M was supposed to fly at speeds of Mach 1.7, and was claimed to have had a maneuverability comparable to the Mikoyan MiG-29.[citation needed] It was designed for the Soviet Air Force (VVS), not for the Soviet Navy (VMF), as was the original Yak-41.[citation needed]
In August 1991 the program was stopped because of the shrinking military budget of the Soviet Union. The Yakovlev design bureau has attempted to generate interest in reviving the program, including the proposal for an advanced version known as the Yak-43,[citation needed] but has yet to find interest.

[edit]

New CRJ aircraft into operationIssue 6 - October 2008

The first aircraft of the CRJ900 models are now taken into operations, and will primarily traffic northern European destinations.
CRJ900 NextGen
Since entering service in 1992, more than 1,300 Bombardier CRJ aircraft fly with large and small operators all over the world. CRJ 900 is the CRJ Family’s largest type of aircraft. It offers good fuel economy and the combination of new technology and equipment (winglets, for example) to give good flight performance for this type of aircraft.
All of the CRJ models are equipped with a triple hydraulic control system, which enables flight speed up to Mach 0.85 and height up to 41,900 feet. The engines have been developed to reduce fuel cost and enable cost reduction compared to similar aircraft. All types of aircraft in the CRJ Family are based on uniform pilot training, and common spare part and maintenance programs.

Chengdu F-7/J-7 Airguard

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Chengdu F-7/J-7 Airguard
Origin:
China
Type:
Fighter
Max Speed:
1,175 kt / 1,350 mph
Max Range:
600 km / 373 miles
Dimensions:
span 7.154 m / 23 ft 5.625 in length 13.945 m / 45 ft 9 in height 4.103 m / 13 ft 5.5 in
Weight:
empty 5275 kg / 11,629 lb normal take-off 7531 kg / 16,603 lb
Powerplant:
one Liyang (LMC) Wopen WP-7B(BM) rated at 43.15 kN (9.700 Ib st) dry and 59.82 kN (13,448 Ib st) with afterburning. This is derived from the TumanskiiR-1 IF-300
Armament:
Two internal 30 mm Type 30-1 cannon or One 23 mm Type 23-3 cannon AIM-9L Sidewinder; PL-2, PL-5, bombs; rockets
Operators:
Albania (J-7I), Bangladesh (J-7II), China (J-7I), China (J-7II), China (J-7III), Egypt (F-7), Egypt (J-7II), Iran (J-7II), Myanmar (J-7II), Pakistan (F-7), Pakistan (J-7II), Sri Lanka, Sudan (J-7II), Tanzania (J-7I), Zimbabwe (J-7II

F-16 FIGHTING FALCON

Of the 40 F-16 fighter-bomber aircraft originally acquired by Pakistan, 32 remain in service in 3 squadrons. Pakistan has 71 additional F-16s on order, but delivery has been suspended since 1990 by the United States. In early 1994 the Clinton Administration initiated consultations with Congress concerning a proposed one-time sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. Delivery of the planes would be contingent on specific commitments from Pakistan regarding its nuclear program, including a verifiable cap on the production of fissile materials. When Pakistan declined this proposal, in September 1995 the Clinton Administration proposed revisions to the Pressler Amendment to facilitate cooperation with Pakistan n areas such as combatting terrorism and furthering US commercial interests in Pakistan. The US would not deliver the controversial F-16 aircraft or resume an official military supply relationship with Pakistan, but the President decided to sell the F-16 aircraft to other countries and return the proceeds to Pakistan.
Pakistan could use the F-16 bombers to drop nuclear weapons on visually acquired targets by improvising the necessary electronic wiring which is omitted from these export models.
GENERAL DATACountry of Origin. USA.Similar Aircraft. F/A-18 Hornet, MiG-29 Fulcrum, Mirage F1.Crew. One; F-16B--two.Role. Multirole ground-attack/fighter.Armament. Cannon, missiles, bombs.Dimensions. Length: 47 ft, 8 in (14.54 m). Span: 31 ft (9.46 m).
DESCRIPTIONWings. Mid-mounted, delta-shaped. Missiles are normally mounted at the wing tips.Engine(s). One in body. Oval air intake under the center of the fuselage. Single exhaust.Fuselage. Long, slender body, widens at air intake. Pointed nose. Bubble canopy.Tail. Swept-back, tapered fin with square tip. Flats mid-mounted on the fuselage, delta-shaped with square tips, and a slight negative slant. Two belly fins.
USER COUNTRIESBahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Venezuela.
Sources and Resources
F-16 'Fighting Falcon' PAF Weapons Systems: Fighters Pakistan Institute for Air Defence Studies
Fighting the Falcon: The PAF F-16 Story by R.M.S. Azam
Falcon Down: The Mystery of the PAF F-16 Loss on April 29, 1987 over Afghanistan during the Afghan War By Rai Muhammad Saleh Azam

JF-17 Thunder

The PAC JF-17 Thunder (Urdu: تھنڈر), also known in China as the Chengdu FC-1 Fierce Dragon (Chinese: 枭龙; pinyin: Xiāo Lóng) [1], is a single-seat, multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex of Pakistan. The "JF" and "FC" designations stand for "Joint Fighter" and "Fighter China" respectively. The first two aircraft were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12 March 2007.[2] The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective aircraft which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of air forces of developing countries. On 22 January 2008, Pakistan started serial production of the aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra.[3][4][5]
Contents[hide]
1 Development
1.1 Origins
1.2 Test flights
1.3 Evolution
2 Design
2.1 Avionics
2.1.1 Cockpit and ergonomics
2.1.2 Electro-optical systems
2.1.3 Electronic warfare
2.2 Radar
2.3 Weaponry
2.4 Propulsion
2.5 Planned upgrades
3 Operational history
3.1 Potential customers
4 Variants
4.1 Prototypes and their roles
5 Confirmed Operators
6 Potential Operators
7 Specifications (JF-17 Thunder/FC-1 Fierce Dragon)
8 See also
9 References The JF-17 is being built by China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) and Pakistan's Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. The project is expected to cost around US$500 million, divided equally between China and Pakistan. The project is supported by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation for the Chinese side. Each individual aircraft is expected to have a fly-away cost of around US$8-15 million. Initial development of JF-17 is believed to have been completed in a period of four years,[6] although later improvements to the aircraft design did take up more time. Pakistan has announced that it has 150 aircraft on order, but this may well go up to 250-300. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan's MiG-21-derived Chengdu F-7, Nanchang A-5/Q-5 and Dassault Mirage III/Mirage V aircraft currently in service. Azerbaijan[7] and Zimbabwe have already placed orders and eight other countries have expressed interest in purchasing the JF-17 at a recent military exhibition in Pakistan, according to an official.
10 External links

Canberra - Maritime strike, ground bombing, as well as reconnaisance - quite old but I like it

The English Electric Canberra was designed with no defensive armament, relying instead on high speed, an operational ceiling of 48,000 feet, and great maneuverability to avoid opposing fighter aircraft. The fact that the Canberra is still in service today is testimony to the quality of the original design.
Contributes significantly to meeting reconnaissance task through the use of a wide range of vertical and oblique cameras.
Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb st
Span: 67ft l0in (20.66m)
Length: 66ft 5in (20.36m)
Max Speed: 547mph (876km/h)
Accommodation: Crew of 2 or 1 (?) As an interdictor, carries 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon or 3 x 1000 lb. bombs internally plus 2 x 1000 lb. underwing
As a bomber, 8000 lb. bombs load internally and underwing.
Has a long 'pencil' fuselage with a distinctive single-seat cockpit offset to the port side. Deep-chord wings taper towards the tips. Engines mounted in the wings and projecting forward. Angular fin and rudder, with the dihedralled tailplane set on top of the fuselage cone.
The black&white picture on the left is of an Indian Air Force Canberra around 1965 (Piloted by Wg Cdr Peter Wilson).

MiG-21

The MiG-21 (named "Fishbed" by NATO) is one of the most the most widely used fighters in the world outside Western influence. It first flew in 1955. This delta wing, all-weather fighter has a cantilever mid-set monoplane wing, with about 60° sweepback and slight anhedral.
SPECIFICATIONS:-
Type: Single-seat multi-role fighter
Dimensions: Wing Span: 7.15m(23 ft6 in),; Length: 15.1m(49 ft 6 in)
Performance: Max Speed: Mach 2.2, Max Range: 110k(685 miles)
Armament: 1xTwin Barrel 23mm Cannon, 1500 kg of Ordnance or 4xAA-2'Aphid' air-to-air missiles

Jaguar IS/IB

Produced to meet a joint Anglo-French requirement in 1965 for a dual-role advanced/operational trainer and tactical support aircraft, the Jaguar has been transformed into a potent fighter-bomber.
A variety of weapons including cluster, free fall, retard and laser guided bombs, as well as rockets can be carried on the four wing and one fuselage stations. Two 30mm cannon are mounted internally. To mark targets for laser-guided weapons, the aircraft carries the thermal imaging and laser designation (TIALD) pod. For self-defence, overwing Sidewinder infra-red missiles are carried and the aircraft is fitted with a comprehensive suite of electronic countermeasures. Perhaps the Jaguar's most impressive feature is its navigation and attack system. With mission data fed into the computer, all the necessary information for a pinpoint attack is relayed to the head-up display. From the display, the pilot knows exactly where the target is located and precisely when to release his weapons for maximum effect.
Two Turbomeca/Rolls-Royce Adour 104 turbofans of 7,305lb st.
Span: 28ft 6 in (8.69m)
Length: 55ft 2.5in (16.83m)
Max Speed: 990mph (1,593km/h) at 36,000ft (11,000m).
Accommodation: Single seater
Ammunition includes Two 30mm Aden guns and up to 10,000lb (4,500kg) stores including Martel, rockets and laser-guided bombs.
Long sleek fuselage with a large swept tail fin and rudder. Relatively short-span swept wings are shoulder-mounted on the fuselage. The internal jet engines have intakes either side of the fuselage behind the cockpit, with their top surfaces forming an extension of the wing. The rear jetpipes are located forward and below the tailplane which has marked anhedral. The raised bubble canopy is set above the sharply-pointed nose. The twin mainwheels of the undercarriage retract into the fuselage.

MiG-23/27

The MiG-27K fighter bomber aircraft is manufactured by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG and the Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association Joint Stock Company. Both the MiG-23 fighter aircraft and the MiG-27 fighter bomber aircraft are sometimes referred to by the NATO code name Flogger.
The MiG-27K variant of the MiG-27 family is a variable geometry wing fighter bomber. The primary mission of the aircraft is the destruction of moving and stationary, fixed and mobile ground targets including hardened targets.
The MiG-27K is equipped with the PrNK-23K integrated navigation and aiming system which consists of an Orbita-20-23K airborne digital computer, an optical television indicator with a Kaira-1 laser and television sighting system. The target lock-on range is 7 to 8 kilometres. The Kaira-1 system allows the aircraft to use the guided aerial bombs type KAB-500L and KAB-500KR. The KN-23 navigation system installed on the MiG-27K incorporates a Radical navigation system in place of the RSBN-6s short range radio navigation system. The MiG-27K does not carry any airborne radar.
The aircraft carries three types of air-to-surface missile: the Kh-23M, the Kh-25ML(MP), and the Kh- 29L(T). The Kh-23M air-to-surface missile is one of the group of missiles known by the NATO code name Kerry and designation number AS-7 and which is supplied by the Zvezda-Strela State Research and Production Center, Moscow.
The Kh-25ML is the laser guided version of the Kh-25 air-to-surface missile family, with the NATO designation Kegler AS-12. It is supplied by Zvezda. The missile has a semi-active laser homing head. The range is between 2.5 to 10 kilometres. The missile is equipped with a high explosive (HE) 86 kg warhead and the speed of flight is 400 to 450 metres per second. The Kh-29ML, built by Vympel, is the laser guided version of the Kh-29, NATO designation AS-14 Kedge. The missile uses semi-active laser guidance and has a range up to 10 kilometres. The missile is equipped with a 317 kg penetrating warhead and the flight speed is from 250 to 350 metres per second.
The anti-radar missile is the Kh-27PS. The Kh-27 built by Zvezda is one of the missiles with NATO designation AS-12 Kegler.
The air to air missile carried on the MiG-27K is the R-60M supplied by the Vympel. The missile weighs 43 kg and has the capability to engage targets maneuvering at an acceleration up to 12g. The R-60M has a range of target designation angles to +/- 20 degrees and an infrared homing head with photodetector cooling. Both the R-60 and R-60M carry the NATO reporting name Aphid and code number AA-8.
The aircraft can carry two types of controlled air bombs, the KAB-500L laser guided bomb and KAB- 500KR television guided bomb which are supplied by the Region State Research and Production Enterprise in Moscow. The KAB-500L has semi-active laser homing, weighs 525 kg is armed with a 380 kg high explosive warhead.
The KAB-500KR television guided bomb operates on the "drop and forget" principle. Target lock-on for a parked aircraft is achieved at a range of 15 to 17 kilometres in meteorological visibility distance of 10 kilometres. The warhead can pierce a reinforced concrete barrier up to 1.5 metres thick and average density soil to a depth of 10 metres.
The aircraft can also carry S-24, S-25, S-8, S5 unguided rockets and a range of aerial bombs up to 500 kg size, cluster bombs and incendiary devices.

Mirage 2000 series

The Mirage 2000 is a multirole combat fighter by Dassault Aviation of France.
Mirage 2000-5 is the latest of the Mirage 2000 family, and incorporates advanced avionics, new multiple target air-to-ground and air-to-air firing procedures using the RDY radar and new sensor and control systems.
Mirage 2000 has nine hardpoints for carrying weapon system payloads, five on the fuselage and two on each wing. The single seat version is also armed with two internally mounted high firing rate 30 mm guns.
Mirage 2000 has an upgraded digital Weapon Delivery and Navigation System, WDNS, which has capacity for further integration of new sensors and weapon systems. The aircraft can be fitted with a TV/CT CLDP laser designation pod from Thomson-CSF Optronique which provides the capability to fire laser guided weapons by day and night. The 2000-5 Mk 2 will have the Damocles pod with thermal imaging camera, also from Thomson-CSF Optronique.
Air-to-air weapons include the MICA multi-target air-to-air intercept and combat missiles and the Magic 2 combat missiles, both from Matra BAe Dynamics (France). The aircraft can carry four MICA missiles, two Magic missiles and 3 drop tanks simultaneously which provides a highly extended mission time. The Mirage 2000-5 can fire the Super 530D missile from Matra BAe Dynamics (France) or the Sky Flash air-to-air missile from Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) as an alternative to the MICA missile.
Mirage 2000 is also equipped to carry a range of air-to-surface missiles and weapons including laser guided bombs. These include Matra BAe Dynamics BGL 1000 laser guided bomb, Aerospatiale AS30L, Matra BAe Dynamics Armat anti-radar missile, Aerospatiale AM39 Exocet antiship missile, Matra BAe Dynamics rocket launchers, Matra Bae Dynamics Apache stand-off weapon, and the stealthy cruise missile, SCALP.
Mirage 2000-5 is available as a single-seater or two seater multi-role fighter. The cockpit is equipped with the F10Q zero/zero ejection seat designed by Martin-Baker Aircraft of the UK. The zero/zero seat gives the crew the option of ejecting safely at all altitudes and speeds including zero altitude and zero speed when the aircraft is parked. In the two seater aircraft the pilot initiates ejection of both seats, the copilot's seat ejecting 500 milliseconds after the pilot's seat. The cockpit is fully air conditioned and pressurized. Mirage 2000-5 incorporates the VEH 3020 Head Up Display from Thomson-CSF and five cathode ray tube multifunction Advanced Pilot Systems Interface (APSI) displays similar to the suite of displays developed for the Rafale aircraft. The combined head up/head level display is collimated at infinity and presents the data relating to flight control, navigation, air and ground target engagement and weapon firing. The aircraft's sensor and system management information is presented on two colored lateral displays. The tactical situation display provides the pilot with clear tactical information derived from advanced data fusion processors.
The aircraft has HOTAS hands on throttle and stick control which provides all

MiG-29

The MiG-29 is produced by the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization MiG (MAPO MiG) based in Moscow. The MiG-29,-30 and -33 are known by the NATO code name Fulcrum.
The mission of the MiG-29 is to destroy hostile air targets within radar coverage limits and also to destroy ground targets using unguided weapons in visual flight conditions. The aircraft's fixed wing profile with large wing leading edge root extensions gives good maneuverability and control at subsonic speed including maneuveres at high angles of attack. The maximum operational g-loading is 9g.
The aircraft is equipped with an information and fire control radar system comprising: an airborne radar N-019 developed by Phazotron Research and Production Company, Moscow; an optical locator comprising an infra-red search and track sensor, a laser rangefinder and a helmet mounted target designator. For a longer range air combat the MiG-29 uses radar guidance for the R-27 missile.
The MiG-29 fighter is equipped with seven external hardpoints for air-to-air missiles, air bombs and unguided rockets. The aircraft can carry:

Sukhoi 27/30K

A variant, the Su-30MK (NATO designation Flanker), has been sold to India with licensed local production to begin in 2000.
The aircraft is equipped to operate autonomously in combat over hostile territory, in escort of deep penetration strike aircraft, and in suppression of enemy airfields. The aircraft provides general air defense in cooperation with ground and airborne control stations.
The aircraft is equipped with a 30 mm gun and a range of missiles, rockets, and bombs mounted externally on ten hardpoints. The aircraft's infra-red search and track system, laser rangefinder, radar, and helmet mounted target designator provide detection, tracking, and attack capability.

SHENYANG J-6 (MiG-19 FARMER)

MANUFACTURED BY: SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA CHENGDU AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL CORP. TYPE - FIGHTERCREW - ONE PILOT OFFICERARM - SIX HARD POINTS - THREE ON EACH WING TWO 3O MM CANNON RANGE - 425 MILES WING SPAN - 26.5 FT.LENGTH - 42.9 FT.HEIGHT - 12 FT.WEIGHT - 20,000 POUNDS TAKE OFFENGINE - TWO AFTERBURNING WP-6GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMINSPEED - 900 MPH OR MACH 1.4 AT ALTITUDE
The F-6 is the Chinese version of the MiG-19, which as of the mid-1990s was still in production in China. The PLAAF has over 3,000 of these maneuverable daylight fighters. The J-6 was thought to be an obsolete aircraft but recent reviews of PLAAF tactics show that the J-6 can be used to ambush and defeat much more capable machines due to its great close in air combat flight performance. The use of J-6 jets by Pakistan against more capable Indian jet fighters in the recent clashes over Kashmir shows that the J-6 is a formidable air to air foe in close in dog fighting.
It is a testimony to this capable air plane that the infamous Col. Toon of the North Vietnamese air force used the J-6 to down 12 US aircraft. In fact, China opted to cease production of the Mach two J-7 (MiG-21 variant) in favor of producing more J-6 jets.
The J-6, which began flight tests in 1958, was China's first supersonic jet fighter. The F-6 has six attachment points for external stores. The outboard wing stations can carry a 550 pound bomb or a 760 or 400 liter drop tank or the CAA-1b air to air missile. The inboard wing stations can carry practice bombs or rocket pods with either 8 x 57mm, 16 x 57mm, or 7 x 90mm rockets.

Nanchang Q-5/A-5 FANTAN

MANUFACTURED BY: NANCHANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA TYPE - STRIKE BOMBERCREW - ONE PILOT OFFICERARM - SIX HARD POINTS - THREE ON EACH WING FOUR BELLY HARD POINTS 4,400 POUNDS OF BOMBS AND ROCKETS TWO 23 MM CANNONRANGE - 400 MILES WING SPAN - 31.8 FT.LENGTH - 54.8 FT.HEIGHT - 14.8 FT.WEIGHT - 26,400 POUNDS TAKE OFFENGINE - TWO AFTERBURNING WP-6GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN HIGH FIX RADAR/ ALR-1 LASER DESIGNATOR SPEED - 700 MPH
The Q-5 is equipped with the HIGH FIX radar and imported navigation/attack systems. The Q-5 is used mainly to assist ground forces with air strikes. This derivative of the J-6 fighter originated in 1958 as a Shenyang design but was later assigned to Nanchang. A small number of Q-5 have been modified to carry nuclear weapons. The aircraft is considered the equal to similar western strike aircraft such as the Douglas Skyhawk, and French Etendard.
SHENYANG J-6 (MiG-19 FARMER)

XIAN FH-7 - SUPERSONIC NUCLEAR STRIKE BOMBER

MANUFACTURED BY: XIAN AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA TYPE - SUPERSONIC STRIKE BOMBERCREW - TWO IN TANDEM PILOT/WEAPONS OFFICERARM - SIX HARD POINTS - THREE ON EACH WING, ONE BELLY HARD POINT AND WING-TIP HARD POINTS FOR AIR TO AIR MISSILES TOTAL 14,000 LB. EXTERNAL STORES INCLUDING C.802 MISSILES, CONVENTIONAL OR NUCLEAR FREE-FALL BOMBSRANGE - 1,900 MILES WING SPAN - 41.65 FT.LENGTH - 73.22 FT.HEIGHT - 21.56 FT.WEIGHT - 62,000 POUNDS TAKE OFFENGINE - TWO AFTERBURNING WS-9 (ROLLS ROYCE SPEY BUILT ON LICENSE)GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL INERTIAL AND SAR RADAR - ADVANCED VERSIONS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH LASER DESIGNATOR AND FLIRSPEED The FH-7 (FBC-1 export version) is a twin engine, swept-wing, super-sonic two seat, all weather attack bomber, equipped with American GPS bombing - navigation and powered by licensed copies of the British Rolls Royce Spey engine. The all weather FBC-1 ROCKWELL GPS bombing system will eventually be upgraded with Chinese made Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an infra-red night vision pod.
Chinese engineers bragged that the FBC-1 was designed with CAD (computer aided design) techniques on U.S. built super computers. The computers were provided through the China Flight Test Establishment at Xian University. - 750 MPH OR MACH 1.7 AT ALTITUDE

SHENYANG (CHENGDU) J-7 (MIG-21 FISHBED

MANUFACTURED BY: SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA CHENGDU AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL CORP. TYPE - FIGHTERCREW - ONE PILOT OFFICERARM - FOUR HARD POINTS - TWO ON EACH WING, ONE BELLY HARD POINT TWO 30 MM CANNON RANGE - 400 MILES WING SPAN - 23.5 FT.LENGTH - 45.7 FT.HEIGHT - 13.4 FT.WEIGHT - 19,580 POUNDS TAKE OFFENGINE - ONE AFTERBURNING WP7B(BM)GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMINSPEED - 1500 MPH OR MACH 2.1 AT ALTITUDE
The Chinese made J-7 is an advanced version of the formidable MiG-21 FISHBED. J-7 design improvements include a cranked-arrow wing for better low and high speed performance, two extra hard points on each wing for weapons, improved avionics and upgraded weapons systems. J-7 fighters are considered to be capable dog-fighters and can press close in air combat with the best western aircraft.
The J-7 is not the front-line fighter that the PLAAF would prefer to replace its aging fleet of J-6 FARMER jets. However, nearly 500 J-7 fighters are in service with the PLAAF and the PLAN. Both export and domestic J-7 jets are fitted with a wide variety of western avionics including a GEC-Marconi Avionics HUDWAC (head-up display and weapon aiming computer) and GARMIN GPS bombing navigation systems.

ILYUSHIN IL-76 CANDID

MANUFACTURED BY: ILYUSHIN DESIGN BUREAU, RUSSIA TYPE - MILITARY CARGO/TROOP TRANSPORTCREW - FOUR PILOT/CO-PILOT TWO FLIGHT ENGINEERSCARGO - 200 PARATROOPERS 132,160 LBS OF CARGORANGE - 2,160 MILES WING SPAN - 165.6 FT.LENGTH - 174.4 FT.HEIGHT - 47.3 FT.WEIGHT - 462,966 POUNDS TAKE OFFENGINE - FOUR PS-90A TURBOFAN GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMINSPEED - 560 MILES PER HOUR
According to it's own website, the PLAAF owned China United Airlines operates a small fleet of Russian made Ilyushin IL-76 jet transports. The CUA IL-76 transports are actually operated by the PLAAF 13th Air Division based at Wuhan, Hubei Province and the PLAAF 34th Air Division based at Nanyuan AFB, Beijing.
The IL-76 four-engine jet is the current front-line PLAAF military transport and the Chinese civil version is frequently armed with a cannon located in a rear turret. PLAAF IL-76 transports dropped paratroopers, tanks and artillery directly on to the battlefield during the fall 2000 Chinese military exercises.

China United Airline

TU-154MMANUFACTURED BY: TUPOLEV STATE DESIGN BUREAU MOSCOW, RUSSIA CREW: THREE PILOT/COPILOT/FLG ENGINEERTYPE: SAR RADAR SURVEILLANCE (RADAR DOME ON BELLY)CARGO: AIRLINER NORMAL SEATING 180LENGTH: 157.1 FEET SPAN: 123.2 FEET RANGE: 3280 MILESHEIGHT: 37.4 FEETWEIGHT: 199077 POUNDSENGINE: 3 KUZNETSOV NK-8-2 TURBO FANSTOP SPEED: 625 MILES AN HOUR
Defense analysts confirmed that the so-called "civil" aircraft is actually a Chinese Air Force spy plane equipped with a sophisticated radar and communications equipment. China United Airlines B-4138 spy plane is a modified Tupolev TU-154 civil transport equipped with a tub like SAR radar dome on the belly and several antenna domes on the rear. B-4138 can use its advanced SAR radar to locate ground vehicles, ships, tanks and even troops from hundreds of miles away from the battlefield.

SUKHOI SU-34 "FLANKER" TWIN SEAT STRIKE VERSION OF SU-27

The J-11 is the most advanced fighter currently in service with the PLAAF. The J-11 is roughly equal in performance and capability to the western aircraft that face it including the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet.
The PLAAF currently operates 78 single-seat Flanker fighters and four twin seat training versions. PLAAF factories signed a deal with Sukhoi to assemble 150 of these advanced fighters and build under license another 350.
China has also concluded a deal to purchase up to two hundred SU-30 two seat long range strike bomber versions of the FLANKER family from Sukhoi. The first thirty SU-30 fighters were delivered to the PLAAF in the fall of 2000 and there are an estimated 76 in active service. The PLAAF SU-30 bombers are equipped to carry Chinese made nuclear weapons.
The Chinese military is outfitting its Russian-made Su-30 fighter bombers with C-801 anti-ship cruise missiles. The upgrade will give China's air force a major new strike capability against ships. The C-801 is modeled after the French Exocet anti-ship missile.

J-11 SU-27SK FLANKER

SUKHOI SU-27SK "FLANKER" EXPORT VERSION SOLD TO CHINA AND VIETNAM MANUFACTURED BY: SUKHOI STATE DESIGN BUREAU MOSCOW, RUSSIA TYPE - SUPERSONIC STRIKE FIGHTERLENGTH: 71.9 FEET SPAN: 48.2 FEET RANGE: 1,900 MILES (WITHOUT AIR REFUEL)HEIGHT: 19.4 FEETWEIGHT: 50,000 POUNDSENGINE: 2 AF-35 AFTERBURNING TURBO FANSTOP SPEED: MACH 2.3WEAPON LOAD: 13,670 POUNDS I/R AND RADAR HOMING AIR TO AIR MISSILES R-73 AND R-77 LASER GUIDED BOMBS AIR LAUNCHED VERSION SS-N-22 SUNBURN AS-17 KRYPTON ANTI-RADAR MISSILE (KH-31) SU-30 VERSION EQUIPPED FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS DELIVERY

SU-30 STRIKE FIGHTER

MAKER: SUKHOI, RUSSIA
TYPE: SUPERSONIC STRIKE FIGHTER
LENGTH: 71.9 FEET
SPAN: 47.8 FEET
RANGE: 1,900 MILES
HEIGHT: 15.5 FEET
WEIGHT: 85,300 POUNDS MAX
ENGINE: TWO LYULKA SATURN AL-31F TURBOFAN
TOP SPEED: MACH 2.2 AT ALTITUDE
WEAPON LOAD: 17,600 POUNDS ON 12 HARDPOINTS
30 MM CANNON
I/R AND RADAR HOMING AIR TO AIR MISSILES
R-73, R-77, PL-10, PL12
LASER GUIDED BOMBS
AS-17 KRYPTON ANTI-RADAR MISSILE (KH-31)
The PLA SU-30 MKK is equipped with the Tikhomirov NIIP N001VE radar which can range up to 90-110 km in counter-air mode, 70-80km against ground targets and 200-250 km against large ships. The MKK2 version is possibly equipped with the Phazotron Zhuk-M-S which has a 140km in counter-air mode, and 300km against large ships. The SU-30 can be equipped with the Kupol M400 side-looking radar pod that can control up to 10 fighters. The MKK3 is equipped with a Tikomirov “Panda,” radar that has a 190 km counter air mode or may be equipped with the new version of Zhuk-M-S.
The SU-30 is equipped with an extensive electronics suite including the OLS-30 IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system that has a 80-100km range. SU-30 pilots are equipped with the Surya-K Helmet Sight for close in air-to-air combat. SU-30 also have the Sapsan-E ir/laser targeting pod for ground attack, a APK-9 data link pod for Kh-59ME missile, A-737 satnav system, the L-150 Pastel RWR Radar Warning system, a 96x chaff/flare dispenser, the Sorbitsya ECM and the Spektr data link.

FC-1 LIGHT FIGHTER

MAKER: CAC-1 (FORMER CHENDU CAIC), CHINA
TYPE: SUPERSONIC LIGHT FIGHTER
LENGTH: 45.3 FEET
SPAN: 30.9 FEET
RANGE: 900 MILES
HEIGHT: 16.3 FEET
WEIGHT: 28,000 POUNDS MAX
ENGINE: ONE KLIMOV RD-93 TURBOFAN
TOP SPEED: MACH 1.6 AT ALTITUDE
WEAPON LOAD: I/R AND RADAR HOMING AIR TO AIR MISSILES
SD-10, PL-10, PL12
LASER GUIDED BOMBS
The FC-1 has its roots in the now defunct Super-7 program which fell apart after he Tiananmen Square demonstrations were put down by the PRC. FC-1 development continued under the MiG design bureau using data from the rejected MiG-33 strike fighter.
The FC-1 has 7 stores stations - four under the wing, two on the wing-tips and one under the fuselage. Fixed weapon is a 23-mm inner cannon hidden inside fuselage.
In addition to the PL-8 short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile, which was derived from Israeli Rafael Python-3 technology, the FC-1 could also carry SD-10 medium-range missile. It may also be fitted with indigenously developed PL-11 or PL-12 medium-range AAM for BVR combat. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE FC-1 ON NEWSMAX.COM
For ground attack missions, the FC-1 will carry laser-guided bombs, YJ-8K anti-ship missile, as well as various unguided bombs and rockets.
The FC-1 is favored by the PLA Navy aviation branch but not by the PLAAF itself which wants the more capable J-10 strike fighter to replace aging MiG-21 and MiG-19 designs. Pakistan has funded most of the FC-1 development and may purchase up to 150 of the fighters if it meets the Pakistani Air Force requirements

Y-8 BALANCE BEAM AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING

MAKER: SHAANXI AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY CORP.
TYPE: AIRBORNE RADAR EARLY WARNING
LENGTH: 121 FEET 4 INCHES
SPAN: 124 FEET 8 INCHES
RANGE: 3000 MILES
HEIGHT: 34.22 FEET
WEIGHT: 118,000 POUNDS NORMAL TAKE OFF
ENGINE: FOUR P&W CANADA PW150B TURBOPROP
TOP SPEED: 380 MPH
The new Chinese Y-8 is truly an international effort. The Y-8 is a Chinese version of the Russian AN-12 military transport. The aircraft was developed with the assistance of Ukrainian Antonov Design Bureau. The new Y-8 Chinese airborne radar plane includes navigation avionics from U.S. maker Honeywell, four Pratt and Whitney Canada PW150B turboprop engines and British Dodi R-408 6-blade propellers

: Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: Credit: Jon Becker, Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft

The Aerosonde is an inexpensive, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is an ideal platform for conducting weather observations and scientific research in hurricanes or in Antarctica. With endurance of over 30 hours, a single Aerosonde can obtain observations in regions that are inaccessible without expensive ships or manned aircraft. Because of the low cost of theAerosonde, it can fly in regions that are deemed too dangerous for manned aircraft (such as at low levels under high-wind conditions).As part of the CAMEX-4 hurricane study in 2001, NASA funded the flight of several unpiloted aerial vehicles called the Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft. Small, robotic aircraft designed for collection of meteorological data over oceans and remote areas, the Aerosondes will operate over the North Atlantic Ocean taking observations in the lower atmosphere. The Aerosondes are managed in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Boulder.

NOAA's Gulfstream IV aircraft. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA

The Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) is a high altitude, high speed, twin-turbofan jet aircraft acquired by AOC in 1996. The G-IV is currently configured for operational support of the National Hurricane Center synoptic surveillance mission and is expected to provide support for NOAA programs for many years to come. This mission is designed to collect, process and transmit vertical atmospheric soundings in the environment of the hurricane. The principle tool used for this task is the GPS dropwindsonde.

NOAA's WP-3 Orion aircraft. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA

NOAA flies a WP-3 "Orion" -- a four-engine turboprop plane -- into storms at altitudes below 27,000 feet. Two of the world's premier research aircraft, the renowned NOAA WP-3D Orions, participate in a wide variety of national and international meteorological, oceanographic and environmental research programs in addition to their widely known use in hurricane research and reconnaissance. These versatile turboprop aircraft are equipped with an unprecedented variety of scientific instrumentation, radars and recording systems for both in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere, the Earth and its environment. Obtained as new aircraft from the Lockheed production line in the mid-70's, these robust and well maintained aircraft have led NOAA's continuing effort to monitor and study hurricanes and other severe storms, the quality of the atmosphere, the state of the ocean and its fish population, and climate trends. The WP-3D Orion aircraft are on standby or deployed for hurricane research and reconnaissance 120 days each year. Each aircraft averages between 90 and 120 days deployed around the globe for other research projects, while flying 300 to 400 hours every year. Remaining days are devoted to system integration and calibration, aircraft maintenance, and pilot proficiency training.

: WC-130J Hercules aircraft. Click on image to enlarge. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Hurricane Hunters of the U.S. Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. fly the WC-130J Hercules aircraft. The WC-130J Hercules aircraft features a glass cockpit packed with the latest in computer assisted flight and navigational controls. These systems enhance the situational awareness of crews and allow them to focus on their in-flight tasks.

Citigroup will not take possession of new aircraft

Citigroup will not take possession of new aircraft
By STEPHEN BERNARD – 1 day ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Pressured by the Obama administration, Citigroup Inc. reversed course and said it will not take delivery of a corporate jet it previously planned to purchase.
The canceled deal comes amid a chorus of concerns from politicians who are worried about how banks that have received federal funds are spending the money. Citigroup has received $45 billion in capital from the government in recent months amid the ongoing credit crisis.
"Citi has no intent to take delivery of any new aircraft," the New York-based bank said in a statement Tuesday.
An official in President Barack Obama's administration reached out to Citigroup on Monday to reiterate Obama's position that such jets aren't "the best use of money at this point," and are "an outrageous use of funds" for a company getting taxpayer dollars, said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to more freely describe private conversations.
In a statement late Monday, Citi said it had placed a deposit in 2005 to acquire a new corporate jet, and said it didn't plan to use government funds for the purchase. The New York-based bank noted that any cancellation of the deal would likely lead to millions of dollars in penalties.

Delaware Air Guard C-130 aircraft reaches 10,000 hour flying milestone

10,000 hour C-130H milestone reached by Delaware ANG
C-130H aircraft crew chief after aircraft reached 10,000 hour flying milestone
Grounded
Proud C-130 crew chief with air crew
Parked after milestone
Window-washing a champion
From the inside out
Hot time on the flightline
C-130 aircraft # 213, Delaware Air National Guard, moments after landing on June 5, 2008. Unit aircrew flew the aircraft past the 10,000 flying hour milestone, the first C-130H aircraft in the unit's inventory to reach this mark. The fleet of C-130H aircraft arrived factory-fresh in the mid-1980s to the New Castle air base. Download Full Image E-mail a friend

Su-34: new aircraft for Air Force’s new concept

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - Russia’s rearmament program, approved in 2006 for a period until 2015, provides for supplying modern weapons to its armed forces. One of them is the Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber, which will replace the Su-24 Fencers.
The process has begun, but some say the replacement is taking too long.
The new fighter-bomber is said to be very good. An improvement on the Su-27 Flanker, it has cutting-edge equipment, including a modern crew and equipment protection system. The Su-34 is effective against personnel and military hardware on the battlefield and also against targets behind enemy lines, and can also be used for surveillance and against naval targets.
The Su-34 will replace the Su-24M aircraft (about 400 planes), the Su-24MR surveillance aircraft (over 100 planes), and the MiG-25RB aircraft (about 70). Russia will have to produce between 550 and 600 Su-34s to replace these obsolete aircraft within 10-15 years.
However, the Defense Ministry plans to buy only about 58 such planes by 2015 and a total of 300 by 2022.
Many experts say that if the Su-24 and MiG-25RB aircraft are scrapped by 2020, Russia will be left without fighter-bombers and surveillance aircraft.
Others argue that this number will be enough for the Air Force’s new concept.
The concept is focused not so much on the combat characteristics of the Su-34, as on its long range, the ability to refuel in the air (including by other Su-34 aircraft with additional fuel tanks under their wings), and its comfortable cabin allowing the crew to make long-distance flights without becoming overtired.
The Su-34 aircraft can also fly without electronic warfare support planes, because it has electronic interference equipment.
Units armed with such aircraft can be used in the so-called pendulum operations, when an Air Force unit bombs a terrorist base in Central Asia today, delivers a strike at a missile base in Europe the next day, and three days later flies to the Indian Ocean to support a combined group of the Northern, Pacific and Black Sea fleets, with the flights made from a base in Russia.
The Su-34 aircraft has long-range precision weapons, can fly hugging the earth, and have a high level of protection, which should cut losses during lightning operations, while the use of a relatively small number of such aircraft allows training crews to perfection.
This is not a new concept. Elite units of top-class aircraft manned by superbly trained crews formed the core of the German air force during World War II, and Japan’s Imperial Navy had a similar concept.
However, such elite units can be quickly weeded out by swarms of ordinary aircraft in a global war of attrition, such as World War II. From this viewpoint, Russia’s new concept looks vulnerable, but then this country has the nuclear triad for a global war.
In a war of attrition, it will not matter how many such smart aircraft Russia will have - 200, 600 or 1,500. What will matter is the yield of a nuclear bomb they will be able to drop on the enemy.
But in the event of a small war involving one or two adversaries, or a chain of local conflicts, the existence of such high-speed, highly protected and well-armed aircraft can be the decisive factor. Even 58 Su-34 fighter-bombers, used at the right time in the right place, would be a powerful force. A group of 200-300 such aircraft, divided into several units for use in key areas of the battlefield, will be able to fulfill the most complicated tasks.
Apart from the Su-34, the Russian Air Force will also receive other new planes, whose technical characteristics will maintain the force’s combat potential at the requisite level. New units, set up for the fulfillment of specific tasks, will consist of fighters, bombers, early warning and command planes, flying tankers, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
These will be highly mobile units, which means that its aircraft can be quickly dispatched to the area in question. In fact, Russia’s new concept is not unlike the United States’ Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF), a flexible and powerful instrument of air warfare capable of quickly delivering strikes in any part of the world.
As for surveillance aircraft, industrialized countries intend to replace them with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The world is changing, and the new world will wage new kind of wars.(Information)
Diterbitkan di:
Jet Temput SU-34
Rusiaon April 18, 2008 at 4:05 am
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