News From 15-30 December 1998
Russia and Poland Renew Military-Technical
Agreements
India Offered MiG-29SMT Upgrade
Refuelling Capability Proposed for
Indian Su-30s
New Admirals Joint Baltic Fleet
MiG-29s Arrive in Armenia
More Su-30MKIs For India
Upgrades for Polish Air Force Sukhois
and MiGs
Russian Fighters To Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Moves To Unify Strategic Forces Splits
Senior Commands
Navy Chief Orders Ships Ready To
Sail
Major Financial Swindles Uncovered in
Pacific Fleet
Maiden Flight of Kamov Ka-60
Combat Training For Pilots Remains A
Problem
Second Project 636 'Kilo' to
China
First MiG-29SMT Delivered To Air
Force
Topol-M Commences Combat Duty
'Varyag' and 'Minsk' May Assist PLA
Carrier Development
Russia and Poland Renew Military-Technical
Agreements
After a break of several years, Russia and Poland are moving to renew
military technical agreements in several areas. Russia has now agreed to
provide technical data on the avionics systems installed on Poland's MiG-29
and Su-22 fighters and will also provide spare parts (in particular RD-33
engines) for Poland's 22 MiG-29s, which have largely been grounded due to
spares unavailability. Poland introduced the locally manufactured SC-10
Suprasl IFF systems to their MiG-29s, however a lack of detailed technical
data has meant that engineers have been unable to interconnect the system
to the MiG's N019EA radar.
Jane's Defence Weekly, 16 December 1998
TOP
India Offered MiG-29SMT Upgrade
MAPO has offered the IAF an upgrade programme to bring their MiG-29
fighters up to full SMT standard. The basic MiG-29A has no air-to-ground
capability beyond unguided rockets and free-fall iron bombs, however the
SMT upgrade would provide a Zhuk radar with air-to-ground modes and the
ability to deliver guided munitions. MiG offered India the MiG-29M in the
1980s, however India preferred to proceed with its indiginious Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA) development. Russia's chances at securing the order are not
being assisted by slow progress on the MiG-21 upgrade contract signed in
1996. The Moscow Times of 15 December reports the Sokol factory in Nizhny
Novogorod will be three years late in fulfilling the contract to upgrade
125 IAF MiG-21s. Representatives of the plant cited the current financial
crisis as the main reason for the delay, with some additional technical
issues involved in making the French and Israeli systems compatible with
Russian avionics. India had apparently pre-paid part of the upgrade
contract, but Sokol staff refused to reveal either the value of the
pre-payment or where the money had gone. The IAF is set to receive its
first upgraded Mig-21 by July. Kits for upgrading the first six fighters are also to be despatched soon.
Flight International, 16 December 1998; Moscow Times, 15 December 1998
TOP
Refuelling Capability Proposed for Indian
Su-30s
UK based Flight Refuelling is holding talks with the Indian Air Force to
supply their Mk32 refuelling pods to equip Indian Su-30's. The Mk32 pods
would fit on the Sukhoi's centreline pylon, and would also allow IAF
Jaguars to perform buddy-buddy refuelling. The Mk32 pods can also be
refitted to other airframes, such at the Ilyushin Il-76.
Flight International, 16 December 1998
TOP
New Admirals Joint Baltic Fleet
Baltic Naval base commander Rear Admiral Vassili Apanovich and Ship
Squadron commander Captain (1st grade) Oleg Demyanchenko have been promoted
to Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral respectively within the Baltic Fleet.
Strazh Baltiki, December 16 1998
TOP
MiG-29s Arrive in Armenia
An initial group of five MiG-29 fighters landed at Yerevan's Erebuni
airport on 16 December. The planes were sent to reinforce the Russian group
of forces currently deployed in Armenia. A second group of MiG-29s is
expected to arrive soon. A Russian Air Force official said that intensive
cooperation between the Russian pilots and Armenian armed forces was
expected.
Snark News Agency (Yerevan), 16 December 1998; Noyan Tapan News Agency
(Yerevan), 16 December 1998
TOP
More Su-30MKIs For India
Russia will deliver 10 additional Sukhoi-30MKI fighters to India under a
contract signed on 15 December. The contract stipulates that the Irkutsk
aircraft manufacturing association will also upgrade India's existing
Su-30K fighters to the Su-30MKI standard. The US$2 billion contract
provides for the delivery of the new fighters commencing in 2000. Talks
continue on licenced Indian manufacture of the upgraded Sukhois.
Interfax, 20 December 1998
TOP
Upgrades for Polish Air Force Sukhois and
MiGs
Bydgoszcz's Military Repair Facility No.2 has signed a US$1 million
agreement with Rosvooruzhenye for the modernisation of Polish
Air Force Su-22's and MiG-29's. Fifteen Su-22s and an undisclosed number
of MiG-29s [PC: Poland operates 18 single-seat and 4 two-seater MiG-29s]
will receive new GPS and IFF systems. Rosvooruzhenye is also involved in
discussions regarding modernisation of Polish T-72s. Poland is still
considering the German company DASA's offer to to modernise their MiG-29s.
Puls Biznesu (Poland), No. 134 22 December 1998
TOP
Russian Fighters To Ethiopia and Eritrea
Kommersant (Moscow) of 18 December reported that a Russian An-22 transport
had delivered the first of several Su-27s to Ethiopia. Ethiopia had
contracted with Russia's Promeksport for the delivery of 4-8 Sukhoi
fighters, Mi-24 combat helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters. Ethiopia
and nearby Eritrea were engaged in a short conflict in June 1998 over
disputed border areas, and both countries were now eager to improve their
respective air force capabilities. According to a Russian military source,
the Ethiopian contract (worth around US$160 million) had been signed
"..with unprecedented speed", taking just one or two months. The deal had
been primarily funded by Western economic aid. The same military source
expressed surprise that the Ethiopians had selected the Su-27 over the
ground-attack capable Su-25 or Su-22. In an associated report, Jane's
Defence Weekly of 23 December reported that Eritrea had purchased up to 10
surplus MiG-29's from Moscow. Reports were also circulating that MiG-29s
had been seen in flight over the capital, Asmara. [PC: An intriguing
scenario - Su-27s in combat against MiG-29s over the Horn of Africa].
Kommersant, 18 December 1998; Jane's Defence Weekly, 23 December 1998
TOP
Moves To Unify Strategic Forces Splits Senior
Commands
In an article by Alexander Golts and A. Ignatkin in Itogi 22 December, the
writers claim that efforts by Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev to unify the
strategic forces under a Joint Main Command of the Strategic Deterrent
Forces (JMC SDF) have resulted in serious tensions between the Minister and
senior officers within the Navy and General Staff. Under Sergeyev's plan,
all of Russia's nuclear forces (the Strategic Missile Forces, Navy SSBNs,
strategic bombers of the 37th Air Force and nuclear ordnance of the 12th
Main Directorate of the Defence Ministry) would be concentrated under a
single operational command. Sergeyev insists that no administrative
transfer would occur - SSBNs would still be controlled by the Navy and
strategic bombers by the Air Force. While no officers have spoken openly of
their opposition to Sergeyev's plans, highly critical media articles
quoting 'military sources' have appeared stating that the merger would
destroy the last combat-ready formations of the armed forces. Airborne
Troops General Alexander Lebed has sided with those opposing the merger. At
present, the existing plan for nuclear deployment places all forces under
the operational command of the General Staff. Proponents of the JMC SDF
claim the new structure will not necessitate any new intelligence or target
selection - this remains the responsibility of the General Staff. The JMC
SDF will only control nuclear forces in combat. The Navy appears to be
fiercely resisting the initiative. Various admirals have stated that the
protection of SSBNs is already a major focus, so 'splitting' the Navy under
a new command makes no sense. Officers of the General Staff are also
resisting the JMC SDF, fearing a loss of power to the new command. Sergeyev
intends to promote current SMF Commander-In-Chief General Vladimir Yakovlev
to the position of JMC SDF commander. [PC: Sergeyev's real agenda in
creation of the JMC SDF may be to secure funds for the land-based strategic
forces, his old command. There is also little surprise at Sergeyev's choice
of JMC SDF Commander, as Yakovlev is widely reported to be a protege of
the Defence Minister].
Itogi, 22 December 1998, ITAR-TASS, 26 November 1998
TOP
Navy Chief Orders Ships Ready To Sail
Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov told ITAR-TASS that as a response
to recent tensions with Iraq, the Pacific Fleet's Udaloy Class 'Admiral
Panteleyev' and 'Admiral Vinogradov' remained ready to go to sea if
required. Kuroyedov did not elaborate but cited "practical actions for
increasing the readiness of the control system of the navy" as a reason for
ordering the increased combat readiness of various combat units. The two
vessels had been directed "...to be ready to go to sea in case of
necessity". [PC: Rumours also circulated that the 'Admiral Kusnetsov'
carrier had also been placed on alert. It appears that Kuroyedov may have
engaged in a certain amount of 'sabre-rattling' in relation to the Iraqi
crisis, possibly as an attempt to position Russian naval forces as still
having a role in defending Russia's international interests. Nevertheless,
as Kommersant-Daily of 19 December reported, even if the two ASW
vessels were despatched to intervene in the Gulf, they would require at
least two stopovers en route; possibly Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam and (with
permission) India or Yemen. Once on station, they would be totally
outnumbered - and completely outclassed - by Western forces. The Kommersant
article also revealed Russian shortcomings in their ability to observe and
influence events in Iraq; satellite coverage (via the Yantar
optical-electrical system) was limited to one pass every 24 hours, and the
early warning radar system located near Gabal in Azerbaijan was unable to
detect American cruise missile launches as it had only been calibrated to detect ICBMs.
ITAR-TASS, 23 December 1998; ITAR-TASS, 19 December 1998;
Kommersant-Daily, 19 December 1998
TOP
Major Financial Swindles Uncovered in Pacific
Fleet
Tikhookeanskaya Vakhta of 24 November revealed that in the first 6 months
of 1998 more than 650,000 roubles worth of financial irregularities had
been uncovered in the Pacific Fleet, including around 336,000 roubles
of outright embezzlements.
Tikhookeanskaya Vakhta, NN257-258 24 November 1998
TOP
Maiden Flight of Kamov Ka-60
The new Ka-60 'Kasatka' (Swallow) multipurpose helicopter completed its
maiden flight at Kamov's Lyubertsy works on 24 December 1998, piloted by
test-pilot Vladimir Lavrov. With a payload of 2,500kg, the Ka-60 is
designed to fulfil a Russian army requirement for a light utility
helicopter capable of training, medevac, paradrop and supply roles.
ITAR-TASS reported that the Ka-60 can evacuate up to six casualties on
stretchers from the battlefield. Kamov Chief Designer Vyacheslav Krygin
stated the Ka-60 can also fulfil Special Operations roles, as well as
firefighting and border missions. Kamov plans to develop a civilian version
of the 'Kasatka', designated the Ka-62. Serial production of both
helicopters will probably take place at the Strela defence plan in
Orenburg. Russian TV revealed the name 'Kasatka' had been assigned after a
television contest won by Andrey, a sixth grader. Andrey had given the
helicopter the name 'Swallow' because previous Kamov designations (eg the
Ka-52 'Alligator' and Ka-50 'Black Shark') had floated rather than flown!
Russian TV, 24 December 1998; ITAR-TASS, 22 December 1998; Novye Izvestia,
25 December 1998
TOP
Combat Training For Pilots Remains A
Problem
As reported in Gudok 25 December 1998, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Anatoly
Kornukov revealed to an Air Force Public Relations officer that despite the
successful merger of Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Forces in 1998, problems relating to combat and mobilisation readiness
remained predominant. On the average, pilots fly twenty-one hours [PC: I
assume per year] with their average age 36 years. Twenty-seven pilots and
passengers died in four accidents in 1998. Kornukov also stated that
reorganisation had affected 75% of all formations and units, with over 90%
of aircraft, helicopters and anti-aircraft missile units reassigned. More
than 20 airfields and 300 cantonments were also vacated. Units under the command of G. Vasiliev (Moscow AF and AAD District)
and M. Oparin (37th Air Force Army) were singled out for excellent
performance during inspections for combat readiness.
Gudok, 25 December 1998
TOP
Second Project 636 'Kilo' to China
A second Project-636 'Kilo' has commenced its journey from St. Petersburg.
The submarine will be loaded onto a vessel in Finland and then delivered to
China. The first Project 636 'Kilo' was delivered in 1997.
ITAR-TASS 29 December 1998
TOP
First MiG-29SMT Delivered To Air Force
ITAR-TASS reported on 29 December that Managing Director and Senior
Designer of MiG, Mikhail Korzhuyev, had stated that the first of a series of
modernised MiG-29SMT fighters would be flown today from Zhukovsky airfield
to the Air Force Training Centre at Lipetsk to commence service trials. The
Defence Ministry has decided to upgrade 150-180 MiG-29 fighters to the
MiG-29SMT variant, with the first 24 upgrades due to commence modernisation
soon. Only MiG-29s produced over the last 10 years are scheduled to be
included in the program. The upgrade work had been undertaken jointly by a
Kubinka factory and MiG-MAPO. NTV (Moscow) reported that the modernisation took around one-and-a-half months and an Interfax report stated the
upgrades would cost around US$1 million per fighter. The MiG-29SMT has two
extra fuel tanks in the upper fuselage, increasing the aircraft's range
from 1,850 to 2,220km. With three tanks, the range increases to 3,500 km.
Cockpit and avionics have also been upgraded and combat payload increased
from three to five tonnes.
ITAR-TASS, 31 December 1998; NTV (Moscow), 29 December 1998; Interfax, 30
December 1998; Reuters, 29 December 1998
TOP
Topol-M Commences Combat Duty
At 15:00 Moscow Time on 15 December, elements of the 104th Missile Regiment
of the 60th (Taman) Division of the Vladimir missile army went on combat
duty armed with ten of the new Topol-M ICBMs. The 104th, deployed near
Tatishchevo in the Saratov region, is the first formation of the Strategic
Missile Forces to be equipped with the Topol-M. Although the airborne
computers of the missiles have not been pre-set with targets, inputting new
combat tasks would only take around one minute.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 29 1998; ITAR-TASS, 30 December 1998
TOP
'Varyag' and 'Minsk' May Assist PLA Carrier
Development
Lloyd's List of 29 December reveals possible PLA links with the recent
Chinese commercial purchases of the Kuznetsov class 'Varyag' and Kiev class 'Minsk'.
Macau-based Agencia Turistica e Diversoes Chong Lot Limitada bought the 70%
complete 'Varyag' from the Ukrainian government for US$20 million in 1997.
Company staff indicated the 'Varyag' was destined, after a US$200 million
conversion in Macau, to be transformed into the 'Ocean Entertainment
Centre', comprising a discotheque, restaurants, night clubs, health club
and sauna. Agencia Chairman Cheng Zhen Shu indicated the carrier's tow from
Ukraine to Macau would begin in the next few days. Chairman Shu denied any
PLA involvement in the sale, replying that his company was a commercial
entity and had no plans to allow military access to the 'Varyag'. In
Guangdong province, a similar conversion of the Kiev class 'Minsk' is
reportedly planned by a Shenzen-based businessman who paid US$30 million
for the vessel. Tours of the 'Minsk' are already available for Yuan 50 (US
$6) for 30 minutes. [PC: The sudden interest of Chinese companies in both
Russian carriers appears suspect, particularly given the circumstances of
the sales and the individuals involved. Cheng Zhen Shu is an ex-PLA
officer, the company's main address has been revealed as false and the
Macau government has not received any application to berth the vessel. Even
the proposal to spend US$200 million to renovate the vessel sounds
improbable. While the Chinese carrier program appears to have been put on
hold, the Russian carriers would provide Chinese ship-builders with
valuable information on carrier construction, flight-deck materials, electrical wiring and
communications. There is a clear precedent here - the Chinese military have
used the flight deck of the Australian carrier 'Melbourne' as a training
ground since the 1980s].
Lloyd's List 29 December 1998; Reuters 10 November 1998
