Russia might deliver six more Mi-35s to Iraq

Rosoboronexport might procure 6 more Mi-35 rotorcrafts worth a total of $256 million to Iraq in addition to $4.2 billion defence contracts.

According to Reuters, new contract on 6 helicopters delivery by October 2013 at $217 million ($256 million including the munitions) was awarded during the visit of Rostec Director General Sergey Chemezov and Rosneft President Igor Sechin to Iraq on April 16, 2013. The expanding of military equipment procurement contracts up to $8 billion was also negotiated.

Currently there are contracts at a total price of $4.2 billion being fulfilled in the area of military technical cooperation between Iraq and Russia. Chiefly these are for Russian rotorcraft equipment deliveries, including the 36 Mi-28 helicopters. “There also are other prospects in this field, which are now being explored by the parties at the experts’ level”, said the Rostec representatives on April, 17.

SaM146 engine proves its worth

The SaM146 engine has been in operation since the Superjet-100’s first commercial flight from Moscow to Yerevan on 21 April 2011. In the two years since, the SaM146 has demonstrated its reliability, and in early 2013 exports of the engine to countries outside the CIS began.

There are currently 32 engines in operation, 30 of which are in service; one is undergoing maintenance and one is a spare. Aeroflot is the main operator of the Sukhoi Superjet-100 equipped with SaM146 engines, and the company has 10 in its fleet. Two aircraft apiece are owned by Yakutya Airlines (Russia) and Sky Aviation (Indonesia), while Lao Central Airlines (Laos) and Armavia (Armenia) have one each.

As of 22 April, the fleet of SaM146 engines had totalled 39,772 flight hours and 25,212 flight cycles.

According to official statistics from PowerJet, there have been no incidents concerning the engine. Georgy Konyukhov, deputy general designer at NPO Saturn and chief SaM146 project designer, cites the engines’ technical readiness coefficient as a key indicator of reliability. PowerJet publishes this coefficient every month in its reports. In March, for example, it was 99.87%, a very high result.

Rosoboronexport sends T-90S to Peru

osoboronexport sent T-90S tank to Peru, to be displayed at the International Defense Technologies Exhibition (SITDEF 2013). Besides, An-124Ruslan will also be presented within the event.

According to defensa.com, after SITDEF 2013 held on May, 15-19 Rosoboronexport is to take T-90S to the 18th Armored Brigade., stationed at Fort Major General EP Rafael Hoyos Rubio (Rimac) to undergo a series of operational tests.

The T-90 is a Russian third-generation main battle tank that is an upgraded version of the T-72. The tank has a length of 6.86 m. (9.36 m. With the barrel forward), a width of 3.78 m. and a height of 2.22 m. It weights 46.5 tonsequipped and is powered by diesel V-9252 of 1,000 hp, capable of maximum speed of 60 km / h and a range of 550-700 km.

First Project 11356 Frigate to Join Russian Navy Next Year

Russia’s first Project 11356 frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, will join the Black Sea Fleet in 2014, Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov said on Monday.

“The newest Project 11356 escort ship, the Admiral Grigorovich, should be launched in 2013 and join the Black Sea Fleet in 2014,” Fedotenkov said.

The Kaliningrad-based Yantar shipyard is to build a total of six Project 11356 frigates for delivery between 2014 and 2016 under a contract with the Defense Ministry.

The lead warship in the series, the Admiral Grigorovich, was laid down in December 2010, the second, the Admiral Essen, in July 2011 and the third, the Admiral Makarov, in February 2012.

The Project 11356 frigates, displacing 3,850 tons, are designed for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, both independently and as an escort, and are also armed with air defense systems.

The class are armed with an eight-cell launcher for Kalibr and Klub (3M54E) anti-ship and surface-to-surface missiles, a 100-mm main gun, Kashtan gun/missile close-in air defense systems, Shtil vertical-launch air defense missile systems, two torpedo tubes, an anti-submarine rocket system and a Ka-28 or Ka-31 helicopter, according to globalsecurity.org and rusnavy.com.

The Indian Navy received two Talwar class frigates, based on the 11356 design, in April and November last year, Times of India reported.

UAC has promised to produce more than 160 civilian aircraft per year

By 2020 the United Aircraft Corporation is to produce up to 325 aircraft per year, 50 percent of which will be the civil ones, said the vice president Alexander TULYAKOV at a meeting of the State Duma. According to his words, the company’s revenue in 2025 should reach 800 billion rubles.

The figures released by Tulyakov differ slightly from the figures set forth in the strategy of development of the UAC in 2008. It states that by 2025 the UAC has to produce 260-290 aircraft per year, but only from 2008 to 2025 production will be about 2.6 thousand airliners. Thus, it appears that in the period from 2020 till 2025 the UAC should double the production of civil aircraft.

Serbian Ministry of Defense intends to purchase MiG-29 fighters

Serbian Ministry of Defense (MoD) intends to purchase six MiG-29M/M2 fighters and two ground-based radars.

The value of such contract was not unveiled. Serbian MoD intends to sign the contract this year. As reported by Vecernji list, the details of this contract will be approved on May 23rd 2013 during the visit of Serbian Minister of Defense, Alexander Vucic, to Moscow.

The aircraft will be purchased in the network of a program for upgrading the fleet of Serbian air forces.

During a meeting with Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoygu, Serbian Prime-minister, Ivica Dacic, asked the Russian party to help Belgrade upgrade its air forces. «Serbian army needs advanced vehicles, weapons and equipment», ─ Ivica Dacic said. Russia and Serbia may launch a joint production of armored vehicles in the network of military-technical cooperation between the countries.

Aircompany Tatarstan took delivery of first Cessna Grand Caravan 208 aircraft

Aircompany Tatarstan took delivery of first Cessna Grand Caravan 208 aircraft; the second aircraft should be delivered to the carrier within a week, Kommersant-Volga reports.

A total of 15 Cessna Grand Caravan 208 aircraft should be delivered to the carrier by July 2013. The turboprops will be performing flights in the network of a program for development of regional transportation in Privolzhsky Federal District. The aircraft have been leased from the State Transport Leasing Company (STLC) for the period of 10 years.

In addition, the company purchased two Airbus A319 aircraft. The value of this contract was not unveiled.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will elaborate a program for disposal of aircraft

The Ministry of Industry and Trade may elaborate a program for disposal of equipment for all the industries, including aircraft industry, Prime reports. It was stated by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov.

He admitted that it is necessary to elaborate the disposal procedures not only for cars, ships and aircraft, but also for products of other industries.

“We must consider the whole life cycle of any developed product – development, production, operation, maintenance and disposal”, – he said. This also refers to aircraft. «First of all this refers to Russian operators interested in purchasing aircraft», – he said.

Denis Manturov also noted that the airlines will deliver aircraft for disposal in exchange for new aircraft. “That is why we must elaborate the disposal procedures in cooperation with federal authorities, first of all this refers to the Ministry of Transport”, – he said.

Interjet intends to purchase additional 10 Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft

Interjet (Mexico) intends to purchase another 10 Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft in addition to the signed contract on delivery of 10 ones, Voenno-promishlenniy courier reports with reference to Mexican news portal Milenio. It was stated by the carrier’s CEO, Jose Luis Garsa Alvares.

«Our total investments in the Russian-produced aircraft will exceed $1 billion. The aircraft will be purchased using export credits provided by French, Italian and Russian banks», – Jose Alvares said.

According to him, the deliveries should be started in May 2013 and completed in December 2014. «The airline intends to open 80 new destinations (including cities of Columbia and USA) after acquisition of the new jets and expand its market presence», – the carrier’s CEO noted.

He also said that operation of SSJ 100 aircraft with low fuel burn will deliver fuel savings of 15%.

Milenio also reported that Interjet forecasts the significant growth of air transportation in Mexico. The carrier intends to purchase 40 Airbus A320neo aircraft (total value about $3,2 billion) over the next 20 years.

About 100 combat aircraft will be delivered to the Russian air forces in 2014

Russian enterprises will deliver about 100 new combat aircraft to Russian air forces in 2014, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the president of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Mikhail Pogosyan.

“In the network of State arms program we must double the number of aircraft delivered to the Ministry of Defense over the next few years. We delivered 35 aircraft in 2012, we must deliver 60 aircraft this year and about 100 aircraft in 2014”, — Mikhail Pogosyan said.

According to him, the abovementioned figures may be achieved only in close cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the aircraft industry. “As for 2013, except for one or two positions, all the contracts on delivery of aircraft to the Ministry of Defense have been signed. It is an important basis for implementation of our plans”, — the president of UAC said.