08 March 2022
by Tim Ripley
A file photo of a VKS Su-35S multirole combat aircraft. The type has been seen fitted for the suppression of enemy air defences role over Ukraine. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)
Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Sukhoi Su-35S ‘Flanker-E' combat aircraft have begun flying suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) missions over Ukraine in a bid to neutralise the country's ground-based air defence network.
Video imagery showing Su-35s loaded with Zvezda/Tactical Missile Corporation Kh-31PM anti-radiation missiles was released by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation on 7 March. According to an accompanying report by the ministry's Zvezda news agency, the jets were flying combat missions over Ukraine.
The imagery shows a pair of Su-35S departing for a combat air patrol, with one jet armed with two Kh-31P weapons, as well as R-77 and R-73 air-to-air missiles. The other jet was configured just for counter-air operations. Footage later showed an Su-35S returning to base with only one Kh-31PM on board.
Zvezda did not identify the base or the VKS unit involved, but analysis of the imagery indicates it was filmed at Baranovichi airbase in Belarus, where the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment deployed in January for Exercise Allied Resolve 2022 in February.
Kh-31P remains have been identified in images from Ukraine posted on social media, including in the centre of Kiev on 24 February and near the eastern city of Kramatorsk on 6 March.
On 6 March Zvezda published two further reports on Russian air operations from an unidentified airbase close to Ukraine, which showed Sukhoi Su-24SM ‘Fencer', Su-34 ‘Fullback', Su-25 ‘Frogfoot', and MiG-31 ‘Foxhound' aircraft operating as part of a combined air wing.
28 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
This concept image of China's new attack helicopter, tentatively designated as Z-21, is based on photographs of the prototype aircraft in flight. (Janes)
China is developing a new attack helicopter that appears to be in the same weight class as the US Boeing AH-64 Apache and the Russian Mil Mi-28 Havoc.
Images of the new helicopter, which emerged on Chinese social media in March 2024, show an aircraft that is larger than the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) in-service AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Changhe Aircraft Industries Group (CHAIG) Z-10 attack helicopter, and with a wider central fuselage that is comparable with the Apache. The fuselage includes cheek fairings similar to the AH-64 Apache and a nose configuration similar to the Mi-28. The AH-64E and the Mi-28N have a maximum operating weight of 10–12 tons.
The new helicopter (tentatively designated as Z-21 by Chinese military observers) also appears to incorporate some of the PLA's latest combat helicopter features such as upward-facing engine exhausts to reduce its infrared signature.
27 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
The Bird AeroSystems defensive aids installation fitted to an A319 airliner (pictured here) of an undisclosed European operator. (Bird AeroSystems)
Bird AeroSystems has fitted its aircraft defensive aids system (DAS) for an undisclosed European A319 operator, likely the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).
The Israeli company said on 27 March that its Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) and Aeroshield Missile Protection System (AMPS) had been fitted to multiple A319 aircraft for an undisclosed customer to protect against surface-to-air missile threats.
“At the core of this project is the SPREOS, a patented DIRCM system for missile approach verification, tracking, and laser jamming,” the company said. “The installation also included Bird's versatile AMPS solution, designed for both military and civilian markets, providing complete protection against ground-to-air threats, including [manportable air-defence system] MANPADS attacks, for helicopters and VVIP aircraft for heads of states. Additionally, the installation of the AeroShield pod solution on the Airbus A319 aircraft was expanded to be installed also for Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft,” it added.
27 March 2024
by Igor Bozinovski
Seen here in Italian service, the AW169M will soon be fielded by North Macedonia alongside the AW149 under a deal finalised on 26 March. (Bundesheer Fotos)
North Macedonia finalised its agreement to acquire eight new battlefield lift helicopters from Leonardo on 26 March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on the same day.
The deal to buy four AW149 and four AW169M helicopters was signed between the North Macedonian Minister of Defence, Slavjanka Petrovska, and the vice-president of Leonardo, Cesare Cacha, in Skopje.
The milestone came weeks after the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARNM) selected the Italian-built helicopters in January to replace Soviet-built airframes operated by the Aviation Brigade of the ARNM.
Deliveries will take place from August 2026 through to the end of 2028. Petrovska initially said the deal was valued at an estimated EUR230 million (USD250.5 million), but this has since risen to EUR249.9 million.
For more information on the Aviation Brigade of the ARNM, please seeNorth Macedonia - Air Force .
Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Sukhoi Su-35S ‘Flanker-E' combat aircraft have begun flying suppressi...
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