MZUBAIR
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Russian Air Force admits that his force is unable to defend
August 23, 2009: The commander of the Russian Air Force admits that his force is a mess and is unable to defend the nation's air space. Although pilots are flying more, they still get into the air a third as much per year as NATO countries (where pilots fly 180 hours a year.) Russian aircraft are a generation behind most NATO countries. Russia is having a hard time recruiting pilots, as many of the new graduates get sent to remote air bases where they are only able to fly 20-30 hours a year, while getting paid less than a thousand dollars a year. If they stick around and get promoted, they transfer to bases in more populated areas, and fly more hours in more modern aircraft. But a lot of young pilots get disenchanted being based in the wilderness, and able to get into the air only 2-3 hours a month. The air force plans reforms that will improve the situation.
In an attempt to mend fences with India, the largest customer for Russian weapons, technology for building high performance jet engines will be exported. Russia will help India set up an assembly plant for the RD-33 engines that power the MiG-29. The high-tech components for the engines will come from Russia. If India invests in developing the technology to manufacture the engine components, they will have become one of the few nations that can produce these engines. China has, in the last decade, achieved that status via adopting, and stealing, Russian technology.
In eastern Siberia (Khakassia) the largest dam project in the country suffered an accident, when the turbine room was flooded. This killed over 70 workers. This was very embarrassing for the government, since there have been media reports about sloppy work and problems at the dam site, for over a decade. Similar problems are all too common in large construction projects, a problem that developed during the Soviet period, and persists. Back in the Soviet era, you could be jailed, or executed, for not completing a big project in time. In response, officials began to cheat, and some continue doing so. This custom evolved into more widespread corruption, aiming to get rich, and not just avoid the firing squad.
This year, American prosecutors have nailed several groups of Internet hackers, who had part of their operations in Russia, run by Russians. The U.S. is trying to get Russia to be more cooperative in going after the Russian Internet gangs. But the argument that these gangs are doing economic damage in Russia as well, is countered by the fact that these gangs have bribed Russian officials, or done espionage or political work for the government (via Internet access) that make the government reluctant to crack down too much.
August 19, 2009: The air force has made its biggest purchase since the end of the Cold War, ordering 48 of the new Su-35 fighters. This will cost over $2 billion, with deliveries stretching out for nearly a decade. The Su-35 is an extension of the Su-27, using a much more powerful engine and stealth features. Development has been expensive and difficult. The Su-35 has been called the F-22ski, but it's more analogous to a proposed advanced F-15 fighter, with stealth features.
August 16, 2009: Near Moscow, two Russian Air Force Su-27s collided while practicing for an acrobatics demonstration for an air show. One of the victims, the leader of the acrobatics team (The Russian Knights) had earlier complained about the low quality of the aircraft his team was given.
In neighboring Ingushetia, a senior government official was murdered by a lone gunman. This could be terrorism, or a dispute over an illegal deal gone bad.
August 1, 2009: A billion dollar program to upgrade Indian MiG-29s will now be delayed nearly a year. Russia is blaming Indian suppliers of some of the equipment used in the upgrade.
August 23, 2009: The commander of the Russian Air Force admits that his force is a mess and is unable to defend the nation's air space. Although pilots are flying more, they still get into the air a third as much per year as NATO countries (where pilots fly 180 hours a year.) Russian aircraft are a generation behind most NATO countries. Russia is having a hard time recruiting pilots, as many of the new graduates get sent to remote air bases where they are only able to fly 20-30 hours a year, while getting paid less than a thousand dollars a year. If they stick around and get promoted, they transfer to bases in more populated areas, and fly more hours in more modern aircraft. But a lot of young pilots get disenchanted being based in the wilderness, and able to get into the air only 2-3 hours a month. The air force plans reforms that will improve the situation.
In an attempt to mend fences with India, the largest customer for Russian weapons, technology for building high performance jet engines will be exported. Russia will help India set up an assembly plant for the RD-33 engines that power the MiG-29. The high-tech components for the engines will come from Russia. If India invests in developing the technology to manufacture the engine components, they will have become one of the few nations that can produce these engines. China has, in the last decade, achieved that status via adopting, and stealing, Russian technology.
In eastern Siberia (Khakassia) the largest dam project in the country suffered an accident, when the turbine room was flooded. This killed over 70 workers. This was very embarrassing for the government, since there have been media reports about sloppy work and problems at the dam site, for over a decade. Similar problems are all too common in large construction projects, a problem that developed during the Soviet period, and persists. Back in the Soviet era, you could be jailed, or executed, for not completing a big project in time. In response, officials began to cheat, and some continue doing so. This custom evolved into more widespread corruption, aiming to get rich, and not just avoid the firing squad.
This year, American prosecutors have nailed several groups of Internet hackers, who had part of their operations in Russia, run by Russians. The U.S. is trying to get Russia to be more cooperative in going after the Russian Internet gangs. But the argument that these gangs are doing economic damage in Russia as well, is countered by the fact that these gangs have bribed Russian officials, or done espionage or political work for the government (via Internet access) that make the government reluctant to crack down too much.
August 19, 2009: The air force has made its biggest purchase since the end of the Cold War, ordering 48 of the new Su-35 fighters. This will cost over $2 billion, with deliveries stretching out for nearly a decade. The Su-35 is an extension of the Su-27, using a much more powerful engine and stealth features. Development has been expensive and difficult. The Su-35 has been called the F-22ski, but it's more analogous to a proposed advanced F-15 fighter, with stealth features.
August 16, 2009: Near Moscow, two Russian Air Force Su-27s collided while practicing for an acrobatics demonstration for an air show. One of the victims, the leader of the acrobatics team (The Russian Knights) had earlier complained about the low quality of the aircraft his team was given.
In neighboring Ingushetia, a senior government official was murdered by a lone gunman. This could be terrorism, or a dispute over an illegal deal gone bad.
August 1, 2009: A billion dollar program to upgrade Indian MiG-29s will now be delayed nearly a year. Russia is blaming Indian suppliers of some of the equipment used in the upgrade.
