Vijainder K Thakur Profile picture
Apr 11, 2019 7 tweets 2 min read Read on X
At #AeroIndia2019, the Russian pitch for MMRCA follow-up contender Su-35 was, as for the MiG-35, muted and confined to a single scale model and a specification chart. However, in terms of both performance & technology, the Su-35 is *the* leading contender. ImageImage
Just before the current govt. signed the Rafale deal with France, in 2015 the Russians pitched the Su-35S variant of the aircraft which they claimed would be a 5th generation aircraft. Were the Russians talking through their collective hats?
Not really. They do have a Su-35 variant in the making that would be both stealthy and stealth busting. I will tweet more on the subject as part of this thread. In the meantime you can peruse sites.google.com/site/idpsentin…
The Su-35 uses RAM to reduce its frontal RCS to less than that of the Su-27. Use of more and better RAM could reduce RCS further to the levels of F/A-18 Block 3. More important are its stealth busting capabilities through the future use of wing leading edge L-band AESA
The L-band AESA may not be able to produce a weapon grade track, but it could get an air-to-air missile in close enough proximity for its own end game terminal homing. The L-band AESA would also facilitate maneuvering & staying out of adversary kill zone while threatening him
There is also the possibility of using the L-band AESA in combination with the passive OLS-35 to obtain a weapon grade track. The SEAD capabilities of a L-band AESA need to be also factored in
It is likely that the Su-35S offered to the IAF would feature the L-band AESA. It would also feature a AESA main radar, a very powerful one that leverage the large cross sectional area of the fighter ahead of the cockpit.

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More from @vkthakur

Mar 25, 2023
Russia Stepping Up Production of Tu-214, Tu-160M
Russia is stepping up the production of Tu-214 up to ten pieces a year. In the future, production may be increased to 20 aircraft annually, according to Sergey Chemezov, General Director of Rostec State Corporation. 1/n
At the same time, the enterprise is increasing the production of the White Swan Tu-160 strategic missile carrier.

Production facilities of the two aircraft at the Kazan Aviation Plant are undergoing large scale modernization and technical re-equipment. 2/n
Until recently, the Tu-214 was produced in limited nos for special customers but still established itself as a reliable and efficient machine. Now the Kazan Aviation Plant has put into production the first batch of aircraft for commercial passenger air transportation. 3/n
Read 17 tweets
Mar 23, 2023
Is India Arming Ukraine Against Russia?

France has reportedly been training Ukrainian pilots on Mirage 2000 aircraft for a month and a half

Accelerated training on French fighter is taking place at Mont-de-Marsan and Nancy air bases.
The decision to train Ukrainian pilots was made on the eve of Zelensky's visit to Paris on Feb 8.
If a political decision is made, France could supply AFU with a dozen Mirage 2000 fighters, writes Le Figaro.
Here is the catch - France likely doesn't have Mirage 2000 fighters!
On August 31, 2021 India reportedly signed a contract with France for acquiring 24 Mirage 2000 fighters being phased out of French Air Force service. Of the 24, only 8 were reportedly flight worthy. The rest were to serve as Christmas Trees for spares for the @IAF_MCC
Read 4 tweets
Mar 22, 2023
Why a NATO / Russia Confrontation Maybe Inevitable

Repeated proclamations by US/NATO leaders that they don't want to become a party to the conflict in Ukraine need to be interpreted as they don't want to become a party to the conflict in Ukraine as of now. 1/n
The proclamations don't rule out an intervention eventually.

The Russian military campaign in Ukraine is carefully calibrated to preserve Russia's ability to fight NATO, should it choose to intervene. 2/n
The slow and deliberate pace of the Russian campaign is largely aimed at reducing human & equipment losses, preserving its strength, therby deterring US/NATO intervention.
Similarly, US/NATO willingness to financially & militarily support Ukraine's war against Russia ... 3/n
Read 10 tweets
Feb 18, 2023
Russia continues to develop its Soviet era Su-25 ground attack aircraft. The most modern iteration of the aircraft - the Su-25SM3 - has now been deployed in Ukraine. Besides facilitating use of new weapons, the aircraft features the Russian-made SOLT-25 OLS 1/
SOLT-25 includes conventional & thermal imaging observation channels with a two fold increase in range and a laser rangefinder-target designator that facilitates use of laser homing "smart" ammunition. The system is supplemented with the ability to automatically track targets. 2/
The Su-25SM3 is additionally equipped with an improved airborne self-defense system.

Besides improved capability, RuAF is now using better tactics as a result of which Su-25 losses are now rare.

The Su-25 variants provide ground support under cover of Su-35S and Su-30SM 3/
Read 4 tweets
Feb 18, 2023
Some interesting observations on the Russian missile attack against Ukrainian infrastructure on Feb 16
1. None of the 12 Kh-22 missiles launched from Tu-22M3 bombers was intercepted
2. Russian forces are launching cruise missiles at night, instead of day. 1/
The Kh-22 cruises at speeds between M 3.5 to M 4.6 at altitudes upto 40-km.
On launch, the missile climbs to about 40 km, leaving the stratosphere, then vertically dives down on the target, making it extremely difficult to shoot down 2/
One reason why Russia may have switched to night attacks may be to counter deployment of visual observers who can help plot incursions without the need to switch on radars which become susceptible to Kh-31P attack as soon as they light up. 3/
Read 6 tweets
Feb 15, 2023
DRDO says Uttam AESA radar will eventually be integrated with IAF Su-30MKI & MiG-29!

On February 14, 2023, Director General - Electronics & Communication Systems (ECS) at DRDO, BK Das, said that the Uttam AESA will be mapped to LCA Mk-1 within 6 months to an year. 1/
The Uttam radar is currently being tested on two LCAs — LSP2 and LSP3 — and one executive jet. (Production variant of the Tejas Mi-1 likely differ internally from the LSP variants.) 2/
According to DG ECS, following successful integration with Tejas Mk-1, the Uttam will be integrated with fighter jets like Sukhoi-30MKI and Mig-29. The integration of the Uttam on these platforms would begin by 2025. 3/
Read 7 tweets

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