1/ Stills from another new TV Zvezda segment on VKS #Su34 operations against Ukraine. Once again, the strike fighters are shown equipped with Kh-29T-series air-to-surface missiles. As with previous videos, a large number of unguided bombs can also be seen in the background.
4/ Footage from the Su-34's LTPS Platan (laser/TV targeting system)
5/5 Each red star reportedly marks 10 combat sorties, meaning the Su-34 in the right photo apparently flew at least 70 combat sorties, while the one in the left photo at least 210.
Russia's Channel 1 also just ran a news segment on this. Several more stills (from the Channel 1 report) showing Kh-29T-series air-to-surface missiles, including a close-up of the seeker head assembly.
1/ A short post on the "Dva Majora" (Two Majors) Telegram channel regarding the S-70 shoot down incident claims the following:
"This was the first combat evaluation. At the end of testing, control over the vehicle was indeed lost."
(Image unreleated to incident)
2/ "The S-70 left the zone of combat duty and was shot down by our accompanying fighter so as to eliminate the risks of the prototype combat vehicle diverting to the enemy."
3/ "During the combat evaluation, previously unidentified vulnerabilities in the drone control system were identified. After they are resolved, testing - including combat use - will resume."
1/ The Jan. 2024 edition of Military Thought features an article entitled "Peculiarities of Air Tactics in Modern Combat Operations & Ways of their Improvement." It includes a section listing some of the "unfavorable factors reducing the effectiveness of VVS aviation operations."
2/ While the section offers nothing new to those who follow the Russian Air Force (VVS) and the war in Ukraine, it is nevertheless notable because one of the authors is VVS commander Col. Gen. Sergey Dronov.
Factors identified by Dronov and his co-authors (two colonels) include:
3/ " - Large-scale military assistance from NATO and EU countries [in the form of] armament, munitions, high-precision weapons, UAVs, air defense assets, etc.
- Actions of Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU) air defense systems of Russian [i.e. Soviet] and foreign origin."
1/ The VKS and PLAAF held another joint patrol with Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and H-6K bombers. The Russian MoD reports that the joint patrol was conducted over the East China Sea, Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean, lasting approximately 8 hours.
2/ Per the MoD, the aircraft were escorted by Su-35S, Su-30SM & J-11B fighters. Latter two types are not shown; however, the video briefly shows a Su-35S ("21" Blue), MiG-31BSM ("94" Blue) & Su-30M2 ("41" Blue). All 3 are assigned to the 22nd IAP based in Tsentralnaya Uglovaya.
3/ The video shows that the joint exercise also involved an A-50U AEW&C aircraft (Bort "37" Red / RF-93966).
1/ Since someone asked why Su-34s are typically shown carrying just 1 ARM each:
Su-34 SEAD patrols are largely meant to deter Ukrainian SAM operators from emitting. They are conducted in a risk-averse manner; the Su-34s appear to operate well inside Russian-controlled airspace...
2/ and rarely (if at all) enter the engagement zones of Ukrainian SAM systems inorder to attempt to entice their operators into activating their radars so as to then attack them with ARMs. Hence, Su-34s seemingly oftentimes do not launch ARMs on such patrols, especially given...
3/ that the rules of engagement apparently typically require them to first report a detected emitter to a command post and then wait for authorization to launch an ARM against it. This is done to reduce the likelihood of fatricide, but also increases the chances that...
1/ "A US-made Patriot air defense system was likely damaged, but not destroyed, as the result of a Russian missile barrage in and around Kyiv early Tuesday morning local time, a US official tells CNN." cnn.com/2023/05/16/pol…
2/2 "The US is still assessing to what degree the system was damaged, the official said. That will determine whether the system needs to be pulled back entirely or simply repaired on the spot by Ukrainians forces."
1/ Anonymous sources cited by Izvestia assert that Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles are being launched by Ukrainian Su-24Ms, which operate "under the cover of MiG-29 & Su-27 fighters [equipped] with HARM anti-radiation missiles." iz.ru/1513291/izvest…
2/ According to the sources, "[to ensure the safety of their aviation, the Ukrainian command is [also] actively using false targets in the form of UAVs" (presumably, they mean Miniature Air-Launched Decoys (MALDs), though other UAVs may be employed for this purpose as well).
3/3 Lastly, Izvestia's sources alledge that "[t]he VKS shot down several Ukrainian aircraft and one Storm Shadow in recent days." Of course, zero evidence is provided to support these kill claims.