In November 2016, most of the news regarding Russian arms exports was related to aviation. The Russian military aircraft industry is one of the locomotives of the country's defense industry. Domestic-made combat aircraft are traditionally in steady demand on the international market, in contrast to civil aircraft products, which are just trying to get on their feet. But the most important news in November is related to land weapons. India, one of the main buyers of Russian weapons, confirms another major deal. Delhi is ready to purchase 464 T-90MS main battle tanks.
Indian Defense Ministry approved the purchase of 464 T-90MS tanks
According to Indian media reports, the Defense Procurement Council of India, headed by Manohar Parrikar, the country's defense minister, at a meeting on November 7, 2016, approved the purchase of 464 T-90MS tanks from Russia. Information about the intention of the Indian side to purchase these tanks developed by JSC "NPK" Uralvagonzavod "appeared shortly before that. The value of the authorized purchase of new tanks is Rs 13,488 crores (approximately US $ 2 billion).
The purchase of 464 T-90MS tanks from Russia will allow, in a relatively short time (3-4 years), to equip 10 tank regiments of the Indian army with them, deployed on the troubled western border with neighboring Pakistan. Currently, the Indian armed forces have approximately 850 T-90S tanks, which are equipped with 18 Indian army tank regiments. Perhaps, in response to this deal, Pakistan decided to carry out the modernization of the existing Ukrainian T-80UD tanks, the corresponding agreements were reached on November 23, 2016. The Pakistani army is armed with more than 300 tanks of this type, which were received in the late 1990s.
According to the bmpd blog, the designated purchase of new Russian T-90MS tanks is associated with the slow pace of licensed production of T-90S tanks at the HVF plant in Avadi. In total, within the framework of three agreements with Russia, India acquired 1,657 T-90S tanks in 2001, 2006 and 2007, of which 248 combat vehicles were supplied by Uralvagonzavod completely ready, another 409 were assembled in Indian Avadi from Russian vehicle kits, and 1,000 are planned to be produced here under license (with a planned completion date for deliveries in 2020). But, given that the Indian army currently has about 850 T-90S tanks, it is obvious that during licensed production since 2009, the HVF plant was able to produce only about 200 T-90S tanks. According to Indian sources, by 2020 the company will be able to transfer no more than 400 tanks to the Indian military. Thus, to accelerate the replenishment of the tank fleet of the Indian armed forces, the country, as in 2007, resorts to the practice of direct purchases in Russia (now the latest modification of the T-90 tank - T-90MS). Some of the tanks will most likely be delivered ready-made, and some will be assembled at the HVF enterprise from vehicle kits supplied from UVZ.
India acquired two more AWACS A-50EI aircraft
India has signed two contracts worth $ 1.4 billion with the Israeli state-owned company IAI - Israel Aerospace Industries, according to Air & Cosmos magazine. Under the first contract worth $ 1 billion, two Phalcon radar systems (IAI Elta EL / W-2090) are purchased for installation on two additionally purchased Il-76 (A-50EI) aircraft. The second contract, worth $ 400 million, involves the purchase by the Indian side of 10 Israeli long-range IAI Heron TP drones equipped with turboprop engines. The corresponding agreement was signed in New Delhi on November 16, 2016.
A-50EI is a modernized version of the Soviet A-50 AWACS aircraft, created on the basis of the Il-76MD military transport aircraft. A-50EI is a modernized version of the aircraft with PS-90A-76 engines and a multifunctional pulse-Doppler radar EL / W-2090 developed by the Israeli company Elta. The aircraft model was specially created for the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force is armed with three such aircraft, which were delivered under a 2004 contract (completed in 2010). The contractors under this contract were Rosoboronexport and JSC Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex (TANTK).
China purchased two Be-200 amphibious aircraft
According to the Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov, within the framework of the air show held in Zhuhai, a contract was signed with the Chinese side for the supply of two Be-200 amphibious aircraft. According to Vedomosti, an agreement was signed for the supply of 2 + 2 Be-200, the first delivery in 2018. UAC representatives clarified that an agreement for the supply of two aircraft and two more vehicles in the option was concluded with the Chinese company Leader Energy Aircraft Manufacturing Co Ltd.
“We hope that this is only the first sign that will be able to give impetus to further purchases. We are planning to load production capacities and receive a total order book for about 20-25 amphibious aircraft,”said Denis Manturov. He also told reporters that Indonesia is interested in buying two such aircraft. According to a source in the UAC, the cost of one Be-200 amphibious aircraft is about $ 40 million.
The Russian Be-200 amphibious aircraft was developed in the 1990s and has now been purchased by the EMERCOM of Russia (6 units) and Azerbaijan (1 aircraft), the aircraft is used by them as a firefighter and rescue aircraft. Currently, there is another order from the Russian Emergencies Ministry for - 8 aircraft and the Russian Ministry of Defense - for 6 Be-200 aircraft. The production of the amphibious aircraft was initially launched at the Irkutsk aircraft building plant of the Irkut corporation, but then it was transferred to the Taganrog aircraft plant TANTK im. Beriev. The Taganrog-assembled Be-200ES aircraft made its maiden flight on September 16, 2016.
Belarus received four Yak-130 combat trainers
On November 23, 2016, at the airfield in Lida, solemn events were held dedicated to the presentation of four new Russian-made Yak-130 combat training aircraft to the personnel of the 116th Guards Assault Aviation Base of the Air Force and Air Defense of Belarus, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus reports. Major General Oleg Dvigalev, the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the country, presented the keys to the new aviation equipment to the personnel of the base. With the inclusion of the second link of this type of aircraft into the combat composition of the air base in Lida, the acceptance into service of the Yak-130 combat training aircraft supplied to this military unit is completed, in accordance with the agreement concluded between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian JSC Scientific and Production Corporation Irkut.
The first aircraft of a completely new type of aviation technology for Belarus entered service with the Lida airbase in 2015. For the development and operation of the Yak-130 combat training aircraft at the air base, all the necessary conditions were created, and the personnel of the base are aimed at a conscientious attitude towards the implementation of the assigned tasks for the development and operation of new aircraft. The base pilots have already been able to assess the quality of the delivered machines when performing various kinds of tasks, including at training grounds.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, the crews of the Yak-130 combat training aircraft have successfully practiced the use of almost all types of standard weapons - unguided aircraft missiles of various calibers, air bombs. In August 2015, for the first time in the history of Belarusian aviation, the use of high-precision weapons - the KAB-500Kr guided air bombs - was practiced from Yak-130 aircraft. And in 2016, for the first time in the history of the Yak-130 combat trainer, a landing was made "on the airfield section of the road in the dark."
The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus previously signed two contracts for the supply of Yak-130 combat training aircraft. The first contract for the supply of 4 aircraft was signed by the parties in December 2012. These first machines were fully delivered in early 2015. An additional contract for the supply of 4 more Yak-130 aircraft was signed on August 26, 2015 during the MAKS-2015 air show. The aircraft under this contract were delivered to Lida in September 2016.
Russia will give Serbia 6 MiG-29 fighters from the presence
According to the portal opex360.com, Serbia has found an opportunity to somehow update its fighter fleet. With reference to the Serbian and Russian media, it is reported that the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has agreed to the free transfer of 6 MiG-29 multipurpose fighters to Serbia from the presence of the Russian Ministry of Defense. At the same time, the pre-sale preparation of these fighters, as well as a small modernization of the aircraft, will be carried out at Serbian expense. As a result, the total cost of this contract is estimated at $ 50 million.
There is no official information on the confirmation of the delivery yet. Since even $ 50 million is quite a significant amount for the Serbian defense budget. At the same time, during the 1999 war, the Serbian Air Force suffered heavy losses. Currently, they include only one fighter squadron and only 4 combat-ready aircraft - 3 MiG-29s (one "twin") produced in 1987 and one MiG-21bis, transferred to Yugoslavia in 1983. These aircraft are morally and physically outdated and if nothing is done, they can lose their performance within 2-3 years. Therefore, the problem of renewing the fighter fleet is facing Serbia quite acutely.
Iran shows interest in Su-30 fighters
At the end of November 2016, Reuters reported that Iran was interested in buying Russian two-seat multipurpose Su-30 fighters in order to modernize its own air force. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehgan said this on Saturday, November 26, stressing that Iran may again allow the Russian Federation to use its air base for air operations in Syria. According to Hossein Dehgan, the purchase of Russian fighters is on the agenda of the Iranian Defense Ministry. At the same time, he stressed that any purchase of aircraft in Russia should be accompanied by technology transfer and joint investments. According to him, the Russian side agrees with these conditions.
The emergence of any of the existing versions of the Su-30 fighter in service with the Iranian Air Force will seriously increase their potential, since they mainly consist of outdated aircraft of American, Soviet and Chinese production. Earlier in the press, information has already appeared that Tehran may need one of the advanced versions of the fighter, similar to those already used by the Air Forces of India, Algeria, Malaysia and Russia. Or the Iranian military will opt for the Su-30M2. The purchase of fighters in this modification will cost Iran less, which would probably be a reasonable decision, given the difficult economic situation in this country. At the same time, such a deal will still have to receive the approval of the UN Security Council, the Tasnim agency notes.
