SU-30MK firing a KH-29 missile
Posted on 11/06/2006 5:32:25 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Venezuela activates Fighter Air Group 13 with Russian warplanes
At least two of the 24 Sukhoi-30 warplanes President Hugo Chávez' Government purchased from Russia will be in Venezuela at the end of November or early December this year, the Venezuelan ruler announced.
Such fighters are to fly over the Venezuelan territory for the first time next December 10, the date when the National Armed Force (FAN) both is commemorating the Aviation Day and is launching "a rocket as part of the projects the Center for Airspace Investigation and Development (Cidae) is advancing," the FAN said in a press release.
The 24 Russian fighters Venezuelan purchased in July 2005 are to reactivate the Fighter Air Group 13, which became inoperative at the end of the eighties, when its 22 Canberra airplanes were removed from service, said former Aviation commander Brigadier General Maximiliano Hernández.
"At the Barcelona Air Base (eastern Anzoátegui state) we are going to install the base for Sukhoi airplanes, the Group 13," Chávez said Tuesday in an event where he delivered funds to the FAN.
Venezuelan Aviation comprises three fighter air groups, namely Group 11 -with Mirage 50 planes-, Group 12 -with F5 planes- and Group 16 -with US-made F16 planes.
While Chávez claimed that the Sukhoi fighters would come "flying" from Russia, unofficial sources said they could be forwarded to Venezuela assembled in an Antonov airplane, the world's largest cargo airplane.
SU-30MK firing a KH-29 missile
If push comes to shove, excellent target practice for F-18s.
I guess we should wish Fighter Group 13 good luck. DOHHHH
Meanwhile back in the USA, CITGO has begun a major TV advertising campaign touting its good works an philanthropical efforts.
It would appear that Hugo's tirade might actually be bad for the gas business.
I love how the Russian designers were able to rip off and incorporate the features of the F-14, -15, and -16 into one aircraft.
Looks like Raptor bait.
Anyone care to predict the first place they will be used is against the Venezuelan people?
looks like someone left the hood open....lol
The problem with the Russian weapons and military equipment has always been parts, replacements and maintenance.
Ever heard the phrase "Form follows Function"? There are a limited number of aerodynamic 'solutions' that will yield an aircraft with desired performance envelop.
Not saying that the Russians haven't stooped to stealing engineering designs, they have. It's just they are quite capable of building airframes, engines, etc. It's computers, software & systems integration that they have problem with.
The smell of sulphur is coming from those planes
I think that's the trunk, not the hood.
Unfortunately, the designers put the trunk release next to the gas cap release in the cockpit, so every now and then when preparing for an in-flight refueling, the pilot will inadvertently hit the wrong control, and has to go through the rest of the flight looking like a dumbass.
If that's the case, why are our aircraft so easily distinguished from the other? Compare our great aircrafts with the MiG-25 and -31. Also, the MiG-29, SU-27, -30, and -35 are pretty much the same, asthetically. Pilot training aside, that substandard BS they construct never stands up to ours.....and most of our stuff is going on 30 years old. The Raptor and JSF leave this crap in the dust.
Now they have the *stuff* AND the FAN. Looks like they're ready...
Nothing like putting bus drivers behind the wheel of a 20 million dollar race car.
The best they can hope for, is those planes never have time to get off the ground... and humiliate their fearless leader by being plucked from the air like skeet.
The baseline SU-27 & Mig-29 are very different in several aspects-size/weight,payload,range & flight control systems to name a few.The 30/35 etc are all just multi-role improvements over the SU-27,not a different category of fighters.Same goes for the Mig-31 which is derived from the Mig-25.Remember that the collapse of the Soviet Union has left the Russian establishment with little real cash to invest into brand new systems.Tinkering & improving existing stuff like the SU-27 & Mig-29 were deemed more feasible.
The F-15/16 & Mig-29 & SU-27 all came out in rougly the same period( early to mid-70s).
I'll buy that.
Electronics are one aspect which the Russians seem to be willing to outsource nowadays in most of their weapon systems.European manufacturers & Israeli firms are offering multi-function displays,EW equipment among other things to Russian weapons being exported.
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