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.
The new name for these planes will be Raptorbait.
I've noticed that the Israelis & French are doing systems for Russian aircraft. These hybrids would be very formidable opponents.
You're right. But in the end it comes down to the pilot - how many hours of training do Venuzualan fighter pilots get each year?
You're right. But in the end it comes down to the pilot - how many hours of training do Venuzualan fighter pilots get each year?
That's right.....another airfield that will be a future target for U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy pilots.
Gosh,I love that plane!
I didn't say you were wrong about the Russians relying design copies (there are some well-established industrial espionage cases). I just pointed out that there are other explanations as to why jet aircraft look similar. If the vast majority of your design criteria are same, the mathematics takes over.
The Russian aircraft indusry's chief customer at the moment is foreign countries. It is these customers that are driving the current evolution of Russian aircraft -- and they want designs that are competitive with western aircraft.
The United States Air Force: the world's largest distributor of MiG parts.
"Venezuela activates Fighter Air Group 13 with Russian warplanes"
Also known as the "Target Drone Squadron of soon to be Dead Heroes"
I wouldn't imagine that the Venezualan pilots would get a lot of training sorties per year. Another factor would be the degree of realism of their training. Do they get to employ their weapons? Do they get to train a wide variety of tactical scenarios? Probably not.
And you know what? It probably wouldn't make a difference if they did. Sukhois & pilot training aside, they aren't in our weight class. If the USAF/USN decided to take down Venezuala, the first sign would be cratered runways & smoking wrecks on the ground. They would be swamped. A couple of A2A engagements might happen, but they are pretty rare these days. The USAF destroys aircraft wholesale -- meaning on the ground.
Absolutely!
Hit Chavez where it hurts...
He'll either sell it somewhere else (very likely)...
Or begin to have cheese with his "WHIIINNNEEEE"...
He looks like a momma's boy...With only a face a mother could love!
Besides...We only need 24 (or less) missles to make these things go away...Some of our pilots might switch to guns to save a few if possible...
I read somewhere that "a Navy is more than a collection of Ships." Well, it must also be true that an Air Force is more than a collection of planes.
Hugo Chavez is buying status. The Sukhois are nothing more than "Crown Jewels". It makes him look big & scarey to his neighbors, but he'll never be able to withstand a full-out attack from the USAF, Sukhois or no.
Chavez is a soldier, so he would know that he can't withstand a US attack. I conclude that he's playing the same game that Castro did. He's trying to be the little bully in his neighborhood while at the same time trying not to upset the US enough that he gets crushed. It's a slick balancing act. Castro could do it because he was backed by the Soviets. Chavez has to modulate his outrages during periods when the US is diplomatically & militarily engaged elsewhere. Sooner or later he'll miscalculate, and game over.
Hmmm.
If I was in Chavez' situation, I'd be doin' everything humanly possible to modernize my nation and make it an industrial and technological giant... Who cares about the distribution of wealth if there's boatloads of it sloshin' around?
Nuclear reactors (for electrical power - really!); shipyards and an "enlightned" maritime commerce policies; Offshore tax rates and banking styles; low, consumption-driven taxes; Universities and R&D stations; etc.
Make what your country needs most - more money!
Chavez isn't Alexander Hamilton.
I know. But playing "Sim Nation" strikes me as more fun that buying Sukhois (unless you're actually qualfied to fly 'em). And the results would be fun, too.
Besides, if I were dictator, my goal would be to be able to design and build my own advanced aircraft, not buy 'em off the Russkis.
Fair enough.
Bingo! That is why Chavez will never have a REAL Air Force. Being able to design your own hardware is a product of an advanced industial/information-based economy. Being able to build an Air Force is likewise a product of that economy. The fact that a nation must buy it's jets suggests (but doesn't prove) that they are also incapable of building a competent Air Force.
The great Fangio was a Buenos Aires bus driver.
I go for Exxon, Shell and Chevron. I say NO to CITGO. I even bought from BP becasue some econut group complained about them.
OPERATION BALBOA?
That, and the fact that folks that can build supersonic jet fighters seldom seem to go to war with other folks who can build supersonic jet fighters...
Darndest thing...
With right elbow placed firmly on the podium......
.
"BRING IT ON"
There's bound to be one or two. They'll last a little longer.
Note to self: Scratch Aaron Burrito idea.
ROFLOL, i just got that!
nice job.
My Wife reminded me that the reason we bought BP was that Jesse Jackson accused them of discrimination against Blacks.
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