DefenceTalkBelarus said Monday that joint air force drills with Russia began on its territory, amid concerns Minsk was being dragged into the Ukraine conflict to fight alongside Moscow. Minsk’s defence ministry said “joint tactical flight drills of aviation units” from Belarus and Russia had started. The drills will last until February 1, the ministry said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-belarus-launch-joint-air-force-drills-79726/

DefenceTalkThe Swedish Armed Forces said Wednesday that four Russian fighter jets had entered Sweden’s air space to the east of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. While Russian incursions of the Nordic nation’s airspace happen fairly regularly, Wednesday’s event was treated with increased scrutiny given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Against the background of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/four-russian-fighter-jets-violate-swedish-airspace-military-78231/

DefenceTalkRussia’s air force still does not enjoy total superiority in the skies above Ukraine despite its overwhelming numerical advantage, part of the reason for the army’s slow progress on the ground, experts say. According to strategic intelligence research service Janes, Russia’s air force comprises 132 bombers versus none for Ukraine, 832 fighter jets against 86 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/low-profile-russian-air-force-puzzles-western-experts-78196/

Russia’s Defense Ministry plans to sign a new contract in the summer for the delivery of several dozen Sukhoi Su-34 frontline bombers to the Aerospace Force with their combat capabilities expanded under the Sych experimental design work, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Wednesday. “The Defense Ministry plans to sign a contract […]

Russia’s newest modernized missile-carrying bomber Tu-160M has conducted its first flight test, Russian aerospace and defence company Tupolev said on Sunday. “On 2 February 2020, the first flight of the first deeply modernized Tu-160M prototype bomber based on the Tu-160 combat aircraft took place at the KAZ airfield named after S. P. Gorbunov, a branch […]

According to the plan for the supply of basic weapons and military equipment in 2020, the air force and air defense of the Central Military District will receive six high-altitude supersonic MiG-31BM interceptors. The main samples of weapons will be added to the fleet of the fighter aviation regiment in the Krasnoyarsk territory. MiG-31BM high-altitude […]

Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec has conducted 16 flights of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet to test its new 2nd stage engine, Rostec Aviation Cluster Industrial Director Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday. “Currently, the engineering bench tests of the advanced engine continue and the item is being tested on a flying laboratory. In October, another […]

DefenceTalkThe Russian Defense Ministry will get the first serial Il-76MD-90A military transport plane next week, Russian aircraft manufacturer and design bureau Ilyushin said on Thursday. “The first serial plane is fully ready. It is expected to be handed over next week,” a company source told reporters. The company confirmed that no Il-76MD-90A planes have been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-get-first-upgraded-il-76md-90a-transport-plane-72228/

DefenceTalkFirst Tu-160M modernised strategic bomber is to enter the Russian Armed Forces in 2021. It was announced by Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu during his working visit to the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant, a branch of the Tupolev PJSC. “We are working on upgrading the Tu-160M and giving its a new outlook […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-tu-160m-modernized-strategic-bomber-to-enter-service-in-2021-72098/

DefenceTalkTen MiG-31 fighter jets (NATO reporting name: Foxhound) fitted with the air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile are on test combat duty, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in an interview published on the Zvezda TV channel website on Saturday. “It is a cutting-edge weapon, namely a hypersonic long-range missile capable of overcoming air and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ten-mig-31-fighter-jets-fitted-with-kinzhal-missiles-on-test-combat-duty-71665/