Some Clarifications Re: Mi-28NE ...

... and shoot and forget weapon systems. Here is a demonstration  of an extremely low signal-to-noise ratio in Western media sphere when it comes to Russian technology. For some reason this video popped up for me today. I don't know why, because I am more interested in music and old sci-fi flicks from 1950s and 60s. But here it is. 

I was stunned with "technical" minutiae of this narration with a pathetic attempt to compare non-existent features of US helicopters, such as ... and you guessed it--"stealth" (if AH-64 Apache is "stealth" then I am Mickey Mouse) and combat record which is simply incomparable. But then, of course, they also say that the cockpit is ... analogue. And the cherry on the top is that US helicopters use "shoot-and-forget" weapons while Russians use Ataka ... only? 

Well, let's take a look at Mi-28NE cockpit, OK?

If multi-function LCDs are analogue, then ... yeah--I am Mickey Mouse. What many still do not understand is that some analogue instruments such as artificial horizon, RPMs and fuel gauge are DOUBLE-redundancy for the machine which can take the punishment which would pulverize any US helicopter. But then there is another pile of bovine excrement. Here are some photos of Mi-28s shooting not Ataka but "shoot-and-forget" Izdelie-305 LMUR in combat.

 Here is how this nasty missile looks like when carried by Mi-28s. 

And for those who haven't heard about this ground-attack missile, well--here it is. No, not from WiKi where the range of this missile is posted as ... 14 kilometers. Nope, actually depending on the profile it is 25 kilometers. 

But even here they continue to use wrong data--it is not 14, it is 25 kilometer range. But why they continue to use this "data", the explanation is simple--main AH-64 Apache's weapon AGM-114 Hellfire has a range of around 11-12 kilometers, the Maverick has a range of up to 22 kilometers. The newest AIM-179 JAGM has a range of 8 kilometers or so. This cannot stand, of course, because as we all know, the US procures bestest of the bestests. And do not even mention a family of Russian guided missiles Hermes with ranges, depending on guidance, up to ... 100 kilometers. But yes, Russians are still using monkey wrenches, hammers and steam to power their equipment. Butthurt and coping are strong ... 

But here is a bit of actual combat use (it is tested now) of a swarm of Supercam loitering munitions capable of operating in groups of up to 10, searching, detecting, classifying and attacking a variety of targets completely on their own. 

If operator needs to interfere--satellite comms are at their disposal, or any other comm network if needed, including those pesky retranslators. Here is how Russian control rooms look like:

And I love art deco. I really do). 

Pausing For A Short While ...

 ... purely geopolitical elaborations, some really important news on the process of certification of MC-21 and other commercial aviation stuff. 

MOSCOW, Oct 31 - PRIME. Major Russian airlines Aeroflot and Siberia (S7) have ordered more than three hundred domestically produced aircraft - MS-21 and Tu-214, said Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vitaly Savelyev as part of the educational  marathon  "Knowledge.Science". "Aeroflot has just ordered our industry, they should have an order for whom it does it. So, he ordered 200 MS-21 machines. And the S7 company, they are also a major player, probably one of the major players in the top three, they have ordered more than 100 Tu-214 aircraft," Savelyev said.

Warning: for fans of theory "China can do no wrong"--stop reading here. We, meanwhile, will continue--these are orders for existing aircraft, which are fully Russian. Savelyev's rank speaks for itself. And here is the news. Second (fully Russian) MC-21 joined certification flights and here is the key: 

Rostec expects that deliveries of the MS-21 to airlines will begin in 2026. To increase the production of the Tu-214, production capacity is being modernized and increased, as well as certification of modern Russian systems, which will be equipped with new serial machines, continues. The first deliveries of Russian Tu-214s are expected in 2025.

So, here it is. 

This is one of the newest Tu-214s. 

Now, I wanted to warn you all, that there is a shitload of all kinds of  UTube channels (like Altitude Addicts) which are nothing more than propaganda outlets likely run by 404 and which compile videos from Russian web and report all kinds of BS about "problems" in otherwise absolutely normal process of modernization of facilities and certification of Russian aircraft. Beware, those sell BS to you. 

One of the examples. Air Marshal Anil Chopra writes a good piece about India and Russia agreeing to establish JV for building SSJs for India's market. 

Indian state-owned aerospace and defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the manufacture of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) in India. The agreement was signed on Monday in Moscow, paving the way for the first joint production of civilian aircraft in the history of the two countries, which have cooperated for decades in defense manufacturing. HAL in particular long co-operated with Russian industry, including with UAC, to produce military aircraft such as the Mikoyan MiG-21, MiG-27, and Sukhoi Su-30MKI. Under the new agreement, HAL will have the right to produce the Sukhoi Superjet for domestic customers in India. This collaboration represents the first time a “complete passenger” aircraft will be produced in India since the AVRO HS-748 project, which began in 1961 and ended in 1988, many decades ago. Yes, the Dornier 228 is also made in India by HAL under license. The aircraft is used for various roles by the Indian armed forces and is now also being used for commercial and civil aviation to connect remote areas.

Expect now (not in comments--the BS started to be spewed there immediately, no surprise here) all kinds of "work" by very many "experts" trying to misrepresent everything about this strategic move, which immediately hits Bombardier upper tier (known now as Airbus-220 series) line and Embraer E-Jets. This is huge. Of course, all kinds of sabotage efforts starts now. But here is a trick--SSJ is FULLY Russian-made, from avionics, to APU, to PD-8 engines, to systems and neither USSR nor Russia ever sabotaged its long relations with India, while A-220 or Embraer are NOT really fully Canadian or Brazilian aircraft--both of them are a mix of European and American technologies and we all know what it means to trust these guys. 

Expect a huge butthurt, like from this loser with financial background who cannot resign himself to the reality of him knowing nothing about warfare, technology and strategy. He is coping, hard and his butthurt oozes through his writing. 

Burevestnik has been a thorn in the side of the Russian defense establishment despite the recent test that the Russians claim was successful. Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) is a nuclear-powered cruise missile with, allegedly, unlimited range and endurance. Burevestnik appears to be an attempt to replicate the US Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM), a project started in 1954 and cancelled in 1964.

Yes, Russians also "stole" hypersonic technology from the US. But here is what this cretin doesn't know. He doesn't know three Ks, KKK--and NO, it is not what you think it is, but ask any Russian military-engineering professional what KKK (Three Ks) stand for and he will respond as did Mikhail Kovalchuk, the President of the famed Kurchatov Institute. 

Three days ago, Kovalchuk, speaking to students showed them a famous photo of three Russian geniuses, KKK--Korolev, Kurchatov and Keldysh--from their 1958 meeting where these three giants agreed that nuclear energy MUST become the backbone of Soviet/Russian development for space. That's how Burevestnik was born. Somebody has to tell this Stephen Bryen to cope harder and look at US' "magnificent" developments in missilery--you know, like supersonic and hypersonic weapons. But yes, Russians stole everything from the US. Didn't you know, Americans were supposed to be first in space, damn Russkies--they always steal the best ideas. 

In conclusion, the set of pens issued to mark the occasion of Khabarovsk submarine being launched, while not necessarily accurate, provides nonetheless some reference. 

And that tells us that (upper, white pen) that Khabarovsk's design looks awfully like that of pr. 955A Borei-class SSBN, which makes it much larger than was stated initially and now the information about it states that it can carry 12+ Poseidons. I am sure, Russians also stole this idea, if you know what I mean)) Have a nice rest of your weekend. 

Lavrov Being ... Well, Lavrov.

 He held a pressy today and talking about France he asked. 

МОСКВА, 26 фев — РИА Новости. Министр иностранных дел Сергей Лавров на пресс-конференции по итогам переговоров в Дохе попросил объяснить заявление президента Франции Эммануэля Макрона о российских активах. "Мы хотим попросить наших французских коллег разъяснить, в каком международном правовом документе разрешается использовать прибыль с того, что ты своровал", — сказал он.

Translation: MOSCOW, 26 Feb — RIA Novosti. At a press conference following the talks in Doha, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asked for an explanation of French President Emmanuel Macron's statement about Russian assets. "We want to ask our French colleagues to clarify which international legal document allows the use of profits from what you stole," he said.

As you all know, French who for some unknown reason consider themselves a "player" in geopolitics, want to use the profit from Russia's frozen assets to be a part of "peace negotiations". Why Macron and French decided that they will be allowed anywhere near "peace negotiations" remains a complete riddle shrouded in mystery.

Meanwhile, in the news of a butthurt and increasing LOL, they continue to cope)) Look at the dates--they go on, and on, and on, while, unlike F-15 which never encountered any real enemy in the skies or on the ground, Russian Air Force redefined modern air combat and SEAD in REAL combat.

But the BS continues, to paint the picture of utter invincibility of something which never really fought. It is of interest, in this case, to elaborate on Pete Hegseth's totally expected statement to the effect that the US must have the strongest force in the world--he must say things like that. Needless to say, to elaborate on this issue as well as to explain why it is impossible may require a rather thick book, half of which will be bibliography and references, the other half--REAL military history and data related to operations from WW II to today. The US will, of course, remain the strongest Army in Americas and will continue to have a formidable Navy with nuclear deterrent increasingly moving to submarines (granted USS Columbia will come out without already significant troubles).

But other than that, especially considering the experience of the SMO--the largest continental war since 1945--which is already being summarized and generalized, we need to clearly understand that technological dimension of modern war changed so dramatically (in fact--revolutionary way), that, as I state ad nauseam, it is almost impossible to relate the US Armed Force TOE and experiences to it, other than discard wholesale the whole idea behind US military in the XX century. Per XXI century, well ... long long story. Pentagon is not ready for this, but its children will love it (c)