Russian Air Force Gets Much Needed Upgrade | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.12.25

Airborne-NextGen-05.13.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.14.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-05.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.16.25

Sun, Dec 28, 2003

Russian Air Force Gets Much Needed Upgrade

SU-27 Upgrades On The Way

As part of its most ambitious military project since the collapse of the Soviet Union 12 years ago, Russia Friday launched its first flight of upgraded SU-27SM fighters from the company's manufacturing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The aircraft flew to their new base at the Russian Air Force training center in Lipetsk, where they'll undergo testing before becoming fully operational.

The SU-27SM features new engines and updated avionics and already, Russian pilots are thrilled beyond comparison. "They still smell of fresh paint. They are like factory-fresh cars," a smiling squadron leader, Yuri Gritsenko, told NTV television.

It's a welcome sign for the pilots who've complained that their aircraft are falling apart while Russian aerospace companies make newer, more capable fighters for the likes of China and India. But President Vladimir Putin has earmarked $11.7 billion -- fully 14-percent of the country's entire budget -- to refit and purchase new aviation assets.

The Interfax-Military News Agency quotes the country's deputy air force chief, Lt. Gen. Alexander Zelin, as saying the refitted SU-27SM will outperform even newer versions of the line sold to China and India, such as the SU-30MKK and the SU-30MKI. Echoing his pilots, Zelin said, "We can't have aircraft in our inventory that would be worse than those sold to foreign customers."

FMI: www.sukhoi.org/eng/home.htm

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.15.25)

"Our 6,000th helicopter built in Canada demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing aircraft capable of performing the most critical missions, as well as our dedication to contrib>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Avia Stroitel AC-5M

(Pilot) Applied Gentle Aft Pressure On The Control Stick To Regain Control, But An Inflight Separation Of The Right Wing Ensued Analysis: The pilot stated the airspeed may have bee>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.15.25)

Aero Linx: Taylorcraft Foundation, Inc. The Foundation typically participates in 3 events each year: Sun-n-Fun; Lakeland Florida USA. Flyin Taylorcraft, Aeronca and Funk: Barber Ai>[...]

Airborne 05.09.25: Frecce Tricolori MidAir, A6M3 Zero Returns, Houthis Bombed

Also: Hartzell Pathfinder Carbon Prop, RAF Flyby, Qatar's BIG Boeing Order?, ‘Luxury Aircraft Tax’ Three MB-339 jets from the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic demons>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.16.25)

Aero Linx: International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) IFATCA is the recognised international organisation representing air traffic controller associ>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC