SCENE
SCENERussia’s new ECM system
Could the Russian SAP-518SM electronic countermeasure pod mess-up functionality of
western air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles? Alexander Mladenov
Russia’s KRET defence electronics
company reported the delivery of the first set
of SAP-518SM electronic countermeasure
system (ECM) pods at MAKS 2017. The
first delivery will be followed by 14 more
sets before the end of the year. All sets of
pods are intended for installation on the
new Su-30SM multi-role fighters in service
with the Russian Air and Space Force.
The SAP-518SM is an upgraded version
of the SAP-518 (a derivative of the Khibini
system, originally developed for the Su-34)
that already equips the Russian Su-30SM
fleet, and features significantly enhanced
performance and reliability. The two-podsystem uses digital radio frequency memory
technology and provides multi-channel
jamming to counter radar-guided surface-
to-air and air-to-air missiles equipped with
either active or passive radar seekers.
During MAKS, KRET also announced
handover of a set of Khibini-10V two-pod
ECM systems used for self-protection by the
Su-34 Fullback bomber. Each pod weighs
300kg (661lb) and is capable of jamming in
the forward and rear hemispheres within a
45° cone. According to KRET sources, the
Russian Air and Space Force has a fleet of
about 100 Su-34s, all of which are equipped
with the Khibini-10V system. Alexander MladenovGermany’s Luftwaffe has made a surprise move, with an announcement for the lease for two
M28 Skytruck aircraft used for parachute training following evaluation. Both aircraft are fitted
with an underfuselage cargo pod with a useable volume of 1.3m^3 (46ft^3 ), and a maximum
payload of 300kg (660lb). The Luftwaffe has until now used Transall C-160 aircraft for parachute
training and its brand new A400M is too large for some training events. PZL Mielec, the Polish
manufacturer of the M28, hopes the lease will lead to an order from the Luftwaffe. Gerard KeijsperMore Luftwaffe M28 Skytrucks
Romanian
F-16s
Romania’s Defence Minister Adrian
Tutuianu said the country is now looking
to procure 36 additional F-16 multi-role
fighters, taking the eventual total number
in service with the Fortele Aeriene ale
Romaniei (Romanian Air Force) to 48.
According to Tutuianu, paperwork on
the order will be completed at the end
of the year, the contract placed in 2018
and deliveries expected to be complete
in 2022.
However, Tutuianu declined to provide
details of whether the aircraft involved
will be new, second-hand or a mixture
of both. Currently, the Fortele Aeriene
ale Romaniei has nine former Forca
Aerea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air
Force) F-16s on strength with three
more set for delivery later in the year.
Alexander Mladenov and Krassimir GrozevRussia planning
new fighters
During the recent MAKS 2017 Air Show
at Zhukovsky, various officials spoke in
general terms about new Russian fighter
aircraft programmes. Deputy Prime Minister
Dmitri Rogozin said development of a new
lightweight fifth-generation fighter aircraft
would be included in the new National
Armament Programme for 2018–2025,
dubbed GPV-2025. CEO of RSK MiG, Ilya
Tarasenko added that his company was
working on two variants of such an aircraft,
which probably means single-engine and
twin-engine jets. During the show, Russian
Deputy Minister of Defence Yuri Borisov
announced the Russian Air Force would
purchase MiG-35 fighters under the remit
of GPV-2025; reportedly, the initial batch
includes 24 aircraft.
Borisov also spoke about a proposed
shipborne fighter for future Russian aircraft
carriers; a short take-off and vertical landing
(STOVL) fighter developed by the Yakovlev
design bureau, the same organisation that
produced Russian Naval Aviation’s only
vertical takeoff/landing (VTOL) fighter, the
Yak-38 Forger, and two prototypes of the
supersonic VTOL Yak-41M Freestyle fighter
with a 19,500kg (42,000lb) max take-
off weight. A Yak-41 prototype made the
type’s maiden flight in March 1987, but the
programme was cancelled in August 1991.
Yakolev is currently in the early research
and initial design phase of the new STOVL
fighter. In 2015, the then Russian Defence
Minister, Sergey Shoygu, mentioned
the Perspektivnyi Mnogofunktsyonalnyi
Korabelnyi Istrebitel (PMKI or future multi-
role shipborne fighter) as one of several
new aircraft designs for Russian Naval
Aviation. Piotr Butowski