Russia displays arms and aircrafts in Jakarta

[mosu]

Russia is presenting its defense industry’s capabilities at the 2012 Indo Defense 2012 show in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7-10 November. This is the one of the largest military equipment exhibitions in South-Eastern Asia, the region which remains a very important market for Russia.
In the last 20 years Russia has successfully exported its weapons and aircraft to the Asian-Pacific region. China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam account for a significant part of Russia’s export income and the significance of this market will only grow.

At the same time, it is already clear that Russia’s further success on those markets will depend on how quickly Russian manufacturers are able to update their product lines. So far, the weapons offered by the Russian manufacturers meet modern requirements but the models designed in the times of the Soviet Union will soon exhaust their potential. With new generation systems coming into the market in the next 10-15 years it will no longer be viable for Russia to place a stake on its old models.

One of the most troubling signs for Russia is its recent failure in India where it lost the tender for the supply of six Il-78M aerial tankers worth $1 billion. India selected the European Airbus A330. Even the fact that India has been operating aircraft of this type did not help.

After Russia moved the production of Il-78M aerial tanker from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to the city of Ulianovsk in the Volga region, the production costs drastically increased. As a result the aerial tanker now is almost as expensive as the A-330 - the price for the basic model of the Il 76 MD 90A assembled in Ulyanovsk, exceeds $100 million. For reference the same aircraft assembled in Tashkent cost not more than $40 million. In any case this upgraded aircraft remains a 40-year old model which is inferior to the A-303 in many aspects. First of all A-303 has lower operation costs.

For Russia the production of the Il-76 is important because it helps to boost the production at the Ulianovsk Aviastar plant. It is also important for the renewal of the national cargo aircraft. But the upgraded Soviet-era aerial tanker is no longer suitable for promotion on the foreign markets.

Such “intermediate” models as the Su-35S jet fighter and latest versions of Su-30 can help Russia to partially make up for this lag. These models are to form the core of the Russian military aircraft exports in the coming 10-12 years.

Another important task for Russia is to develop more intensively high-tech production and aircraft construction is the civilian sector. In this area, Russia focuses on the implementation of its Superjet-100 project and developing the medium MS-21 civilian liner. These two liners are expected to provide additional support for Russia’s aircraft manufacturing industry. Whether this strategy is successful or not, will become clear in the next 5-7 years.

 

[Tshering22]

For Russia the production of the Il-76 is important because it helps to boost the production at the Ulianovsk Aviastar plant. It is also important for the renewal of the national cargo aircraft. But the upgraded Soviet-era aerial tanker is no longer suitable for promotion on the foreign markets.

Another important task for Russia is to develop more intensively high-tech production and aircraft construction is the civilian sector. In this area, Russia focuses on the implementation of its Superjet-100 project and developing the medium MS-21 civilian liner. These two liners are expected to provide additional support for Russia’s aircraft manufacturing industry. Whether this strategy is successful or not, will become clear in the next 5-7 years.

I think Russia needs to start applying its tech to newer platforms rather than dragging a 35 year old design. The Il-76 is a beautiful aircraft and I personally love it, but it has outlived its technology and in today's world where there's talk of unmanned aircraft, they're selling one which requires a crew of 5 people (2 pilots, 1 engineer, 1 navigator-controller and 1 loadmaster) to fly it.

How can they think of earning money when they're not ready to come out of USSR's glory?

What Russians need to heavily invest in is the Antonov An-70 transport aircraft. With its contra-rotating props and its huge size, if Russia can manage to make it with current international standards of automation requiring only a crew of 2 for flying and 3 for flying and managing the payload, it will definitely pay off. They need to modernize the engines to be more fuel-efficient like SSJ 100. They also need to remove those atrocious analog controls and focus on aesthetics like glass cockpit, FBW tech etc which are considered epitome of modern aviation technology.

Also, they seriously need to ramp up their spares support which is an issue with not just us but other clients as well.

The An-70 stands in direct competition with the Airbus A400M and the planned newer version of C-130. Right here, Russia has the opportunity to capture a huge market in strategic airlift capabilities and if it plays its cards well, it will rule the transport aviation skies.

Why does Russia think India and so many other countries recently went for the new C-130J? Because there is no other substitute to a tactical air lifter like the Super Herc. Europeans have realized this and are heavily investing in the A400M despite the traditional European inability to control costs and in a terrible negative economic environment.

Russians' first blunder was to remove the An-22 from its list of aircraft to be produced for export. Let's face it; modernizing the Antaeus is much more easier than making another one from scratch. With its massive size, new more efficient engines and digital flight system, it could have captured both the places of a strategic as well as a tactical air lifter.

They can undo that with investment in An-70 but it seems the project is stuck in a limbo with disputes arising between Ukraine and Russia (Ukraine is the partner country for this due to obvious reasons).

Such “intermediate” models as the Su-35S jet fighter and latest versions of Su-30 can help Russia to partially make up for this lag. These models are to form the core of the Russian military aircraft exports in the coming 10-12 years.

Intermediate jets like the BMs are good for countries like Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia who need a potent 4.5th gen fighter jet as a foundation base for their fighter fleet. However, Russians need to start thinking of a new design--- a single engine design to replace the MiG-29 with a 4.5-5th generation upgradable design.

Russia's biggest loss making factor is the lack of a single engine option ever since MiG-23s and 27s got out of production. That has to change now. If they have to compete with Gripens, F-35s and even latest F-16s, they seriously need to consider a single engine future light fighter that can be bought relatively easily and maintained well and at the same time is cutting edge enough to ensure safe skies for the operators.

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It is about time Russians stop basking the glory of USSR's creations. Russia is a talented, powerful country with tremendous technological know-how in aerospace industry. But it should be willing to use it if it has to retain the top spot in arms exports.