Conflict in Ukraine: military movements & news

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/germ ... e-delivery

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk ... 023-08-19/

KYIV/STOCKHOLM, Aug 19
- Ukraine has begun discussing with Sweden the possibility of receiving Gripen jets to boost its air defences,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday after meeting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Zelenskiy's visit is his first to Sweden since Russia's invasion in February 2022 and the talks about obtaining Gripen jets, which he cast as preliminary, follow approval from the United States for Denmark and the Netherlands to send F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Will Germany deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine?
2023-08-08

After facing an initial dismissal from the German Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg) the prospect of delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine seems to be gaining traction among several German politicians.

In late May 2023, Ukraine asked the German government to provide Taurus cruise missiles. The idea was initially dismissed, however, with German politicians concerned that Ukraine would use the Taurus missiles to attack Russian territory.

As recently as August 3, 2023, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spoke out against the delivery of the cruise missiles to Ukraine, adding that there was “no urgent need for a decision.”

But in an interview with the Tagesspiegel on August 8, 2023, Nils Schmid, the foreign policy spokesman for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group, seemed to have warmed up to the idea.

“I do not rule out that we will also supply other systems such as Taurus in conjunction with the Americans,” commented Schmid. “Before it must be ensured that the Ukrainians themselves can take over the target programming and not Bundeswehr soldiers – that would bring us dangerously close to direct war involvement.”

“My friends in the Bundestag have just informed me that the key parliamentary factions have reached a consensus on the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine,” Chernev said on Facebook. “For a long time, we worked with German parliamentarians to form a support group, and now, finally, the ice has broken. We are waiting for an official decision.”

Not the first long-range cruise missile provided to Ukraine

[Fink123]

Are the Ukrainian planes still at bydgoszcz?

[frank kramer]

Two Ukrainian L-39C's collided during a training session in the Zjytomyr area on friday evening, Dutch press reports. Three crew were killed, amongst them was well known MiG29 pilot and media personality Andrii "Juice" Pilschykov.

[orange]

102 and 107 were the L-39s lost

[orange]

Known UkrAF Su-27 losses:

2022:
100bl w/o 25feb22
11bl w/o 28feb22

2023:
30bl w/o 27mar23

All three pilots KIA

[hammarö]

Two Ukrainan Mi-8 helicopters collision in Kramatisk area tuesday 29 Aug 2023.

6 Ukrainan soldiers died.

Not much more information.

[hammarö]

Source Kramatorsk Mi-8 helicopters crash Reuters and more.

[Stratofreighter]

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/345474

Date: Tuesday 12 September 2023
Time:
Type: Sukhoi Su-24
Owner/operator: Russian Air Force

Russian Su-24 plane crashed in the Volgograd region.
According to initial information, the plane fell in the Kalachiv district 5 kilometers from the village of Loshka.
There were two crew members on board.
According to Russian media there were no fatalities.

[hammarö]

Ukrainan pilots have flown Gripen.

The orientation education with Ukrainan pilots and technicals have finished.
Everything is going according to plan (Swedish defence minister(.

Sweden preparing to faster talk with delivery of 16-18 Gripen to Ukraine.

But first menbership of NATO before decision.

https://www.msn.com/sv-se/nyheter/utrik ... 43e6&ei=10

[Stratofreighter]

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/why_russ ... -8510.html

Why russia Needs Helicopter Engines From Egypt, Pakistan, and Brazil

November 9, 2023

Moscow is ready to buy even decommissioned engines and chase after four TV3-117s and its non-licensed copy VK-2500s

The russian federation is actively seeking to return,
or rather repurchase,
previously sold helicopter engines from countries
like Egypt, Pakistan, and Brazil.

Utilizing high-level diplomatic channels and engaging in meetings with the presidents of these nations,
the Kremlin aims to get the engines back.

According to The Wall Street Journal,
discussions on this matter were held with the President of Egypt, Fattah al-Sisi.

The negotiations reportedly followed Cairo's refusal to supply russia with ammunition,
a demand strongly sought by the Kremlin the previous year.

Conflicting information surrounds Egypt's decision on the potential sale of "hundreds" of russian-made engines.
Officially, a representative of the Egyptian government denied any deals,
stating that Cairo wouldn't put its own security at risk.

However, three unofficial sources mentioned the readiness to send around 150 engines in the near future.


It's worth noting that Egyptian armed forces have a significant fleet of russian helicopters,
including 46 Ka-52, about 13 Mi-24, 40 Mi-8, and 3 Mi-17, according to the Military Balance 2023.

Although the article mentions only the latter two types,
it implies that russia basically needs all of the engines for helicopters of Soviet–russian origin.

Especially since they all are equipped with the same TV3-117 engine
and its unlicensed copy VK-2500 (which is likely to almost entirely consist of smuggled components).

Most probably, history will repeat itself, as in the case of artillery rounds,
when Egypt refused to sell them to russia
but agreed to a deal with the United States.

Reportedly, the shells ended up in Ukraine, used against the russian invasion forces.

The possible reason why Egypt backed out of the initial plans was the publicity provided by media coverage.

After all, selling helicopter engines to russia now
is playing with fire as it could complicate relations with the US and the EU
and put half of Egypt's helicopter fleet on the ground permanently.

The thing is, Ukraine stands as the only alternative — or more precisely, the original source — for those helicopter engines.

Suppose Cairo agrees to a deal with Moscow.
In that case, it may cause problems to the other half of the Egyptian helicopter fleet, too,
which consists of American and European rotorcraft, including 45 AH-64D Apache choppers.


The demand for helicopter engines extends beyond Egypt,
with the russian federation seeking 12 more from Brazil and 4 from Pakistan,
both intended for Mi-35 helicopters, i.e. the same TV3-117 and VK-2500 types.

This serves as a good illustration of the Kremlin's persistent pursuit of helicopter engines globally,
even if the offer could be counted on fingers of one hand.

The russian federation's interest in decommissioned engines from Brazil was met with a refusal, and Pakistan officially denied receiving any request from Moscow.

And the reason why russians are chasing helicopter engines worldwide, at least in any quantity, is quite understandable.

In April 2023 russia admitted that despite the announced annual production of 300 VK-2500 engines,
the demand is no less than 500.

These power plants are required for the majority of russian helicopters:
Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-35, Mi-28, Ka-27, Ka-31, Ka-32, and Ka-52.
On top of that, civil aviation needs them, too.

Against this background, russia really needs those lacking engines,
even decommissioned ones from Brazil or those four from Pakistan,
since the actual production of VK-2500 may be less than the declared capacity.

This, in turn, calls for tightened control over the sale of TV3-117 and VK-2500 engines to avoid circumvention of sanctions imposed on russia.

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-turns- ... l-5111bac4
/
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia- ... eport-says
/
https://airrecognition.com/index.php/ne ... raine.html
/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor ... s?from=mdr
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/russia-buys-b ... countries/

Russia has also asked Pakistan for at least four Mi-35M engines from helicopters that it previously sold.
Belarus sold six Mi-26 heavy-transport helicopter engines back to Moscow.
Russia has asked Brazil to buy back 12 engines from Mi-35M military-helicopter engines that Brazil decommissioned last year.

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 26.article

During a visit to fellow NATO member Latvia, Canada’s top defence leaders announced
Ottawa will deploy Bell CH-146 Griffon and Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters
to the Baltic region starting in 2024
as part of a multi-national battle group –
Canada’s first “persistent” deployment of tactical rotary aviation to Europe in roughly 20 years.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10172540/can ... tvia-nato/

Canada will send helicopters to Latvia for NATO deterrence mission: Blair

Updated December 15, 2023
2:17 pm

Four Canadian Griffon helicopters will be sent to Latvia next year as part of a NATO deterrence mission, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced during a visit to the Baltic country Friday.

Canada has already said it will double its troops in Latvia to around 2,200 by 2026, and will contribute a squadron of 15 Leopard 2 tanks plus associated personnel.

The tanks have already arrived in Latvia and the 130 troops are expected to be there next spring.

The four Griffon helicopters are set to arrive next summer, representing the first time Canada has had a consistent tactical aviation presence in Europe since the missions in Kosovo and Bosnia in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has a fleet of 85 Griffons, which have been in service since the 1990s.

The four Griffon helicopters are set to arrive next summer, representing the first time Canada has had a consistent tactical aviation presence in Europe since the missions in Kosovo and Bosnia in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has a fleet of 85 Griffons, which have been in service since the 1990s.

In 2022, the federal government announced an $800-million contract for upgrades that will extend their life into the 2030s. The first of those upgraded helicopters is set to be ready next year, with the final upgrades done by 2028.

Canada also plans to send Chinook helicopters periodically to the country starting in the fall of 2025.

[michel N]

Ukraine Air Force command claims to have shot down 3 Su-34 over the south of Ukraine east of Kherson today.
Russian Fighterbomber channel admits something bad has happened.

If true, it seems Patriots have arrived in the south of Ukraine.
Let’s wait and see if this gets confirmed.

[Stratofreighter]

...rather far away from Ukraine -and the frontlines ...
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Voyen ... ?entry=ttu

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/349609
/
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-destro ... ia-1857708

Date: Thursday 4 January 2024
Time:
Type: Sukhoi Su-34
Owner/operator: Russian Air Force
Registration:
MSN:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Shagol airfield, Chelyabinsk - Russia
Phase: Standing
Nature: Military
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:
Narrative:
A Russian AF Sukhoi Su-34 was destroyed by fire at Shagol airfield, Chelyabinsk.

[hammarö]

Most of the Shagols air base Su-34 are in the Ukarinan area.

[hammarö]

Today were is 4 Su-34 Fullback and around 15 Su-24 Fencer on Chelyabinsk Shagol air base. The rest combat based aircraft are bombing in the Ukrainan area.

Thers is also many Tu-134 and a FPS border unit on Shagol base.

The bombed Su-34 is placed on special tarmac east on base.