John Cool

An unusual drawing of Mi-24 gunship in action in Afganistan. Some other drawings by Renat Shafikov.

Another picture of Su-25 no '46':

Ivory Coast Su-25UB's during an attack on a French base (9 casualties on ground). http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=rEh9SbD0_Lc&feature=channel_page

Su-27UB board no. '01' from 3 IAP (ex. 562 IAP).

Two 2S6 combat vehicles of the 9K22 Tunguska system in Tskhinvali.

In the last few days I managed to gather some informations about Su-25's attack aircrafts from 461 ShAP based and Krasnodar AFB in Caucasus Military District. As far as I know, the unit was created in 1993. Nowadays unit got at least 34 Su-25 & Su-25BM single seat attack planes & Su-25UB two-seaters, organized in two separate squadrons. Most of the planes which belongs to this unit probably comes from attack squadrons previously withdrawned from East Germany and disbanded. Additionally at least 21 L-39C trainers can be found on the airfield. The total staff amount circa 620 personell. Lat time the unit leader became Colonel Valerij Kushnerev (Валерий Кушнерев). Or, lets say Kuschnerev, what a coincidence :) It's worth to notice that the most characteristic feature of the Su-25's from Krasnodar is an unusual "Red Wolf" insignia, painted on the both sides just under the front glass. 461 ShAP took part in most of the latest local conflicts in Southern Caucasus including Chechnya and Sth. Ossetia/Geogria. Unfortunately I didn't found any further informations. As far as I know, during the last air war over the Sth. Ossetia/Georgia unit, together with the 368 OShAP (Budiennovsk AFB) performed several airstrikes against georgian military assets. During one of the combat sorties performed in 13th August an Su-25 board no. "Red 46" took several hits from Georgian AA and made his way back to Krasnodar. This is still the only known mishap regarding to 461th ShAP. Most of the Su-25 losses over Georgia and Ossetia suffered the 368 OShAP. Few years ago there were plans to disband this unit in 2005, but as we can see squadron still perform various tasks over the Caucasus. Su-25UB no. '39' - side view: Su-25 board no. '05': Su-25UB nr '29' preparing to combat sortie over Chechnya in 1999. Picture shot from Russian TV. Occasional banners: Differend Su-25's from 461th ShAP: Su-25 board no. '46' seriously damaged over Georgia made his way back to Krasnodar:

Personally I think that a kind of optical Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) like Mak-UFM dual band IR/UV warning system suits more to the Ka-50 defensive equipment than classic RWR. In that way a wide variety of incoming missiles can be spotted, including short range IR missiles and in some cases even guided anti-tank missiles. In addition, sensors of Mak-UFM system was seen ealier on a few Ka-50's airframes, like Ka-50 board no. '25'.

Vietnamese Su-27P board no. '6005'.

Afgan Mi-17 in action: http://picasaweb.google.com/elsastuart/CindySPics#

Yep. As far as I know the Ataka will became the major Russian anti-tank missile system to be used on Mi-28N, Mi-24PN/WM & Ka-52 gunships. In addition, the further development & production of the 9K121 Vikhr-M laser-beam riding anti-tank missile system has been cancelled.

Wow! On the 2nd picture an 9M120 Ataka-V SACLOS radio beam riding anti-tank missiles can be seen under Ka-52 outer pylon.

As I remember correctly nowadays there's slightly above dozen of Ka-50's manufactured so far. Let's count. Prototypes and pre-production models: board no. '10', to '14' - flying prototypes, '15' and '16' served as an models for static tests, '17' and '18' were pre-production helicopters. First production series were board numbers from '20' to '25'. On MAKS 2007 an newly finished '26' (painted in black) was seen in flight. In "Rosvertol" helicopter manufacture there's still about a dozen or less unfinished Ka-50's airframes and Russians are currently planning to finish their build. And that will be the end of Ka-50 production I guess.

Exactly. I suppose the news linked above is according to the incident from 29th of April, 1987, when an Pakistani F-16A board no. 85-720 flown by Flt.Lt. Shahid Sikander was accidently shot down with AIM-9L by his own wingman during an attempt to intercept the Russian MiG-23MLD's from 120 IAP, which were performing an ground attack sortie this time on the targets close to the Pakistani border.

Senaki AFB after several Russian airstrikes and raids performed by the 76th VDV paratrooper brigade.

Bulgarian MiG-29 launching an R-73K dogfight missile in VS (Blizhnij-Boj) mode. As we can see on HUD - ILS (Indikator na Lobovym Stiekle), an electro-optical passive system (TP) is engaged. http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=UaDBOiYq0r4&feature=related

Some more Su-25's - this time dual seaters ;)

Rare pictures of Ukrainian Su-25's.

Georgian Mi-24V board no '05' still in flames in Senaki AFB.

Thanks!

Well, I must admit I'm not pretty sure. As I remember correctly, Mi-8MTKO has only one gyrostabilised sensor turret from GOES-3xx series. The one above looks a bit different and more sophisticated.

Russian Mi-8MT, probably a Combat SAR version.

Great sharing :thumbup:

Russian Mi-24P somewhere over the border between Sth. Ossetia & Georgia.

Awesome movie :) Thanks a lot.

During my further investigation about the Russian fighter units near the Caucasus Military Disctrict, I managed to found another few pictures - this time showing the Su-27P fighter-interceptors from 3rd IAP based in Krymsk AFB. As far as I know, it's the former 562nd IAP, which in late 2000 was reorganized and renamed into 3rd IAP. Nowadays unit got at least 32 Su-27's fighters, organized in two separate squadrons. These numbers consist about 26 Su-27P single-seaters and 6 Su-27UB for training purposes. In comparison with the 171 GwIAP, which was disbanded shortly after the withdrawal from Gudauta, the 562nd (now 3rd IAP) until now. The total staff amount circa 700 personell. Su-27 fighters from the unit mentioned above probably took part in at least two interceptions: 22 March 2003 Two Su-27P fighters scrambled to intercept a US Air Force U-2 flying in the proximity of Russia's border with Georgia in the Caucasus. The Russian fighters were ordered to prevent the violation of the country's airspace by the U-2, which was flying at a distance of 20-30 km from the Russian-Georgian border in Georgia's airspace. It was reported that this was the third flight of the American reconnaissance aircraft along the Russian-Georgian border within a month. Two previous reconnaissance flights were reported to have taken place on February 27 and March 7. 15 November 2004 A US Navy EP-3E Aries II, was detected 6 miles off the Russian Black Sea coast at an altitude of 6,500 feet. The aircraft was intercepted by a Su-27 Flanker of the Russian 4th Air Force. When the Su-27 approached, the EP-3E turned and flew away from the area. Most of thiese pictures were taken in summer 2006. Su-27UB taken on the Krymsk airfield. Su-27P board no '07'. Su-27UB noard no '60'. Su-27UB board no '60'. Su-27P board no '61'.