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Reports the claims of Russian surface-to-air missile designers regarding improvement of antistealth skills. Identification of state-of-the-art manufacturers of surface-to-air missiles; Factors limiting the full development of air defense systems; Lists of antiaircraft weapons.

Reports on a series of military aircraft upgrades demonstrated by Russian companies at the Moscow air show. Last round of modifications before work starts on a fifth-generation fighter; Advanced maneuverability; Joint Strike Fighter configuration; MiG-29 and Su-30 versions.

Focuses on the air warfare tactics used by the Russian Air Force in conducting air strikes on rebel forces in Chechnia. Criticism of the Russians' use of their aircraft as a flying artillery rather than a precise weapon in pursuit of strategic effects; Estimated percentage of the Russian air force budget being eaten up by the Chechnia air campaign.

The article looks at the disappearance of Libyan SA-24 man-portable air defense systems (Manpads), manufactured in Russia, and the arrest of a Chinese national who Russian investigators say was trying to buy information on the Russian SA-20 heavy anti-aircraft system. U.S. officials question how many SA-24s and other Manpads were in Libya and U.S. Army Africa Command chief Carter Ham says that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft will be used to find missing weapons.

The article reports on Sukhoi's T-50, a stealthy fifth-generation Russian fighter to rival the U.S. F-22. The fighter's first flight was conducted on January 29, 2010 from the KnAAPO facility in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The fighter shows resemblances to the F-22 Raptor, but retains its Su-27 features. Despite the stealth-related features of the fighter, Western analysts question whether Sukhoi can develop and deliver the aircraft by 2015 as promised.

The article reports on the efforts of the U.S. and its allies to develop and field next-generation nonkinetic, or limited effects in response to the evolution of cyber-warfare. According to information-technology officials, attack capabilities are receiving attention and funding because of the persistent threat posed by Russian and Chinese cyberterrorists. Information is also presented on the Suter series of electronic attack experiments at Nellis AFB.

The article reports on the emergence of cyberwar as an official part of warfare based on the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. A strategic economic impact was created by cyberattacks orchestrated from Russia based on new studies. According to an information technology veteran, the Russians conducted a cyber-attack in Georgia that was well-coordinated with the actions of Russian troops on the ground.

The article reports that as many as eight aircraft were lost by the Russian forces during the conflict with Georgia, according to the Center for Analysis of Strategy and Technology (CAST). The Russian defense ministry has repeatedly claimed that only four were destroyed. It outlines some of the aircraft lost by Russia during the battle, including Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot" ground-attack aircraft and a Tupolev Tu-22M3 "Backfire C" bomber. A U.S. intelligence analyst explains why he is skeptical about the figures released by CAST.

The article reports on the use of stealth modifications for conventional and phased array radar designs by Russia's Phazotron in its effort to reduce the overall radar cross section (RCS) of fighter aircraft. Cladding areas of the antenna structure and mechanical array in radar-absorbent material (RAM) is one technique being employed. Conventional planar array and active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar components are potentially significant contributors to an aircraft's RCS.

The article explores Georgia's relative success against the Russian air force and the failure of Syria's Russian-made air defenses against the Israeli air force. U.S. analysts suggest that the simplicity of the Georgian air defenses, with far less dependence on networking, made it tougher to knock out or blind major parts of the system. The exploitability of Russian-designed and -built defenses was demonstrated in 2007 when the Israeli air force totally shut down Syrian air defenses prior to bombing a suspected nuclear site.

The article reports that China is nearing the point of no longer needing Russian technology to support its quest for advanced weapons systems. According to intelligence analysts, China's military industrial capabilities show that the country is close to independence from Russia in key technologies. These include the development of advanced fighter aircraft, air-launched weaponry, tanker and strategic transport aircraft and cruise and ballistic missiles.

The article offers information on Russia's F-117s. The Russians bought their F-117 stealth fighter in pieces from the Serbs after it was shot down during the Kosovo conflict. At the time of the aircraft's loss, U.S. Navy and Air Force operators said single F-117s had been flying the same route out of Serbian territory every night.

The article reports on the need of Japan for more defense options due to the threats posed by the weapon systems of China, North Korea and Russia. North Korea continues to build and test ballistic missiles that could strike Japan. China is preparing two new cruise missile designs, one for bombers and another smaller weapon for carriage by strike fighters, say senior Pacific Air Forces officials. Russia is in the final stages of testing the stealthy, new Raduga Kh-102 cruise missile.

Focuses on the Russian-made surface-to-air missiles that are hard to track and target electronically by U.S. aircraft. Features of the communication method used by the weapons; Major tool for understanding the working of the system; Need for precision targeting.

Reports the pursuit of the Phazotron-NIIR for an active-phased-array antenna technology in radar development in Russia. Imitation of Russia to the radar development of the United States; Effort of Russia to design a software for the operation of the multiple-element radar; Enhancement of the back-end processing components of the radar.

Reports the enhancement of missiles, satellites and launchers in the antiship missile system design of NPO Mashinostroyenia in Russia. Adaptability of the missile designs to different launch platforms; Increase of missile role and power; Improvement of the flight performance of missiles.

Reports the domination of Sukhoi projects in the fifth-generation fighter plane competition in Russia. Concept of the company's fighter plane design; Reflection of the relationship between the Russian air force and Sukhoi; Leadership of Sukhoi in the country's aerospace industry.

Reports the admission of Russia in holding and examining a United States Air Force F-117 stealth fighter wreckage in Yugoslavia. Difficulties in examining the wreckage; Benefits of the wreckage analysis to Russia's surface-to-air missile systems; Limitations in the research and development of defense systems.

Discusses the Russian government's efforts to reform the defense industry. Consolidation of the government's fractured industrial base; Alignment of the Sukhoi design bureau with the production facilities where its aircraft are built; Financing scheme; Possible mergers of the MiG Russian Aircraft Corp. and Tupolev.

Analyzes the impact of Russia's military venture in Chechnya on the fleet of its army helicopters. Losses to the Russian Federation Air Force and its supplementation by Army Aviation helicopter force; Reasons for the initial faltering of the Chechen campaign.

Reports on talks between Indian and Russian aerospace officials regarding military aircraft sales. Russians' offer of 20 Su-30 aircraft on credit; Disagreement over the rupee-rubble exchange rate; Indian air force's preparations for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's reception of MiG-29s; India's plan to acquire 15 attack helicopters; Order for SS-150 Prithvi battlefield support missiles.

Examines the Russian policy of selling top-line military aircraft and productions rights to keep its aviation industry alive. Outlook for success of the military/government policy; The preservation of Russia's six core aviation research and development institutes; Examples of sales made as of April, 1997; The risk that Russia will lose air force modernization and the industrial capacity to rebuild the military if sales are poor; Possible impact of Russia on world aeronautics.

The article discusses the 2011 Libyan Conflict and Russia's sale of SA-24 surface-to-air (SAM) missiles to Libya. The missiles are described, noting their sophistication, countermeasures resistance, performance, and lethality. Libya's use of the SA-24s influenced a U.S. decision to use EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft over Libya.

The article discusses two Russian military aviation events that are attracting the attention of U.S. analysts including the record-setting flights by a Tu-160 Blackjack bomber and four strike aircraft, two Sukhoi Su-34 Fullbacks and two Su-24M Fencers. Topics include an overview of both events, which took place as a result of reforms by Russia's defense ministry.

The article reports that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia attended a flight test of the Sukhoi T-50 jet fighter plane on June 17, 2010 at the Zhukovsky flight research center near Moscow. The t-50 is being developed to meet the Russian air force's need for a multirole fighter to replace the Su-27 Flanker fighter plane.

The article reports on the completion of the delivery of the Yak-130 Mitten fixed-wing combat training plane to Lipetsk air base in Russia in February 2010. The trainer will form the central part of a new program aimed at preparing pilots for advanced combat aircraft designs. The Yak-130 is said to be the first new aircraft of such a type to enter the Russian air force inventory in almost 50 years. Also noted is the reliance of the air force on obsolete piston-engine aircraft for initial undergraduate pilot training, despite the addition of the Mitten.

The article analyzes the military blunders committed by Russian armed forces in their war against Georgia. Senior Russian military officials, both active and recently retired, are loudly criticizing early setbacks in Georgia which included problems in air defense suppression, intelligence analysis and warnings, air attack planning and speed of response. They also point to the deployment of older T-62 and T-72 tanks and outdated armored personnel carriers for the initial push into East Ossetia that were about an equal match for the Georgian armor.

The article deals with the issue of the effectiveness of radars and stealth aircraft. It cites the development of a new generation of stealth that will be seen in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the U.S. Navy's new Unmanned Combat Air System. It discusses the development of the active electronically scanned array radars by the U.S., French, British and Russian governments.

Focuses on the capability of Su-30MK aircraft in Russia. Maneuverability of the craft; Ability to regain rapid acceleration; Competency in missile engagements.

Reports the concentration for the technological revolution of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) in Russia. Potentials of the UAV value in the export market; Effort of the Russian military for the development and research of reconnaissance aircraft; Design of the Albatros tiltrotor unmanned aircraft.

Reports on the proposition of MiG Russian Aircraft Corp. in leasing MiG-AT trainers to the Russian air force. Financing scheme of MiG Russian Aircraft Corp.; Reason of Russian government in buying trainer aircraft; Expectation of MiG chief Nikolai Nikitin to Russian government.

Focuses on the restructuring of the Russian Defense Ministry. Part of Russian president Vladimir Putin's efforts to increase the operational effectiveness of the military; Description of the proposed model for Russia's defense establishment.

Reports the delivery of Russian A-50E airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) to China. Opposition of the United States to a similar deal made with the Israeli government; Benefit of the system; Agreement of lending A-50 Mainstay AWACS airplanes by the Russian government; Reaction of US Air Force analysts.

Focuses on Russian officials' plans for a medium stealth bomber aircraft. Modernization of the Russian air force; Concerns raised about the country's ability to wage modern warfare beyond its borders; Variable geometry wing of the aircraft.

This article looks at implication of the technical success of the U.S. intercept of a satellite. However, following this success, the U.S. Congress has launched its own warning against any further anti-satellite efforts. On the other hand, Russian officials condemned the mission as a poorly disguised test of an anti-satellite capability for use against other countries for military, political and, possibly, financial gain.

Revamping the sclerotic Russian aerospace industry is being given political priority by top government officials, and Sukhoi is the likely beneficiary as it moves to use future defense and civil programs as the engine of consolidation. In the civil sector, AVPK Sukhoi is leading the Russian Regional Jet project, which Sukhoi's general director Mikhail Pogosyan views as a vehicle to include the state's other near-moribund commercial aircraft designers. As he attempts to secure Sukhoi at the heart of any future Russian aerospace company, Pogosyan also is struggling to bring together the design bureau with the production sites, which specialized in manufacturing Sukhoi aircraft during the Soviet era.