Aircraft books - Russia / USSR - history and models

Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Asia

After the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Union tried to exert its political influence on the Asian continent. A major pillar of this cold-war policy was the widespread supply of arms to the Continent including many combat, transport, training and utility aircraft.
"Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Asia" reviews in detail the Soviet and Russian aircraft types used throughout Asia, starting in the 1950s and continuing through to the present day. Each nation is reviewed individually with an overview of the types used, their service record (including combat in conflicts of varying intensities) and extensive tables of individual aircraft with serials, construction numbers, versions and notes.

Although the ubiquitous MiG fighters and Mil helicopters feature prominently, there are many other types to consider and aircraft from all the leading design bureaux, including Antonov, Beriyev, Ilyushin, Kamov, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev are covered in this book. Chinese 'copies' of Soviet designs are reviewed and also included are those quasi-military and ostensibly civilian transports which have clearly been operated largely on behalf of the military.
"Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Asia" is a treasure trove of exotic colours and markings, combined with a mass of unpublished, original information including over 320 photos, over 140 colour profiles and around 50 insignia to delight modellers and fascinate all readers.

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Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in the Americas

The first recipient of Soviet military hardware in the Americas was Cuba in 1959. Since then the Cuban Air Force has operated the MiG-15 to the MiG-29, An-26 and Il-76MD transports and more. Cuban combat aircraft have seen action against the ships and aircraft used by the CIA in its subversive activities against Cuba.

Other Latin American nations have also ordered Russian military aircraft - based on common sense and economic expediency rather than political affiliations. These include Mexico; Brazil; neighbouring Colombia; the Argentina Air Force and Bolivia which is among the latest customers for the Mi-17, which it plans to use for drug-busting operations.

Another major customer for Soviet aircraft was Peru, which ordered An-26 and An-32 transports, MiG-29 fighters, Su-20/Su-22 fighter-bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft. Peruvian Su-22s have been involved in the border conflict with neighbouring

Ecuador and Soviet aircraft (notably Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters) have been actively used by the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua against the US-backed Contras insurgents during the civil war.
More recently, Venezuela, another country noted for its anti-US stance, purchased a large batch of Su-30 MKV multi-role fighters, as well as Mi-17 and Mi-26 helicopters.

Written by the acknowledged experts in the field and illustrated throughout with photographs and colour artwork, this is the definitive record of Soviet and Russian military aircraft and their combat operations in this region.

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Soviet and Russian Testbed Aircraft

In both Soviet and modern Russia a multitude of aircraft have been used for test and research purposes. Primarily this was done for verifying new avionics, aircraft systems and weaponry but testbed aircraft were also utilised for other purposes including testing the components of ballistic missile systems.

Encompassing test aircraft from the 1930s to the present day, this book provides an unique insight into how test articles including ramjet boosters and air-launched cruise missiles were developed, the aircraft that carried them and the test centres they flew from.
It investigates all categories of test and research aircraft: engine testbeds including the Il-76LL and Tu-16LL; radar testbeds such as the SL-18P based on the well-known Il-18 airliner; electronic warfare system testbeds and those used for weapons testing including the G-310; aerodynamics and control configured vehicles like the DB-3LL laminar flow research aircraft and the LMK-2405.

The Su-29KS and An-12MLL ejection seat testbeds, refuelling systems, helicopters modified as rotor systems testbeds and civil aircraft including the An-12BPTs 'Tsiklon' weather research aircraft and IMARK geophysical survey aircraft are described as are the MiG-27LL and MiG-29KVP aircraft used for testing conventional take-off and landing technologies during the Soviet CTOL aircraft carrier development programme.

Comprehensive details of each aircraft are coupled with information on the test centres from which these testbeds operate including the M. M. Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovskiy, and the Air Force's 929th State Flight Test Centre in Akhtoobinsk.

With over 700 photographs, 72 line drawings, close-up views of tell-tale 'bumps and bulges' and more than 100 new colour profiles to illustrate the aircraft, Soviet and Russian Testbed Aircraft provides a wealth of new information for the historian, aviation enthusiast and modeller alike.

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Unflown Wings: Soviet / Russian Unreleased Aircraft Projects 1925-2010

A detailed volume uncovering a wide range of Soviet aviation projects that, for a variety of reasons, never progressed beyond the drawing board. Packed with over 800 illustrations including photos, drawings and diagrams.

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Transportflugzeuge aus der Sowjetunion

The war in Ukraine has brought Russia's military capabilities back into the public eye. Air transport capacities are also of central importance here.
In the Soviet era, extremely powerful aircraft were built, including the legendary Antonov An-225 (a one-off), which was tragically destroyed beyond repair during the fighting.

Michael Normann, himself a former member of the NVA, describes the flying transporters from Soviet times, many of which are still in use today, in a highly expert and detailed manner. A highly up-to-date reference work.

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