Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 14, 2009 The first customer for the L-239 Scorpion was the Czech Air Force, who bought enough aircraft to equip one squadron. Former Frogfoot users, the Czechs based the new aircraft at Náměšt nad Oslavou, the same base the Su-25Ks were located before they were retired. This aircraft features an AGM-88 HARM missile, a GBU-10, an Maverick, and a Sidewinder on each wing (with two pylons to spare!) and a Litening III pod on the centerline for targeting. It uses the same BK-27 27mm gun as the Czech Gripens and much of the guided weaponry can be used by the Gripens, the ALCAs, and the Scorpions, making the L-239 a valuable addition to the Czech Air Force. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 The next operator of the Skorpion was unusual as it was a newcomer to the Frogfoot. Expanding their plans to enhance their strike capabilities, the Finnish Air Force selected the L-239 to equip a new bomber squadron (the first since WWII), PomLLv 43. Adopting the wolverine emblem from a PLeLv44 aircraft, they chose to use the scheme that had fallen out of favor with much of the air-to-air oriented Ilmavoimat in the 21st century. It was ideally suited to the Skorpion's mission. The F404s allow complete compatibility with the Finns' F-18C Hornets. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IconOfEvi 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) Grumble grumble... Edited March 15, 2009 by IconOfEvi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 (edited) This one was a request by someone on another forum. They wanted a gray Finnish Scorpion. I like this scheme a lot, but I didn't want to follow-up a gray (CzAF) with another gray, so I skipped over it. Since the FinnAF gray has a bit of a bluish tint to it, I gave it a maritime loadout. It's got a couple of tanks for some more time over water, a couple of RBS-15s (which the Finns already use in a surface-to-surface role), a couple of Mavericks for the small fry, a 'winder on the starboard wing for self-defense, an AMRAAM on the port wing to knock down pesky enemy patrol aircraft or helicopters and it still has three pylons free! I removed the centerline pod in this case because nothing it's carrying needs it for targeting so it would just be more drag. Logan Hartke Edited March 15, 2009 by Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaiser_Smeghead 0 Report post Posted March 15, 2009 Nice frogfoots, good job! Can you do a Canadian one too? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Thanks, Kaiser. Sure, I will. It'll go next on the list, maybe a half a dozen or so down (if that far). Look for it later this week. By the way, if anyone wants a higher resolution version of ANY of these, just let me know. The Frogfoot and Hind are both posted at 25% size. In Photoshop, they're actually at 3600x1800. I made the Spanish Hind into a 1440x900 wallpaper for someone by request. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Count von Phoib 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Waiting for the Georgian Frogfoot :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Done! Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rattuskid 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Love that sense of humor, you have Logan. Any chance we could get the USMC Hind in the higher resolution? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Count von Phoib 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Wittiness and the status of an endangered species do not go well together ;) Besides, me wants one with sexy Mk82's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IconOfEvi 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Im sure India wants one of these. And lol Logan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 They're already on the list. Along with Georgia, apparently. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mehman 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 I want one too! In lock on flaming cliffs. When I buy it. If I do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rattuskid 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 There you go, the volcano base needs an airforce! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Thanks for the kind words, all. Now for another profile. Although Sukhoi, UUAZ, and the Russian government were furious over the Czech and Georgian redesign and unauthorized sale of the Frogfoot, they weren't going to limit themselves to merely complaining about it. Sukhoi tried to sue for the theft of the design, but TAM was an authorized manufacturer of the original airframe, so the case didn't stand a chance. Sukhoi also did what Mil does with every foreign attempt to offer an upgrade for one of their products and threatened to discontinue support for any Frogfoot user that purchased the Skorpion, but this also had limited success since there was very little that UUAZ & Sukhoi could do with the original Su-25K that TAM could not. The main thing Sukhoi and UUAZ did, however, was to compete with it. They took the Su-39 to every show the Skorpion went to and quickly began working on updating the Su-39 to stay competitive. The Su-39 was already a good, modern, versatile system, but the cockpit was stuck in the 80s and 90s. While the old Su-39 was taken to the first shows, the Su-39M was quickly being developed. It would incorporate cockpit updates (such as the MFD) from the Su-25SM and even elements from the latest Flankers. Support for the Damocles targeting pod was offered, along with the option of helmet-mounted sights. The radar was even updated somewhat, resulting in the Kop’yo-39. In order to drum up sales, Russia decided to not only adopt the Su-39M, but to use that designation as well (instead of using Su-25TM2, its true Russian designation). Admittedly, that precedent had already been broken with the Flanker family in Russian use, but it was still uncommon and had not yet been done with the Frogfoot family. The first customer for the new aircraft, however, was not the VVS, but Russian Naval Aviation—a long-time user of various Frogfoot variants. These were purchased with the funds made available to the Russian Navy through Medvedev’s rearmament plans. In preparation for a possible move from Sevastopol in 2017 due to the possibility of Ukraine not renewing the Russian lease the Russian Navy reequipped the 43rd Independent Naval Shturmovik Aviation Squadron with the new planes, transferring them to the Baltic Fleet at Kaliningrad Chkalovsk. Here they were painted in a naval scheme with a bit of wintry flair. It is likely not a coincidence that this is right between the Czech Republic and Finland, the Skorpion’s first two buyers. This particular aircraft was the first Su-39M displayed to the public (although not the first built) at a MAKS airshow and is show in its relatively fresh markings after being delivered to its unit. It still has the UUAZ and Sukhoi OKB logos on the nose, along with the full complement of Sukhogrooz IRCM jammer and Kop’yo-39 radar pod. Its hardpoints carry a drop tank on the inboard station, with Kh-31s on station 3, R-77 BVRAAMs on station 4, and R-73s on station 5. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 I'll start posting all of these at larger sizes from now on. If anyone wants any previous profile at a larger size, let me know. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goose 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 Could you post a big version of the British snow Hind? That was hot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 The reg or the Junglie? Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goose 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 Regular please. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 Coming right up. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IconOfEvi 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Just so you know, I don't like you...whoever you are. Stop giving these upstarts these...funny ideas. Edited March 18, 2009 by IconOfEvi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 What? The last one was Russian. Do I need to stop drinking my tea every day? Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IconOfEvi 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) See, its like this. Why are you giving Georgia these funny ideas? Or Ukraine? Are you suggesting they attack Mother Russia with their Frogfoots? What sinister ideas do you intend to fill our former neighbors with? Are you trying to bolster them to attack our glorious troops as they liberate the regions from tyranny? Edited March 18, 2009 by IconOfEvi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Count von Phoib 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 What? The last one was Russian. Do I need to stop drinking my tea every day? Logan Hartke The Russians drink their tea like you would think they drink their vodka. By the boatloads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Logan Hartke 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 The Russians drink their tea like you would think they drink their vodka. By the boatloads. Well aware. You just missed the reference. Logan Hartke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites