Roy's Russian Aircraft Resource

Date Posted 03 September 2009

Russia and India Discuss Pace of Joint Aviation Projects

The 24th regular meeting of the subcommittee for aircraft construction of the Russo-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation (IRPA) took place in the period from 30 August through 3 September in Moscow.

The manager of the HAL corporation, Ashok Naiak, headed the subcommittee for the Indian side and the President of OAO OAK Aleksey Innokent'evich Fedorov for the Russian. Representatives of the Indian defense ministry and air force headquarters, representatives of Russia's FSVTS, Rosoboronehksport and managers of Russian aircraft building, engine building and aircraft instrument building enterprises also took part in IRPA's work.

Consultations of experts and discussions with Indian industry leaders and military with the leadership of Russian IRPA subjects, the visitation of the Indian delegation to the Flight Test Institute in Zhukovskiy and familiarization with the manufacture of Su-30MKI airplanes at the facilities of the Irkut corporation took place within the framework of the subcommittee's operation.

The sides examined the following basic questions during the meetings:

- projects for the joint development of a multipurpose transport airplane (MTA) and the fifth generation fighter (FGFA);

- status of fulfillment of contracts for licensed production in India of Su-30MKI airplanes and RD-33 aircraft engines, and also the development and manufacture of the AL-55I aircraft engine;

- the pace of the fulfillment of contact ((sic, may be "the contract")) for deliveries of MiG-29K/KUB airplanes for maritime basing for India's air force;

- fulfillment by the parties of contract obligations in the area of the upgrade of Russian manufactured aircraft equipment delivered earlier to India, and also a number of other projects.

Decisions on the basic agenda questions have been included in the IRPA final minutes and will be presented to the co-chairmen of the Russo-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation - the defense ministers of Russia and India.

Source: 03.09.10, Aviation Explorer

Ukraine Completes Assembly of First An-32 Airplane for Iraq

GK Antonov has completed assembly of the first of six An-32 airplanes for Iraq, RBK reports. The aircraft has been painted in the colors of the customer and will be transferred to them in September after the execution of several test flights.

It is planned to finish two more An-32 in 2010. In 2011, Iraq is supposed to receive three such aircraft.

The specialized export firm Progress, a subsidiary of Ukrspetsehksport, signed the contract for the delivery of six An-32 airplanes to Iraq for a total of nearly 80 million dollars.

Source: 03.09.10, Avia.RU

Date Posted 02 September 2009

PAK FA Shown to Indian Delegation

On 31 August there was a demonstration of the new Russian Future Tactical Aviation Aircraft Complex (PAK FA) in the Moscow suburb of Zhukovskiy for representatives of India's defense ministry and air force, and also for the Indian airplane building corporation HAL.

Introduction to the future complex took place within the framework of the process for preparing a contract between the Unified Aircraft Building Corporation (OAK) and the HAL corporation on joint development of the fifth generation fighter. It is assumed that such an agreement may be signed in the near future.

The present PAK FA project may serve as the basis for a future joint Russo-Indian fighter. The first flight of the PAK FA was 29 January 2010. During yesterday's demonstration, the new aircraft's capabilities were demonstrated to the Indian delegation. It is assumed that the fifth generation airplane will be a multirole and universal complex capable of resolving a broad spectrum of missions, operating against ground and air targets, possessing super-maneuverability, low detectability and having a capability for cruise flight at supersonic speed.

Russia's minister of defense expects to receive the first such airplane in 2015. The cost of each fifth generation airplane will be nearly 100 million U.S. dollars.

Source: 01.09.10, Avia.RU

Russia to Delivery Mi-17 Helicopters to Argentina

((Contract signed for two for the Argentine air force. This purchase is the first military system Argentina has ever bought from Russia. Not further translated.))

Source: 01.09.10, Avia.RU

They Are Upgrading the Unique Be-200 Amphibious Airplane in Taganrog

((New equipment to aid pilots in putting out forest fires in conditions of zero visibility because of smoke. The aircraft also will be able to make high G-load turns. Not further translated.))

Source: 02.09.10, Vesti.RU

Date Posted 01 September 2009

Iceland Buying Su-27 For Training NATO Pilots

Two squadrons of Su-27 may appear at the former NATO military base Keflavik, BFM.RU reports.

The Icelandic government is holding negotiations about leasing the airfield to the E.C.A. private company. The program will pay nearly 1.5 billion dollars for the purchase of nearly 15 Su-27 from Byelorussia's BelTekhEhksport. If the deal is realized, it will be the largest delivery of Russian weapons to a NATO country.

E.C.A. intends to grant air force pilots of various countries a rare ability for them to participate in training flights using Russian fighters. According to one of the E.C.A. founders, Melville ten Cate, the air forces of five states have sent requests for training pilots in Keflavik. Judging by everything, the Icelandic government, badly wounded by the 2008 crisis, is treating the deal with E.C.A. seriously: the country has issued the company certifications without which the import of Russian airplanes is impossible.

The company already has announced that it is looking for nearly 45 Su-27 pilots and also ground personnel. Payment in the amount of 160 thousand euros year is being proposed - more than in passenger airlines.

Source: 31.08.10, Avia.RU

Series Production of Ka-52 Helicopter Begins in Russia

((At Arsen'ev Progress plant. Not further translated.))

Source: 31.08.10, Avia.RU

Tu-204SM Program May Be Shut Down

((Costs as much as a Boeing 737-800 and Airbus-320. Also, there is no initial customer. Not further translated.))

Source: 01.09.10, AEX.RU

Date Posted 31 August 2009

A Rapid Rebirth

Series delivery of Su-35S to Russian air force will begin in 2012

The future Su-35S fighter - a highly upgraded time-proven Su-27 - has entered the final stage of preliminary factory tests. The Sukhoy company intends to present the airplane this fall for state joint tests during which Russian military pilots will test it. According to the Sukhoy OKB chief designer, Igor' Demin, six Su-35S will take part in tests for combat application. In the plans Russia's air force will use the new fighters on a level with the PAK FA being created today.

Already on the approach

At the present time two Su-35 fighters are participating in flight tests, but during state tests their number will be increased to six units. The third airplane will be lifted into the air before the end of 2010. According to Demin, the fighter's flight test program provides for the execution of a large number of flights - these are connected with the use of a multitude of new systems, components and weapons in the Su-35S which require thorough testing.

In July 2010, the Sukhoy OKB announced that during the new fighter fully confirmed estimated performance during preliminary tests. In particular, it was able to reach a speed at sea level of 1,400 kilometers per hour and at altitude of 2,500 kilometers per hour. Maximum flight altitude of the Su-35S is 19,000 meters. Thanks to the N035 "Irbis" ((snow leopard)) radar with a passive phased antenna array (PFAR), target detection range in the air-to-air mode was nearly 400 kilometers.

During state tests for combat usage, which will be performed by military pilots, it is planned to test operation of the fighter's weapons, aircraft systems, and also the flight performance which already has been confirmed during the preliminary tests. After all tests have been completed, the airplane will begin to reach the Russian air force inventory. As is expected, that will happen in 2012. Formally, the Russian air force will get the first Su-35S before the end of 2010 - it will be transferred to the military within the framework of a contract entered into in August 2009.

In 2009, the defense ministry bought 48 Su-35S fighters from Sukhoy during the MAKS international air salon in the Moscow suburb of Zhukovskiy. This contract was the largest deal in the last decade for the purchase of combat airplanes for the country's air force. The cost of the aircraft is unknown. Supposedly, the cost of one Su-35 is nearly 40 million dollars. Thus, the acquisition for the air force may cost defense ministry almost two billion dollars; however, the total of the deal, possibly, may have been even lower.

According to the conditions of the agreement, the air force will receive the ordered airplane in the period from 2010 through 2015. As is expected, a counterpart contract has been entered into also for 2015 - 2020, that is the Russian troops will acquire nearly 96 Su-35S.

Series production of these aircraft will be realized at the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO). Right now the enterprise is involved in the production of parts and components for future fighters. The start of series production is planned for the third - fourth quarter of 2010. Sukhoy also has entered into contracts with off-site enterprises for the supply of assemblies, mechanisms and equipment for the airplanes.

Besides deliveries of the fighters to the Russian air force, Sukhoy is holding negotiation for the sale of the airplanes to foreign buyers. Serial deliveries of the export modification of the Su-35 should begin at the same time as the Russian - in 2012. Libya has declared its intention to obtain 12 - 15 new fighters.

A long road

The Su-35 is being created based on the Su-35 as a further development of this airplane. A fighter with such a designator made first flight in 1988. By the start of the 2000s, 12 flying examples of the Su-35 had been produced; however, they later compressed the program in favor of the Su-37 project, one more variant of the Su-27 upgrade, which was considered more prospective. This project also was closed later. In 2005, a decision was adopted to resurrect Su-35 development which received the factory code Su-35BM (basic model).

Despite the long history of development ((SOZDANIE)), the year for start of the Su-35BM development (the Russian air force will receive the Su-35S - series-built) should nonetheless be considered 2005, inasmuch as the project for the future fighter was changed to a significant degree in comparison with the original program. Thus, the Su-35BM is distinguished from the original Su-35 by the absence of the forward horizontal canard, possesses a modern information and control system, a PFAR radar and engines that satisfy the requirements for a fifth generation airplane's power plant.

Article 117S power plants developed by NPO Saturn serve on the Su-35BM. They are a simplified version of Article 117 engines which will be installed on the PAK FA (T-50) future fifth generation airplane being developed by Sukhoy. These engines are able to provide supersonic flight speed without afterburner, have a plasma ignition systems and all-aspect vectored thrust. Version S is distinguished from Article 117 only by the use of an old electro-mechanical control system. It is planned to install Article 117 on the Su-35S in the future.

Besides the N035 "Irbis," which is considered the most powerful fighter radar in the world, it is planned to use an addition L-band radar on the Su-35S which will be placed in the leading edges of the wings and fins. Such as radar position will increase reliability of detection of an enemies stealth fighters, for example the F-22 Raptor ((in English)), thanks to the various angles of the radio wave radiation and their band. The Russian fighter also will get a n optical-electronic location station. The Su-35S will be able to track up to 30 and attack up to 8 airborne targets or up to 4 and 2 ground targets, respectively.

The significantly redesigned airframe of the Su-35 has been executed from composites and is covered with radar absorbing materials. In combination with the electrocondcutive coating of the cockpit canopy and also the decrease of the number of sensors projecting on the fuselage, the fighter's observability has been reduced significantly in comparison with other fourth generation airplanes. According to some evaluations, the effective reflection area of the Su-35S in frontal view is less than a square meter. For the majority of fourth generation modern fighters this indicator is an average of 3 - 12 square meters.

In the number of other innovations used on the Su-35S are modern electronic warfare systems able to provide also group electronic countermeasures of airplanes during flight in a group. Two liquid crystal multifunctional displays will be installed in the cockpit able to operate in multi-screen mode and also a quite standard holographic display on the windshield. Su-35S service life will be 6,000 flying hours, calendar time is 30 years of service, and engine service life is 4,000 flying hours.

The Su-35S will be able to develop a speed up to 2,600 kilometers per hours and the fighter's practical range will be nearly 3,600 kilometers. The airplane will be armed with a 30-milimeter cannon with a combat load of 150 rounds, and it also will get 12 hard points for a broad range of weapons: from air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles to unguided rockets, free-falling and guided aerial bombs. Altogether the Su-35S will be able to take a combat payload weighing up to eight tonnes.

The state arms program being developed today for 2011-2020, study of which by the government will take place on 30 September 2010, assumes financing in an amount over 13 trillion rubles. Part of these funds will be spent also for re-equipping Russia's air force; however, whether obtaining 96 Su-35S will be limited or the volume of the purchases of these airplanes will be increased are still unknown. According to some evaluations, the Russian air force needs 150 - 200 Su-35S. The ministry of defense so far intends to buy only 60 fifth generation T-50 fighters.

Source: 31.08.10, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur'er, Correspondent: Vasiliy Sychev

Date Posted 30 August 2009

Two Tu-204SM Airplanes to Begin Certification Tests in 2010

The Tupolev company has created the Tu-204SM airliner which is competitive with one of most widely used civil airplanes - the European A320, ITAR-TASS Ural reports. Its certification tests will begin this year at the Aviastar-SP serial aircraft plant in Ul'yanovsk.

"Assemble is going according to plan. This year two aircraft will be transferred for certification tests, and there is a reserve at the plant for several more such airplanes. This airliner is competitive with the European Airbus brand A-320 counterpart which is being procured by dozens of Russian airlines," the manager of the Aviastar offices in Moscow, Boris Brusilovskiy, said.

For his part, the Tupolev company's chief designer, Oleg Alasheev, said that the Tu-204SM "is an airliner of another generation which it has been possible to label as a new innovative development. In particular, for the first time the airplane will be equipped with the new PS-90A2 domestic engine which "should not be inferior to western counterparts" in performance." For the first time too, "the modern ASO-204 overall airplane equipment control system" developed in Russia is being installed on it.

According to Alasheev, new upgraded landing gear is being installed on the Tu-204SM. The control of some airfoils will be realized "not by hydraulic systems as was done earlier, but by electrical." A new auxiliary power plant, air conditioning system, etc. have been installed.

"These and other innovations have allowed lowering the weight of the empty operational airplane, which is especially important for lowering an airline's expenses, inasmuch as the sizes of airport charges, payment for air navigation service and other expenditures for aircraft carriers depends in particular on the takeoff weight of the airplanes," the Tupolev chief designer emphasized.

Source: 30.08.10, Avia.RU

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