(Translated by Roy Cochrun)
(Translating the Russian Aviation News for You since Spring, 2000)

India Buying Fifth Generation Fighters

The Indian air force plans to buy 250 fifth generation fighters. The project will be developed using the joint efforts of Indian and Russian firms. This aircraft is known as the PAK FA in Russia, and in India it has received the designation FGFA ((Latin letters)).

The Indian business newspaper Business Standard ((in English)) reported this news referring to a source in the military department. The PAK FA made its first taxi tests on the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur aircraft plant's runway at the end of last year. Now the Indian aircraft building corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) ((all in English)) and the Russian Unified Aircraft Building Corporation (OAK) have come down to the wire in the preparation of an agreement for joint work on the future aircraft and its manufacture for the air forces of the two countries.

India and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of the fifth generation fighters  in November 2007, but another 2 years were needed to work out some positions, including questions of intellectual property rights. The head of the Sukhoy-MiG company, Mikhail Pogosyan, declared for the first time in February 2009 at the aerospace salon at India's Bangalore that such work was possible. However, he dodged explanations of the future alliance's details. Now it has become known  that the cost of the joint development of the 30 - 35-tonne fighter will be 8 - 10 billion dollars. The program's financing will be realized on a parity basis. It is planned to offer the new aircraft to customers for a cost of 85 - 100 million dollars.

HAL will receive 25 percent in the airplane's development. This company's role will consist of the creation of the aircraft computer, navigational system and the majority of the cockpit's displays. India also will be sharing experience in the creation of composites used in the creation of the Indian Tejas lightweight combat airplanes with Russia. The fifth generation fighter's fuselage will consist of 25 percent titanium and 20 percent composites. As the Indian military note, an "amazing airplane" should be the result. Its effective reflective surface will be equal to only 0.5 square meters (in comparison with 20 square meters for the Su-30MKI). This means that if the Su-30MKI is seen on radar as a metallic object with a size of 5 by 4 meters, then the reflection on a radar screen for the new fighter will be 40 times less ((1/40th of that)). The Indian air force plans to receive the first such fighters in 2017. The Russian expect it 2 years earlier.

Source: 13.01.10, Izvestiya, Correspondent: Dmitriy Litovkin

Tests Under a Single Program

The quantity of new Su-35 multirole fighters activated for state tests will be increased to six by the end of 2010.

"At the present time, the basic volume of state tests is being performed by two prototypes. Starting with the fourth quarter of next year, four more airplanes gradually will be added to the tests," the Su-35 program director and chief Sukhoy OKB designer, Igor' Demin, reported.

According to him, "one of the features of the state tests will be the participation in them of airplanes being developed both for the Russian air force and for foreign customers."

"The 'technical face' of fighters for the domestic air force and for foreign customers has few differences, which allows testing under a single program," Demin said.

The multirole, ultra-maneuverable Su-35 fighter developed by the Sukhoy company belongs to the 4++ generation. The airplane is intended for the destruction of airborne targets (in free space and in ground clutter ((NA FONE ZEMLI)), and also ground and surface targets using guided and unguided aerial destruction systems.

The Su-35's main feature is the broad application of fifth generation technologies in it.

Source: 13.01.10, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur'er

Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh Tests to Continue Despite Freezing Temperatures

Ulan-Ude aircraft plant aircraft builders have decided to continue the flight tests program for the Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh helicopters despite the fact that it was 40 below 0 in the Transbailkal.

The minus 40 temperatures in the factory airfield area does not interfere with tests. All flights are fully under way. The test pilots think that the Russian manufactured helicopters will be able to fly in any climate and at any temperature.

The Mi-171 family of helicopters has been designed from the beginning for service not only in hot climatic regions, but also in Russia's Far North," the plant's chief designer, Sergey Migotskiy explained. Temperature limitations from minus 50 to plus 50 degrees Celsius are the foundation for Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh helicopters.  Correspondingly, technologies have been realized which allow flying during very low temperatures below freezing.

Mi-171E and Mi-171Sh helicopter flights in severe Siberian frost conditions are continuing at the plant. Five new helicopters have been tested successfully during low temperatures and delivered to customers, and in the next few days check flights of several more aircraft will take place.

PS-90A2 Engine Certified to Conformance to Worldwide Aviation Requirements

((The engine was developed in association with the Pratt & Whitney company and will be installed on Tu-204SM passenger aircraft.  The engine was flight tested on a Tu-204100V flying laboratory.  Not further translated.))

India to Take on 25 Percent of Fifth Generation Fighter Development

The Hindustan Aeronautics ((in English)) company (HAL) share in the development of the Russo-Indian fifth generation fighter will be not less than 25 percent, Lenta.RU reports referring to The Business Standard ((in English)) newspaper.

It is a question of joint development of the airplane for India's air force which will be based on the Russian future tactical aircraft aviation complex (PAK FA), which began ground tests at the end of December 2009.

According to the conditions of the agreement reached, the Indian company will be involved with the development of the future fighter's aircraft computer as it was done in the case of the Su-30MKI. Moreover, HAL will create the navigation systems for an upgraded PAK FA, a large part of the information displays in the cockpit and the self-defense system.

Moreover, a twin place modification of the PAK FA will be created for India. The Russian Sukhoy company, who is creating the original PAK FA, will assume the remaining work in the joint project.

Cost of the program for the fighter's development is estimated at 8 - 10 billion dollars. Russia and India intend to order the same quantity of new airplanes - 250 each. Cost of one fighter is estimated at 100 million dollars. The PAK FA is supposed to replace the MiG-29 and the Su-27.