Rostvertol Company to Show Upgraded Mi-2M Helicopter at MAKS-2011 Air Salon

The Rostvertol company will show the upgraded Mi-2M helicopter with a new engine from AO Motor Sich at the MAKS-2011 air salon, the chairman of the AO Motor Sich board of directors, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, has said. 

“We have sent an AI-450M engine designed by the Progress Design Bureau to Rostov. They will install these engines on the upgraded Mi-2M. We think that the Rostov Mi-2M helicopter will be shown at MAKS-2011,” Mr. Boguslaev announced.

He also noted that it is a very popular helicopter, in particular because helicopters with a takeoff weight of 3.7 tonnes and a payload up to 1 tonne are not be manufactured in series.

Source: 21.07.11, Aviation Explorer

Program for Resumption of Production of An-124 “Ruslan” Airplane Postponed to 2016

((It is supposed to have upgraded D-18T series 4 engines.  Title says the rest.  Not further translated.))

Russia Obtains First An-70 Transport

Russia’s defense ministry has purchased the first An-70 military transport airplane being built at the Kiev Aviant aircraft plant, Interfax reports the Motor Sich company president, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, announced. At the present time the Ukrainian enterprise is assembling two An-70 ordered originally by Ukraine’s ministry of defense. “In particular, Russia’s defense ministry has bought one of these two airplanes,” Boguslaev explained. As is expected, An-70 deliveries will begin in 2013.

The contract for the purchase of the An-70 was entered into so that Aviant was able to begin construction of another transport. Russia’s state arms program for 2011 – 2020 provides for the purchase of 60 An-70. Such transports also will be in the Ukrainian air force inventory; however, the volume of airplane purchases by the country’s defense ministry still is unknown. Creation of the airplane has been underway with the joint financing of Russia and Ukraine. It earlier had been reported that the volume of Russian investment in the project was supposed to be 2.4 billion rubles (85 million dollars) before 2013, and the Ukrainian 480 million grivens (60.2 million dollars).

The An-70 is able to develop a speed up to 780 kilometers per hour and make flights to a distance up to 7,800 kilometers. The short takeoff and landing transport is able to carry up to 300 paratroopers or 47 tonnes of freight. Previously the ANTK Antonov general designer, Dmitriy Kiva, announced that with a load weighing 20 tonnes, the transport’s flight range would be 3,000 kilometers. The airplane will be able to use sod runways for takeoff and landing that are 600 – 800 meters long.

Source: 22.07.11, Lenta.RU

PAK FA to Be Participant in Korean Tender

((F-15, F-35 and Typhoon already are in the competition for upgrade of South Korea’s air force.  Not further translated.))

Source: 21.07.11, Lenta.RU

Russian Air Force Strategic Bombers Practice In-Flight Refueling

Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers refueled in the air Wednesday from Il-78 tankers, an official representative of the defense ministry’s press service and information directorate, Colonel Vladimir Drik, reported.

“Fortunately, nearly 10 long-range aviation crews from the airbase at Ehngel’s (Saratov Oblast’) were involved in the flight methodological assembly for improving practical skills in the air,” Interfax reports Drik said.

According to him, in-flight refueling is one of the most complex flight missions for air force flight crews.

“Flights with in-flight refueling are included regularly at different stages of the Russian Federation armed forces training for operational deployment of aviation equipment from one region of the country to another,” Drik reflected.

He added that in 2010 during fulfillment of an assigned task by flight crews of long-range aviation, several records were established for time in the air on Tu-95MS and Tu-160 airplanes.

Source: 20.07.11, Vzglyad

Russia Freezes Il-112 Transport Project

((Design defects and lack of interest in the airplane. Not further translated.))

Source: 20.07.11, Lenta.RU

Evaluation of Flight Performance and Service Characteristics of Multirole Be-200ChS Amphibian Airplane Under Way in France

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source: 20.07.11, TANTK Beriev

Ukraine Extending Helping Hand to the Tu-334

The chairman of the AO Motor Sich board of directors, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, wants to reanimate the Tu-334 which has practically sunk into oblivion. For that, he has proposed OAO Tupolev buy back one of three Tu-334 liners produced earlier and begin its commercial service in an airline belonging to Motor Sich.

As Vyacheslav Boguslaev said, the Motor Sich enterprise wants to obtain one of the Tu-334 airplanes. “I have officially requested the management of the Tupolev firm to sell me a Tu-334 airplane,” Mr. Boguslaev declared. “This airplane has a certificate of type. Moreover, the liner has a very successful design, it is absolutely flying airplane. Therefore, if they agree to sell me a Tu-334, I will buy it with pleasure,” Mr. Boguslaev noted. According to him, the liner is coming to him cheaply because of the fact that there already are engines on it belonging to Motor Sich and it is a question of in fact obtaining the airframe.

The Tu-334 is a Russian short-range passenger airplane with a passenger capacity of 102 – 138 people. In 2003 it was certified by the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee. Work on the project began at the end of the 1980s and the liner was developed as a replacement for the Tu-134, Tu-154B and Yak-42. The airplane consists 97 percent of equipment manufactured by Russian enterprises. In total five airframes were assembled, including one destroyed in static tests and two flying examples. Despite the fact that by November 2006 preliminary orders had been received for the manufacture of 50 aircraft from six Russian air carriers, the project was not included in the state program for the development of aviation to 2015. And while it has not been reported officially about the project’s closing, in reality the Tu-334 lost by default the battle for the Superjet project and now is not included on the list of the domestic aircraft industry’s priorities.

They would not comment at OAO Tupolev about he possibility of the sale of the Tu-334. At OAK they also refused to comment. However, they note at the company that the Ukrainian side may buy one of the two airplanes which are at the Kazan’ Aviation Plant “in a high degree of readiness.”

“Of course, Boguslaev’s initiative, if it is realized, will attract the public’s attention to the airplane and think about it more seriously,” notes Nikolay Solabuto, who controls the shares of FG BKS ((may be a banking organization)). “But the state of affairs with the Tu-334 will hardly change. The airplane was not included in the state program for the development of aviation to 2015; therefore, at this time the project has no great prospects,” the expert notes. According to him, in order to attract the attention of serious buyers, state support is simply necessary. For consumers this is a type of quality sign, without which advancement in the market is extremely difficult.

Source:  19.07.11, RBC Daily, correspondent: Sergey Kolobkov

Irkut Corporation to Deliver Russian Federation Defense Ministry 30 Su-30SM Airplanes

The Irkut Corporation is assembling two Su-30SM airplanes, the corporation’s president, Aleksey Fedorov, told journalists.  

“Right now two Su-30SM airplanes are being assembled at the enterprise. We plan to lift them into the air and begin flight tests at the end of the year,” Mr. Fedorov declared.

“In 2012, we expect to enter into a contract with Russia’s air force for the delivery of 18 Su-30SM airplanes with an option for 12 more aircraft for the navy,” Aleksey Fedorov added.

The Su-30SM is a modification of the Su-30MKI airplane adapted under a technical task of Russia’s defense ministry.

Source: 18.07.11, Aviation Explorer

Irkut Corporation to Cease Production of Su-30MK Combat Airplanes and Concentrate on the Civil MS-21

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source: 18.07.11, Interfax

Tests of AI-222-25 Engine Modification with Afterburning Chamber Underway on Chinese L-1 Airplane

Work is underway on the creation of a modification of the AI-222-25 engine with an afterburning chamber at the Ivchenko-Progress State Enterprise with the participation of AO Motor Sich, they reported to an ARMS-TASS correspondent at the Motor Sich company.

As the source emphasized, “this is the first afterburning engine designed in Ukraine.”

An example is undergoing flight tests at the present time on a Chinese Manufactured L-15 (Lead in Fighter Trainer ((sic, in English)) combat training airplane.

“This engine may also be installed on combat modifications of the Yak-130 airplane in the future,” the Motor Sich company representative added.

Source: 18.07.11, ITAR-TASS

Motor Sich and Ivchenko-Progress to Create TV3-117VMA-SBM1 Modification for An-140 Passenger Liners

((Some snipped))

Source: 18.07.11, ARMS-TASS

GP Ivchenko-Progress is developing a newer engine for airplanes with a passenger capacity of 80 – 130 seats, the Ivchenko-Progress State Enterprise general director, Igor’ Kravchenko, said.

“Right now we are developing the completely new AI-28 engine. We are working actively on its creation together with the airplane builders. We already have a technical task for the engine – that’s a very important stage, because as we now know what kind of airplane we will be installing it on, and in particular – on airplanes with a passenger capacity of 80 – 130 seats, including onto the An-148,” Igor’ Kravchenko said.

“It is a completely new, original engine. In our estimates, we will complete this program in approximately 6 years,” he added.

Source: 18.07.11, Aviation Explorer