Sukhoy: Development of PAK FA Fighter Error-Free

Russia and India are continuing cooperation in the development and creation of the PAK FA (future tactical aviation aircraft complex) fifth generation fighter joint project, RIA Novosti reports an official representative of the Sukhoy company reported.

Earlier information was published in a number of Russian and foreign media that negotiations between the two countries on this project were on the verge of failure. At the same time, it was not stated in the articles whose fault it was that the negotiations supposed were deadlocked.

“Work (on the creation of the fifth generation fighter) is at full throttle,” the aviation company’s representative emphasized.

A contract for the development of the engineering draft of the Indian version of the PAK FA which has received the name FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) ((in English)) was signed on 21 December 2010. The Russian partners are obligated to invest 295 million dollar into this project. India’s air force intends to obtain 250 – 350 FGFA at a total of 25 billion dollars.

The Russian PAK FA (T-50) prototype developed by the Sukhoy OKB already was lifted into the air in January 2010. Series deliveries of the T-50 to the Russian Federation air force are intended for 2016. It is expected that the joint Russo-Indian fifth generation fighter will be created several years after the reequipping of the domestic air force for these airplanes.

Source: 28.07.11, Avia.RU

Russia’s president, Dmitriy Medvedev, Awards Hero of the Russian Federation Star to Sukhoy Company Test Pilot Sergey Bogdan

Russian Federation president Dmitriy Medvedev awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation star today to honored test pilot, Colonel Sergey Bogdan. He conferred the country’s highest state award for great influence in the development, creation and manufacture of special equipment and many years of faithful labor. Sergey Bogdan participated in the tests of many Su brand airplanes. In particular, he lifted into the air for the first time and is flight testing the newest Su-35 multirole fighter and the future fifth generation aviation complex (PAK FA).

Russian Federation honored test pilot, air force Colonel Sergey Bogdan, was born in 1962 in the town of Vol’sk, Saratov Oblast’. The family moved to Voskresensk that very same year. After graduation from high school, Sergey entered the Borisoglebsk upper military aviation institution for airmen from which he graduated with distinction in 1983. He served in the Leningrad military region on Su-17 airplanes until 1987, then, to 1990, in Mongolia. With the withdrawal of troops from that country, the regiment was transferred to the navy and rebased to the village of Gvardeyskoe near Simferopol’. In 1991, he arrived at the Center for Test Pilot Training (TsPLI) from the post of deputy squadron commander of a detached maritime assault aviation regiment as a major, and in 1992 went to the Moscow Aviation Institute. He has been a test pilot of the State Flight Test Center since 1993. Then deputy and commander of an fighter aviation fight test service aviation squadron. He tested Su-27, Su-30MKK, Su-25TM and MiG-29S airplanes and the M-21M and M-29 target drone aircraft. He has made test landings of the Su-25UTG and Su-33 on the “Admiral Kuznetsov” aircraft carrier, including during combat service in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, and also the Mediterranean Sea. He has been awarded the Order of Courage.

 Since 2000, Sukhoy OKB test pilot.  He has participated in tests of the Su-24M2, Su-25SM, Su-27M, Su-27SM, Su-30KN, Su-30MK2, Su-30MKI, Su-30MKA, Su-30MKM, Su-27KUB, Su-35UB and Su-47 ("Berkut") airplanes. He has made demonstration flights in the Su-30MK2 (MAKS-2001, 2003, 2005), the Su-27SKM (le Bourget – 2005) and the Su-30MK2 (Algeria, Libya and Venezuela – 2006). He has mastered 55 types and modifications of airplanes. He lifted the first series-built Su-30MKI into the sky (2002) and the Su-35 and PAK FA.

Source: 28.07.11, Sukhoy Aircraft Holding Company

Of 64 Tu-95MS, now only 35 aircraft are capable of being put into the air, the reasons also are the service life of the NK-12 engines, the need of which is 22 of them.

Of the 115 Tu-22M3, the main long-range aviation medium, only 40 can really fulfill the combat missions set before them. The NK-25 engines, which equip this airplane, generally have not been overhauled for 8 years, and new ones have not been produced for more than 15 years. The need for NK-25 engines is 48 at the present time.

Source: 28.07.11, Aviation Explorer

Vertolety Rossii Refuses to Cooperate with Ukrainian Enterprise for Manufacture of “Ansat” Helicopters

The Russian holding company Vertolety Rossii ((Helicopters of Russia)) will chose an engine for it based on the criteria of “cost and quality” in further production of the “Ansat” lightweight helicopter, TASS-Sibir’ reports they said at the Vertolety Rossii company.

A representative of Vertolety Rossii commented on the announcement by the chairman of the Zaporozh’e Motor Sich enterprise, Vyacheslav Boguslaev, who reported that his enterprise has not become a partner of the Kazan’ helicopter plant in the manufacture of MS-500V engines for the lightweight Russian “Ansat” helicopters.

“That’s Boguslaev’s old subject. He has already been pressuring us regarding the “Ansat,” trying to sell us his engine. We will make an engine chose taking into account price and quality among such manufacturers as Rolls-Royce, Turbomecca, and Pratt and Whitney,” the Vertolety Rossii representative said.

“We use various engines of the main worldwide manufacturers. Among them, Motor Sich for us is one of the worldwide manufacturers,” he emphasized.

Up to now, the “Ansat” have been equipped with the PW-207 engine manufactured by the Canadian Pratt and Whitney company. A search for an alternative engine is conditioned in many ways by the fact that in 2007 Russia’s defense ministry chose the “Ansat” as a primary training helicopter, and also plans to lay on a full cycle of helicopter engine manufacturing in the country.

Source: 27.07.11, Avia.RU

Nigerian Air Force Decides to Sell Russian Mi-34 Helicopters

The Nigerian air force has decided to get rid of the almost non-flying Mi-34 Russian helicopters because of the low service life of the main rotor gear box, RIA Novosti reports the director of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (TsAST), Ruslan Pukhov.

According to TsAST, having received 15 F-7NI/FT-7NI fighters from China in 2010, the Nigerian air force decided to sell a large part of the aging aircraft fleet, including of Soviet and Russian manufacture – 25 MiG-21MF and Mi-21UM fighters and 9 lightweight Mi-34 multirole helicopters.

“We cannot fail to note the fact that all nine Mi-34 were delivered to Nigeria comparatively recently: in 2001 – 2002, that is, the aircraft are not all that old. They had intended to use them in the Nigerian air force as training aircraft together with the Russian Mi-35P combat helicopters,” the TsAST director noted.

“But during usage, it became clear that the service life of the main rotor gear box on these Mi-34 is only 300 hours instead of the 1,500 according to the assembly’s specifications. Therefore, the aircraft were sent to the hangars after only 3 years of service,” he said.

The Mi-34 is a lightweight multirole helicopter manufactured buy the M.L. Mil’ OKB. The crew is one – two men. Weight is 1,010 kilograms, maximum takeoff weight is 1,350 kilograms, number of passengers is 2 – 3, maximum speed is 220 kilometers per hours, and flight range is 360 kilometers.

Source: 26.07.11, Avia.RU

India May Order 63 More Fighters in Addition to Contract for 126 Combat Airplanes

India is investigating the possibility of increasing the order being prepared for 126 fighters with an estimated cost of almost 10 billion dollars for 63 more combat aircraft, Times of India writes.

((Rest snipped, based on original English article.))

Source: 26.07.11, Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Second Tu-204SM Airplane Handed Over for Factory Tests at ZAO Aviastar-SP

((Left the final assembly hall on 18 July.  Not further translated.))

Source: 26.07.11, ZAO Aviastar-SP

Report of Meeting at Russian Federation Ministry of Transportation

((The 14 July meeting discussed the direction of the aviation industry as well as the future of the Tu-204SM.  It was decided to continue the Tu-204SM project for now as well as contacts with potential users.  Certification tests of the aircraft are on schedule and are supposed to be completed the first quarter of 2012.  Tu-204SM side number 64150 is available for inspection by potential buyers at the Zhukovskiy flight test center.  Not further translated.))

Source:  25.07.11, Tupolev Joint Stock Company