169 Military and Civilian Helicopters Built in Russia in 2008

In 2008, 169 military and civil helicopters were built at Russia's helicopter manufacturing industry enterprises for Russian and foreign customers, which exceeded the planned performance by 3 percent, they reported to ARMS-TASS at OAO Vertolety Rossii ((Helicopters of Russia)).

The greatest quantity of helicopters was produced at OAO Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant (59 units). Orders for the construction of new helicopters also were fulfilled by: OAO Kazan' Helicopter Plant (55 units), OAO Rostvertol (44 units) and OAO Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (11 units.) OAO Moscow M.L. Mil' Helicopter Plant and OAO Kamov provided construction guidance for output of the helicopters at the industry plants.

By helicopter type, the aerial fleet in 2008 was supplemented by 114 aircraft of the Mi-8/17 family, 20 combat Mi-24/35M and Mi-28N and 11 of the Ka-27/32 family. Twenty-four lightweight Mi-2 helicopters were upgraded at OAO Rostvertol production facilities, which are included in the final production figures for 2008 as new. As asserted by OAO Vertolety Rossii management, this is connected with the fact that based on the magnitude of restored indicators of service life as a result of the upgrade of the main elements of the airframe, it is completely legitimate to consider these aircraft as newly built.

In 2007, the Russian helicopter construction industry built 102 aircraft. Among them: 83 helicopters of the Mi-8/17 family, 11 of the Ka-27/32 family and 8 combat Mi-24/35M. A positive manufacturing dynamic has been noticed in the relative values in the helicopter industry which is nearly 59 percent. According to the manufacturing plan approved by OAO Vertolety Rossii for helicopter production for 2008 - 2010, in 2009 there will be built, at the minimum, 231 rotary-winged aircraft, which will be 74 percent of the manufacturing growth for last year's level.

Source:  06.03.09, ARMS-TASS

Russian Fifth Generation Airplane to Lift into Air in August

Flight tests of the fifth generation fighter will begin in Russia in August, Russian Federation deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin has announced.

"We are making great progress with the PAK (future aviation complex - Interfax-AVN). I think we will have it flying for the first time," he said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.

Source: 05.03.09, Interfax

Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Threatens U.S. Monopoly in Stealth Technology

Foreign military experts are worried by the progress demonstrated recently in Russia in the creation of the future fifth generation air complex (PAK FA), development of which the Sukhoy company is leading. The German military portal Defence Professional ((in English)) has published an article, "What Will Happen When the American Monopoly in Stealth Ends?" It states that the Russian fighter has been able make itself competitive to American F-22 and F-35 airplanes in the air and in the worldwide marketplace. At the same time, it notes that the PAK FA performance parameters announced correspond to the best of the F-22 today, the mission of which is to preserve American supremacy in the air.

The article's author has been forced to acknowledge that Russia has been able to create a stealth fighter ((ISTREBITEL'-NEVIDIMKA)). Russian enterprises can make an airplane shape that guarantees low detection.  At the same time, the usage of special coatings and materials which absorb and do not reflect radar signals make the airplane practically invisible to an enemy's radar. Modern Russian technologies for engine manufacture are not inferior to Western. At the same time, a counterpart to the American technology for creation of a flat engine nozzle for the PAK FA for purposes of achieving its low-observability is being used. It also is noted that a digital flight control system already is being used on the newer Su-35 fighter and networked technologies for conduct and control of a battle. Digital technologies and algorithms for rapid data processing similar to the technologies of American radars are being used in the latest generation of Russian phased antenna array radars which have appeared during this decade.

It is especially noted in the material that the PAK FA's low observability will make American long-range air-to-air missiles ineffective or complicate their use. Consequentially, aerial combat will take place at medium and short distances within visible range. And that makes the chances of the F-22 and PAK FA equal.  And other American airplanes will not be able to stand up against the Russian fighter adequately. In the opinion of experts, the F-35 already is experiencing problems in countering the Su-35 with it low effective area of radar signal reflection, which is equal to the area of a tennis ball. With the achievement of the PAK FA itself of even lower numbers in reflection area of radar signals, the new American F-35, in the opinion of the article's author, will fall into that very same "black hole of the struggle for survival" as the F-16C/E, F-15C/E and F/A-18A-F.  ((sic))

The first PAK FA prototypes are being assembled at the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur Yu. A. Gagarin Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO). As the general director of the Sukhoy holding company, Mikhail Pogosyan, reported at the Aero India 2009 exhibition that took place in February, the first flights of the new airplane will begin within a year.

Source: 05.03.09, Sukhoy Aviation Holding Company

Essential Changes to Be Introduced in Mi-28N Helicopter Configuration for Participation in Indian Tender

Essential changes will be introduced in the Mi-28N helicopter's configuration for participation in the Indian tender, the lead specialist for advertising and exhibitions of OAO Rostvertol, Tina Shaposhnikova, reported to an ARMS-TASS correspondent/

According to her, if the Mi-28N remains on the short list of participants, it will be equipped according to the requirements of India's air force, in particular, Thales avionics and a foreign manufactured targeting complex, possibly Belgian. This, however, is the distant future, and for the time being OAO Rostvertol together with the Moscow Mil' Helicopter Plant and Rosoboronehksport are discussing with the Indian side the helicopter's documentation that was recently presented for the competition, T. Shaposhnikova added.

She noted that Rostvertol has a long period of cooperation with India. Four Mi-26 and 32 Mi-35 helicopters manufactured by the Rostov enterprise which also provides for their full service for the whole life cycle are being used in the Indian air force. Overhaul of all four Indian Mi-26 and 15 Mi-35 was performed starting in 2001 at Rostvertol, T. Shaposhnikova reported.

Source:  04.03.09, ARMS-TASS

What Will the New Domestic Aircraft Carrier Be Like?

GIST.

The Russian aircraft carrier presently being designed should be atomic-powered, have a water displacement of around 60,000 tonnes and it will not carry cruise missiles as Soviet carriers did.  After examining prospects for the carrier wing, it seems only a maritime variant of the PAK-FA will suffice.  There would be approximately 30 to 36 in the wing, not counting other unspecified aircraft types.  Another discussion considers 24 heavy (PAK-FA) and 24 lightweight (MiG-29K or a future lightweight fighter) for the wing.  Regardless, there must be space both below deck and above for unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and certain auxiliary aircraft.

It is unknown if the new carrier will use a ski jump or a steam catapult and there are fierce arguments over their capabilities and deficiencies.  Also, little is known about the carrier's airborne warning and control aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters.  The aircraft carrier should be built either at the St. Peterburg Baltic Plant or the Severodvinsk plant.  The latter is building a dock capable of supporting construction of ships with a displacement up to 100,000 tonnes.

Source: 03.03.09, RIA Novosti, Correspondent:  Il'ya Kramnik

Northern Fleet Aircraft Carrier Group Returns to Severomorsk

Source:  02.03.09, Avia.RU

NK-93 Awaits Continuation of Tests

The NK-93 engine made three flights last year on the Il-76 flying laboratory and now is awaiting continuation of the tests, the general designer of OAO Samara N.D. Kuznetsov Scientific and Engineering Complex (SNTK N.D. Kuznetsov), Dmitriy Fedorchenko.

"Full thrust has been reached and the engine performance corresponds to the estimates. Today the cost of continuing testing the engine and the terms are being worked out and the documentation is being put together. This work is included in the federal targeted program," the source specified.

The NK-93 engine is fully suitable for installation onto the Il-96-400 airplane, but at the present time SNTK is examining this work as investigative, which may provide a wealth of information on engines with an ultrahigh bypass ratio in real flight conditions, D. Fedorchenko said.

The first flight of the flying laboratory with the NK-93 took place on 29 December 2006, but the engine was not started on this flight. The first flight with the engine operating was made in May 2007. Then there was a pause because a lack of funds. According to official information, the delay in the arrival of fund at the Flight Test Institute was connected with the reformation of the ministry of industry and energy into the ministry of industry and trade. Resumption of flight tests was intended for 12 December, but fog interrupted it. It had been planned to make five - six flights before 30 December.

The SNTK N.D. Kuznetsov started development of the NK-93 engine at the end of the 1980s. In 1993, it was proposed to put it into service. Models of the Il-96 and Tu-204 were shown more than once with such motors at exhibitions. It had been proposed to equipment the ramped variant of the Tu-204 and the Tu-330 cargo airplane with it, too. Today there is simply no prospective airplane that might be equipped with such engines. And according to the specific fuel consumption and also the assumed service life, there still is no engine equal to the NK-93 in the world. The many years of work on the engine's gas generator (without a propfan ((BEZ VINTOVENTILYATORA)) ) in the composition of gas-compressor units is confirmation of it.

Source:  02.03.09, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Andrey Yurgenson

OAO Aviadvigatel' Developing New Generation PS-14 Engine for Future MS-21 and MTA Airplanes

((Engine takeoff thrust to be 12.5 to 15.7 tonnes and improved fuel economy when compared with engines such as the CFM56-5B2 and V2524/2533.  The engine also will be used on the Tu-204-300 and for re-engining the ll-76 transport.))

Source:  03.03.09, Avia.RU

Next Tu-204CE to Be Delivered to Cuba in March

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

Source: 03.03.09, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent: Dmitriy Kozlov

NPO Saturn Resumes D-30KP-2 Engines to China

((Firm order for 55 engines with an option for 33 more.  Not further translated..))

Source: 02.03.09, NPO Saturn

Russia to Give Palestinian National Authority Armored Personnel Carriers and Civil Helicopters

In the very near future Russia will render as aid to the Palestinians rations and medicines and also deliver for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) armored personnel carriers and civilian helicopters, it says in a Russian Federation president Dmitriy Medvedev letter to a donor country conference on the restoration of Gaza's economy which the Russian Federation head of the foreign affairs ministry, Sergey Lavrov, divulged to participants at a meeting in Sharm-el-Sheik.

"In the very near future, a significant quantity of breadstuffs in the form of voluntary targeted contributions will be allocated to the U.N. World Food Program," it states in the Russian Federation president's letter.

Considering the needs of the Palestinian side, Russia will be ready to send in addition two airplanes with medicines and other humanitarian cargoes and also deploy an airmobile hospital in Gaza.

"Stability of the fundamental foundations of the Palestinian government and strengthening of the institution of the national authority have a special significance. Being guided by such an understanding, we have prepared for transfer to the PNA as a gift 50 armored personnel carriers and two civilian helicopters," it notes in Medvedev's letter.

Source: 02.03.09, Gudok

India and Russia Intend to Accelerate Fifth Generation Fighter Development

((Pogosyan has said Sukhoy is attempting to construct a single prototype that will satisfy both Indian and Russian requirements.  The aircraft is supposed to be stealthy, carry weapons internally, be able to attack targets simultaneously in the air, on the ground and at sea, as well as fly "in quiet mode" at supersonic cruise speeds without the use of afterburners.))

Source: 02.03.09, ARMS-TASS

Il'yushin Finans Ko Plans to Deliver First Series-Built Tu-204SM Airplanes to Iran

((Construction was a little behind schedule, but now the 210-passenger Tu-204SM, fitted with PS-90A2 engines, are on-time according to a news delivery schedule and will be shipped very soon.  Not further translated.))

Source: 02.03.09, AviaPort.RU, Correspondent:  Dmitriy Kozlov

MAKS Expecting Guests

((MAKS-2009 is planned for 18 through 23 August 2009.  Not further translated.))