Roy's Russian Aircraft Resource

Date Posted 11 March 2011

China Interested in Ka-32A11VS Helicopters

Vertolety Rossii Joint Stock Company, included in the Oboronprom corporation, possibly will begin sales of Ka-32A11VS multipurpose helicopters in China, FlightGlobal reports.

((Rest available in English already; not further translated here.))

Source: 10.03.11, AviaPort.Ru, Correspondent: Artur Nurgaleev

Date Posted 10 March 2011

Russian Ka-32A11VS Helicopter with Horizontal Fire Fighting System Able to Combat Effectively with Fires in Skyscrapers in Dense Urban Environments

GIST.

Articles points out the helicopter can reach fires that normally are difficult to access. The coaxial rotors allow it to work in conditions of unstable atmospheric conditions. More than 40 options are available, including Bambi-Buckets and Simplex systems, water cannon for horizontal fire fighting and more. It can carry cargo externally and be used as a crane in construction of high structures. It has been certified in different countries of America, Asia and Europe and is being used today in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China and other countries. There are more than 60 Ka-32 in South Korea used for fighting forest fires. It is built in series as the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise.

Source: 09.03.11, OAO Vertolety Rossii

Date Posted 09 March 2011

Creation of Aircraft Engine for Fifth Generation Fighter Proceeding Well, Will Go into Series Production

Creation of the aircraft engine for the future tactical aviation aircraft complex (PAK FA) is being implemented successfully and it will be started into series production, the general designer of the Lyul’ka Scientific and Technical Center (the Moscow subsidiary of NPO Saturn), Evgeniy Marchukov, reported to ITAR-TASS on Saturday.

As earlier reported, the second PAK FA (T-50) prototype was lived into the air on 3 March with this engine at Komsomol’sk-on-Amur.

“The engines on the prototypes of the Russian fifth generation fighter are seriously distinguished from the 117S engines intended for Su-35 airplanes, both in parameters and in the principally new automatic control system,” Marchukov said. “The T-50 airplane with the NPO Saturn engines fully corresponds to the tactical and technical requirement for the airplane. And the PAK FA will be delivered for Russian air force needs with the very same engines manufactured in series.”

For his part, the NPO Saturn managing director, Il’ya Fedorov, noted that the enterprise “had assured the airplane’s flight at the necessary time,” when it was ready for flight.

Special engine bench and service life tests are continuing at the present time at the base of the Lytkarinsk Machine Building Plant (an NPO Saturn subsidiary). Ground adjustment is underway together with the airplane’s systems at the Sukhoy OKB base at the Gromov Flight Research Institute on the T-50KNS object. Flight tests also are underway on the experimental T-50-1 (more than 40 flights) and T-50-2 (2 flights) airplanes and a flying laboratory based on an Su-27 airplane (32 flights).

According to specialists, “the fifth generation airplane is equipped with a principally new avionics complex with an ‘electronic pilot" function’ and a future radar with an active phased antenna array. It reduces the workload on the airman to significant degree and allows concentrating on the performance of the tactical missions.”

Use of composites and innovative technologies, the airplane's aerodynamic design, and measures for reducing the visibility of the engine assure an unprecedented low level of radar, optical and infrared detectability. It allows increasing combat effectiveness significantly in operation, both against aerial and ground targets, at and time of day or night, in good and poor weather conditions.

Deliveries of the 5^th generation airplane to the troops are planned from 2015. As of today, only two countries – the United States and Russia – are able to make such airplanes.

Source: 09.03.11, ARMS-TASS

China Expresses Interest in New Russian Mi-34S1 Lightweight Helicopter

The Chinese side is expressing interest in the new Russian upgraded Mi-34S1 lightweight helicopter. As the deputy director of the Vertolety Rossii Holding Company’s marketing department, Viktor Egorov, reported on Tuesday, the company already is receiving bids for this rotary-winged aircraft.

In an interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent at the opening of the Asian Aerospace-2011 air salon, he noted that a need for lightweight helicopters that can be used for corporate and private trips is growing in the PRC. “There are enough wealthy people, especially in the country’s south, to make such purchases,” Egorov noted.

The modified Mi-34S1 will be manufactured from 2012.

“We have been upgrading it, we have installed an up-rated engine, we have changed a number of systems, altered the design of the airframe and installed more modern avionics,” the holding company representative explained. “Naturally, we are examining China as one of the key markets.”

According to Egorov, interest also is growing in the PRC in Russian Mi-26 heavy helicopters, which made a good showing of themselves during elimination of the consequences of the destructive earthquake in the Sichuan province. China already has obtained three such rotary-winged aircraft – the most heavy load capable in the world – and wants to order one more.

The multirole Mi-8 and Mi-171 medium class helicopters enjoy the greatest popularity in the PRC.

“We also are marketing in China the Ka-32A11VS helicopter which can be put into action in putting out fires,” the source added.

The Sino-Russian Helicopter Service Company joint enterprise is creating a special service center in the city of Zindao for servicing Russian helicopter equipment. “Its opening is expected at the end of this year,” Egorov specified.

<>Source: 09.03.11, ARMS-TASS
Date Posted 08 March 2011

Myanmar to Receive First Batch of MiG-29 Fighters in March

((Ten MiG-29B, six MiG-29SE and four MiG-29UB trainers. The aircraft will have the Fazotron N-019 radar. Myanmar presently has 12 MiG-29. Not further translated.))

Source: 02.03.11, Flightglobal

Thailand Receives Three Russian Mi-17V-5 Helicopters

((The 32.4 million dollar deal includes servicing and pilot training. A total of 16 have been ordered. Not further translated))

Source: 03.03.11, Avia.RU

Sukhoy OKB General Designer Mikhail Simonov Dies

((Simonov was the leader in the development of the Su-47 “Berkut.” He was 82. Not further translated.))

Source: 04.03.11, Avia.RU

Vladimir Putin: National Aircraft Construction Center to Be Created in Zhukovskiy

A national aircraft construction center to be created in Zhukovskiy, ARMS-TASS reports Russian Federation prime minister Vladimir Putin reported, appearing at an interregional conference of the Edinaya Rossiya ((A Single Russia)) party.

“Our main aircraft design bureaus, research institutes and the legendary TsAGI are located in the Central Federal Okrug,” he said. - “And this intellectual technological resource must be used effectively for purposes of the development of our economy. Therefore, we are creating the National Aircraft Construction Center. It will be located in the Moscow suburb of Zhukovskiy.”

The government head noted that the Gromov Flight Research Institute (LII), experimental plants and the Sukhoy, Il’yushin, Yakovlev, Tupolev and MiG design bureaus will be included in it. “We intend to form a power, high-tech research and manufacturing cluster at the center’s base,” Putin emphasized. - “In essence, a zone of innovation will be created for the development of our country’s aircraft industry.”

The government head recalled that in the complex period of the crisis, the state did not refuse support of the aircraft building industry. Nearly 200 billion rubles were sent for support in 2009 – 2010. “As a result we were able to guarantee the realization of all projects with which the future of our aviation is connected, both civil and military, the premier declared.

Source: 05.03.11, Avia.RU

Date Posted 07 March 2011

Second Fifth Generation T-50 Fighter Undergoes Successful Flight Tests

The first flight of the second prototype of the fifth generation aviation complex took place today at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur. Russian Federation honored test pilot Sergey Bogdan piloted the airplane, the company’s press service reports.

The airplane spent 44 minutes in the air and landed on the factory airfield’s runway. The flight went successfully in full compliance with the flight mission. Operation of the airplane’s systems and the stability of the power plant were evaluated during the flight. The airplane made a good showing of itself at all stages of the intended flight program.

PAK FA program tests are proceeding in accordance with the approved program. At the present time a complex of preliminary ground and flying operations has been fully concluded, in which all three prototypes were active, on which bench reliability tests have, ground debugging of fuel systems and other operations have been performed. The first PAK FA flight took place on 29 January at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur.

Acceptance tests of the flying example were completed fully at the end of March. The first flying example of the fighter and the integrated ground test bench on which equipment and systems undergo fine tuning for ensuring the flight test program, have been delivered to the territory of the Sukhoy OKB flight test in the Moscow suburb of Zhukovskiy. After completion of the necessary volume of preliminary systems’ and components’ tests on the benches, including reliability tests of the static example, ground fine tuning of the bench airplane and the flying example, tests were begun on 29 April of the airplane according to the preliminary test program. Thirty-six flights have been completed on the first flying example in support of the program.

In comparison with fighters of prior generations, the PAK FA possesses a number of unique features, combining the functions of a strike airplane and a fighter. The fifth generation airplane is equipped with a principally new avionics complex, an integrated "electronic pilot" function and a future radar with an active phased antenna array. It reduces the workload on the airman to significant degree and allows concentrating on the performance of the tactical missions.

The new airplane's on-board equipment allows exchanging data in real time both with ground control systems and within an airborne group. Use of composites and innovative technologies, the airplane's aerodynamic design, and measures for reducing the visibility of the engine assure an unprecedented low level of radar, optical and infrared detectability. It allows increasing combat effectiveness significantly in operation, both against aerial and ground targets, at and time of day or night, in good and poor weather conditions.

Source: 03.03.11, Avia.RU

New Russian Bomber to See the Light in 2025

A new generation future Russian bomber will be built no earlier than 2025, reports Lenta.RU referring to a source in the Russian aviation industry. The state arms program for 2011—2020 provides for the allocation of funds for the development of a future long-range aviation aircraft complex (PAK DA), but series production is still not being discussed. In the opinion of the agency’s source, a “minimum of 15 – 20 years” is needed for construction of the new aircraft.

According to preliminary information, the new bomber will be created using low-observable technology. Russia’s first deputy defense minister, Vladimir Popovkin, announced on 24 February 2011 that the Russian state arms programs supposes the allocation of funds for scientific research and experimental design work on the PAK DA program. “We are not forcing development of the complex. We plan to define its appearance by 2015,” the deputy minister noted.

For the time being practically nothing is known about the future bomber. It earlier had been reported only that the Tupolev company is involved with its development. According to a preliminary estimate, the airplane will begin to reach the inventory in 2025 - 2030. The Tupolev company’s president, Aleksandr Bobryshev, announced at the end of December 2009, that research on the PAK DA project would be completed in 2012 and experimental design work in 2017.

<>The Tupolev general director, Igor' Shevchuk, reported on the contract for the development and creation of a principally new strategic bomber in August 2009. According to Bobryshev, the contract was drafted for a period of 3 years.

Source: 03.03.11, Avia.RU

Antonov Puts off An-70 Deliveries to 2013

EXTRACT/GIST.

Ukrainian and Russian military are mandating some changes. There are orders for 42 aircraft, 40 of which are for Russia.

The Antonov bureau has been developing the An-70 military transport since the early 1990s and Russia has been taking part in the project since 2002. The first flight of the airplane took place in December 1994. The An-70 is being developed as a replacement for aging An-12 transports. The airplane is able to develop a speed greater than 750 kilometers per hour and make flights to a distance up to 7,800 kilometers. The An-70’s payload is 47 tonnes.

Source: 02.03.11, Avia.RU

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