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november 2013 • Special edition for Airshow 2013 Ka-62 kicks off its trials [p.24]

MiG-29K back on deck [p.38]

Russian new spacecraft and LVs [p.44]

IFC entering global market [p.14]

SUKHOI SUPERJET 100 [p.8] finds more customers

Russia’s industry novelties from MAKS 2013 [p.16, 28, 34] advertisement

november 2013 • Special edition for 2013 Ka-62 kicks off its trials [p.24]

MiG-29K back on deck [p.38]

Russian new spacecraft and LVs [p.44]

IFC entering global market [p.14]

SUKHOI SUPERJET 100 [p.8] finds more customers

Russia’s aerospace industry novelties from MAKS 2013 [p.16, 28, 34] HIGH TECHNOLOGIES. GETTING REAL advertisement Advertisment

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UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION OBORONPROM I 29/141 Verejskaya st. 121357 Russia I [email protected] I www.oboronprom.ru November 2013 Editor-in-Chief Andrey Fomin Deputy Editor-in-Chief Vladimir Shcherbakov Editors Artyom Korenyako Yevgeny Yerokhin Columnist Alexander Velovich Special correspondents Alexey Mikheyev, Victor Drushlyakov, Dear reader, Andrey Zinchuk, Valery Ageyev, Natalya Pechorina, Marina Lystseva, You are holding the latest issue of the Take-off magazine, special Dmitry Pichugin, Sergey Krivchikov, Sergey Popsuyevich, Piotr Butowski, English-language supplement to VZLET Russia’s national aerospace Alexander Mladenov, Miroslav Gyurosi magazine, dedicated this time to the Dubai airshow which stands among the major respectable international aerospace exhibitions. Russian Design and pre-press participants’ interest in it grows up as the Middle East and North Africa Grigory Butrin region becomes one of the leaders in Russian-made aircraft procurement Mikhail Fomin and establishing international aerospace cooperation. Translation Russian aircraft are widely known in the region. Two years ago Yevgeny Ozhogin two brand-new Il-76MF transport planes were delivered to Jordan while provided Algeria in the recent years with Cover picture 44 supermaneuvrable Su-30MKI(A) multirole fighters and 16 SuperJet International Yak-130 combat trainers. Russian-made transport and combat helicopters traditionally have a high popularity in the region. Today Russian Publisher Helicopters holding company consolidating major Russia’s rotor-wing aircraft developers and manufacturers offers its new products – both military and commercial ones. Director General Just about two months before this Dubai airshow, the town of Zhukovsky Andrey Fomin in the Moscow Region saw the completion of the 11th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2013 – the aviation-related event of the year in Deputy Director General Russia. According to numerous MAKS 2013 exhibitors and visitors, the Nadezhda Kashirina show became far more impressive, with the number of exhibitors growing Marketing Director noticeably, number of foreign delegations increasing and infrastructure George Smirnov of the show improving. The status of MAKS as a business event and a place to conduct scientific fora and conferences has been bolstered. New Business Development Director products of Russian aerospace industry unveiled at MAKS 2013 became Mikhail Fomin the topics in this issue. Special Projects Director As usually we also focus our attention on the main events in Russian Artyom Korenyako aviation life of recent months, with preference given to those of them that could be of special interest to the current and potential users of Russian aircraft in the Middle East and North Africa. News items for “In Brief” columns are prepared by editorial I wish you fruitful work at the Dubai airshow, useful contacts and staff based on reports of our special correspondents, press lucrative contracts!. releases of production companies as well as by using information distributed by ITAR-TASS, ARMS-TASS, -AVN, RIA Novosti, RBC news agencies and published at www.aviaport.ru, www.avia.ru, www.gazeta.ru, www.cosmoworld.ru web sites

Items in the magazine placed on this colour background or supplied with a note “Commercial” are published on a commercial basis. Sincerely, Editorial staff does not bear responsibility for the contents of such items. Andrey Fomin, Editor-in-Chief, © Aeromedia, 2013 Take-off magazine P.O. Box 7, Moscow, 125475, Russia Tel. +7 (495) 644-17-33, 798-81-19 Fax +7 (495) 644-17-33 E-mail: [email protected] www.take-off.ru contents

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

November 2013 Launch customers for Tu-204SM? ...... 4 Cuba receives its third An-158 ...... 5 New MC-21 orders ...... 6

Superjet finds more customers ...... 8

IFC entering global market ...... 14 5 INDUSTRY

Il-76MD-90A commences its official tests ...... 16 Trials of Russian Defence Ministry’s first An-148 ...... 17 Another Il-96 is airborne ...... 17 Mi-38 to enter full-rate production in two years ...... 18 displays RACHEL ...... 18 8 Debut of Mi-171A2 ...... 19 Certification of hydromechanical control system-equipped Ansat ...... 19 Rysachok for commuter and for the military ...... 20 An-140T – ramp-equipped version of regional ...... 20 Q400 to be made in Russia in the end? ...... 21 Austrian ‘diamonds’ of Russian cut...... 21 Sukhoi supersonic bizjet ...... 22 Debut of PD-14 ...... 23

24 Ka-62 kicks off its trials ...... 24

Second wind of Yak-40 ...... 28 Kaleidoscope of re-engined An-2s in Zhukovsky ...... 29 New Mi-26T kicks off commercial service ...... 30 An-70 waiting for decision by Russian Defence Ministry ...... 30 Mi-28UB commences tests ...... 31 34 MOTOR SICH programmes in helicopter industry...... 32

MILITARY AVIATION

The fifth T-50 is in the air! ...... 34 More Su-34s for RusAF...... 35 Irkut carries on with Yak-130 deliveries to ...... 35 38 Su-30SM’s fielding to start in autumn ...... 36 RusAF looks forward to Su-35S ...... 37 MiG-35 awaiting order by Russian Air Force...... 37

MiG-29K back on deck Report from Vikramaditya ...... 38

COSMONAUTICS 44 Space novelties of MAKS 2013 ...... 44

2 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | news Launch customers for Tu-204SM?

Both examples of the upgraded Tu-204SM medium-haul airliner were part of the recent MAKS 2013 ’s flight pro- Mikheyev Alexey gramme and static display. The aircraft with reg. RA-64150 was flown in the flight demonstration programme, while the one regis- tered as RA-64151 was shown as a static exhibit – Tupolev JSC used it for visits of potential customers. During the air show in Zhukovsky, two Russian carriers – VIM-Avia and Red Wings – displayed actual competition on the charter opera- Tu-204SM programme. The carrier bly shop of the Aviastar plant. interest in the Tu-204SM, the inter- tions market and the ouster of is said to have been eager at the Its had been completed est that led to the signature of companies lacking orders for inter- time to acquire 10 Russian-built more than two years back, but the documents. national operations led to VIM-Avia . The Tu-204SM’s recent work on it has been dragging its On 29 August, the third day of having launched a whole range certification by the IAC Aircraft feet since then. The fuselages of the air show, the Ilyushin Finance of scheduled services since 2011, Registry has made VIM-Avia get- two more aircraft (64153, 64154) Co. leasing company and VIM-Avia even though it had initially posi- ting the Russian aircraft more fea- have been mated and other signed a memorandum on financial tioned itself as solely a charter air sible. According to the , it components of their leasing of five Tu-204SM airliners carrier. In 2012, its airliners were will begin to decommission its have virtually been completed. in the course of 2014–15, with five conducting scheduled flights to 757s in 2014. In addition to Hopefully, the Tu-204SM’s long- options. The carrier’s news release as many as about 30 cities. Today, the Tu-204SM agreement, howev- awaited certification earlier this read: “The seating layout of the around 80% of VIM-Avia’s services er, MAKS 2013 saw VIM-Avia and year and the agreements signed new aircraft is supposed to be 215 are scheduled. Ilyushin Finance Co. sign a letter of during MAKS 2013 will speed up seats”. The Tu-204SMs will fly the The altering of the development intent on leasing of five advanced their assembly. carrier’s current lines and expand approach influenced the moderni- Canadian Bombardier CS300s. The The GTLK State Transport its scheduled operations further. sation of the carrier’s aircraft fleet, carrier also has plans to procure Leasing Company may partner According to the Federal Air which aircraft’s age exceeds 20 short-haul Boeing 737s or with Ilyushin Finance Co. in the Transport Agency, VIM-Avia’s air- years and cabins have been worn A319 on the used aircraft market. Tu-204SM deliveries to Red Wings craft fleet comprised eight Boeing out considerably when the planes At present, the Red Wings air- and VIM-Avia. The two leasing 757-200s in mid-August. Three hauled tourists to the most popu- line, which has recently got a new companies came to agreement on more medium-haul airliners of the lar destinations (Egypt, Tunisia, owner but retained is development that at the air show in Zhukovsky. type were in the aircraft fleet of the ). At least two years ago, strategy seems to be a more prob- However, it is worth repeating that Bashkortostan airline that was a the company began to ponder able commercial operator of the the documents signed by both subsidiary of the VIM-Avia group approaches to the renovation of Tu-204SM, as it uses eight Tupolev carriers are preliminary and their (the planes have been returned its aircraft fleet. In addition to the Tu-204-100s now. Businessman transformation into firm orders to the parent company already). expected deal on leasing Russia’s Sergei Kuznetsov has bought the shall depend on the supplier’s and The operator bought the planes first Boeing 717s, which did not carrier. He has made a statement manufacturer’s ability to ensure in the mid-2000s, which enabled happen, news arrived in summer that its aircraft fleet would grow by acceptable competitive financial it to have become a leader of 2011 that VIM-Avia was interested means of Russian-built aircraft. On terms of the deals and guarantee the charter operations market. In in the Tu-204SM. The carrier and 30 August, Red Wings and Ilyushin quality aftersales maintenance. 2005, VIM-Avia launched its first Tupolev JSC made a bilateral agree- Finance Co. signed at MAKS 2013 As is known, the Tu-204SM is scheduled services. Ever more stiff ment on cooperation under the a number of important agreements a heavily upgraded version of the on the leasing of 30 Russian-made production-standard Tu-204-100 planes. The key agreement of those medium-haul airliner. It is pow- signed was the one on the leasing ered by more efficient PS-90A2 of 10 Tu-204SMs in 2014–15. “The engines from the Perm Engine Alexey Mikheyev Alexey delivery shall commence next year. Company and fitted with a cut- We are to hand three aircraft over. ting-edge suite from the Following that, 4–5 aircraft per Radioelectronic Technologies hold- annum shall be delivered to the ing company. The modern avionics air companies”, Ilyushin Finance suite has allowed, among other Co. Director General Alexander things, a flying crew reduction Rubtsov said during the air show. down to two pilots. The IAC Aircraft At the moment, there is only one Registry issued the Tu-204SM with production-standard Tu-204SM its type certificate supplement on (c/n 64152) in the final assem- 31 May 2013.

4 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | news Cuba receives its third An-158

The third brand-new Russian- Ukrainian An-158 region- al passenger jet arrived in the Cuban capital city of Havana from Kiev on 12 October 2013. The air- craft was handed by the Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing company over to the customer, Cuban air carrier Cubana de Aviacion, on 28 August 2013 at the MAKS 2013 air show in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, where it could be seen at the static display area. The An-158 was delivered under the contract for three aircraft of the type, which was signed by Ilyushin Finance Co. and the Cuban custom- er in July 2012. The first two planes

were ferried to Cuba between April Koba Vasily and July this year. As is known, the Republic of ers. According to Ilyushin Finance By the early summer, the its trials and display at the MAKS Cuba and Ilyushin Finance Co. made Co. Director General Alexander An-158s had performed on domes- 2013 air show) completed the first an agreement for three An-158 with Rubtsov, the delivery is under way tic services by Cubana de Aviacion, flight in Kiev on 20 August 2013 three more options in August 2011 in line with the Russian govern- flying from Havana to Santiago and headed for Cuba from Kiev on during the MAKS 2011 air show. By ment’s resolution No. 141 issued de Cuba and Guantanamo. “Cuban 11 October. the time, Ilyushin Finance Co. and in February 2013 and setting the pilots are very satisfied and pas- The third An-158’s delivery the Antonov state company had procedure for the provision of guar- sengers too. The fuel consumption to the Cuban carrier brought the signed a contract for the construc- antees for governmental loans. is quite acceptable for a hundred- total number of the aircraft sup- tion of 20 An-158s. The aircraft are At the customer’s request, the seat aircraft – 1.8 t of kerosene plied by Russian leasing company leased to the Cuban carrier for 14 airliners have the 97-seat economy per hour”, said Ilyushin Finance Ilyushin Finance Co. to Cuba up to years, with Panamanian company class cabin, with the cabin interior Co. Director General Alexander 10. Previously, the leasing com- South American Aircraft Leasing manufactured by Russian company Rubtsov. According to him, when pany had delivered four Tupolev (SAAL) acting as the lessor and Rusaviainter. more An-158s arrive, the Cuban Tu-204-100E/CE medium-haul Ilyushin Finance Co. arranging the The first of the Cuban An-158s airliners will start flying on foreign passenger and and deal and the funding of the airliners’ (c/n 201-01, Cuban reg. CU-T1710), lines in the region; particularly, three Ilyushin Il-96-300 long-haul construction by Antonov (a number the lead production-standard air- flights from Havana to Mexico airliners. In addition, the delivery of their assemblies are supplied by craft of the type, conducted its and the Dominican Republic are of the third An-158 to Cuba marks Russia’s VASO Voronezh Aircraft in Kiev on 20 March planned. Ilyushin Finance Co.’s jubilee deliv- Joint Stock Company). 2013 and was handed over to the The second Cuban An-158 (c/n ery: the aircraft is the 50th com- Ilyushin Finance Co. and SAAL customer on 18 April following a 201-02, reg. CU-T1711) first flew mercial plane the company sup- signed the contract in July 2012. brief test programme and paint- in Kiev on 24 June 2013 and was plied to its customers. Under the contract, SAAL is to ing. It came to Havana on 22 April, in Havana as soon as 25 July. In parallel with the delivery take delivery of three An-158s having performed a long flight with The third aircraft (c/n 201-03, reg. of the third An-158 to Cubana, with 12 more An-158 and An-148 stopovers at Keflavik in Iceland and CU-T1712, temporary Ukrainian another firm order for three more options for Latin American carri- Halifax in Canada. reg. UR-EXC for the duration of An-158s was placed. The planes are slated for delivery in 2014. To bankroll the deal, a trilater- al agreement on financing the 2014–15 An-148/158 deliveries to Cuba was signed at the MAKS 2013 air show. The agreement was made by Ilyushin Finance Co., Vnesheconombank and Roseximbank. It provides for arranging the funding of the sale of up to four An-148 and An-158 planes to Ilyushin Finance Co. for their subsequent leasing to Cuban

Alexey Mikheyev Alexey company Aviaimport S.A. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 5 commercial aviation | news New MC-21 orders

Irkut-built MC-21 airliners outside could be leased to and six to Russia with the use of the customer . In addition, Irkut now has support infrastructure of Bombardier a single-source contract with IrAero and the customer support network of for 10 planes plus an agreement with its partners. The scope of coopera- Sberbank Leasing for 20 aircraft, with tion may include flying and ground the latter agreement to beef the order- crew training, supply of spares, war- book up to 195 airliners. ranty administering, airframe main- According to Irkut President tenance, and instruction manual Oleg Demchenko, the design of the development assistance. 180-seat MC-21-300 baseline model The third day of the air show saw has been finalized, contracts with all Irkut and the Sberbank Leasing close Russian and foreign suppliers have corporation sign an agreement on the been made, the manufacturing plants delivery of 20 MC-21 airliners worth have been furnished with the working a total of $1.7 billion in list prices and design documentation and manufac- planned for delivery from 2019 to 2015. ture of the parts of the first four flight On the fourth day of the show, 30 and static test prototypes has kicked August, Ilyushin Finance Co. and the off. At the same time, a large-scale Red Wing airline signed an agree- test programme is under way to test ment for leasing 10 MC-21-300s experimental aircraft assemblies and starting from 2019. compartments, including composite

Marina Lystseva Thus, by the end of MAKS 2013, wing box prototypes, and the mod- the MC-21 firm orders had totalled ernisation is in progress of the manu- A whole number of new contacts and VEB-Leasing signed a memoran- 175 aircraft. 50 of them had been facturing facilities of the companies and letters of intent for delivery of the dum of intent covering the delivery of ordered by the Aviakapital-Service taking part in the programme. advanced MC-21 short/medium-haul six MC-21s in 2020–21. leasing company (a subsidiary of the Oleg Demchenko confirmed the airliner being developed by UAC’s Several contracts more were corporation) for and earlier-announced timeframe of the subsidiary Irkut were signed during signed on the second day of 35 more, powered by PD-14 development of the advanced air- the MAKS 2013 air show. MAKS 2013. Firstly, Irkut and engines, for governmental custom- liner. The maiden flight of its proto- On the first day of the air show, -based IrAero carrier made a ers. 50 planes more were ordered type is slated for mid-2015, and its Irkut Corp. and Ilyushin Finance Co. contract for 10 planes of the MC-21 by Ilyushin Finance Co.; of them, six certification in line with the Russian leasing company made a firm con- family, with their total catalogue could be leased to Transaero and 10 and foreign air safety standards is tract for delivery of 22 MC-21-300s, price accounting for about $720 mil- to Red Wings. 30 airliners more are planned for 2017, when the deliver- with the delivery to begin in 2019. lion. The carrier is to take delivery of bought by VEB-Leasing; 10 of them ies are to start. The contract signing ceremony was its aircraft between 2019 and 2022. attended by Russian Premier Dmitry Secondly, Ilyushin Finance Co. Medvedev. The deal has firmed up and Transaero signed a memoran- the 22 options under the contract dum of intent on operational leasing on Ilyushin Finance Co.’s acquisition of six MC-21-300s with the delivery of 50 aircraft of the type, signed in slated to commence in 2019. The August 2011. The acquired aircraft aircraft to be delivered will be taken will be provided to Russian and for- from the 50 aircraft Ilyushin Finance eign customers. Co. has ordered from Irkut. At the same time, Irkut and Finally, Irkut and Bombardier VEB-Leasing clinched a deal for 30 Aerospace signed a letter of intent MC-21s worth a total of $2.5 billion on cooperating in aftersales sup- in list prices. The planes will be deliv- port of MC-21 aircraft operators. ered during 2018 throughout 2022. The document makes provision for

Previously, the companies had made cooperation in aftersales support of Andrey Fomin a leasing agreement for the acquisi- tion and leasing of manufacturing equipment to Irkut under the MC-21 aircraft family development and pro- ductionising programme. In addition, the UTair carrier and VEB-Leasing signed a memorandum on the leasing of 10 MC-21-300s, with the aircraft slated for delivery in

2018–20. The Transaero air company Andrey Fomin

6 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru advertisement

PD-14 Prospective engine for short/medium-haul airliners

United Engine Corporation Bldg. 141, 29 Vereyskaya str., Moscow, 121357, Russia e-mail: [email protected] web: www.uk-odk.ru commercial aviation | programme

SUPERJET Andrey FOMIN

Superjets launching operations in the West Mexican airline is the second- FINDS MORE largest carrier in Mexico and the first SSJ100 operator on the North American . The first of the Interjet- ordered aircraft of the type (MSN 95023, CUSTOMERS Mexican reg. XA-JLG) was ferried to its operator’s base airport on 23 July 2013. The Brand-new Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft launched scheduled ferry flight from the airport of Venice, where services for Mexican air carrier Interjet on 18 September 2013, thus starting the the airliner was tailored to the customer’s SSJ100’s operation by the first customer in the Western hemisphere. In addition requirements at SuperJet International facil- to Russia and Mexico, Superjets also are in use in Indonesia and Laos. The ity, was conducted by the operator’s crew. number of the airliner’s buyers and operators is increasing steadily. The ailiner departed Venice’s Marco Polo The developer, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, has used the recent MAKS international airport on 20 August and made 2013 air show with success to maximise the number of its planes demonstrated, stopovers in Iceland, Canada and the United with the planes having been built for different customers. One could see States, having spent almost 15 hours in the Superjets of Indonesia’s Sky Aviation, Laos’s Lao Aviation and Russia’s flight. The second aircraft (MSN 95024, reg. Gazprom Avia and at the air show in Zhukovsky. Day in and XA-IJR) followed in its footsteps on 2–4 day out, they would fly one after another as if in the kaleidoscope, with some August 2013. of them heading for their new owners right from the air show. An important Soon after Superjets coming to Mexico, result produced by MAKS 2013 was several lucrative deals clinched for delivery they were subjected to a tough intensive tech- of Superjets to the current and new customers. During the show, a total of 27 nical flight regimen, during which Mexican airliners of the type were sold in line with firm orders and 25 more under letters flying and ground crews were trained in flying of intent, while a joint market promotion memorandum on 50 aircraft more was and maintaining the aircraft that were new signed. The total value of the deals exceeded $3.5 billion in catalogue prices. to them.

8 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | programme

Passanger cabin interior for Interjet’s SSJ100 was designed by Pininfarina and is being manufactured and installed in Italy SuperJet International SuperJet International

The first Interjet’s SSJ100 in Mexico Roberto Acevedo

Having completed the preparations and The operation of the two airliners remained airport in the capital, one of the two most training that had taken almost two months, just as intensive on the subsequent days. After heavily used Latin American airports, the XA-JLG departed ’s airport the first month of scheduled services, the two other one being the airport of Brazil’s Sao with passengers aboard and headed for the Mexican SSJ100s had flown 204 flights each Paolo. In 2012, Mexico City’s airport ser- Mexican city of Torreon at 07.37 local time by 18 October 2013, with XA-JLG having viced almost 30 million passengers. The on 18 September. XA-IJR departed on its logged 304 flight hours and XA-IJR 272 flight airport sits in mountainous terrain, with its first commercial operation several miniutes hours. Thus, the average monthly flight time runways being at 2,230 m above sea level. The later, at 07.50, and headed for Aguascalientes. per plane accounted for about 290 h in the rarefied air makes longer The two aircraft landed successfully at their first month of operation, with each of the and more complicated. Hence, the two run- destinations after about 1 h 10 min to take off two airliners flying an average of almost seven ways measure 3.9 km long. The SSJ100 is for their next services after merely 25–30 min services a day and remaining airborne 9 to 10 certificated to operate from airfields situated on the ground. hours. at up to 2,600 m above sea level and is quite Owing to the quick turnaround at the air- The Superjets operate 500–1,000-km fit for operations under conditions like that. ports on the very first day of their commercial routes so far. The longest flight – from In addition to the airport in the capital city, operation, the Superjets had conducted eight Mexico City to Campeche – measures a lit- Interjet’s destination network established for revenue sorties each, logging almost 20 h of tle more than 900 km long as the crow flies. the Russian-made regional airliner’s initial flying time. In doing so, they covered the All services are domestic so far, but Interjet operation includes several high-elevation whole initial-stage destination network by is planning to use its new regional airliners airports. For instance, General Leobardo carrying passengers to the cities of Torreon, on international lines as well. Although the Ruiz international airport in Zacatecas sits at Aguascalinetes, Mazatlan, Minatitlan, carrier is headquartered in Toluca, most of 2,177 m above sea level, Torreon’s Francisco Campeche and Zacatecas. the flights are performed via Benito Juares Sarabia international airport at 1,124 m and www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 9 commercial aviation | programme

Moskovia airlines started scheduled operations with two SSJ100-95B jets in August 2013 Marina Lystseva

Jesus Teran Peredo international airport in Aguascalientes at 1,863 m above sea level. Meanwhile, more airliners of the type are being groomed for delivery to Interjet. The third aircraft (MSN 95028, XA-JLV) has been customised by SuperJet International in Venice since 20 June following its maiden flight on 24 March of this year. It was fer-

ried to Mexico on 5–6 November 2013. Sergey Sergeyev The fourth aircraft (MSN 95036) first flew in Komsomolsk-on- on 20 June 2013 New deliveries (reg. RA-89015) had been flight-tested on came to the facility in Venice on 15 October. The second of the 12 SSJ100 air- 2 July 2013, becoming the 12th Superjet The aircraft MSN 95034 and MSN 95038 are craft ordered by the Sky Aviation airline delivered to the flag carrier and the second being prepared in Zhukovsky for handover to (MSN 95027, reg. PK-ECM) departed aircraft of the type in full configuration. SuperJet International. Their maiden flights Zhukovsky for Indonesia on 20 August 2013. It replaced Aeroflot’s second SSJ100-95B took place in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on 28 The third aircraft earmarked for the car- light configuration airliner (MSN 95010, August and 6 October 2013 respectively. The rier (MSN 95031, reg. PK-ECN), which reg. RA-89002) that was returned to the seventh of Interjet’s aircraft (MSN 95040) was flight-tested on 3 June 2013, has been manufacturer under the contract (it could be first flew on 2 November 2013, while five tailored to the customer’s requirements and seen in the skies over Zhukovsky during the more (MSN 95042, 95045, 95046, 95048 and is in Zhukovsky now. MAKS 2013 air show too). 95050) were in various stages of final assem- The second SSJ100 intended for Laotian On third day of the air show, 29 August, the bly at the SCAC facility in Komsomolsk-on- carrier Lao Aviation (MSN 95039, reg. first SSJ100-95LR extended-range airliner Amur. Thus, there are ten aircraft gearing RDPL-34196) and subjected to maiden flight (MSN 95033, reg. RA-89018) was delivered up for delivery in addition to the first two on 20 May 2013, took part in the flight dem- to the Gazprom Avia air carrier in a ceremo- Superjets being operated in Mexico. As is onstration programme in the early days of the ny. The extended-range version had received known, under the firm order awarded in MAKS 2013 air show. It left Zhukovsky on the its supplemental type certificate from IAC January 2011, Interjet is to take delivery of second day of the air show, 28 August, for the Aircraft Registry a week before the air show. 20 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95Bs in the 93-seat handover to the customer. Mention also should be made that anoth- single-class confiuration with the seat pitch Another aircraft was handed over to the er Russian carrier, Moskovia, started using extended to 34 inches. The contract also SSJ100’s Russian launch customer, Aeroflot, Superjets on its lines in August. The first flight makes provision for 10 options. on the same day. The aircraft MSN 95029 of its SSJ100 (MSN 95021, reg. RA-89021)

10 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | programme

The first SSJ100-95LR for Gazprom Avia carrier arriving in Zhukovsky, 28 August 2103

The second SSJ100 for Sky Aviation was delivered on 20 August 2013 Victor Drushlyakov

Lao Central’s second Superjet became ready for delivery this summer Sergey Sergeyev from Moscow’s Domodedovo to Tivat in The first SSJ100-95LR aircraft designed for commonised-design aircraft are going to be took place on 11 August 2013, certification tests (MSN 95032, reg. 97006) made further down the line and be delivered and the second of Moskovia’s SSJ100s (MSN has been built early this year and completed either as the SSJ100-95B baseline model or as 95008, reg. RA-89001) conducted its first its first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on the SSJ100-95LR extended-range variant at revenue service from Domodedovo to 12 February 2013 to be ferried to Zhukovsky, the customer’s request. The extended-range on 23 August. The latter became Aeroflot’s Moscow Region, for continued trials just version is powered by SaM146-1S18 engines first Superjet in June 2011 and was returned to three days later. The new version’s certifica- featuring a 5% thrust increase and issued with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft this spring in exchange tion took half a year, and the IAC Aircraft EASA’s certificate early in 2012. for a new full-configuration airliner. Registry issued the RRJ-95LR-100 (SSJ100- The SSJ100-95LR certification test pro- 95LR) with Supplementary Type Certificate gramme comprised stability, controllabil- First SSJ100LR for Gazprom Avia CT322-RRJ-95/D16 on 20 August 2013. ity, high-alpha, ultimate strength, buffeting, The first production-standard Sukhoi The SSJ100-95LR is a derivative of the shimmy, powerplant and automatic control Superjet 100-95LR extended-range aircraft SSJ100-95B baseline model capable of seating equipment tests. In addition, the takeoff designed for the Gazprom Avia airline came the same number of passengers (98) on servic- and landing performance and environmen- to Zhukovsky from Ulyanovsk on 28 August es out to 4,580 km (3,050 km by the baseline tal noise were tested too. The SSJ100-95LR 2013. The carrier became the launch cus- model). Its range was extended by increasing (MSN 95032) flew over 60 sorties under the tomer for the SSJ100 extended-range ver- its maximum takeoff weight from 45,880 kg to test programme, having logged a total of 115 sion. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and 49,450 kg with minor design modifications. In flight hours. Gazprom Avia had signed the contract for particular, the wing and wing centre section The extended-range version’s certification 10 airliners of the type two years ago, in structure was reinforced, with the approach to gave the green light to the deliveries of pro- August 2011. be applied to the baseline model as well. Thus, duction-standard aircraft in this variant. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 11 commercial aviation | programme Marina Lystseva

The lead SSJ100-95LR (MSN 95033) Anatoly Isaykin, Director General, designed for Gazprom Avia first flew in Rosoboronexport (left), and Andrey Kalinovsky, Komsomolsk-on-Amur on 9 August 2013 Director General, SCAC (right), signing a contract for SSJ100 VIP version delivery and was ferried to Ulyanovsk several days later in the presence of Russian Prime Minister for painting and interior installation. At the Dmitry Medvedev at MAKS 2013 customer’s request, the aircraft has a 90-seat economy-class layout, with the front two rows (10 seats) having a pitch of 34 inches and the rest 16 rows (80 seats) with a pitch of 30 inch- es. The interior installation and painting in Ulyanovsk were completed extremely fast, which enabled the airliner to assume its place at the static display area and become the focus of attention of its formal delivery ceremony as soon as the third day of the MAKS 2013 air show. Mind you, it had been only 20 days since its first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Early in September, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft

Company began the final assembly of the Marina Lystseva second SSJ100-95LR intended for Gazprom Avia (MSN 95055) and then the third aircraft VEB-Leasing JSC for six Sukhoi Superjet and on its European operations, on the other. (MSN 95056) for the same customer. The 100LRs to be delivered to the carrier in 2014. The company’s flying and ground crews will three airliners are due to be delivered before Under the contract, VEB-Leasing shall buy be trained in Zhukovsky. Its aircraft are to year-end, with the first of them, RA-89018, from SCAC six SSJ100LRs worth a total of be maintained by SCAC’s maintainers with to start flying scheduled services in November. $217.2 million in list prices for their subse- support on the part of SuperJet International quent financial leasing to UTair. and PowerJet. Contracts and agreements The deal is the first phase of the implemen- Other deals involving Sukhoi Superjet 100s One of the early deals clinched on the tation of the parties’ earlier leasing agreement were two firm contracts signed by SCAC and MAKS 2013 air show’s first day in the pres- for 24 aircraft of the type. UTair is going to the Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing company. ence of Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev operate its Sukhoi Superjet 100s on both The first contract was for five SSJ100-95LRs was the trilateral contract among Sukhoi Civil domestic lines in Western Siberia and the in the 103-seat economy-class layout for a Aircraft Company, the UTair air carrier and European part of Russia, on the one hand, yet undetermined operator. The delivery is

12 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | programme

The first SSJ100 in VIP version was Earlier, during the Le Bourget air show in ment with a major Russian lessor, Sberbank derived from the third production June 2013, Ilyushin Finance Co. and Sukhoi Leasing, on the acquisition of 20 SSJ100 air- Superjet (MSN 95009) Civil Aircraft Company signed a tentative liners for leasing them subsequently. agreement for 20 Sukhoi Superjet 100s, which In fine, SCAC landed orders for 27 SSJ100s has now firmed up. and signed letters of intent for 25 options Another first-day contract at MAKS 2013 in the course of the MAKS 2013. Given the was on the delivery of a Sukhoi Superjet 100 50 aircraft planned for by the memorandum VIP version for Rosoboronexport JSC (more of intent signed with Sberbank Leasing, the details to follow hereinafter). value of the documents signed may exceed On the remaining days of the air show, $3.5 billion at list prices. SCAC signed a few other agreements and Besides, MAKS 2013 saw a number of memoranda of intent, e.g. a memorandum of meetings and negotiations with potential intent was signed with the Sberbank Leasing Russian and foreign customers for Superjets, during which interest was displayed in SSJ100 acquisition and cooperation expansion agree- ments with current partners were made.

First VIP SSJ100 On the first day of the MAKS 2013 air show, 27 August 2013, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Rosoboronexport JSC made a contract on a Sukhoi Superjet 100 in the VIP version. This is the first VIP derivative of the SSJ100 platform. The comfort comparable to that offered by much larger business aircraft is pro- vided by the optimal fuselage cross-section. The SSJ100 VIP’s cabin is designed to seat 19 passengers and divided into three func-

Marina Lystseva tional areas – a service section, a business sec- tion and a separate office. The cabin interior SSJ100 VIP version’s cabin interior was developed and manufactured by Russian and spacious lavatory (top) companies The plane is to be delivered before year- end. It is to be used in support of the military technical cooperation between the Russian Federation and other states. The first SSJ100 VIP designed for Rosoboronexport is a derivative of the third production-standard Sukhoi Superjet 100 (MSN 95009). Initially, it was supposed to become the second aircraft in the fleet of Armenian carrier , but its con- struction was suspended as far back as 2011 due to financial circumstances of the cus- tomer and has resumed in 2013 when a new application was found for it. The aircraft MSN 95009 conducted its maiden flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur on 29 June 2013,

Marina Lystseva after which it flew to Ulyanovsk on 5 July for customisation and then to 20 July to expected to commence in late 2015. The other close corporation on the promotion of the Zhukovsky where it was painted in its cur- contract stipulates the commencement of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 on the Russian and for- rent livery sporting the customer’s logo on deliveries of 15 SSJ100-95Bs for Southeast eign markets. Under the plan of the joint leas- the sides. Asian and Middle East customers starting ing company, up to 50 planes can be leased to The RusJet airline is said to be the operator from early 2015. Russian and other customers initially. of the aircraft, with the latter to be includ- Russian aircraft deliveries are going to In addition, SCAC and Lithuanian com- ed into the carrier’s air operator certificate. be funded under the governmental pro- pany AviaAM Leasing signed a letter of Until the procedure has not been complete, gramme on high-tech industrial product intent covering the funding and leasing of five the SSJ100 VIP airline holds temporary reg. export financial (guarantee) support. The SSJ100s. 97009. In this form, the aircraft was demon- government will provide guarantees to banks Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company crowned strated on the first day of the MAKS 2013 air extending credits to importers of Russian its participation in the business segment of show. The first SSJ100 VIP is due to start fly- products. MAKS 2013 with the signature of an agree- ing revenue operations next year. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 13 commercial aviation | interview

haul airliners would fit them best. A good case in point is the choice of the 93-seat SSJ100-95B by Mexican carrier Interjet. The very first month of the operation of Superjets highlighted their very high efficiency. IFC is Russia’s launch customer for the Canadian CSeries that has kicked off its trials, with plans providing for supplying it to foreign air carriers in the first place. What do you think is the plane’s competitive edge? Why did IFC choose it? Comparing the CSeries with the that has a similar seating capacity being a ‘shrink’ version of the A320 baseline model, one can easily notice that the European airliner is far heavier than the ‘Canadian’ is. The operational empty weight of the CSeries is as many as 12 t less! Along with lower fuel consumption, this has extended its range considerably. This is what can be achieved by skilful optimisation of a particular model with the 110–150-seat capacity. Other strengths of the CSeries are its cutting-edge technologies and avionics and excellent environmental friendliness that will remain the best one in the world in the near future. The heavily upgraded Brazilian IFC ENTERING E190 and E195 in the E2 advanced versions can put up competition to the CSeries on the 120–125-sweat aircraft market. However, the Brazilians have said they are not going to GLOBAL MARKET stretch their aircraft and are just improving the current designs to refine their fuel efficiency. Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC), which is going to mark its In other words, Embraer planes remain in 15th year on the aviation market, is known as a supplier of up-to-date Russian the regional airliner category, the traditional and Ukrainian-built airliners and freighters. IFC’s customers operating the Il-96, market segment of Brazilian aircraft. There Tu-204/214, An-148/158 and An-124 family aircraft now include Russian and some foreign carriers. In August this year, IFC supplied a customer with its 50th aircraft – will be some competition with the CS100, another An-158 intended for Cubana de Aviacion. probably. However, it is not expected to have As part of its efforts to step up its commercial aircraft leasing business, IFC an impact on us, because we have ordered has made a number of major contracts for advanced aircraft this year, having only the larger version, the CS300, and will become, inter alia, an early customer for advanced Bombardier CSeries airliner receive our aircraft three to four years before (32 CS300s have been ordered with 10 options). This is the first order a Russian the Embraer E2 models hit the market. leasing company has placed for foreign-made airliners. In addition, IFC’s With the commencement of the flight tests orderbook holds orders for 20 cutting-edge Russian-made SSJ100 regional of the CSeries, carriers have become keener jets, 50 prospective MC-21 short/medium-haul airliners, 20 An-158 regional on it. I guess aviation professionals keep an jets, Bombardier Q400 regional turboprops (Letter of Intent for 50 units has eye on the and Bombardier been made), etc. IFC plans to lease a sizeable number of the aircraft to foreign CSeries. The maiden flights of commercial carriers, thus having consolidated its positions on the international aircraft planes built from scratch do not happen leasing market. Stewart R. Cordner, foreign sales and marketing director, IFC, is very often, which turns them into world- in charge of this line of business. He agreed to take Take-off’s questions as to how IFC was going to promote aircraft on the global market. class events. Monitoring the news of flight tests, airline specialists take a great interest in Mr. Cordner, to which regions of the world CSeries are facing good prospects in Latin advanced aircraft, which makes it easier for us do you give priority? Where are you going to America and certain Asian nations. The thing to deal with them. export IFC-owned planes? is that there is a large gap between regional We had talked to potential customers prior Certainly, many Asian countries, no doubt, aircraft and narrowbodies from Airbus to the first flight of the CS100 prototype and are of interest to IFC. may well and Boeing. It is the niche the advanced afterwards and we noticed a keener interest in become very promising too, though Boeing aircraft models offered by IFC that should the CSeries. During talks, potential customers and Airbus aircraft dominate it so far. fill in nicely. We urge airlines to take a cold try to clarify points more often, and this Meanwhile, Boeing and Airbus are often hard look at them. Thorough analysis of signifies that the subject is of true interest to too big for them to be operated efficiently on the actual passenger traffic on the route them. Carriers are most interested in the fuel the current services. Therefore, we believe networks of numerous air companies has consumption data produced in the trials, and the advanced Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet shown that aircraft with the dimensions in Bombardier regularly provides IFC, one of 100 regional aircraft and the latest Canadian between regional and narrowbody medium- its first customers for the CSeries, with rather

14 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru commercial aviation | interview detailed information on the trials. We are The great marketing job done by of products enables it to offer carriers the pleased with the way the things are. At the Bombardier worldwide over the past several aircraft fleet management programmes tailored same time, no matter how much we want to years since the launch of the programme has to meet their needs. This is very important to get our planes as soon as possible, we should been very useful to us too. Therefore, many us, because such programmes make a carrier arm ourselves with patience. potential customers already know what they a long-term customer of ours and enable us to When is IFC going to start taking delivery can expect from the aircraft we offer them. cooperate with it for 10 years or longer. of its CSeries? Are you not concerned about You are promoting on the global market not Mr. Cordner, what does the Dubai show the teething troubles inherent in any radically only the CSeries but also advanced Russian mean to you? Why did you decide to participate innovative aircraft, the teething troubles your planes. IFC has recently ordered such aircraft in it proactively? customers are to encounter? from UAC’s subsidiaries – Sukhoi Civil The Dubai Airshow is considered to be the We would have never ordered early- Aircraft Company, the Irkut corporation and major Middle East air show and rightly so, and series aircraft, especially from a foreign Antonov as well… we regard the region as a very promising one manufacturer. We are not the launch The air carriers I deal with have been asking as far as the aircraft we offer are concerned. customer for the CSeries: there are several ever more often about the Sukhoi Superjet 100. IFC’s international department personnel carriers, including Lufthansa Group, Malmo This is due, probably, to the aircraft having been have started preparations for the event a long and airBaltic, that had ordered their planes certificated by several foreign states, particularly, time ago. We would not have ordered a chalet directly from the manufacturer and will Indonesia that ranks fourth in terms of population of our own at the show in Dubai, unless we receive them first. IFC’s turn will come some in the world and grows fast in economic terms. saw a sales market here, we would not have time by late 2015. The MC-21 ranks second as far as inquiries spent money, unless we hoped to recoup it. Lufthansa was first to ‘sign up’ for the by airlines are concerned. There has been a The Middle East is a growing market, with CSeries and has been proactive in its spike in the interest in it in the wake of several solvent demand bolstered by politics and an development. We know they can bring planes recent air shows, where its manufacturer said the excess of petrodollars. In addition, there are

to the right condition. Then there is Malmo. advanced aircraft’s operational costs would be many Soviet- and Russian-built aircraft here, The company’s owner runs operations himself, lower than those of the Airbus airliners, including transports in the first place, which excellently goes into detail and controls the expenditure the promising aircraft of the A320neo family. Also endure the harsh local basing conditions at of every cent. I think he will do his best so that we advise our foreign customers to take a closer austere dusty sand-covered airfields at high his aircraft fleet of 10 is like clockwork. Big look at the An-148/158 as well. Personally, I like ambient temperature. In possession of a carriers, such as Lufthansa, stake on large- the plane very much. wide range of products made up of the latest scale operation, while small airlines, e.g. At times, a potential customer first Russian, Ukrainian and Canadian aircraft, airBaltic, had to know operational economic considers a CSeries proposal, and thorough the Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing company has issues inside out. With customers like that, we comparative analysis reveals that the cat won’t opened new vistas on this market. feel confident. I hope the latest CSeries will jump. Then, we suggest the potential customer have been debugged and cured of all teething should assess the Superjet. Actually, we at IFC IFC’s future aircraft fleet as per contracts and agreements with manufacturers troubles possible by the time our turn comes. are interested in working with air carriers, Manufacturer Type Quantity IFC also is among the first leasing including swapping information and expertise Bombardier CS300 32 companies that have ordered the CSeries, and gained in the course of implementation of Bombardier Q400 50* the fact will give us extra competitiveness on aviation programmes. UAC (Irkut) MC-21-300 50 the market. Few will have been able to lease Such an exchange sometimes leads to a UAC (SCAC) SSJ100-95 (B, LR) 20 such aircraft prior to 2020. Talking with an better understanding of the targets and UAC (VASO) An-148 34** air carrier, we tell them that they will get their objectives of a carrier and enables us to come UAC (Aviastar) Tu-204SM 20* aircraft four years earlier, if they cooperate up with a better solution together. For instance, Antonov An-158 20*** with us, and that they will get a profit of $2 a solution may include the Superjet for the * LoI, MoU million to $5 million per annum from each of three to five years, followed by the larger CS300 ** 9 have been delivered. their planes during that period. or MC-21. A leasing company’s wide range *** 3 have been delivered. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 15 industry | news Il-76MD-90A commences its official tests

Built last year by the Aviastar-SP close corporation in Ulyanovsk, the first flying prototype of the upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A airlifter started flying under the official test pro- gramme in July 2013. Joint aircrews from the Defence Industry Chkalov State Flight Test Centre and Ilyushin JSC have been testing the Il-76MD-90A. Phase I of the official test programme com- prises comprehensive testing of the aircraft and its systems and equip- ment – the flight navigation suite, automatic flight control system, radio communications gear, etc. Phase I is slated for completion in November. Based on the outcome of the trials,

the customer will issue a preliminary Victor Druslyakov acceptance report clearing the full- rate production of the airlifter. suite, including the introduction of increase of the PS-90A-76 engine, clinched a deal for 156 PS-90A-76 The first flying prototype of the the ‘glass’ flight deck. A number of the range of the aircraft hauling engines worth in excess of 30 billion Il-96MD-90A (c/n 01-02) conduct- considerable design improvements 52 t of cargo was extended from rubles (approx $950 million) to fit ed its maiden flight in Ulyanovsk were introduced too. With the wing 4,000 km to 5,000 km. The higher the 39 Il-76MD-90As ordered by the on 22 September 2012 and then section and wing shape remaining thrust also afforded a takeoff/land- military. The Perm Engine Plant will was ferried to Zhukovsky on 30 unchanged, a new structural layout ing performance improvement, make and deliver the engines. The January 2013 for more tests. The was introduced: the wing panels with the length of the maximum first PS-90A-76s to be manufac- 19-sortie developmental testing became one-piece, they are made takeoff weight run dropping from tured to equip production-standard phase took place there between of long riveted stringer panels (pre- 1,750 m to 1,600 m. To facilitate Il-76MD-90As are planned for ship- 18 March and 21 May this year, viously, the stringers were milled the plane’s performance, its TA-6A ment before year-end. following which the plane was sub- together with the panels), and the was replaced Another order is due to be awarded jected to improvements and prepa- number of spars dropped from three with the more up-to-date TA-12A. by the government in the near future, ration for its flight trials. to two, ensuring a sizeable structural The Kupol-II analogue flight navi- this one for deriving a 30-ship batch The features setting the upgraded weight reduction and a manufactur- gation suite was ousted by the digi- of advanced tanker planes derived Il-76MD-90A apart from the II-76MD ability increase. tal Kupol-III-76M(A), and the digi- from the Il-76MD-90A and delivering earlier produced by Tashkent-based Owing to the advanced wing and tal SUA-76 automatic flight control them to the Russian Air Force. The TAPC corporation are its more reinforced , the maxi- system capable of ICAO Category II tanker plan derivative will be desig- powerful and efficient PS-90A-76 mum takeoff weight grew from landing approach and RNP and nated as Il-78M-90A. The construc- engines from the engine maker 190 t to 210 t and the maximum RVSM navigation replaced the ana- tion of the first flying prototype of in the city of Perm (the engines payload from 47 t to 60 t com- logue SAU-1T-2B. The traditional the aircraft has begun in Ulyanovsk. had been tested on Il-76MF and pared to the production-standard ‘steam-gauge’ instruments on the It is due to be complete before year- Il-76MD-90 prototypes by then) and Il-76MD previously built by TAPC. flight deck were succeeded by the end 2014. The Il-78M-90A’s official a substantial reshuffle of its avionics Owing to a 12% fuel efficiency KSEIS integrated electronic display trials are scheduled for 2015. Their and warning system, including eight completion will pave the way for the colour multifunction liquid-crystal type’s deliveries. In addition, plans displays. An advanced satellite navi- provide for manufacture of Il-76MD- gation system was furnished too. 90A airframes designed for subse- Now, Aviastar-SP is manufactur- quent conversion to special-purpose ing the first three production-stand- planes, in particular, new-generation ard Il-76MD-90As (c/n 01-03, 01-04, airborne early warning and control 01-05). Under the order the govern- aircraft. ment placed on 4 October 2012, 39 Defence Ministry plans also stipu- production-standard Il-76MD-90A late an upgrade of the in-service airlifters are to be delivered to the Il-76MD airlifter and Il-78M tanker Russian Defence Ministry before plane fleets under the Il-76MDM and 2020. The first two of them are to be Il-78M2 programmes respectively, delivered in 2014. with the programmes providing for On 10 July 2013, the United Engine the aircraft fleets’ avionics upgrade

Marina Lystseva Corp. and United Aircraft Corp. but no re-engining.

16 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Trials of Russian Defence Ministry’s first An-148

Another production-standard Antonov An-148 (side number 61718, c/n 41-05) made its first flight from the airfield of the VASO produc- tion plant (a subsidiary of UAC JSC) in Voronezh on 12 September 2013. The plane is the standard-issue An-148-100E passenger variant with 75 seats in economy class. It is the first in the series of aircraft under

the contract made by UAC and the Filatov Alexey Defence Ministry in May this year for 15 An-148s worth about 18 billion VASO is intent on completing the The test-flown An-148 (61718) tion of an An-148-100EA VIP plane rubles (about 1.2 billion rubles or assembly and flight-testing the sec- became the fourth aircraft for the Federal Security Service’s around $37.5 million apiece) and to ond An-148 for the Defence Ministry of the type, built by VASO this air arm at the same time with be delivered during 2013–17. before year-end. The May 2013 con- year. In 2013, an An-148-100EA finalizing the assembly of the sec- The new aircraft’s six-sortie facto- tract stipulates the delivery of one (RA-61720) VIP aircraft designed ond An-148-100E for the Defence ry test programme had been fulfilled An-148-100E in 2013, four in 2014 for the Rossiya special flight Ministry. by late September. In October, the and 2015 each and three in 2016 detachment and two An-148-100EM Late in September, a VASO plane has been painted and submit- and 2017 each. The efficient and (RA-61715 and RA-61717) con- spokesman said that the An-148 ted for the next stage of the trials, sturdy An-148 is gradually to replace vertible passenger/medevac planes orderbook comprised 16 firm comprising six acceptance sorties, the Defence Ministry’s Tu-134 jet have been flight-tested and deliv- orders, with a contract for two after which it will be delivered. The fleet, which full-rate production was ered earlier this year. Now, the more An-148-100Es for the delivery may be due in November. discontinued as far back as 1984. plant is completing the construc- airline being due soon. Another Il-96 is airborne

4 September 2013 saw the first Il-96-300s (RA-96014, RA-96017, Longer-term plans provide for to the ones operated by Rossiya flight of the new Ilyushin Il-96 RA-96018, RA-96019) and four VASO to continue to make about special aircraft detachment. The widebody aircraft (RA-96021, c/n special VIP planes (RA-96012, one Il-96 a year in various ver- remaining aircraft, including three 02021) in Voronezh. It is the sec- RA-96016, RA-96020, RA-96021) for sions for governmental agencies at Il-96-400T freighters delivered to ond aircraft of the Il-96-300PU(M1) top national officials. least until 2018–20. This will enable the Polyot carrier have been moth- variant, made for the Presidential According to the governmental pro- the manufacturer to preserve its balled. Also mothballed at the plant Administrative and General Services curement website (zakupki.gov.ru), widebody production capability in is the flight-tested fourth Il-96-400T Department under the contract the Presidential Administrative and the face of the current uncertainty that will be converted to a special- signed in May 2010. The first presi- General Services Department and of further deliveries of new Il-96 ized aircraft further down the line. dential aircraft manufactured under UAC made on 25 April 2013 another passenger and transport aircraft to Late September this year the contract, RA-96020, was made contract for two more Il-96s to be commercial customers. marked 25 years of the prototype by VASO last year and delivered to delivered to Rossiya prior to year- At present, six Il-96-300 long- Il-96-300’s maiden flight that took the Rossiya special aircraft detach- end 2015. One of them will be an haul airliners are operated by place on 28 September 1988. In all, ment in December 2012. Il-96-300 ‘Salon’ and the other will Aeroflot, three aircraft have been two prototypes and 25 production The new plane was completed and be in the presidential variant – the delivered to Cuba and one is in pro- Il-96 aircraft in various versions brought to the in-house flight test sta- Il-96-300PU(M1). totype testing by Ilyushin in addition have been built to date. tion for ground tests in late May. On the next day following the aircraft’s maiden flight, it was flown to the -Avia company in Ulyanovsk for its livery. It had been painted by 24 September, when RA-96021 came back to Voronezh and, on the same day, left for Ilyushin’s flight test and development base in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region. The plane is expected to launch operations before the end of the year and become the eighth Il-96 in service with Rossiya special aircraft detach-

ment that will operate four passenger Krasnov Nikolay www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 17 industry | news Mi-38 to enter full-rate production in two years

As many as two prototypes of the future Mil Mi-38 medium helicopter were displayed at the MAKS 2013 air show in August. Both sported a new Russian Helicopters corporate paintjob. One of them, the second flying prototype designated as OP-2 and powered by Canadian engines Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127TS, flew as part of the show’s flight dem- onstration programme and the other, the recently-made OP-3 powered by Russian-made TV7-117Vs,

was unveiled at a static display. The Yerokhin Yevgeny Canadian powerplant-equipped Mi-38 version is dubbed Mi-38-1 now and The very first prototype, OP-1, was als to the summer of last year and production. It is to be assembled the variant fitted with Russian-built converted to the Mi-38-2 variant then to 2013. Nonetheless, a stan- in January 2014. “The OP-4 stan- powerplant is known as Mi-38-2. with TV7-117V turboshafts, but the dard set of TV7-117V engines has dard helicopter will differ from the Only the Mi-38-1 (OP-2) has need of debugging the engines and been supplied to equip the Mi-38’s OP-3 prototype in a shockproof fuel been used in the flight tests so far. main gearbox put off its flight tri- third flying prototype built by Kazan system from Aerazur and larger Helicopters this spring. The engines windows”, Russian Helicopters told were mounted on the helicopter that Take-off. “The fourth prototype of is to start flying its test sorties this the Mi-38 will be the last of the pro- autumn. totypes, which tests are expected to Meanwhile, is produce the final data relevant to the manufacturing the Mi-38’s fourth launch of the helicopter’s commer- flying prototype (OP-4) intended to cial operation. The Mi-38 is slated to

Alexey Mikheyev Alexey serve the baseline model for full-rate enter full-rate production in 2015”. Russian Helicopters displays RACHEL

Probably, a most interest- operations. It will be furnished with will have taken two important deci- ter’s structural elements under the ing advanced programme of the a sophisticated avionics suite and sions on its powerplant. One is RACHEL programme. The testbed Russian Helicopters holding compa- a new-generation rotor system on the direction, in which engine’s is to have a modified airframe, an ny is the Future Medium Helicopter that, coupled with refined airframe power output will be – forwards advanced rotor system, VK-2500PS programme known also as RACHEL aerodynamics, will ensure efficient or rearwards. The other is who is engines, etc. As soon as next year, (Russian Advanced Commercial cruising flight at 360–380 km/h – going to be the developer. Two it is supposed to start test flights Helicopter), with the helicopter roughly a 50% increase in speed options are on the table. Either the designed to prove the feasibility expected to hit the market later in compared with today’s helicopters. RACHEL’s powerplant is going to of attaining a flight speed of 360– the decade and succeed to the most According to Russian Helicopters be developed by the Klimov com- 380 km/h through the use of the popular Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17 with the managers, the company’s scientific pany (possibly, in cooperation with solutions selected. passage of time. The demonstration and technical capabilities enable it Turbomeca), or two helicopter ver- The first RACHEL prototypes are model of the RACHEL was shown to develop a faster helicopter, but sions – one powered by Turbomeca planned for construction in 2016– at the air shows in Farnborough this would call for much higher engines and the other by Klimov 17, while the completion of the last year and Le Bourget in June R&D spending, while the resultant ones – will be offered to customers. new helicopter’s certification and 2013 and at MAKS 2013 in August machine would be in a different Now, a flying testbed is being commencement of its deliveries are as well. price niche. “We want a machine developed from the Mi-35 helicop- expected in 2018–20. The RACHEL advanced multi- for a wide range of users”, the purpose commercial helicopter is holding company’s managers say being designed in the 10–12-tonne to substantiate their choice of the class, i.e. it is similar enough to RACHEL concept, which emphasiz- the Mi-8/17 that are bestsellers on es, in the first place, the economic the market these days. RACHEL efficiency of the future helicopter baseline model is a multipurpose with a moderate speed increase of helicopter with a convertible cabin 25%, nonetheless. allowing efficient carriage of 21–24 The design of the future machine passengers or 3–4 t of cargo, is to be finalised prior to year-end

including doing so on offshore 2013. By the time, the designers Yerokhin Yevgeny

18 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Debut of Mi-171A2

Another debut at the recent MAKS Mi-171A1, built by the Ulan-Ude most widespread helicopter family grow from 230 km/h to 260 km/h and 2013 air show was made by the first Aviation Plant and certificated by the in the future. its range on its main fuel tanks will example of the heavily upgraded Mil IAC Aircraft Registry and Brazilian The upgraded machine features be extended from 715 km to 850 km. Mi-171A2 medium transport helicop- aviation authorities, was used for the sophisticated Klimov VK-2500PS-03 The upgraded rotorcraft will have a ter at the static display of the Russian upgrade. The programme is aimed at engines (emergency power rating – much-improved yawing stability and Helicopters holding company. a hefty increase in the performance 2,400 hp for 30 min and 2,700 hp an increased allowable crosswind The Mi-171 (Mi-8AMT) upgrade and a reduction in the maintenance for 2.5 min), the Safir 5K/G auxiliary speed allowing the machine to hover. programme was given the green and flight hour costs. The Mi-171A2 power unit, composite-blade rotor sys- The helicopter can operate within light by the holding company’s is supposed to serve the baseline tem, beefed-up powertrain, X-shaped the -50/+50°C ambient temperature management in March 2011. The production-standard model of the tail rotor and up-to-date KBO-17 bracket in any clime. avionics suite from Radioelectronic The operation of the machine will Technologies holding. change much. Plans provide for a The Mi-171A2’s maximal takeoff considerable extension of the assigned and landing weight totals 13,000 kg life and time between overhauls of the (with cargo slung underbelly – helicopter and its systems, with the 13,500 kg). The machine hauls switch to on-condition maintenance 4,000 kg of cargo inside the cabin further down the road. and 5,000 kg of cargo on the under- The flight tests of the first Mi-171A2 belly sling. The Mi-171A2’s pas- (OP-1) are planned for this autumn, senger variant can be fitted with 26 while the completion of its certifica- standard or 18 crashworthy seats. tion tests and the issuance of its type The Mi-171A2 will feature a maxi- certificate are slated for late 2014, with mum speed increase from 250 km/h the full-rate production and deliveries

Yevgeny Yerokhin Yevgeny to 280 km/h. Its cruising speed will scheduled for 2015. Certification of hydromechanical control system-equipped Ansat

As many as four versions of the pavilion sat the fifth Ansat prototype performance. “Not to depend on the CT236-Ansat/D03 on 22 August Ansat helicopter were shown at the (PT-05) sporting a zebra-like black- timeline of the certification of the 2013. The certificate was presented static display during the recent MAKS and-white paintjob and a medical KSU-A-fitted Ansat, we decided to to the developer’s representatives in 2013 air show. The Ansat powered module of the medevac version. offer a helicopter equipped with the a ceremony during MAKS-2013. by Canadian PW207K engines and In 2007–10, Kazan Helicopters traditional hydromechanical control According to expert estimates, the furnished with the advanced KSU-A heavily modified the baseline FBW system on the world market”, says upgraded Ansat features a consider- fly-by-wire control system has been control system-equipped model Kazan Helicopters Director General able competitive edge over its rivals in full-rate production by Kazan to meet the then-latest certification Vadim Ligai. in the class, for the machine is reliable Helicopters since 2004. The first six requirements. Its efforts resulted in the The certification of the hydro- and easy to operate, can be used in production-standard machines have Ansat-K variant certificated in March mechanical control system-fitted various climes within a wide tem- been exported to South Korea. Having 2010 by the IAC Aircraft Registry for Ansat, which involved two proto- perature bracket and does not have passed its official tests in 2008, the limited operation, such as cargo haul- types (PT-07 and PT-08) kicked off to be sheltered in a hangar. The latest Ansat-U trainer, fitted with the twin age and aviation works, but not pas- in 2011 and resulted in success this Ansat variant has been unveiled by the controls and wheeled landing gear and senger flights. An aircraft of the type summer. The IAC Aircraft Registry Russian Helicopters holding company developed for the Russian Air Force, was delivered to the Tatarstan Police issued the Ansat’s hydromechani- at key markets, including CIS member

entered full-scale production in 2009. Air detachment in 2011. cal control system-equipped version states and Southeast Asian, African min o

To date, the Defence Ministry has Since helicopters equipped with with Type Certificate Supplement and Latin American countries. F ey r taken delivery of as many as 18 the fly-by-wire control system have d An production-standard Ansat-Us fielded not been certificated anywhere in the with the Syzran affiliate of the Air world yet, there are no basic stan- Force Academy that specialises in dards to such sophisticated system helicopter pilot training for the Air in the world. Therefore, to speed up Force. Under the contract effective the machine’s hitting the global mar- until 2018, the deliveries proceed at a ket, a decision was taken to adjust rate of six units a year. Another batch the Ansat programme with respect is due for delivery in November. to the current requirements to the Two Ansat-Us were shown at static traditional helicopter hydromechani- displays by the Russian Air Force cal control system. The hydrome- and Russian Helicopters, where a chanical control system introduc- VIP variant was demonstrated too. At tion did not increase the machine’s

the display area near Oboronprom’s takeoff weight, no did it altered its Mikheyev Alexey www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 19 industry | news Rysachok for commuter airlines and for the military

of a low-rate initial production batch of five production-standard Rysachoks. The Rysachok’s second flying pro- totype (778) flew in the demonstration programme of this year’s air show, while the third prototype (c/n 00-03, side number 779) sporting a camou- flage pattern and even the Russian Air Force insignia was shown at static display. The military nature of the pro- totype was emphasized by two B8-S7

Alexey Mikheyev Alexey rocket pods housing seven 80-mm rockets each, which were attached to As many as two examples of the but the developer and manufacturer trials, the aircraft then was handed over the fuselage weapons stores. advanced Rysachok light twin-tur- carried on with the trials and construc- to the developer – the Moscow-based In addition to the three flying pro- boprop plane took part in the recent tion of planes of the type at their own Technoavia company – for certification totypes, the plant in has built MAKS 2013 air show. The aircraft was expense to promote the type on com- flight tests in the Gromov LII Flight a static test prototype (c/n 00-02) developed by the Technoavia scientific muter lines and to other interested par- Research Institute. The ferry flight of the that has undergone its structural and design company in Moscow and ties, including the Russian Emergencies first Rysachok (side number 777) from tests at TsAGI since summer 2010; manufactured by the TsSKB-Progress Ministry and Defence Ministry. Samara to LII’s airfield in Zhukovsky an aircraft for endurance tests company in Samara under the con- The Rysachok’s first flying prototype took place on 3 June 2011. (c/n 00-04) has been built too. tract made with the Russian Transport (c/n 00-01) made its maiden flight from In June 2011, TsSKB-Progress Powered by two M-61F turboprops Ministry in June 2007 for the develop- the Bezymyanka airfield in Samara on assembled the second flying proto- each rated at 750 hp, the Rysachok’s ment of an advanced trainer for civil 3 December 2010. The debugging and type (c/n 00-03). Following its early baseline model carries 10 passengers aviation flight schools. Afterwards, the factory test phase was completed in test flights in Samara and its being or 1,570 kg of cargo, or 15 para- ministry decided not to acquire the Samara six months later, and, based on painted at the Spektr-Avia company in troops or six casualties on stretchers Rysachok and to cancel the contract, the results produced in the preliminary Ulyanovsk, the aircraft (side number and a medic. The aircraft also can 778) came to LII’s airfield on 23 July be used in the patrol, search-and- 2011. Both were displayed at the rescue, aerial photography and other MAKS 2011 air show. roles. Technoavia let it be known at The Rysachok’s certification tests MAKS 2013 that it had been developing commenced at LII in spring this year. a stretched version of the Rysachok The head of Technoavia, Chief Designer designed for seating 16 passengers on Vyacheslav Kondratyev had said in the commuter services. The construction run-up to MAKS 2013 that the tests of a prototype of the version has begun. were to be completed in 2014. TsSKB- The LRIP planes will be equipped with

Yevgeny Yerokhin Yevgeny Progress has started the construction advanced Czech-made H80 engines. An-140T – ramp-equipped version of regional airliner

During the MAKS 2013 air Samara-based Aviakor plant to The ramp-fitted An-140T freight- which subsidiary the Aviakor air- show, one could for the first time the Russian Defence Ministry as a er differs from the An-26 in carry- craft plant is, 160–170 An-140-100 see the Antonov state company’s light airlifter to replace the An-26, ing capacity that has grown from aircraft in the passenger or convert- ramp-fitted version of the An-140 which service life is about to 5,500 kg to 6,000 kg, range that has ible versions and 80–90 planes in turboprop regional passenger expire and which production was doubled (1,860 km with a 5-tonne the An-140T ramp-equipped trans- aircraft offered by Antonov and discontinued in 1984. cargo) and a 30–50% increase in port version and in special variants fuel efficiency. Its 10.2-m-long may be needed in Russia and other cargo hold has a cross-section of CIS countries until 2020. 2.28x1.78 m (the An-26 has that of Nonetheless, the future of the 2.3x1.735 m) and can carry stan- An-140T is hazy. The Russian dard combat gear, 36 paratroops, Defence Ministry is known to have 50 infantrymen or 24 casualties mulled over two aircraft offered as on stretchers in addition to a wide the future light airlifter and opted range of standard general cargo for resuming the development of (four LD-1, six LD-2 or five LD-3 the Ilyushin Il-112V, which produc- containers, etc.). tion is planned to be launched by According to experts with the Voronezh-based VASO, a subsidiary

Andrey Fomin Russian Machines corporation, of the United Aircraft Corp.

20 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Q400 to be made in Russia in the end?

tion in the price of Russian planes”, assembly localization in Russia is said Alexei Fyodorov, managing slated for 2015 and airframe com- director for aviation programmes, ponent localisation for 2016. The Rostec. “We are discussing the feasi- maximal planned Q400 assembly bility of setting up a joint venture that capacity of the plant in Ulyanovsk will embody the future of Russian will stand at 24 aircraft a year. turboprop regional aviation”. In addition to the document signed, Rostec and Bombardier’s joint ven- Rostec and Bombardier struck an ture will be a 50:50 enterprise. The agreement on the tentative order of state corporation will build a manufac- 50 Q400s, with the agreement signed turing plant in the Ulyanovsk Airport by Rostec’s subsidiary Aviakapital- Special Economic Zone in 2014. Its Service. As arranged by the parties, investment in the program will total the agreement will firm up into a about $100 million. Bombardier will full-fledged contract once the joint

Marina Lystseva provide all relevant nonmaterial assets, venture has been established. such as production technology, design Another procurement agreement During the MAKS 2013 air show, Rostec plans to launch the assembly documentation, intellection property for 50 Q400s was signed by the the Rostec state corporation and as soon as 18 months. rights and knowhow. Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing com- Canadian company Bombardier “The implementation of the pro- The letter of intent stipulates pany. Under the agreement, Ilyushin signed a letter of intent on setting up gramme in cooperation with our phased implementation of joint Finance Co. is going to buy 50 planes a joint venture in Russia to manufac- potential partner, Bombardier, would efforts. It planned that at the initial from the Russian-Canadian joint ture 78-seat Bombardier Q400 tur- facilitate the renovation of the air- stage the production will be fully venture to be set up. The overall boprop regional planes. According to craft fleets of Russian air carriers, handled by Bombardier in Canada, value of the firm order, which could expert estimates, the plane’s market enhancement of Russian aircraft and the plant in Ulyanovsk will only be signed in case the agreement is capacity in Russia and other CIS safety, introduction of more flexible customize planes to the require- implemented, will be $1.695 billion nations will exceed 250 until 2030. regional traffic pricing and a reduc- ments of its customers. Aircraft in catalogue prices. Austrian ‘diamonds’ of Russian cut

A key line of the recent MAKS government in localising products 19 seats at the Le Bourget air said Rostec Director for Aviation 2013 air show was the display of major foreign manufacturers. show in June 2013. Programmes Alexei Fyodorov. by foreign companies of their A number of foreign companies The agreement provides for The nine-seat LMS-9 powered products intended for the Russian have voiced their proposals. The phased cooperative work ranging by a pair of E-8 diesel engines small aircraft market. Over the programme pursued by the Rostec from UWCA’s learning to assemble rated at 440 hp each will have past couple of years, the Russian government-owned corporation the current DAI four-seaters – the a maximum takeoff weight of government has attended to the and Austrian company Diamond single-engine DA40 and the twin- 3,500 kg, while the takeoff weight development of commuter air- Aircraft Industries (DAI) faces engine DA42 – to development of the 19-seat LMS-19 powered by lines and started paying closer good prospects of gaining a slice and productionising of advanced a pair of 700-hp engines will equal attention to general aviation. With of the market, with the programme larger models – a nine-seater and 6,400 kg. The maximum cruising no competitive offers from the picking up pace real quick. a 19-seater. At the final phase, all speed of both models will account domestic aircraft industry, foreign The Ural Works of Civil Aviation components of the light planes for 440 km/h, and the flight altitude aircraft are going to dominate the (a subsidiary of Rostec, UWCA) and their diesel engines ranging in will stand at 8,200 m. The LMS-9 Russian market of small commer- and DAI signed an agreement on power from 190 hp to 600 hp are burning 85 kg of fuel per hour will cial aircraft. A solution to learn- co-production and co-develop- to be made by UWCA in Russia. be able to fly fully-loaded out to ing the ropes in advanced small ment of a family of light multi- The first plane is expected to start 1,500 km, while the LMS-19 with a plane construction is seen by the purpose planes for four, nine and flying commercial operations as 140-kg/h fuel consumption out to soon as late 2016. According to the 1,335 km. The price of the planes parties, the capacity of the Russian is estimated to be $2.5 million and market of such aircraft is at least $3.75 million respectively. 200 units. The light four-seat DA40 and Details on the models slated DA42 aircraft are known in Russia for development were offered at well enough now. They received MAKS 2013. “We want to pro- their type certificates from the mote on the market the planes IAC Aircraft Registry in October with composite airframes, powered 2008. For instance, the Russian by diesel engines burning avgas. Transport Ministry buys them for These solutions will ensure a use as trainers for civil aviation

Yevgeny Yerokhin Yevgeny 2.5-times fuel consumption drop”, future pilots. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 21 industry | news Sukhoi supersonic bizjet

The visitors of the recent MAKS however, they failed to find inter- 2013 air show never failed to pay national partners or investors for attention to the unusual outlines of a their programmes. Moreover, it supersonic bizjet model exhibited at dawned on them that none of the the Sukhoi stand in UAC’s pavilion. then designs was able to produce At present, the programme is being acceptable sonic boom and takeoff/ pursued by a team led by Vladimir landing noise level characteristics. Titov, chief of the design depart- This made the designers seek ment of a subsidiary of the Sukhoi innovative aerodynamic configura- company – the Advanced Sukhoi tions for their supersonic bizjet. At the Civil Technologies close corporation. turn of the century, Sukhoi and TsAGI As is known, the Sukhoi design came up with an advanced ‘tri-plane’ bureau launched research into super- airframe configuration featuring a sonic bizjets as far back as 25-plus long spindle-shaped fuselage with years in an attempt at diversifying its the circular cross-section, trapezoid range of products against the back- wing, large leading-edge root exten- drop of a drop in Defence Department sions (LERXs), horizontal tail and orders expected even then. The canards with a small canard-to-wing design bureau and US company area ratio. The supersonic bizjet with Gulfstream Aerospace pooled their the 52-tonne takeoff weight had two supersonic bizjet development efforts engines mounted under wing. The in 1989, which led to the emergence sophisticated aerodynamic configura- of the Gulfstream-VI-Su and, later, the tion slashed the maximal shock wave S-21G. Gulfstream Aerospace pulled overpressure and sonic boom volume out of the programme in 1992, while down to 74 dBA. Sukhoi carried on with the research Further painstaking consistent paid for by Russian investors, nev- modifications to the plane’s base- ertheless. In all, about 60 supersonic line configuration have resulted in

bizjet aerodynamic configuration vari- a radical revamp of its exterior. In Andrey Fomin ants (tailless, canards, tri-plane) pow- particular, to maximize the time ered by various numbers of engines separation between the fuselage (two, three or four) were consid- sonic boom and wing sonic boom, ered, with the dimensions and take- the wing was shifted rearwards and off weight growing steadily – from given the swept configuration, lead- 35 t of the Gulfstream-VI-Su to 52 t ing edge kink, span-wise V-shape of the latest versions of the S-21. and complex twist. A large part

Supersonic bizjet models were tested of the fuselage nose section was Andrey Fomin in TsAGI’s and SibNIA’s wind tun- shaped like a cone, and the fuselage nels. Later on, the supersonic bizjet itself, measuring about 45 m, was From 2005 to 2009, Sukhoi supersonic bizjet, a 24-seat super- programme, renamed SSBJ (Sukhoi given curved sides, which allowed Civil Aircraft Company, teamed sonic ‘business taxi’ and superson- Supersonic ), was hand- the N-shaped sonic boom shock- up with TsAGI and TsIAM, offered ic airliners for 50 and 100 seats. ed by the Sukhoi design bureau over wave of the 52-tonne aircraft to be its supersonic bizjet design for However, their future is hinged on to the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company transformed into a multiple pressure use under the European Union’s three basic factors (the same goes and then to Advanced Sukhoi Civil surge shockwave, thus reducing the HISAC (Environmentally Friendly for the rest of supersonic bizjet Technologies. design overpressure in both pres- High Speed Aircraft) programme and supersonic passenger aircraft Virtually at the time with the sure surges and the cruising sonic on comprehensive research into programmes). The first one is the kickoff of the S-21 programme, the boom volume down to 65–67 dBA. supersonic bizjet problems and emergence of acceptable supersonic development of the 50-seat 90-tonne Two variants of mounting the super- development feasibility. It is the bizjet sonic boom volume interna- S-51 supersonic passenger aircraft sonic bizjet’s engines are on the configuration from SCAC, TsAGI tional standards that neither FAA, began, albeit at a far slower pace. table. One provides for the engines and TsIAM that was selected for not ICAO is prepared to consider It was reported in the late ’90 that to be housed by under-wing engines further research under the pro- until a supersonic demonstrator of the Sukhoi design bureau and TsAGI nacelles and the other for mounting gramme. sonic boom reduction technology is were pursuing a joint programme them as a pack in the tail section The supersonic bizjet model dis- developed. The second factor is the on developing the 70-tonne MSDS to reduce drag and environmental played at the MAKS 2013 air show devising of supersonic bizjet certifi- intercontinental supersonic busi- noise. The Rolls-Royce RR260 and is merely part of the supersonic cation airworthiness standards. The ness jet designed to carry eight to RR557 , which are still on passenger aircraft family being con- third one, naturally, is funding, for ten passengers in business class the drawing board, and variants of sidered by Advanced Sukhoi Civil the efforts are to be to the tune of or 30 in economy class. Despite Russian engines have been mulled Technologies now. The family com- hundreds of millions dollars or even the pins taken by the designers, over as the powerplant for the bizjet. prises at this point of an 8–10-seat billions of dollars…

22 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Debut of PD-14

The focus of the United Engine eters in February 2013, and the be on a par with the best foreign and mechanical equipment. Its Corporation’s exposition in third phase of the trials, which designs equipped with the FADEC time before first overhaul will be Oboronprom’s pavilion during the included, inter alia, the engine’s and lacking any hydromechanical 20,000 h. The DT-14 fuel meter- MAKS 2013 air show in August operation in takeoff mode, was backup. ing unit handles the metering of was the advanced PD-14 engine – conducted in July. The design of the PD-14’s auto- fuel to the engine on a signal from the first one of the future family of JSC Deputy Director matic control system began to the electronic controller and con- engines in the 9–18-tonne class, General Igor Maximov, dual-hatted clarify in 2011, and the early sets trols the compressor’s mechanical being developed by the Perm- as chief designer of the PD-14 of units were manufactured a year equipment and the heat exchang- based engine maker in conjunc- engine family, said at MAKS 2013 later. The automatic control system ers. The DT-14’s time between tion with other UEC subsidiaries that the engine demonstrator had of the PD-14 engine consists of overhauls is set at 40,000 h. For to fit the MC-21 short/medium- logged 78 hours in 134 cycles by the RED-14 electronic controller, the first time in Russian aggre- haul airliner, future MTA medium August 2013 and the demonstra- BN-14 pump unit and DT-14 fuel gate industry, Category B interna- transport aircraft and other appli- tion core engines had accumulated metering unit. tional fire resistance requirements cations. Previously, only PD-14 over 115 hours in 173 cycles. The key component of the (the ability to enable the engine’s scale models and mock-ups had The most important component PD-14’s control system is the aggregates to operate for 5 min in been displayed at shows, a full- of the PD-14’s competitive edge RED-14 electronic controller per- the face of the engine fire) have scale engine demonstrator was is the engine’s up-to-date con- forming integrated all-mode control been applied to hydromechanical unveiled to aviation experts and trol systems being developed and of the engine, enforcing the param- aggregates. enthusiasts this time around. made by STAR JSC in the city of eter limits, conducting engine diag- Basic components of the PD-14’s Its first start-up took place in Perm. nostics and protection, and swap- control system were unveiled at June 2012, and the first phase of Aviadvigatel JSC as prime con- ping the data with other systems MAKS 2013. This year, a RED-14 indoors test bench trials had been tractor for the PD-14 develop- of the aircraft and its engine. The electronic controller certification completed by August last year, ment set rather tough require- share of advanced Russian-made request is to be submitted to the with the engine demonstrator’s ments to the characteristics of parts and electronic components in IAC Aircraft Registry. The control- basic operating modes tested. the future automatic control sys- the controller has been maximized. ler is to pass the whole set of A year ago, in September 2012, tem. Particularly, the engine’s The RED-14’s time before first over- certification trials during 2014–15 the PD-14 engine demonstrator time between overhauls and time haul will be 40,000 h. and to enter full-rate production in (No. 100-01) passed its outdoors before failure were to be extended The BN-14 pump unit compris- 2016 or in 2017. test bench trials phase, during by far. The weight of the control ing a booster pump and a gear type The PD-14’s chief designer Igor which its acoustic characteristics system’s units was to be slashed pump is being developed with the Maximov said at MAKS 2013 that were gauged. The second engine drastically – halved – compared use of high-strength wear-resist- the PD-14 (No. 100-03) proto- demonstrator passed the tests of to in-service examples. Overall, ant materials. The BN-14 supplies type is to be prepared for tests its basic thermodynamic param- the flight control system was to fuel to the engine, automatics this autumn. The prototype will be used for testing STAR’s latest control system and proving its performance capability. Another PD-14 prototype, No. 100-04, is slated for assembly in December. Its configuration will feature the maximized resemblance to that of future production-standard engines of the type. The prototype will be employed for checking the operation of all systems and units of the advanced powerplant. The flight tests of a prototype PD-14 on the Il-76LL flying test- bed are to kick off in less than a year – in September 2014, with the first flight of the MC-21 aircraft powered by PD-14 engines being planned for November 2015 now. It is expected that the PD-14 will wrap up its certification tests and get its type certificate from the IAC Aircraft Registry in December 2015 and then get its EASA certificate in September 2017, as its developer

Yevgeny Yerokhin Yevgeny has planned. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 23 industry | programme

Andrey FOMIN Photos by Alexey Mikheyev KA-62 KICKS OFF ITS TRIALS The first flying prototype of the cutting-edge Ka-62 multipurpose medium The Ka-62 features a single-rotor helicopter was in the limelight of the recent MAKS 2013 air show in late August. configuration uncharacteristic of the aircraft The latest machine from the Russian Helicopters holding company has a takeoff developed by the Kamov company. It is weight of 6.5 t and is designed to seat up to 15 passengers or haul 2,000 kg of equipped with a multi-bladed shrouded cargo (2,500 kg under-slung). In addition, provision was made for the Ka-62 to be tail rotor. The use of the single-rotor used in the search-and-rescue (SAR), medevac, patrol, trainer and other roles. configuration is due to the need of high The Arsenyev-based Progress aircraft production plant has completed the speed – a cruising speed of 290 km/h and a assembly of the first Ka-62 flying prototype in the summer of this year. On the eve of MAKS 2013, the machine had been airlifted to Kamov’s facility in the Moscow maximum speed of 308 km/h. The machine Region, where it has been groomed for its flight tests. The Ka-62 is slated for her relies heavily on polymer composites totaling maiden flight in November this year, with the deliveries to commence in 2015. in excess of 50% of the structural materials used in it. The Ka-62 advanced multirole medium engine and transmission, which were never The Ka-62 has been the Russian Helicopters helicopter development programme remains brought up to snuff, remained its weakness. As a holding company’s first programme high on the Russian Helicopters holding result, the Russian Defence Ministry decided to implemented through extensive international company’s priority list in the 6–7-tonne takeoff pull the plug on funding the Ka-60 programme cooperation with EU partners that supplied weight class. From the outset, the Ka-62 was in summer 2010. Nonetheless, the ministry individual units and assemblies. For instance, conceived as a commercial variant of the remains keen on helicopters in the class. It has the Ka-62 is powered by advanced Ardiden Army’s Ka-60 multirole helicopter, which first taken a decision to acquire a ‘militarised’ version 3G engines from French company Turbomeca prototype first flew as far back as December of the advanced commercial Ka-62 being and fitted with a powertrain from Austrian 1998. The second example was made in the derived from the Ka-60 in compliance with company Zoerkler Gears GmbH & Co. as Ka-60U trainer version in 2007. The helicopter the most stringent international commercial well as a fuel system from France’s Zodiac was repeatedly improved. However, its RD-600V helicopter certification standards. Aerospace.

24 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | programme

While resembling the tested military Ka-60, the commercial Ka-62 features a number of substantial modifications. Firstly, its powerplant, rotor system and powertrain have been modified. The main rotor has got five blades, and the introduction of Turbomeca Ardiden 3G engines with the 1,780-hp takeoff power (1,940 hp at emergency power rating) has resulted in a modified shape of the engine nacelles. Austria’s Zoerkler has been selected to develop and supply the powertrain, including the main and tail gearboxes. Secondly, the transparency of the passenger cabin has increased considerably, with every side windows being dual-hatted as an emergency exits for safe exit in case of an emergency and roll-over. For the same purpose, comfortable passenger seats have been set three abreast. Thirdly, the landing gear has been designed semi-retractable into the fairings on the sides of the airframe and under the tailboom. Russian company Transas has been developing an avionics suite to fit the Ka-62. The aircraft has the ‘glass’ cockpit, with the pilot occupying the right seat. A long-term deal for 308 Ardiden 3G engines was struck by Russian Helicopters www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 25 industry | programme

Basic characteristics of the Ka-62 helicopter Main rotor diameter, m 13.8 Helicopter length without the main rotor, m 13.5 Helicopter length with the main rotor turning, m 15.7 Full height, m 4.87 Maximal takeoff weight, kg 6,500 Maximal load weigh, kg: - internal 2,100 - under-slung 2,500 Maximal speed, km/h 308 Cruising speed, km/h 290 Service ceiling, m 5,700 Static ceiling, m 3,300 Range, km: - on the basic fuel load 770 - ferry 1,145 Endurance, h 4.2 Engines Ardiden 3G Power, hp: - takeoff 2x1,780 - at emergency power rating 2x1,940 Cabin dimensions, m 4.1x1.75x1.3 Crew 1–2 Passengers 12–15 and Turbomeca in April 2011, and the parties assembly. The fourth prototype is to join them On 27 August, the first day of MAKS 2013, signed an agreement on 19 May of the same under the test programme in 2014. Aspiring Russian Helicopters clinched another deal year for production of the first batch totaling 40 plans of Russian Helicopters provide for the for advanced helicopters, when Colombian engines of the type. The helicopter developer completion of the Ka-62 certification tests company Vertical de Aviacion ordered five had taken delivery of the first two of them by by the end of next year so that deliveries can Kamov Ka-62s and five Mil Mi-171A1s. The the summer this year and used them to equip begin early in 2015. Ka-62s are to be operated in support of the so-called “iron bird” – a Ka-62 example As is known, the launch customer for the the Colombian oil industry. Their delivery is designed for ground tests of the powerplant, Ka-62 is Brazilian company Atlas Taxi Aereo planned to commence in 2016. powertrain, rotor system and other systems. that placed an order with Russian Helicopters Time will tell whether the manufacturer This summer, two engines to fit the first flying for seven units with seven options on 14 can stick to the tough schedule and what prototype were delivered from France and the December 2012. The contract was signed slice of the market will be grabbed by first several powertrain sets were supplied by within the framework of Brazilian President the Ka-62. So far, it is the fact that the Austria’s Zoerkler. Dilma Vana Rouseff’s visit to Russia. Under eye-catching Ka-62 full-scale mockup, The preparations of the first flying Ka-62 the contract, the first two Ka-62s are to be which made its debut at the HeliRussia prototype for flight tests began right after delivered as soon as the first quarter of 2015. in May 2012 and was later shown at the the aircraft had taken part in MAKS 2013. Four helicopters more are to be shipped Farnborough air show and this summer’s The machine is slated for its maiden flight to Brazil before year-end 2015, with the Le Bourget air show, has attracted keen in November. Two more flying prototypes seventh, and the last, Ka-62 to follow suit attention of onlookers and potential are supposed to be built before year-end. As in the first quarter of 2016. The Ka-62s are customers. No doubt, the display of the of late summer, the second flying prototype intended for use in Brazil as part of offshore first Ka-62 flying prototype at MAKS 2013 was sitting in an assembly jig in the town of operations in support of Brazil’s national oil has only stoked the interest in the latest Arsenyev, and the third one was in aggregate company Petrobras. programme of Russian Helicopters.

26 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru advertisement industry | news Second wind of Yak-40

Implementing the Soviet-built The ouster of the AI-25 by the SibNIA unveiled its An-2 and Yak- 10 years. According to Russia’s aircraft re-engining concept, the TFE731 will make the airliner compli- 40 re-engining programmes, it was Federal Air Transport Agency, Siberian Aviation Research Institute ant with the ICAO Chapter 4 noise noted that upgrading the planes and 37 Yakovlev Yak-40s in August 2013 named after S.A. Chaplygin (SibNIA) standard and ICAO 2008 emission restoring their airworthiness was were entered into the register of exhibited its Yak-40 (side number standard and ensure a 25–30% aver- the most efficient way to beef up the Russian air carriers certificated for 87216) flying testbed at the stat- age fuel consumption reduction and aircraft fleets of commuter airlines commercial operations. ic display area of the MAKS 2013 a range extension of 1.5–2 times. quickly. Modification of 100–200 The lack of the type certificate in August. The upgrade package According to a SibNIA booklet, the Yak-40s would make up for the could limit the commercial operation devised by the institute for the com- Western engine’s introduction will passenger carriage capacity short- of re-engined Yak-40s considerably. muter passenger plane provides for allow a maximal payload increase age and alleviate the problem for The talks with the Yakovlev design replacing its obsolete gas guzzlers – from 2,300 kg to 3,200 kg, a fuel the coming five to seven years, bureau are at the design docu- AI-25 turbofans of the 1,500-kgf burn reduction from 1,150 kg/h to thus allowing the development of mentation elaboration stage. SibNIA thrust – with 1,700-kgf Honeywell 620 kg/h, a cruising speed increase an advanced replacement for the believes that the “Certification TFE731 turbofans powering the from 510 km/h to 590 km/h, a cruis- Yak-40. According to SibNIA, air and airworthiness maintenance of BAe 125, Cessna Citation III and ing altitude hike from 7 km to 9 km carriers in various countries operate attested aircraft lacking type certifi- IV, Dassault Falcon 50, Learjet 55, and a maximum range extension from some 300 Yak-40s, of which around cates” federal aviation regulations Lockheed Jetstar, etc. 2,200 km to 5,100 km. 100 are used in Russia. Most of should be worked out. The new To date, two US-made engines Several companies have shown these planes could be re-engined regulations might be published in have been mounted on the Yak-40 interest in Yak-40 re-engining. with their service life extension for late 2013. flying testbed and connected to the Besides, the seven aircraft of the organic electrical and hydraulic sys- type in SibNIA’s aircraft fleet can be tems as well as air conditioning and upgraded in this manner. If TFE731s anti-icing system. The central engine are leased, the Yak-40 re-engining of the plane remains organic so far. per-unit price stands at $500,000. If The powerplant instrument panel has second-hand engines are bought on been replaced, but the original design the market, the price will grow up of the engine controls has been pre- to $1.2 million. If they are bought served. and their time between overhauls is The Yak-40’s first flight follow- extended, they will cost up to $2.5 mil- ing the replacement of one of its lion per engine set. “The re-engining AI-25s with a TFE731 took place on expenses will pay off within a year 8 December 2012 and after fitting and a half after the re-engining”, says with a second US-made engine on Vladimir Barsuk. “Owing to an up-to- 20 May 2013. “By late November, date powerplant, the plane’s range on we are going to replace the cen- a fuel load of 6 t extends to 4,500 km; tral engine as well”, SibNIA Director thus, the Yak-40 will be able to fly Vladimir Barsuk told Take-off. “The from Novosibirsk to Moscow. This fuel consumption rate achieved has brings it on a new level of commercial inspired us: it is about 840 kg/h at operations”. Compared to the ‘legacy’ an altitude of 7,500 m and at a speed Yak-40, the re-engined version will of 540 km/h and about 780 kg/h at see its flight hour cost dropping by a speed of 500 km/h. The fuel burn $560–820 depending on the upgrade drop equaling virtually 30% is a cause variant selected. for confidence”. As is known, during the Gidro-

The test results have shown a a viasalon 2012 air show where Artyom Korenyako twofold reduction in the takeoff run compared with that of the production- standard Yak-40, a 1.5-fold drop in the time and fuel consumption during climb, a twofold fuel consumption reduction during landing approach and a reduction in the landing roll by 1.25–1.5 times. The flying test- bed’s developmental tests are to be completed in late 2013, after which the institute is ready to launch the upgrade of the in-service Yak-40s, which production was terminated as

far back as 1981. Andrey Fomin

28 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Kaleidoscope of re-engined An-2s in Zhukovsky

type certificate. The FAR is due in late 2013. In this respect, the famous biplane’s re-engined variant offered by the Antonov state com- pany and the Motor Sich joint stock company could have much more easier way to its potential customers. Antonov’s re-engined An-2 is designated An-2-100 and powered by the MS-14 tur- boprop made in Zaporozhnye (the IAC Aircraft Registry issued the engine with Type Certificate ST343-AMD on 28 August 2013). holds the proprietary

Andrey Fomin rights for the An-2. Therefore, the re-engined An-2-100 sport- Owing to the continued revival seats, a folding seat, luggage racks An-2’s TPE331 engines in Russia, ed its usual national registration of local air services in Russia, and even a dry closet. transitional gradually from line UR-EXB during its demonstration the display ground of the recent SibNIA Director Vladimir Barsuk maintenance to overhaul. In May flights during MAKS 2013. The MAKS 2013 air show featured told Take-off that the development 2013, US instructors trained the first An-2-100, equipped with the small planes more than ever. The tests of the An-2MS were to be first group of Russian personnel in 1,500-hp MS-14 engine with the display of as many as five An-2 wrapped up in 2013. According flight operation and maintenance AV-17 three-blade reversible pro- planes in different versions was a to Mr. Barsuk, 12 planes can be of the TPE331-12 engine. peller, conducted its maiden flight head-turner. re-engined this year, and 10 more Rusaviaprom and SibNIA are in Kiev on 10 July this year. Three aircraft registered by aircraft will have flown in early ready to re-engine 250 An-2MS The tests are to be completed the Federal Aviation Agency as 2014. But it is natural that the planes a year. However, their planes before year-end 2013, after which sole aircraft examples and given aircraft need engines. At MAKS being registered as sole aircraft mass conversion of the An-2 to the designation TVS-2MS (also 2013, Honeywell Aerospace and examples have limited their com- An-2-100 standard is expected to known as An-2MS) were exhib- SibNIA signed an agreement for mercial operation considerably begin. Production facilities for the ited by SibNIA and Rusaviaprom over 300 TPE331-12UAN engines so far. Vladimir Barsuk is hopeful biplane’s re-engining are planned JSC, both offering to upgrade the and discussed approaches to that the Novosibirsk-devised pro- to be set up even in Cuba, with An-2 by replacing its ASh-62IR upgrade the An-2 cockpit with the gramme will be fully cleared by an agreement to this effect signed piston engine with the 1,100-hp use of Honeywell equipment and the Federal Air Regulations that are by Antonov, Motor Sich and the Honeywell TPE331 turboprop with the feasibility of TPE331-12UAN being drafted and that will enable Cuban Aviation Corporation in Kiev the Hartzell five-bladed propeller. production in Siberia. SibNIA SibNIA to provide operational and on 3 September 2013. About 140 “One needs money to implement a will become the key coordinator modification support for the aircraft An-2s were delivered to the Island programme in the first place. Our of the technical support for the without the latter having to have a of Freedom in the past. company is designed to fulfil the programme. Soon, we will launch the full-rate production of the re- engined An-2 that is very needed in Russia”, Rusaviaprom Director General Pyotr Kozhevnikov told Take-off. The static display ground of the air show showcased two TVS- 2MS aircraft (reg. RA-2098G and RA-2099G), and the flight demon- stration programme included the flying of RA-1573G, the first re- engined plane that took off for the first time in Novosibirsk two years ago, on 5 September 2011, with side number 17754. The An-2’s good upgradeability was empha- sised by the second aircraft, which

cabin houses nine ergonomic Mikheyev Alexey www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 29 industry | news New Mi-26T kicks off commercial service

Avia carrier already operating three While ’s Mi-26 output Mi-26Ts. rate stood at one or two machines The helicopter (c/n 31-03) was a year and at times none at all in assembled late last year, with its flight the previous decade, the company tests commencing in January 2013. It has turned the tide. The scales have had been painted by the summer and been tipped by a lucrative contract was entered into Rostvetol-Avia’s air made in 2010 by the manufacturer operator certificate in July. and the Russian Defence Ministry The helicopter departed that had not acquired new Mi-26s Rostvertol JSC’s factory airfield in since the early ‘90s. The first four the direction of Sochi for its first latest Mi-26s were delivered to the haulage of underslung cargo in Air Force during October through mountainous terrain. With the job December 2011, with six more done, he new Mi-26T was ferried to machines delivered last year. The Zhukovsky, where it was displayed ten new Mi-26s are in service with as part of MAKS 2013. the Air Force units in Khabarovsk,

Alexey Mikheyev Alexey By early this year, the Rostvertol- Uprun and Rostov. Another Mi-26 Avia air carrier had had three built for the Russian military took to Another Mil Mi-26T superheavy- for export and, since 2011, for Mi-26Ts (RA-06259, RA-06293, the air in Rostov in April this year. lift helicopter has been delivered the Russian Defence Ministry. RA-06299) made in 1990, 2003 and It has been painted and issued side to a Russian commercial operator The delivery of the new helicop- 2006 respectively, which it flies on number 53. In July, with Rostvertol after a long lull. Lately, machines ter (RA-06255) has been made unique transport services. Now, it launched the flight tests of another of the type have been made only to the Rostov-based Rostvertol- comprises four units of the type. Defence Ministry-ordered Mi-26. An-70 waiting for decision by Russian Defence Ministry

Antonov An-70 airlifter prototype, The avionics suite underwent Its preliminary test programme fle of the leaders of the Russian which has been undergoing tests in heavy upgrade owing to its transition designed for 20 sorties was com- Defence Ministry, which took place Kiev since last autumn after a two- to advanced electronic componen- pleted with success in December in November 2012, caused a revi- year upgrade, participated at MAKS try and the need of accomplishing 2012, and the aircraft entered the sion of the plans. The new Russian 2013 air show for the first time. new missions in line with the cus- final phase of its official trials, which defence minister Sergei Shoigu said Antonov commenced the upgrade tomer’s requirements specified more provides for 75 test sorties, accord- that a decision on the An-70 pro- of the An-70’s avionics suite and accurately. In the cockpit, TV-type ing to Antonov Designer General curement could be put on the back powerplant in line with the speci- CRT displays were replaced with six Dmitry Kiva. burner until the completion of the fications requirement approved by colour multifunction liquid-crystal The An-70 was planned for aircraft’s test programme. A deci- the Russian and Ukrainian defence displays. The ball of the electro- production by a pool of Russian sion on series acquisition of An-70 ministries in August 2010. The last, optical system designed for night and Ukrainian companies. The aircraft and, hence, on their produc- 625th, flight of the only An-70 pro- landing on unpaved airfields and final assembly site for the An-70s tion in Russia is expected to be totype (UR-NTK, c/n 01-02) prior to round-the-clock airdrop operations intended for the Russian Air Force made later based on the outcome of the upgrade had taken place on 28 appeared under the nose section. Military Transport Command the An-70’s official test programme July 2010. The An-70 first flight after two- expecting about 60 aircraft of the and talks with Ukraine about the The An-70 upgrade led to the years upgrade programme took type has been changed repeatedly in intellectual property matters per- replacement of the SV-27 propfans place in Kiev on 27 September 2012. recent years. However, the reshuf- taining to the programme. of the D-27 engines with more sophisticated ones, with the pitch between the front and rear props increased by 300 mm. This result- ed in noise reduction and prop- fan performance improvement. In addition, a modified engine FADEC and propfan control system was introduced as well as the TA-12-60 auxiliary power unit was ousted by the TA-18-200-70 one from the Aerosila scientific and production in Stupino (Moscow region), which features an expanded operating

conditions bracket. Koba Vasily

30 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru industry | news Mi-28UB commences tests

The flight tests of a prototype of the Mil Mi-28UB combat trainer helicopter began at the airfield of Rostvertol JSC in July 2013. Unlike the production standard Mi-28N, it features the double controls – one set at the rear station, where pilot is seated, and the other at the front station previously occupied by the navigator/gunner and now by the pilot/gunner or instructor pilot. The twin controls enable the Mi-28UB to be used for efficient training with the machine retain- ing all combat capabilities of the baseline Mi-28N model. The need for a twin controls variant of the Mi-28N have been obvious for quite a while – as soon as the production-standard Night Hunter started fielding com- bat units. One would think that there are two crewmembers but there are no controls for the front- seater to control the helicopter. No matter how simple the prob- lem was (one had ‘only’ fit the

controls to the front combat sta- Rostvertol tion), the development and con- struction of the Mi-28UB proved 2007 and given side number 37. It to six machines per unit operat- Force and Air Defence Force units to be time-consuming enough. A had been brought to the plant last ing Mi-28N helicopters”. For his in the Western Military District, decision was taken that the work year where its nose section was part, Rostvertol Director General said that a new Army Aviation would be done at the manufactur- replaced with a new one devel- Boris Slyusar assured the Mi-28UB air base has been activated at ing plant, with support to be pro- oped using the afore-said digital would enter full-rate production as the Ostrov airfield in the Pskov vided by the developer (Rostvertol models. In addition to introducing soon as next year, all the more so Region in 2013. “It will be an abso- and the Mil helicopter plant made a full backup set of controls in that the helicopter is the point of lutely new air base fielded with new the contract to this effect as far the front part of the cockpit, other interest of not only the Russian Ka-52, Mi-35, Mi-28, Mi-26 and back as April 2009). The Mi-28UB modifications were made, e.g. the military, but potential foreign cus- Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters”, Maj.-Gen. became Rostvertol’s first aircraft cockpit became wider a bit, its tomers as well – the ones eyeing Makushev said. “The base will be productionised with the use of canopy transparency and entrance the Mi-28NE now. manned by best-trained personnel. digital modeling, rather than tra- door were altered, the area of Now, Rostvertol is ramping The pilots have been at CCTC in ditional techniques. This called for the side cockpit transparency was up the output of the production- Torzhok already. The unit will be the plant to modify its produc- increased to improve visibility and standard makes. According to the stood up within the first six months tionising technologies consider- the crash-absorbent seats were company’s annual report, it built of the year”. ably, buy advanced manufacturing redesigned. 48 helicopters in 2012, including On 9 August 2013, a Western equipment (including cutting-edge Following a series of test sor- 14 Mi-28Ns for RusAF. In addition Military District spokesman computers) and learn to use it. ties, the Mi-28UB OP-1 was shown to the Army Aviation Combat and announced that “the first pair of However, the plant has gained a to Russian Air Force Commander- Conversion Training Centre (CCTC) Mi-28N helicopters flew to their wealth of experience that will be in-Chief Lt.-Gen. Victor Bondarev. in the town of Torzhok, Mi-28N’s base at a military airfield of the used in productionising advanced The demonstration flight took had been operated by the military Western Military District in the helicopter models: molding lofts place in Rostov on 9 August 2013. units stationed in Budyonnovsk, Pskov Region” on that day. “The and master plates are sinking into The service chief liked the new Korenovsk and Rostov-on-Don in Western Military District’s Air oblivion, with all things digital machine: speaking of his impres- the Southern Military District by Force personnel have completed being the wave of the future. sions of what he had seen, the gen- early this year. Recently, the type the Mi-28N pair’s flight tests and A decision was made to derive eral said the Mi-28UB would speed has cropped up in the Western accepted the combat helicopters”, the Mi-28UB’s prototype, OP-1, up pilot training by two to three Military District as well. In an inter- the spokesman said. Thus, the from a low-rate initial production times and promised that RusAF view to the Red Star daily in the Mi-28N became the first helicop- (LRIP) Mi-28N – the machine with would acquire 40–60 aircraft of spring of this year, Maj.-Gen. Igor ter type to base at the new Army c/n 02-01 made by Rostvertol in the type prior to 2020 – “four Makushev, commander of the Air Aviation base at Ostrov. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 31 industry | company MOTOR SICH PROGRAMMES IN HELICOPTER INDUSTRY Vyacheslav BOGUSLAYEV, President, MOTOR SICH JSC

MOTOR SICH JSC is a МS-500V-01 engine having takeoff in September 2007 finished the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, and in company specialized in designing, power of 810 hp. On the basis of work on development of the April 2013 the Ministry of Defense of manufacture and aftersales this engine, we developed versions ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V turboshaft the Russian Federation successfully servicing of the gas turbine engines having takeoff power from 630 hp engine. This engine meets up-to-date completed joint flight testing. for civil and military aviation, (МS-500V engine) up to 950 hp requirements and has type certificates For application of new helicopters industrial gas turbine drives, as well (МS-500V-02 engine). issued by the Aviation Register of of this class in the projects, new as gas turbine power generating The D-136 engine developed on Interstate Aviation Committee and versions of the engine, namely sets and gas pumping units with the basis of gas generator of the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 1 these drives. Great experience engine with the FADEC system and enables our company to act on ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 2 engine the world markets flexibly and Mi-8MSB with new electronic governor are efficiently. Quality and reliability under development. The use of new of the aero engines manufactured automatic control systems will result by our company is substantiated in further improvement of performance by many years of operation in the of the engines and helicopters. aircraft and helicopters all over The ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series the world. 4 and 4E engines (with pneumatic MOTOR SICH JSC is one of the and electrical starting systems) are main participants on the market of versions of the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V the helicopter gas turbine engines. More than 80% of the Mil and Kamov helicopters including the most heavy ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V lifting helicopter Mi-26 all over the series 4Е world are flying in the sky owing to D-36 turbofan engine is the largest the power of engines manufactured helicopter engine manufactured by in Zaporozhye. Our strategy of MOTOR SICH JSC. development consists in consolidation Designers of Ivchenko-Progress SE of our positions on this market by developed a project of upgrading of the designing radically new engines. D-136 engine, which will be fulfilled in Considering change in conjecture cooperation with MOTOR SICH JSC. of the world helicopter market, our New D-136-2 engine provides for company is working on development takeoff power of 11,500 hp, which of family of the turboshaft engines of is maintained up to ambient air new generation, such as MS-500V, temperature of 50°С. In addition, in the class of takeoff power of emergency power rating of 14,500 hp 600 to 1000 hp designed to power is introduced. The D-136-2 engine StStateate AviatiAviationon AdministrAdministrationation of engine and are designed for re-engining helicopters of various purposes with is designed to power the Мi-26Т2 UkUkraine i iin 20072007. off the h earlier li manufactured f d MiMi-8T 8T takeoff weight of 3.5 to 6 tons. upgraded helicopter. In 2009 the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V type helicopters in order to improve According to assumptions of the In order to improve performance engine was put into service by the their performance, especially when experts, the segment of market of of the Мi-28, Мi-8МТV, Мi-17 Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. operating them under hot climate the helicopters of this class due to (Мi-171), and Ка-52 helicopters In 2012 the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V conditions and in high-level lift-off their versatility will be one of the and their efficiency when operating engines passed successfully sites. The engines maintain the power most promising in the coming years. in high mountain areas of the hot preliminary flight testing as part at higher ambient air temperatures, The basic engine of the family is the climate countries, MOTOR SICH JSC of the Мi-8МТV-5-1 helicopter at airfield height and flight altitude

32 take-off november 2013 commercial www.take-off.ru industry | company compared to the TV2-117 engines radio equipment for communication, Thus, MOTOR SICH JSC step АI-20, АI-24, АI-9V and АI-9 engines powering the Mi-8T helicopters now. navigation, landing and air traffic by step proceeds with pathway of all versions; The engines inherited the best control with due regard to the ICAO in mastering of the helicopter - Delivery of spare parts, assemblies, design decisions aimed at provision requirements for international flights, manufacturing industry. Nowadays, modules and engines manufactured by of better parameters and service as well as with the extended set of we are working on development of MOTOR SICH JSC; lives, which were developed on equipment, which provides for the home-produced helicopter having - Extension of service life on the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V engine. possibility of day-and-night efficient use take-off weight of 5 to 6 tons and the basis of Service Bulletins and This has made it possible to of the helicopter under visual flight rules are looking for the entities ready for decisions issued by the designer and establish total service life for the weather conditions and instrument cooperation in this subject. supplier; ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 4 and 4E flight rules weather conditions, in In addition, MOTOR SICH JSC - Advanced training of technical engines as high as 15,000 hours/ mountainous area and flat terrain, in is performing technical support specialists of the Customer; cycles and to introduce emergency hot climate at all permissible altitudes of our products during the overall - Training. power condition of 2.5 and and flight speeds. service life and is interacting with It is planned to carry out repair and 60-minutes power with one engine uupgrading of the helicopters in the inoperative, which is not available in nnearest future. the TV2-117 engine. In addition, under the guidance In 2011 the Aviation Register of the oof MOTOR SICH JSC, scientific and Interstate Aviation Committee issued tetechnical conferences of Association supplement to the type Certificate for oof Aero Engines Manufacturers the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 4 and wwith participation of the leading 4E engines. mmanufacturers of the aero engine At present, MOTOR SICH JSC is mmanufacturing industry of Ukraine and extensively working in the field of RRussiaussia ttakeake plplaceace reguregularlylarly iinn ShSharjah.arjah. helicopter industry. Our company established design bureau and helicopters production aimed at designing, updating, overhaul and MSB-2 re-engining of the helicopters. At the 13th International Dubai Airshow 2013, MOTOR SICH JSC Since 2012 MOTOR SSICHICH JSC will demonstrate a number of new mastered overhaul of tthehe Mi-2 developments of our company, helicopter of standard configuration.nfiguration. including upgraded Mi-8MSB In case of necessity, duringg overhaul, helicopter powered by the the avionics may be upgradeded and the ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 4E cabin may be re-equipped. engines and full scale mockup of the Since low reliabilityity and AI-450М MSB-2 upgraded helicopter powered insufficient power is tthehe main by the АI-450М engines. drawback of the Mi-2 helicopters,elicopters, In August 2013 the Мi-8МSB the MOTOR SICH JSC nowadayswadays is oourur representative oofficesffices all over the NNowadays,owadays, activity of MOTOMOTORR helicopter powered by the developing and implementingnting the wworld.orld. SSICHICH JSC to the full extent meetmeetss ТV3-117VМА-SBМ1V series 4E program of overhaul and upupgradinggrading TechnicalTechnical Center in UAE ((Sharjah)Sharjah) is rerequirementsquirements ooff the market econoeconomymy engines of new generation at the of the Mi-2 helicopters to a MSB-2 oonene ooff our rerepresentativepresentative offices.offices. The criteria. Business stratestrategygy ooff oourur Kirovskoye airfield in Feodosiya helicopter powered by the AIAI-450M 450M maini fields fi ld of f work k of f the th Technical T h i l company iis ttargeted td on iincrease iin established 11 world records, up-to-date engines having higher Center are maintenance and overhaul volume of manufacture and marketing including the absolute record in power, lower fuel consumption of the aero engines manufactured by of products, mastering the series class Е-1 (helicopters) according and FADEC control system; MOTOR SICH JSC, which are operated production of new advanced products, to the FAI classification – level replacement of avionics in order as part of the aircraft and helicopter development of markets of sales, flight maximum altitude of 9,150 m to bring it to compliance with the in the countries of Middle East and attainment of the maximum profits reached on 14 August 2013, and of ICAO requirements; improvement Northern Africa. from all kinds of activity. operating altitude ceiling of 5,440 m in the ergonomical characteristics Technical Center in UAE promotes: with cargo of 5,000 kg reached on of the helicopter cabin. The above - Co-operation with Aviation 20 August 2013. upgrading of the helicopter will administration of UAE and countries The Мi-8МSB helicopter may improve its performance. It is of region in matters of assurance of be represented in several versions: expected that the MSB-2 helicopter airworthiness of the aero engines; transport, passenger, rescue, medical, compared with the Mi-2 helicopter - Provision of maintenance fire-fighting, agricultural, military. will provide for the following: support pertaining to maintenance The maximum weight of the cargo - Decrease in hourly fuel of the products manufactured by MOTOR SICH JSC airshipped in the cargo compartment consumption more than by 30%; MOTOR SICH JSC; 15, Motorostroiteley av., of the Мi-8МSB helicopter is 4,000 kg - Increase in hover and service - Establishment of maintenance Zaporozhye, 69068, Ukraine. Phone: +38 (061) 720-48-14 and 3,000 kg if carried on the external ceilings; of the products manufactured by Fax: +38 (061) 720-50-05 load sling system. - Increase in efficiency of use MOTOR SICH JSC; E-mail: [email protected] At Customer’s request, the Мi-8МSB of the helicopter under hot climate - Carrying out of light overhaul and www.motorsich.com helicopter may be furnished with conditions and in mountainous areas. overhaul of the D-36, D-18Т, ТV3-117, www.take-off.ru commercial take-off november 2013 33 military aviation | news The fifth T-50 is in the air!

The fifth flying prototype of the Sukhoi’s prospective fifth-genera- tion fighter (PAK FA, T-50) made its maiden flight in Komsomolsk- on-Amur at the KnAAZ aircraft plant of the Sukhoi company on 27 October 2013. The plane was piloted by the 1st class test pilot Roman Kondratyev. The fighter air- craft spent 50 minutes in the air and landed safely on the factory airfield runway. The test flight was a success and in full accordance with the flight plan. The stability of the aircraft and the powerplant were tested during the flight. The aircraft performed well in all phases of the planned flight program. The pilot confirmed reliability of all systems and equipment. Upon completing the test flights programme in Komsomolsk-on- Amur the aircraft will be ferried to

Zhukovsky near Moscow where the Mikheyev Alexey first four T-50 flying prototypes are now being under flight tests. Two years since the previous air show ers have begun to test the AESA flight operating modes. This spring more planes are involved in ground in Zhukovsky, the PAK FA pro- radar and several other sophisti- T-50 was flown by the first military tests also – one as a complex ground gramme has made good progress: cated avionics systems, conducted pilot, with the PAK FA prototypes stand and the other for static tests. two more prototypes joined the mid-air refuelling experiments, due to start the official trials at the As many as three T-50 proto- flight tests (T-50-3 in late 2011 expanded the fighter’s flight enve- Defence Ministry’s testing facility types took part in the recent MAKS and T-50-4 in late 2012). Using lope and been gradually learning in Akhtubinsk. 2013 air show. Over the past two these two prototypes, the design- the rope in ever more advanced Three T-50s flew as part of the flight programme of MAKS 2013, flown as a troika by Sukhoi test pilots Sergei Bogdan, Roman Kondratyev and Sergei Chernov. In addition, Sukhoi’s chief test pilot Hero of Russia Sergei Bogdan per- formed solo aerobatics on a T-50. A number of advanced avionics systems designed for the PAK FA were unveiled at the stands of the air show. For instance, Tikhomirov- NIIP displayed an X-band side- looking AESA in UAC’s pavilion (the company unveiled the PAK

Sukhoi FA-intended forward-looking X-band AESA at the previous air show). In the pavilion of the Rostec corporation, the stand of the Urals Optical and Mechanical Plant (a subsidiary of the ) featured a number of subsystems of the integrated optronic suite being developed for the PAK FA. By early November, more than 350 flights were carried out under the flight test programme on five

Sukhoi T-50 prototypes.

34 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru military aviation | news More Su-34s for RusAF

ered a year before and had been used, inter alia, for the conversion of Voronezh-based pilots to the type. In late December last year, five more Su-34s were brought to Voronezh from the manufacturing plant, followed by five more in late January 2013. Thus, the Voronezh- based pilots operate as many as 27 Su-34 that are ousting the Su-24Ms from the unit’s aircraft fleet. 24 Su-34 aircraft in Baltimor have been used to activate two air

Alexey Boyarin Alexey squadrons, and three more aircraft are likely to be handed over to other Another four new Sukhoi Su-34 Su-34s to RusAF. The three preced- commissioning of a new runway at unit in the future. multirole tactical bombers were ing aircraft came to Voronezh on the Defence Ministry Chkalov State This year, Sukhoi is going to fulfill flown to the Russian Air Force base 9 July this year, and another bomb- Flight Test Centre. the 2008 contract for 32 Su-34s and in Voronezh from the Sukhoi com- er, built under this year’s production The first several Su-34s arrived start fulfilling another government- pany’s Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant in plan, was accepted by the customer to the Baltimor airfield in December placed order for 92 aircraft of the late October 2013. The delivery took this spring: the Su-34 (side num- 2011. Six aircraft were ferried there type more to be delivered to the place under the 2013 governmental ber 34) flew from Novosibirsk to right from the manufacturer plant Russian Air Force in 2014–20, with defence procurement programme Akhtubinsk on 6 May at the height in Novosibirsk and four more from the order being unprecedented in providing for the delivery of 14 of the celebration dedicated to the , where they had been deliv- terms of volume. Irkut carries on with Yak-130 deliveries to Russian Air Force

Irkut corporation continues to ful- fil a big-ticket contract for delivery of 55 Yakovlev Yak-130 combat trainers to training centres of the Russian Air Force. The first 15 aircraft under the contract were brought from the to the training AFB during October through December last year. Irkut delivered five more three-ship Yak-130 batches to the flying school in Borisoglebsk in May through

October 2013. Sergey Lysenko Thus, since early this year, Irkut has supplied the Defence Ministry of tactical aircraft of the Russian fielded with Kuschevskaya train- The bright red-and-white colour with 15 aircraft of the type, and Air Force. In all, plans for this ing AFB). pattern is a tribute to the traditions of the Borisoglebsk training AFB is year provide for the construction One of the latest Yak-130 deliv- the Yakovlev design bureau that has operating 40 Yak-130s used for and delivery of 18 Yak-130s (the ered to the Borisoglebsk training painted its light sports and trainer training by cadets – future pilots next three aircraft are going to be AFB by Irkut in July this year could aircraft like that since the AIR-2 – be seen at the Russian Air Force one of the early Yakovlev planes display area at the recent MAKS developed in 1928. 2013 air show. A prototype Yak-130 Besides the Russian Air Force, sporting an unusual red-and-white the Yak-130 new-generation combat paintjob took part in the demonstra- trainer is in service with the Algerian tion flights at the air show too. In Air Force (Irkut delivered 16 aircraft the future, the colour pattern might of the type to Algeria in 2011). In be used on the Yak-130s of the Air addition, the Republic of Belarus has Force’s new aerobatic team, which placed an order for the type, and establishment’s feasibility has been talks have been under way with a repeatedly mentioned by the service number of other CIS countries and

Andrey Fomin chief. nations from farther abroad as well.

www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 35 military aviation | news Su-30SM’s fielding to start in autumn

The advanced Sukhoi Su-30SM supermanoeuvrable multirole twin- seat fighter in production by the Irkut corporation for the Russian Defence Ministry made its debut at the recent MAKS 2013 air show. Two aircraft of the type (side numbers 55 and 56) built by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant this summer took part in the show at the Russian Air Force’s static display area and as part of the flight pro- gramme. Irkut’s test pilots headed by Vyacheslav Averyanov flew breath- taking supermanoeuvrable aerobat- ics on the Su-30SM in Zhukovsky. The first contract for 30 Su-30SM aircraft to be supplied during 2012–15 was made by the Defence Ministry and Irkut in March last year. Later on, the Defence Ministry ordered 30 more fighters of the type from Irkut in December 2012.

The Su-30SM supermanoeuvra- Marina Lystseva ble multirole two-seat fighter is a derivative of the Su-30MKI fight- Radioelectronic Technologies hold- Akhtubinsk, paving the way for the flew to the Lipetsk-based State Air ers family the Irkutsk Aviation Plant ing. The fighter’s weapons suite has warplane to combat units of the Personnel Training and Operational has been building for export since been modified too. Russian Air Force. Evaluation Centre where conversion 2000. The tailoring of the aircraft by The first two Su-30SMs designed On 17 August, in the run-up to the training is being given to the combat the Sukhoi design bureau to meet for the Russian Air Force (side num- Day of the Air Fleet, Russian Air Force unit personnel earmarked for start- the requirements of the Russian Air bers 01 and 02) were made and Commander-in-Chief Lt.-Gen. Victor ing Su-30SM operations in the near Force covered the radar, navigation, flight-tested in Irkutsk in September Bondarev said that the delivery of the future. In late September another radio communication and identifi- 2012 and delivered in November of first large batch of 12 production- production Su-30SM (side number cation friend-or-foe (IFF) systems, the same year, after which they were standard Su-30SM fighters was due 57) joined them in Lipetsk. Six more ejection seat and a number of aux- subjected to their official trials in the this autumn. The service chief added production-standard fighters of the iliary systems. The Su-30SM carries State Flight Test Centre in the town the aircraft would be fielded with type were assembled and flown in the Tikhomirov-NIIP Bars-R phased- of Akhtubinsk. Another aircraft (side Domna AFB vic. the city of Chita. Irkutsk. Their deliveries to RusAF array radar being able to track 15 number 54) joined them this spring. With MAKS 2013 being over, the started in November. aerial targets and attack 4 of them. On 28 June 2013, a preliminary two Su-30SMs (side numbers 55 and During MAKS 2013, Irkut arranged The full-rate production of the Bars is report on the results of the Su-30SM 56) returned to Irkutsk to be handed Su-30SM familiarisation flights for run by the Ryazan State Instrument- official tests was released in the over to the Defence Ministry on 13 pilots of the Air Force’s Russian Making Plant, a subsidiary of the Chkalov State Flight Test Centre in September. On the next day, both Knights aerobatic team, with the flights including supermanoeuvrable advanced aerobatics. The gave raving reports of the aircraft. As is known, the conversion of the Kubinka AFB-based legend- ary aerobatic team to the advanced Su-30SM and Su-35 fighters is being pondered. In addition, Maj.- Gen. Alexander Kharchevsky, chief of the State Air Personnel Training and Operational Evaluation Centre, flew a familiarisation sortie on the Su-30SM in Zhukovsky. “I have always dreamt of something unu- sual, but the sortie on the Su-30SM has surpassed all expectations”, Maj.-Gen. Kharchevsky admitted

Alexey Mikheyev Alexey after his landing.

36 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru military aviation | news RusAF looks forward to Su-35S

In the coming years, RusAF shall take delivery of 48 cutting-edge Sukhoi Su-35S fighters built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant, a subsidiary of Sukhoi com- pany. The first several production- standard aircraft of the type were handed over to the Russian Defence Ministry for the official trials two years ago, and 2012 saw a pre- liminary report signed based on their first phase. The preliminary report gave the green light to the type’s full-

scale production and fielding with Mikheyev Alexey combat units. To date, the Defence Ministry has accepted as many as the Russian Air Force prior to 2015 the cutting-edge Tikhomirov-NIIP subsidiary of the Radioelectronic 10 production-standard Su-35S jets, was signed in August 2009. Irbis phased array radar featuring a Technologies holding. with the first several fighters of the According to Sukhoi, the Su-35’s unique aerial target acquisition range The negotiations on the Su-35’s type expected to be fielded with a key features setting it far apart from and an enhanced simultaneous first export delivery are due for combat unit in the other aircraft of the Su-27 fam- multiple-target tracking and engage- completion in the near future. The by the end of this year. ily are a drastically sophisticated ment capability. The Irbis radar has contract for a Su-35 batch for the The contract for the construction avionics suite based on the digital been productionised by the Ryazan People’s Republic of China may be and delivery of 48 Su-35S fighters to information and control system and State Instrument-Making Plant, a signed next year. MiG-35 awaiting order by Russian Air Force

At the recent MAKS 2013 air show, the MiG corporation has demonstrated several versions of its famous MiG-29 fighter, which have been offered both to foreign customers and to the Russian Defence Ministry. The air- craft demonstrated include the MiG-35 multirole fighter that was unveiled in its current incarnation at MAKS 2013, with the Russian Air Force planning

to acquire it. The fighter represents Yerokhin Yevgeny a new family of commonised ver- sions of the legendary MiG jet. The variant was designated as MiG-29M2. programme and for familiarisation 156) equipped with thrust vector first members of the family were the The MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 are flights conducted by pilots of poten- control engines). MiG-29K/KUB multirole carrierborne identical to the MiG-35 in terms of air- tial customers. At present, the type is It was expected that the Russian fighters that are being supplied to frame design, but their avionics suite in full-rate production at Lukhovitsy. Defence Ministry could order the the Indian Navy and manufactured was altered. For instance, they carry The long-awaited order of a batch MiG-35S during the air show. For for the Russian Navy’s air arm (the the upgraded Zhuk-ME slotted array of MiG-35S fighters by the Russian instance, MiG’s Director General first production-standard MiG-29KUB radar similar to the one equipping the Air Force had been pushed back Sergei Korotkov said in late May 2013 intended for the Russian naval aviation production-standard MiG-29K/KUB to the front burner by this sum- that the Defence Ministry was going made its maiden flight on 15 October and MiG-29SMT fighters. mer. The afore-mentioned aircraft to order a 24-ship MiG-35S batch in 2013). The heavily upgraded MiG-35 A MiG-29M2 and a MiG-29M (side numbers 741 and 747) were summer 2013, while the Russian Air multirole combat aircraft is to succeed prototypes were manufactured by recently groomed as MiG-35S Force’s need in the fighter in the near the in-service MiG-29 and MiG-29SMT the MiG corporation’s Production standard model and could be seen future was estimated at 37 units. Not fighters on the global warplane market Complex in the town of Lukhovitsy at MAKS 2013 as static displays long before the kickoff of MAKS 2013, in the near future. two years ago. The former, the two- and in demonstration flights (dur- however, the word leaked out that the To meet the requirements of a num- seat MiG-29M2 (side number 747), ing the air show, MiG’s test pilot MiG-35S order would be put on the ber of its customers, MiG corporation first flew on 24 December 2011, and Stanislav Gorbunov flew a MiG-35, back burner until 2016 at the Finance also developed a somewhat simpli- the MiG-29M single-seater was flight- while MiG’s chief test pilot Mikhail Ministry’s suggestion. Later, it was fied (hence, less expensive) MiG-35 tested a little more than a months Belyayev performed supermanoeu- announced, however, that the delay derivative. Its single-seat version was later, on 3 February 2012. The planes vrable aerobatics on the experi- would not be that long and the contract dubbed MiG-29M and its two-seat were used in support of the test mental MiG-29M OVT (side number could be signed as soon as 2014. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 37 military aviation | report

MIG-29K BACK ON DECK REPORT FROM VIKRAMADITYA Mid-September 2013 saw the successful completion of all kinds of tests of the Project 11430 Vikramaditya aircraft carrier – the former Russian Navy Northern Fleet’s Admiral Gorshkov through-deck cruiser upgraded by Sevmash JSC for the Indian Navy. The final phase of the trials took place in the Barents Sea and was aimed at completing the testing of the ship’s aircraft operations equipment, i.e. the hardware relevant to aircraft basing and operation. Naturally, the focus of the trials was the flights of MiG-29K/KUB multirole fighters, the ‘major calibre’ of the ship. The tests were arranged by Sevmash JSC and RSK MiG Corp. assisted by the Northern Fleet command element, Defence Ministry State Flight Test Centre and Kamov JSC. According to the news release by MiG Corp. with respect to the MiG-29K/KUB fighter trials on board the Vikramaditya during August and September 2013, “in the course of the sorties, MiG Corp. aircrews tested the aircraft operations equipment of the aircraft carrier. The test programme included, among other things, a series of night sorties from the carrier, takeoffs and deck landings in pairs at minimal time intervals and flights with the full payload”. In all, the deck flight trials phase during August and September 2013 witnessed two planes – a MiG-29K and a MiG-29KUB – logged 57 sorties, including 47 deck landings. 12 takeoffs and deck landings were performed at night, which had not been done by Russian carrierborne aviators since 1999. In addition, tests of the Kamov Ka-27PL and Ka-31R helicopters and their compatibility with the carrier’s aircraft operations equipment were conducted at the same time. Overall, 30 helicopter sorties were flown from the deck, let alone the SAR support provided to the fighter trials by the Northern Fleet’s Ka-27PS aircrews. Take-off’s correspondents covered those flights in August and September 2013.

38 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru military aviation | report

MiG-29K with a combat load of two Kh-35E ASMs, two R-73E AAMs and underbelly drop tank just landed

at Vikramaditya, 21 August 2013 Mikheyev Alexey Vladimir Karnozov

Vladimir KARNOZOV Vikramaditya at the final stage of sea trials at Barents sea, 9 September 2013

As is known, the bulk of the MiG-29K/KUB maximal enduring flights and tanker plane The ship had been repaired and prepared tests onboard the Vikramaditya aircraft operations with the use of drop tanks and in Severodvinsk for the final phase of her carrier was conducted a year ago, during detachable refueling units. running tests before summer this year and the ship’s first 108-day sea trials. The MiG- Prior to last year’s sea trials of the ship, she put out to sea again on 3 July 2013. By 29K and MiG-29KUB flew upwards of Defence Ministry State Flight Test Centre the end of the month, the Vikramaditya 100 sorties, in excess of 40 takeoffs/deck personnel had begun to test its aircraft complement led by their commanding officer landings and numerous touch-and-go’s operations equipment, e.g. aircraft pre- Capt. 1st Rank Igor Ryabko and the head of from the carrier from July to September flight preparation gear, hangar mechanisms, the sea segment of the trials, Capt. 1st Rank 2012. At the time, the planes were flown by elevators, etc. The tests carried on in Alexander Shevchenko, had completed the MiG Corp.’s test pilots Mikhail Belyayev, the course of the flight trials, with the test phase in the White Sea, with the carrier Nikolay Diorditsa and Andrey Shishov arrestors and flight and combat operations having produced, inter alia, a maximal and Defence Ministry State Flight Test support gear tested. At the same time, State speed of 29.2 kt, and had been prepared for Centre test pilots Col. Oleg Mutovin and Flight Test Centre helicopter test pilots the final series of flights by carrier-borne Maj. Dmitry Demenev. Last year’s flights assessed the feasibility of landing on the aircraft. For this purpose, MiG Corp. had fulfilled the aircraft’s test programme in ship’s various pads at varying wind force two prototypes – a MiG-29K (side number terms of takeoff and landing with varying and illumination. In the final analysis, the 941) singleseater and a MiG-29KUB (side weights, various payloads (air-to-air and MiG-29K/KUB night flight programme number 204) twinseater – ferried to the antiship missiles, smart and dumb bombs, remained unfulfilled then due to the need Arctic in early August. drop tanks), takeoff from various launch for the aircraft carrier to return to the The Barents Sea flights kicked off on positions (including the short 125-m run), shipyard for repair of her propulsion plant’s 5 August 2013 with State Flight Test Centre deck landing during limit ship motions, boiler thermal insulation coating. aircrews flying the Ka-27PS helicopter and www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 39 military aviation | report a Su-33 fighter to test the carrier’s radars programme. The feature of the sorties was in 2007 to have completed training course and other electronic gear as well as Luna that the planes had been based on deck on flying the T-45 Goshawk off US aircraft optical landing system. On the next day, 6 throughout the test phase, with Indian carriers. Having converted to the MiG-29, August, MiG-29K/KUBs started their flight personnel being shown all stages of their Ahuja had an opportunity to try his hand on operations. MiG Corp. chief pilot Mikhail pre-flight preparation. The deck operations the prototype MiG-29K (side number 311) Belyayev landed his MiG-29K (side number were supervised by the carrier’s future as far back as 2001, when the Indian Navy 941) on the carrier – the first deck landing captain, Commodore Suraj Berry, chief of air was faced with a choice of how to develop its of 2013. Soon, he was followed to the deck operations Capt. Janak Bevli and Commodore carrierborne aviation further. by the MiG-29KUB (side number 204) Surendra Ahuja, a test pilot with the Indian The Vikramaditya carrier departed the twinseater flown by MiG Corp. test pilots inspector team. Interestingly, Capt. Janak roadstead of the seaport of Severomorsk on Andrey Shishov and Sergey Rybnikov. Bevli has a wealth of experience in flying the morning of 21 August 2013 to have spent The subsequent two weeks had been the Sea Harrier (over 400 deck landings), three days at a Northern Fleet training area. dedicated to test flights under the acceptance while Cdre. Ahuja was the first Indian pilot At 14.35, the MiG-29K, hauling a standard Vladimir Karnozov

One of the first MiG-29K landings on Vikramaditya in twilight, 23 August 2013 Alexey Mikheyev Alexey Vladimir Karnozov

40 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru military aviation | report Alexey Mikheyev Alexey

Take-off in the darkness of polar night, 10 pm, 10 September 2013

payload determined by the customer, took off from her deck with Honoured Test Pilot of Russia Andrey Shishov. The Indian personnel Alexey Mikheyev Alexey on board were demonstrated an intercept a low-level high-speed target with the use of the carrier’s automated guidance system, with the target simulated by a Su-33 flown by Maj. Dmitry Demenev, a State Flight Test Centre test pilot. With the intercept performed, Andrey Shishov snagged the first arresting gear cable, the one closest to the MiG’s landing on the Vikramaditya’s arrestor, stern, with the hook of his jet at the request 10 September 2013 of the Indians. Not long before Shishov’s takeoff, the Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3C maritime patrol plane with 333 Sqn in Andoya passed parallel to the aircraft carrier as close as 200 m away at an altitude below 300 m. Soon afterwards, a MiG-31 scrambled from an air base at the Kola Peninsula showed up at an altitude of about 2,000 m, and the Orion turned away and beat feet. During the carrier’s being in neutral waters, she had been shadowed virtually nonstop by the Norwegian ‘research’ ship Marjata mounting huge antennas of radio electronic systems. At 14.27 on the next day, Hero of Russia Col. Oleg Mutovin, a test pilot with the Russian Defence Ministry’s State Flight Test Centre, took off from the carrier on the MiG-29K (side number 941). The sortie was designed to gauge the feasibility of deck landing in case of the failure of the Luna optical landing system. Having performed several patterns and a touch-and-go with the Luna’s lights being off, the pilot landed, having snagged the middle – the second – arrestor gear cable. Merely 3 minutes later, www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 41 military aviation | report

he took off again with a 125-m-long run and performed another successful landing 4 minutes later after having completed a Alexey Mikheyev Alexey smaller patter flight. Thus, the feasibility of multiple takeoffs and landings was proven. During her trials, the Vikramaditya also operated in conjunction with the Russian Navy Northern Fleet’s Admiral Levchenko large ASW ship and Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters on 22 August to test her radio electronic gear and other systems. With another phase of the trials complete, the Vikramaditya returned to the roadstead of Severomorsk. Following a brief shore leave for the complement and the arrival of an additional group of Indian servicemen aboard, the ship put out to sea again. The final phase of the Barents Sea tests, including night flights of the carrier-based MiG fighters Kamov Ka-31R carrierborne AEW helicopter and Kamov helicopters, took place in late took part in Vikramaditya’s trials in September August and early September. After sundown on 26 August 2013, the MiG-29KUB with Sergey Rybnikov and Andrey Shishov at the controls took off from the aircraft carrier. Following three training Alexey Mikheyev Alexey final approaches, the pilots landed on deck at dusk, having snagged the third arresting gear wire. Mention should be made that there was 10-point overcast with patches of rain that night, and it was dark enough, therefore. Having taxied to the ramp, Russian and Indian colleagues congratulated Sergey Rybnikov on his first deck landing at dusk. Due to nighttime deck landing being extremely difficult a thing to do, the learning of the skill was gradual and included the assessment of the effectiveness of the landing lighting facilities. In the course of the flights, the optical and TV deck landing equipment were calibrated and Indian personnel were trained in operating it. A key part also was played by the visual landing signal officer, who was Lt.-Col. Nikolay Deriglazov, a seasoned naval aviator with about 200 landings on the Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters being moved down Admiral Kuznetsov under his belt. into the Vikramaditya’s hangar, 10 September Sergey Rybnikov conducted a pure night landing on 2 September 2013, with Oleg Mutovin and Andrey Shishov following suit on 3 September. The deck landing programme was completed on 12 September 2013 with the Alexey Mikheyev Alexey nighttime departure of the MiG-29K (side number 941) to the Severomorsk-3 naval air station, while the carrier performed a refueling at sea and headed for Severodvinsk for her pre-delivery preparations, with her delivery planned for 15 November this year. On the return leg, the aircraft carrier was travelling at a maximal speed of 29-plus knots at the request of the Indians, thus having proven her top-notch speed performance yet again. The ship is expected to head for the Ka-27PS carrierborne SAR helicopter became Indian shores right after her acceptance by the a permanent participant of all flight tests on board the carrier Indians in November.

42 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru military aviation | report

The success of the MiG-29K/KUB weather and hovered near the flight deck for and four two-seat MiG-29KUB combat nighttime deck landings crowned the hours in support of the MiG-29K/KUB’s trainers) delivered by MiG Corp. during carrier’s cruise in September. An important flights. 2009–11 under the 2004 contract. The unit, gate of the aircraft carrier and carrierborne MiG Corp. Director General Sergey INAS 303 Black Panthers, was stood up in a fighter test programme, which also, probably, Korotkov spoke highly of the team that ceremony at Hansa in the state of Goa on the was the most difficult gate, was cleared. ensured round-the-clock flights of the west coast on 11 May 2013. According to Sevmash JSC’s spokesperson, fighters in the Barents Sea: “The flights The 29 options for MiG-29K/KUB 47 deck landings, including 12 nighttime from the aircraft carrier crown an important fighters for the Indian Navy, stipulated by the ones, were performed as part of the trials in phase of the Project 11430 aircraft carrier’s 2004 deal, firmed up in March 2010. MiG 2013. Rear Adm. Hari Kumar, head of the life cycle and that of the whole of the Corp. launched the assembly of the aircraft Chairman of Indian Delivery Acceptance MiG-29K/KUB programme that MiG Corp. under the second contract in 2011, with Team, told a Severodvinsk TV channel in is running in the interest of the Indian Navy. the first four fighters delivered in December an interview: “The ship has proven herself The technical team on board the carrier was 2012. The deliveries shall continue in 2013 completely and displayed full operability led by Alexander Chumakov. Sergey Shalnev throughout 2015. Two more IN air squadrons round the clock”. and Igor Malikov, representing MiG Corp.’s based at the same Hansa air base are supposed Special mention is due to Kamov management, were on board the ship too and to follow in INAS 303 footsteps, converting JSC’s helicopter test pilots A. Smirnov, facilitated prompt resolution of problems. to the MiG-29K/KUB. A. Cherednichenko and N. Naumov as well The MiG-29K/KUB’s deck landings and Before year-end, the MiG-29K/KUB are as navigators A. Oschepkov and V. Yurtayev, takeoffs enable the Indian personnel to to start fielding the Russian Navy air arm as who tested the feasibility of their machines’ observe the whole set of works pertinent to well. The Russian Defence Ministry placed operation from the Vikramaditya. Sevmash maintaining the planes and preparing them a contract for 24 aircraft of the type in JSC Deputy Director General Sergey and their crews for flight operations. February 2012. Russian Navy commander Novosyolov emphasized the selfless work of Next in line is for the Indian naval Adm. Victor Chirkov said in 2013: “Two the crew of the Ka-27PS SAR helicopter – aviators to learn to fly the MiG-29K/KUB MiG-29Ks and two MiG-29KUBs are pilot Maj. Maxim Bessonov (a State Flight from the Vikramaditya. The training will slated for delivery this year, eight MiG-29Ks Test Centre test pilot who performed over begin once the ship has arrived in India. and two MiG-29KUBs next year and 400 landings on the Vikramaditya during MiG Corp’s ground crews and test pilot will 10 MiG-29Ks in 2015”. The first several her trials) and navigators Col. Vladislav take part in it. carrierborne MiGs designed for Russian Tomilin and Maj. Denis Ostretsov. Along As is known, the Indian Navy has naval aviators are being groomed for tests with supporting the tests of the ship’s aircraft activated its first 16-ship-strong air squadron now. The first MiG-29KUB for the Russian operations equipment, they would haul of MiG-29K/KUB multirole carrierborne Naval Aviation made its maiden flight on 15 various kinds of cargo at any time and in any fighters (12 MiG-29K single-seat aircraft October 2013. Alexey Mikheyev Alexey

MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighters at the maintenance station on the deck of Vikramaditya, 10 September 2013 www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 43 cosmonautics | review

Russia’s New-Generation Fututre New-generation spacecraft Spacecraft (PTK NP) full-scale mockup The exposition of the famous Sergey Korolyov-established company, the rocket and space corporation, was crowned by a full-scale mock-up of the re-entry

Igor Afanasyev vehicle of the New-Generation Future Spacecraft (PTK NP in Russian). The mock-up displayed in Zhukovsky two years ago looked far more basic. This one featured a high degree of detail elaboration of the exterior, offering a better idea of both the exterior and interior layout of the re-entry vehicle. The PTK NP is designed for lunar expe- ditions, orbiter transport/technical support and research. As conceived, the launch weight of the spacecraft on lunar missions is to account for about 20 t and on expedi- tions to low-Earth orbit (LEO) for around 14 t. The spacecraft measures about 6 m in length and 14 m across with its solar panels extended. The PTK NP is made of advanced alu- minium alloys featuring a 1.2–1.5-time increase in strength and is coated in ther- mal protection materials, which density is thrice as low as that of the in-service TMA spacecraft. The PTK NP boasts a large-scale use of carbon-filled plastics and three-layer structures. Its control system has been upgraded considerably, too, and fitted with laser rendezvous and docking aids and other advanced hardware as well. The re-entry vehicle, which measures 4 m high without the landing supports extended and has a maximum diameter of 4.5 m, will be reusable. Energia presumes that the construction of five re-entry vehicles will be enough for the programme to be imple- mented. The engine bay will be disposable and made from scratch for every mission, Igor AFANASYEV, therefore. Dmitry VORONTSOV The drastic difference between the re- entry vehicle variant displayed at MAKS 2013 and its preceding version is the former’s combined parachute/jet landing capability instead of the all-jet landing option. The SPACE NOVELTIES parachute/jet landing capability has a lower landing accuracy but is simpler, cheaper and more reliable. In addition to the mock-up itself, Energia’s stand displayed full-scale units OF MAKS 2013 of the future spacecraft, e.g. a hull panel, a hatch and a waste collection system (‘space The MAKS 2013 international air and space show held in August this year toilet’). The cockpit management system offered no stunning sensation on the ‘space’ scale. However, along with is based on up-to-date electronic com- numerous familiar designs on display, Russian rocket and space industry ponentry and was represented by liquid- players, which exhibits were traditionally part of the united exposition of crystal displays and controls that were more the Federal Space Agency, unveiled a number of interesting sophisticated advanced than those of the Soyuz space- designs. Of course, everybody is keen on what cosmonauts are going to fly craft. In the baseline configuration, the into orbit in and what Russian launch vehicles are going to succeed to the spacecraft will be capable of carrying four venerable Soyuz and Proton. Some of the questions were answered during crewmembers, including two pilots, seated the recent MAKS 2013 show. in advanced Cheget seats. The latter are far

44 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru cosmonautics | review Advanced Orlan At MAKS 2013, the Zvezda scientific and Marina Lystseva production company unveiled its cutting-edge Orlan-MKS spacesuit designed for spacewalks. According to Chief Designer Sergey Pozdnyakov, the advanced spacesuit features an automatic temperature control system and polyurethane parts instead of rubber ones. Polyurethane allows a 50%-plus extension of the Orlan-MKS’s service life. While in-service Russian spacesuits are fit for 15 spacewalks at the most, the advanced Orlan-MKS will endure 20 spacewalks or more. Another novelty is that the Orlan-MKS’s control panel is equipped with a sophisticated quality display that is larger and brighter and offering a better information display capability. PTK NP spacecraft interior: A detailed diagram of a cosmonaut’s position new crew seats… on the outside of the International Space Station will be shown on the display automatically. … and control panel The advanced spacesuit has entered production. Starting from February 2014, Orlan-MKS’s shall be flown in to the ISS by Marina Lystseva Progress cargo spacecraft – a spacesuit per spacecraft. Gradually, the old spacesuits are going to be replaced with new ones. The Orlan-MKS, which could serve as the basis for deriving a spacesuit for lunar expeditions, fits cosmonauts 165–190 mm tall. Its ready- for-use mass equals 110 kg, and its self- contained operation capability accounts for 7 h. Its temperature control system ensures an average heat removal of 300 kcal/h and a maximal one of 600 kcal/h. Igor Afanasyev

more ergonomic than the Kazbek seats now to be completed and the hardware is to in use. If six cosmonauts have to be brought be manufactured, including mock-ups for into LEO, the cabin can be furnished with experimental development and a produc- six ‘old’-type seats. tion-standard prototype for flight trials. According to Vladimir Pirozhkov, presi- The first unmanned launch is slated for dent, ASTRAROSSA industrial design and 2017 or early 2018, while the first manned innovation centre, who contributed to the flight is to take place by 2020. A name for development of the cabin’s interior, the the spacecraft has not been selected yet. PTK NP test programme includes five Anybody can suggest a name, with the best launches, of which three are unmanned one to be selected”. and two are manned. “The first three test launches are planned to rely on Proton Angara and MRKS launch vehicles blasting off from Baikonur, At this year’s MAKS air show, the and the subsequent two may involve Khrunichev space centre exhibited large- advanced Angara LVs at the Vostochny scale mock-ups of launch vehicles of space centre under the manned test pro- the Angara family and Phase I Reusable gramme”, Pirozhkov said. Space Rocket System (Russian acronym – “The PTK NP programme has been given MRKS-1). The purpose of the latter, a a green light by the Scientific and Technical two-stage system, is cost-effective orbiting Council of the Federal Space Agency”, says of cargo, manned and unmanned spacecraft Energia General Designer Vitaly Lopota. weighing 25–35 t and, further down the “Now, the engineering documentation is road, up to 70 t. www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 45 cosmonautics | review

MRKS-1 mock-ups displayed featured different numbers of first-stage re-entry booster fitted with the folding wing ( version) and several disposable second-stage boosters. A final re-entry booster configu- ration has not been decided on yet, with the Baikal’s alternative being the re-entry booster equipped with the trapezoid wing. In any case, both design variants have been tested at subsonic speed in TsAGI’s T-103 wind tunnel. Mock-ups of their scaled flight demonstrators, designed for flight tests and aerodynamic characteristics research, including simulated Mach and Reynolds number flight conditions for the re-entry boosters of the future MRKS-1, were dis- played at the stand of the Gromov Flight Research Institute. A straight-wing scaled flight demonstrator was exhibited as MLD-PK and the one fitted with the trapezoid wing as MLD-TK. Both demonstrators have a launch weight of 2,500 kg and are to be launched for trials with the use of the future Angara 1.2 launch vehicle. The MLD-PK measures 7,246 m in length, 4.386 m in wingspan and 1.8 m in height, while the MLD-TK trapezoid-wing version measure- ments are 4.771 m, 2.688 m and 1.395 m respectively. Both are to be tested within the 5–71-km altitude bracket, at Mach 0.9–7.5 and at angles of attack ranging from 0° to 55°. In spring 2013, MRKS-1 models under- went airflow visualization and heat-flux distribution tests in the UT-1M shock tun- nel at Mach 6 and in the T-117 hypersonic tunnel at Mach 7.5. Quite a few valuable results were produced. A number of design characteristics were proven, but unexpected high heat flexes on the straight centre-wing section also were detected. They could lead to design modifications. In addition, it turned out that the rocket pack’s layout did not provide longitudinal stability. The next phase of the MRKS-1 model aerodynamic tests shall take place in the T-116 hyper- sonic and T-128 transonic wind tunnels of

Igor Afanasyev TsAGI. MRKS-1 reusable space rocket system mockups featuring different numbers As for the Angara family, the experimental of Baikal first-stage re-entry boosters ground tests of rocket packs has been virtu- ally complete, and the first flying Angara- A1.2PP prototype has been made and brought to Plesetsk space launch centre. The first launch under the flight development test programme is due in May 2014, while on 27 August this year, the KBKhA design bureau in Voronezh completed its tests of the advanced RD-0124A engine designed for Angara’s URM-2 versatile rocket module. The test firing took place under the interde- partmental test programme. In all, three test

Andrey Fomin Andrey Fomin firings of the RD-0124A had been conducted Mockups of scaled flight demonstrators for the MRKS-1’s first-stage re-entry boosters: from 16 July to 27 August 2013, all of them MLD-PK with folding straight wing (left) and MLD-TK with fixed trapezoid wing (right) being successful.

46 take-off november 2013 www.take-off.ru cosmonautics | review

Soyuz-5 and others system development programme enjoying less expensive than its venerable predeces- The interesting novelties showcased at governmental backing. The question is, why sor. However, it is too early to discuss the MAKS 2013 included the Soyuz-5 launch develop the Soyuz-5? The question was cost, because the programme has just been vehicle. The Samara-based TsSKB-Progress answered by TsSKB-Progress representa- kicked off. The launch vehicle’s design has company is developing the future LV under tives in the course of the air show. The thing not been set in stone yet, and its future is the Magistral research programme to replace is the venerable workhorse of the Soviet and hazy. In any case, the initiative taken by all in-service descendants of the famous Russian space programme, the Soyuz, has TsSKB-Progress is laudable, inter alia, from Korolev’s R-7. According to TsSKB- grown obsolescent hopelessly in terms of the point of view of preserving the techno- Progress Director General Alexander Kirilin, performance. Suffice it to say that its coni- logical capabilities generated as part of the two variants of the future launch vehicles are cal strap-on boosters lack a single structural designing of the Rus-M rocket system in in development now. The baseline model, ring identical to another one. Clearly, the 2009–11. designated as Soyuz-5.1, is to have a lift prime cost of the rocket designed almost 60 The Samara-based company’s stand capacity of up to 8.5 t and a two-stage mono- years ago shall keep on growing continu- also displayed scale mock-ups of the block layout. Its first stage may be fitted with ously at the present time. The Soyuz-5.1b’s Soyuz-2.1v, Soyuz-2.1b and Soyuz-FG the RD-0164 rocket motor and its second burning five fuel components – LOX, kero- launch vehicles. The maiden flight of stage with the RD-0124M. Both engines sene, cryogenic nitrogen, hydrogen dioxide the Soyuz-2.1v light rocket is slated for being designed by KBKhA in Voronezh are and helium – makes the operation of even November or December this year. Its first to burn the LOX-LNG mixture. The Soyuz- the latest variant of the LV quite complicat- stage is known to have been equipped with 5.2 emerges through fitting the aforesaid ed. To cap it all, hundreds of personnel have the NK-33 engine and RD-0110r control baseline model with two strap-on boosters, to be present at the launching facility to thruster. Another set of tests of the former each housing an RD-0164 engine. The pay- perform manual operations during the pre- has been complete in Samara. The tests load capacity of the rocket is to account for flight preparations. Clearly, the rocket shall were focused on proving the NK-33’s qual- about 25 t. The third member of the family is lose its competitive edge sooner or later. ity characteristics, given the technological the 16-tonne-capable Soyuz-5 sporting two For this reason, TsSKB-Progress decid- solutions introduced into the newly-made strap-on boosters too, but lacking the third ed to preempt the above and launched combustor units – the collector and rubber stage. Should the design be given the nod and the development of a launch vehicle that parts of the combustor’s assemblies. By the the programme be provided with adequate would be more sophisticated in techno- way, specialists of the Aerojet Rocketdyne, financing, the first Soyuz-5 may blast off in logical terms, but simpler and comprising the US user of the Samara-made engine, 2020–22. fewer components. The Soyuz-5, which took part in the test firing. The three suc- On the face of it, the programme is a is being designed under the ‘one rocket cessful bench tests resulted in a total of dead-ringer for the Angara space rocket engine per stage’ concept, is supposed to be 616s logged by the NK-33. Andrey Fomin Igor Afanasyev

Soyuz-5 launch vehicle being under initiative Angara prospective launch vehicles family development by Samara-based TsKB-Progress developed by Khrunichev space center space center www.take-off.ru take-off november 2013 47 military aviation | news 558 ARP OFFERS AIRCRAFT UPGRADE equipped with gyro-stabilized surveillance-and- sighting system, modern system of navigation and electronic indication, set of night vision equipment, modern system of flight data recording. New guided weapons are introduced into the range of helicopter armament. Upgrade of Mi-24 helicopter includes installation of gyro-stabilized surveillance- and-sighting system, new system of navigation and electronic indication, set of night vision equipment, enhancement of capabilities of flight data recording system, increase of firing accuracy and automation of sighting process – thus increasing combat capacity and efficiency of the helicopter. Apart from that, one of the aircraft uprade The main area of activity of the 558th longitude, altitude), velocity vector as well as directions is installing of onboard equipment Aircraft Repair Plant is overhaul and upgrade the current time by the signals from GLONASS of individual radio-technical protection – of the Mi-8MT (Mi-17) and Mi-24 (Mi-35) satellite navigation system and NAVSTAR Satellite system. Due to it the hitting by missiles helicopters as well as Su-27, MiG-29, An-2, GPS in any point of the globe at any moment with radar homing heads is ruled out with high L-39, Su-22 and Su-25 aircraft. 558 ARP irrespective of the weather conditions. The degree of precision and jamming is produced performs full cycle of overhaul of airframe upgraded Mi-8 helicopters obtain BUR flight to all enemy’s radar homing weapons (fighters, and all component items, including a data recording system, which allows recording ground-to-air missiles). package of modifications and additional the flight data with an increased accuracy The efficiency of modifications introduced preventive measures increasing reliability of and performing automated data processing. on the aircraft and helicopters is affirmed by the aviation materiel. It saves considerable time for data decoding experience of flight tests and operation. Apart from overhaul, the enterprise and processing, ensures complete data safety 558 ARP is a dynamically developing successfully mastered upgrade of Su-27 in case of heavy flight accidents; it also allows enterprise which is always open for business and MiG-29 fighters and Mi-8 helicopters. connecting additional sensors and annunciators cooperation. The upgraded Su-27BM (Su-27UBM) and to receive more reliable information about the MiG-29BM fighters acquire fundamentally state of systems and equipment during flights for new features and combat capabilities: the maintaining airworthiness of helicopter. Night information-control field of cockpit is vision equipment enables to observe external updated by adding the multifunctional color environment of the helicopter in conditions of 558 Aircraft Repair Plant JSC LCD displays, radar fire-control system natural night illuminance with maximal vision Bldg. 7, 50 let VLKSM, Baranovichi, Brest region, 225320, Republic of Belarus and navigation system are upgraded and range of 2–4 km necessary for takeoff, hovering, Tel.: +375 (163) 42-99-54 the range of armaments is considerably piloting with visual monitoring of the underlying Fax: +375 (163) 42-91-64 increased, being complemented by new air- terrain, approaches and landings to unequipped E-mail: [email protected] to-air missiles and guided means of ground and unlit areas. The upgraded helicopters are http://www.558arp.by (naval) targets destruction. In March 2005 the pilots of upgraded MiG-29BM aircraft established 15 world records! In 2004 558 ARP mastered upgrade of Mi-8MT (Mi-17) helicopters. The purpose of upgrade is creation of round-the-clock combat transport helicopter. Gyro-stabilized surveillance-and-sighting system installed aboard the helicopter ensures twenty-four- hours survey and sighting with representation of a thermal image on the displays, wide- band con trol over the line of sight and target ranging with use of a laser range finder with an accuracy of ±5 m at a distance of 10 km. The system of navigation and electronic indication is designed for determination of the current position data of the helicopter (latitude,

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