february 2007 • special edition for Aero India 2007

BrahMos priority to air-launched missile [p.38]

Zhuk-AE the first ’s AESA radar [p.30]

Sokol plant turns 75 MiG-35 [p.10] the future of the MiG-29 family fighters [p.22]

MiG-29KUB First in Venezuela in the air! [p.44] [p.28]

Russia’s airliner industry in 2006 [p.6] YOUR ALL TIMES INSURANCE PROTECTION

Ingosstrakh, since 1947 is Russia’s largest Aviation and Space Insurance Department commercial insurance company operating 41, Lesnaya st., 127055 , Russia in 19 countries worldwide Tel.: +7-495-234-36-16 Experience, professionalism and impecca- Fax: +7-495-234-36-02 ble business reputation e-mail: [email protected] Licence C № 092877 issued by Rosstrakhnadzor www.ingos.ru February 2007 Editor-in-Chief Andrey Fomin

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Andrey Yurgenson

Columnists Alexander Velovich Vladimir Shcherbakov

Special correspondents Yevgeny Yerokhin, Mikhail Kuznetsov, Victor Drushlyakov, Andrey Zinchuk, Valery Ageyev, Alina Chernoivanova, Natalya Pechorina, Dear reader, Dmirty Pichugin, Sergey Krivchikov, Sergey Popsuyevich, Piotr Butowski, I am offering you a new issue of the Take-Off magazine, the Alexander Mladenov, Miroslav Gyurosi supplement to Russian national monthly Vzlet. This issue has been Design and pre-press timed with another Aero India air show in the “capital city” of India’s Grigory Butrin aviation – Bangalore. The principal Indian air show is always crowded Web support by Russian exhibitors and business people. Small wonder, since India Georgy Fedoseyev has long been among the main partners of our country in the field of arms trade, specifically, in aircraft making. Translation Latest Russian combat aircraft have been delivered to India for the Yevgeny Ozhogin past 45 years. Since the late 1960s, the bulk of the Indian Air Force’s Cover photo fighter and fighter-bomber fleets has been made up by MiG and Pavel Novikov warplanes, with a large number of the MiGs made by India under Soviet licence and assembly of one of the world’s best fighters, the Su-30MKI, Publisher having kicked off in India recently. Licence production of the Russian combat aircraft is only one of the signs of the surging military technical cooperation between the two countries. It soon is going to be 10 years since Indo-Russian Director General joint venture BrahMos, a developer and manufacturer of cutting-edge Andrey Fomin missile systems, has launched its operations. Right on the verge of Deputy Director General the air show in Bangalore, a range of other important agreements Nadezhda Kashirina concerning joint aircraft programmes have been signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s and Vice-Premier/Defence Minister Sergey Marketing Director Ivanov’s visits to India. George Smirnov At present, Russia is fulfilling the contract on developing, manufacturing and delivering a number of MiG-29K carrierborne fighters to the Indian Executive Director Navy. The customer’s representatives have been immediately engaged Yury Zheltonogin in the programme. Next key steps along the path of the Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation may be the acquisition of advanced Published with support from MiG-35 fighters. This time, the Generation 4++ fighter’s technology Russian Knights foundation demonstrator is to make its foreign debut in Bangalore. The central article of the issue is dedicated to it. News items for “In Brief” columns are prepared by editorial You also will find other materials focussing on the Russian-Indian staff based on reports of our special correspondents, press cooperation in the issue, as well as a brief rundown on the recent releases of production companies as well as by using information developments in the Russian industry over past several distributed by ITAR-TASS, ARMS-TASS, Interfax-AVN, RIA Novosti, months. RBC news agencies and published at www.aviaport.ru, www.avia.ru, I wish the exhibitors and visitors of Aero India 2007 interesting www.gazeta.ru, www.cosmoworld.ru web sites meetings, useful contacts and lucrative contracts! See you again at Items in the magazine placed on this colour background or supplied new air shows! with a note “Commercial” are published on a commercial basis. Editorial staff does not bear responsibility for the contents of such items. Sincerely,

The magazine is registered by the Federal Service for supervision of Andrey Fomin, observation of legislation in the sphere of mass media and protection Editor-in-chief of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. Registration certificate Take-Off magazine PI FS77-19017 dated 29 November 2004 Print-run: 5600 copies © Aeromedia, 2007

P.O. Box 7, Moscow, 125475, Russia Tel. +7 (495) 198-60-40, 798-81-19 Fax +7 (495) 198-60-40 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.take-off.ru contents

CIVIL AVIATION...... 4 First Tu-214 built for Vladivostok Avia to receive two more Tu-204-300s February 2007 First An-148s to be sold to Kazakhstan Uzbek carrier to receive two more Il-114-100s SuperJet gearing up for trials 4 First Russian low-cost carrier emerged In the run-up to grouth Russian airliner industry in 2006 According to official stats of the Russian Federal Agency for Industry, the national aircraft industry made 33 commercial planes in 2006. It is almost as many as the year before when the output totalled 34 aircraft, but it is mentioned as a 20-percent increase in financials. However, some other thing is more important: 2006 saw a number of developments indicating that Russian commercial aircraft have begun to come back to the global market while domestic operators have started placing new orders. This is proven by several new deals cut, in the first place, with major Russian aircraft leasing company, Finance Co. (IFC), during the year. The deals enabled IFC to contract manufacturers and launched financing of the production of advanced Russian 6 airliners. Actually, construction of more than two dozen new airliners has been launched by the plants in Voronezh and Ulyanovsk for the first time in the past decade and a half. Until then, they had completed the backlog dating back to the 1990s. The things started looking up at Gorbunov KAPO in Kazan, too. Several aircraft were delivered by Aviakor in Samara. What kind of success did the Russian commercial aircraft manufacturers achieve in 2006 and what are they facing this year and in a bit longer future? Andrey Fomin and Andrey Yurgenson try to answer the questions

INDUSTRY ...... 10 10 Sokol gaining height Report from Nizhny Novgorod The Sokol Aircraft Building Plant in Nizhny Novgorod, the oldest Russian aircraft manufacturer, turns 75 in February this year. The plant set up in 1932 as Plant No 21 (then Gorky-based Sergo Ordzhonikidze Aircraft Plant, Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) Aircraft Production Association) participated in production of numerous types of aircraft developed by N.N. Polikarpov, S.A. Lavochkin, A.I. and other outstanding Soviet designers. Today, the Sokol plant has advanced production facilities ensuring the complete production cycle and enabling international requirements-compliant cutting-edge aircraft to be made. In the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the company, our correspondents paid a visit to Sokol, were received by the management and pilots, and were shown the production lines and in-house flight-test facility

UAC registered

Ivchenko-Progress engines for trainers and light combat aircraft

MILITARY AVIATION ...... 18 First two Su-34s delivered to RusAF 18 Air Force took delivery of six Su-25SMs Russian Long-Range Aviation to get new Tu-160s Il-76MD kicks off official trials Another Ka-50 built in Arsenyev

MiG-35: future of Fulcrum family The representative of the new generation of the popular MiG-29 light tactical 22 fighter versions – its heavily upgraded MiG-35 multirole derivative – is to make its debut at the upcoming Aero India 2007 air show in Bangalore. Referred to as a Generation 4++ aircraft, the fighter may succeed the current MiG-29 and MiG-29SMT on the global arms market a few years further down the road. Unveiling the MiG-35 demonstrator at Bangalore pursues a definite goal: it is the model that the MiG Corp. and Rosoboronexport intend to submit for the Medium MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender the Indian Air Force (IAF) is to announce in the near future. Under the MMRCA programme, IAF plans to get 126 advanced fighters, the bulk of which is to be assembled by the Indian

2 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contents

aircraft factories. Competitors of the MiG-35 under the upcoming tender are to be the US F-18E/F and F-16 Block 70, French Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale, West European Typhoon and Swedish Gripen. Most of them are very stiff competitors, and for this reason, minor modifications to the existing MiG-29 will not be enough for the MiG-35’s developer to come on top in the tender. Therefore, the MiG-35’s design, albeit outwardly similar to the production MiG-29, embodies a number of radical innovations that qualify it as a Gen. 4++ warplane. Andrey Fomin reviews the main peculiarities of the advanced MiG programme

558 ARP: we give aircraft a new lease of life

COSMONAUTICS ...... 34 Advanced Soyuz orbited planetary scout GLONASS constellation growing Third launch of the ‘second’ Soyuz Proton – Arabsat: take 2 36 Angara to fly in four years Mars ‘flight’ as early as this year First Soyuz to launch from Kourou in two years Space tourism gets pricier

CONTRACTS AND DELIVERIES ...... 38 Brahmos Aerospace’s managing co-director Alexander Maksichev: “The priority is the air-launched missile” The development and manufacture of the BrahMos supersonic antiship missile system has been among the key joint Russian-Indian arms development 38 programmes recently. The missile has been under joint development by Russian and Indian as a derivative of the Yakhont antiship missile from NPOMash in Reutov, Moscow Region. The derivative is to have land-based, air-to-surface and sea-launched versions. A joint venture under the same name was set up to run the programme, with the acronym BrahMos standing for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moscow. The joint venture is manned by staff from Russia’s NPOMash and India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The programme’s kick-off was authorised by the intergovernmental agreement made in February 1998. The contract for developing the BrahMos was signed in July 1999. Since then, the Russian-Indian weapon has passed the design, prototyping and test phases, having entered full-rate production and started entering service. The BrahMos Aerospace joint venture’s Russian managing co-director Alexander Maksichev spoke with Take-Off’s columnist Vladimir Scherbakov on the recent developments under the BrahMos programme and the future it faces

Russia offers to upgrade Indian MiG-29s 40 Algeria accepts new MiGs China still to buy Su-33? Indonesia to get more Sukhois Il-76 deliveries to China slip behind schedule Be-103 and Su-80 to be assembled in PRC? 43 offers its freighters to China Mi-26 comes to PRC

Heading for Venezuela! First Su-30s arrive to Latin America Sukhoi’s division KnAAPO shipped the first four Su-30MK2 fighters to Venezuela in December last year. This is the first Flanker-family aircraft delivery to a Latin American country. On 10 December the pair of the Su-30MK2s flew during the air parade on the Venezuelan Air Force Day at Libertador air base, attended by President Hugo Chavez who had been re-elected as president just five days before. The contract for 24 Su-30MK2 multirole fighters and a batch of advanced Mi-35M attack, Mi-17V-5 utility and Mi-26T heavylifter helicopters was signed last summer in the course of Chavez’s visit to Russia. The smooth beginning of fulfilling the contract under so tight a schedule, which ensured the Su-30MKs’ participation in the air parade on 10 December 2006, gave powerful 44 impetus to the Russo-Venezuelan cooperation in arms trade and to crafting new lucrative agreements on deliveries of Russian combat aircraft and other material to Venezuela and some other Latin American countries www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 3 civil aviation | in brief

First Tu-214 built for Transaero

The Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) named after S.P. Gorbunov has completed another new Tupolev Tu-214 long-range airliner (No 64509). On 17 November 2006, it made its maiden flight, crewed by test pilots A.A. Ryabov and M.S. Bobrov. The aircraft is designed for the Transaero air carrier entitled to ten Tu-214s in 2006–2008 under its financial leasing deal with FLC leasing company dated 14 February 2005. Until now, Transaero has operated only foreign-made airliners. Thus, the KAPO-built No 64509 has become the first of the ten, having been delivered to the customer in January 2007. One more Tu-214 (No 64513) is to be completed and delivered to Transaero

this year. Ildar Valeyev Vladivostok Avia to receive First An-148s to be sold to two more Tu-204-300s Kazakhstan

A firm contract was signed on enabling passengers to control the Two Kazakh carriers are to An-148 deliveries are to start 27 November by the IFC leasing cabin audio and video gadgets in become the launch customers for as soon as the plane has been company and Far Eastern airline flight without leaving their seats. the advanced Antonov An-148-100 issued with the type certificate, Vladivostok Avia on the latter At present, Vladivostok Avia has regional jets whose full-rate which is slated for early this leasing of two Tu-204-300 medium/ been operating four Tu-204-300s production has been launched by year (the flight tests under the long-haul airliners for 15 years. leased from IFC between May and the Aviant plant in Kiev. certification test programme Under the contract, the aircraft December 2005. The monthly flying Under the current contract, became a success in December are to be delivered in the second hours per aircraft logged since the Aviant shall deliver seven such 2006). quarter of 2008. These aircraft delivery of the first batch of the aircraft to Kazakh company SCAT The first two An-148-100s are will feature improved seats in planes have averaged 400 hr, which and one to the Berkut airline, to be delivered to SCAT in 2007, the business class cabin and an is an excellent showing on a par with the latter’s contract having with the remaining five to follow interactive entertainment system with the international standards. an option for one more plane. suit during 2008. Uzbek carrier to receive two more Il-114-100s

The Tashkent Aircraft Production worth a total of $21.5 million. The TV7-117S turboprops. It features the first such airliner in 1998 and Corporation named after Valery third airliner is to be completed Canadian PW-127H turboprops first flew it on 26 January 1999. Chkalov (TAPC) has furnished a this year. rated at 2,750 hp and fitted with IAC’s Aircraft Registry issued it new 64-seat Ilyushin Il-114-100 The Uzbek national airline took Hamilton Sunstrand propellers with the type certificate on 29 regional airliner for delivery to delivery of the lead Il-114-100 and foreign avionics. TAPC made December 1999. Uzbek national carrier Uzbekistan in 2002, with the plane entering Airways. The aircraft is powered commercial operation on local by turboprop engines from routes in 2003. The company Pratt&Whitney Canada and fitted intends to have replaced its fleet with Rockwell Collins avionics. It of obsolete Yak-40 and An-24 kicked off its trials in August last regional planes with advanced year, having become the second aircraft. Il-114-100 TAPC built under the The Il-114-100 version was 2001 contract with Uzbekistan derived by Ilyushin from its

Airways on three Il-114-100s production Il-114 powered by Leonid Faerberg

4 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru civil aviation | in brief

SuperJet gearing up for trials the SuperJet’s fuselage – the nose In November, the flying (F-1) and tail sections (F-5 and testbed flew several check The Komsomolsk-on-Amur production of Su-30MK2s, Su-35s F-6). Ready sections are shipped flights at LII, crewed by leading Aircraft Production Association and, possibly, Su-33s for export to Komsomolsk-on-Amur where test-pilot Vladimir Biryukov and (KnAAPO) had completed the and work on the Su-27SM under the rest of the fuselage (F-2, F-3 two Frenchmen as co-pilots. The first airframe (c/n 95002) of the the governmental procurement and F-4) and the wing are made SaM146 prototype is to be shipped advanced Sukhoi SuperJet-100 programme, will keep the factory’s and final assembly takes place. In to LII in February or March 2007, regional airliner which was airlifted hands full. addition, another Russian aircraft after which it is to be mounted on by an An-124 Ruslan transport to At present, the Sukhoi’s Civil manufacturer – Voronezh-based the Il-76LL. The flying testbed then Zhukovsky in the Moscow Region Aircraft Corporation’s SuperJet-100 VASO – joined the SuperJet-100 will fly two series of flight tests on 28 January for static tests in the orderbook is 169, including production programme in 2006. totalling 200 flight hours. One of Central Hydroaerodynamic Institute 61 firm orders (30 by , 10 VASO has started making the the series is to take place at LII in (TsAGI). The plane’s static tests by the FLC leasing company, 15 aircraft’s composite accessories, Zhukovsky and the other in Istre by TsAGI are to begin in April this by AirUnion (the contract signed e.g. wing high-lift devices, elevators, in the south of France where one year. KnAAPO will make three more on 9 December 2006) and six by various fairings, access doors, etc. of Snecma’s specialist flight test SuperJet-100 prototypes in 2007. (the contract signed on 19 Concurrently with construction centres is situated. The SaM146’s The assembly of the first flying December 2006 with an option for of the early SuperJets, the certification tests are slated for prototype is slated to be completed four more aircraft). Rybinsk-based Saturn company completion in March 2008 and in September this year. Under the The world’s regional aircraft continues manufacture and testing those of the SaM146-powered current schedule, the certification market until 2023 is estimated at of the early examples of the SuperJet-100 in November 2008. tests are to last just over a year 5,400–5,600 planes worth up $100 SaM146 engine. Early in November, to have been completed by 2008 billion. Sukhoi expects that around Saturn completed the second of year-end when deliveries of early 800 of them will be SuperJet-family the eight engines stipulated by the production aircraft are to start to aircraft. According to the company’s certification programme. It entered the launch customer, Aeroflot. forecast, 35 percent of regional its rig tests on 13 November and The SuperJet-100’s production airliners may be sold in North had completed its takeoff-mode is to be launched in 2008 with America, 25 percent in Europe, 10 tests by the end of the month. The the rollout of the first six aircraft. percent in Latin America and the first SaM146 prototype underwent The output is to increase up to remaining 30 percent will be sold its FETT trials, having logged 112 30 in 2009 and up to 40 in 2010. domestically. hours during 97 start-ups from According to Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk, Construction of prototype July to September. The engine’s Sukhoi’s Deputy Director General and production of SuperJets maximum continuous operating for corporate relations and support, will be handled by KnAAPO in time per start-up totalled 5.5 hr. speaking in late November at the cooperation with another Sukhoi Soon, the third prototype is to enlarged session of the Khabarovsk division – the Novosibirsk Aircraft join the rig tests of the first two Region administration, KnAAPO’s Production Association named SaM146s, with the fourth one to SuperJet-100 production plan after Valery Chkalov (NAPO). commence its flight trials on the for 2008–10 is to account for February 2006 saw NAPO launching Il-76LL flying testbed in the coming

100 aircraft, which, along with manufacture of three sections of spring. Andrey Fomin First Russian low-cost carrier emerged

On 29 January, the first Russian February and to Chelyabinsk, Perm, The first Boeing 737-300 included as many as 18 aircraft by low-cost airline for the mass Yekaterinburg, Ufa and Anapa later ordered by arrived at the end of 2007. Its traffic capacity consumer, Sky Express, launched this year. Sky Express is expected to Vnukovo on 12 November 2007. is planned to have accounted for its first service from Vnukovo have 11 destinations 800–3,000 km Now it has two Boeing 737s. Sky 3.5 million passengers by 2008 Airport in Moscow to Sochi. In from Moscow by 2007 year-end. Express’s aircraft fleet will have year-end. December, the company started The Sky Express carrier was seat reservation at its Web site at established in March 2006. Its www.skyexpress.ru, and by phone. business approach features an All those registered will have access efficient destination network, to tickets to go to any Russian uniform aircraft fleet (Boeing city covered by Sky Express’s route 737-300), predominantly direct sale network at a special price of only of tickets (including selling them 500 rubles (about $19). on the Internet) and lack of free The company’s next services will meals on board. This is to allow a be launched from Vnukovo Airport considerable reduction in operating

to Rostov-on-Don and Murmansk in costs and, hence, the fare. skyexpress.ru

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 5 civil aviation | results Mikhail Kuznetsov

IN THE RUN-UP TO GROWTH Russian airliner industry in 2006 According to official stats of the Russian Federal Agency for Industry (Rosprom), the national aircraft industry made 33 commercial planes in 2006. It is almost as many as the year before when the output totalled 34 aircraft, but it is mentioned as a 20-percent increase in financials. However, some other thing is more important: 2006 saw a number of developments indicating that Russian commercial aircraft have begun to come back to the global market while domestic operators have started placing new orders. This is proven by several new deals cut, in the first place, with major Russian aircraft leasing company, Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC), during the year. The deals enabled IFC to contract manufacturers and launched financing of the production of advanced Russian airliners. Actually, construction of more than two dozen advanced airliners has been launched by the plants in Voronezh and Ulyanovsk for the first time in the past decade and a half. Until then, they had completed the backlog dating back to the 1990s. The things started looking up at Gorbunov KAPO in Kazan, too. Several aircraft were delivered by Aviakor in Samara. So, what kind of success did the Russian commercial aircraft manufacturers achieve in 2006 and what are they facing this year and in a bit longer future?

Late in December 2006, the Rosprom’s All newly-built Russian airliners were leased. Actually, 2006 became a sort of milestone Aircraft Industry Department published pre- received two Tu-154Ms under for Russian commercial aircraft returning to liminary showings of the Russian aircraft a contract with the Municipal Investment the global market. Aviastar built the first two industry in 2006. According to the agency’s Company in the city of and the Tu-204-120CE freighters for China under a news release, the 2006 aircraft production Finance Leasing Company (FLC) funded contract made in 2001 and the first Tu-204CE rate stood at 120 percent compared with that the construction of the Tu-214s for Dalavia for Cuba. IFC signed the new contract with in 2005, with eight manufacturers having and Transaero as well as the An-140 for Cuba in April 2006 and is to delivery as many made 33 aircraft. Of them, Russian carri- Yakutia. Early last year, the Russian air- as five aircraft – two Il-96-300 long-haulers, ers received only three: two Aviakor-built craft leasing leader, the Ilyushin Finance a Tu-204CE freighter and two Tu-204-100 medium-haul Tu-154Ms (RA-85123 and Company (IFC), fulfilled the first contract airliners. Two planes have already been built RA-85975) went to Kuban Airlines and one with Vladivostok Avia on four Tu-204-300s and one of them (Il-96-300) was delivered. KAPO-made long-range Tu-214 (RA-64512) (officially, the fourth aircraft was received The other last-year export success of IFC is went to Dalavia. In addition, the Yakutia by the carrier in late 2005) and exploited the contracts for five long-range Il-96-400Ts airline in September took delivery of the first the success in exporting Russian commercial and Il-96-400Ms in cargo and passenger An-140 (RA-41250) regional turboprop from aircraft. In February, it delivered the second configurations for Zimbabwe and five medi- Aviakor. Another Tu-214 (RA-64509) was Il-96-300 long-haul airliner to Cuba under um-range Tu-204-100s for Iran. A certain completed by KAPO in 2006, but its delivery the 2004 deal, with one more following suit progress was made in negotiations on deliv- has been put off until early in 2007. in December under a new contract. ering three Il-96-400s and four Tu-204s to

6 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru civil aviation | results

poised to delivery the first two short-haul Tu-334s (RA-94005 and RA-94003) this year. Construction of at least five more Tu-214 (RA-64516 through RA-64520) have been launched (Transaero and Rossiya are to take two each, with the fifth aircraft intended for KrasAir or Dalavaia). Further down the road, KAPO is to build six more Tu-214s for Transaero and, possibly, several more of those for other Russian carriers and to launch full-rate production of the Tu-334-100 short-haulers in case the financing is no longer an issue. Another manufacturer, Aviakor in Samara, has plans for 2007 to make and deliver from one to three Tu-154Ms and carry on with the contract it signed with FLC on three An-140s for Yakutiya. In the coming years, Aviakor may continue to build Tu-154Ms and An-140-100s, but the production rate is hardly to go into dozens of units due to the lack of demand for new Tu-154Ms, on the one hand (overhaul and upgrade of the exist- ing aircraft of the type looks more likely), and the complicated situation its Ukrainian partner KSAMC (Kharkov) is in now, on the other, since the An-140 production by Aviakor does not look feasible without coop- erating with KSAMC. In conclusion, a few words on a Russian airliner programme promising to become Andrey FOMIN central within the framework of the recent- Andrey YURGENSON ly established United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). It is Sukhoi’s breakthrough endeav- our – the advanced regional aircraft dubbed Syria and five Il-96-400Ts to China. IFC is their total worth exceeding $1 billion and SuperJet being productionised by KnAAPO poised to land the firm orders this year. the aircraft slated for delivery in 2007–09. In teamed up with NAPO in Novosibirsk with In 2006, IFC also carried on with its ear- all, IFC’s orderbook exceeds 100 orders for participation by VASO. The team plans to lier made contracts and started implement- a tune of about $3.5 billion. In addition to build early SuperJet prototypes and submit ing new deals on airliner construction made various Il-96 and Tu-204 versions, it includes for tests in 2007, having launched construc- with domestic carriers. Among those deals orders for the advanced An-148 regional jet tion of the airframes of future production are deliveries of an Il-96-300 to the Rossiya that is to be issued its type certificate early aircraft. KnAAPO is going to start full-rate airline, two Tu-204-300s to Vladivostok Avia this year. IFC also plans to fund construc- production and deliveries in 2008. By the (the order was placed in November 2006, the tion and deliveries of prospective Russian way, production of the other Sukhoi com- delivery is slated for 2008), two Il-96-400Ts to regional jet SuperJet-100 as well as An-140 mercial aircraft by KnAAPO – the Su-80GP Atlant-Soyuz, six Tu-204Cs to -Dnepr, and Il-114 regional turboprops, An-38 com- regional/commuter turboprop – is slated etc. Rossiya and Atlant-Soyuz are to get their muter planes, etc. Owing to IFC’s efforts for the same time. KnAAPO may begin to new Ilyushin plane each as early as 2007. to promote Russian civil aircraft on both assemble early production Su-80GPs as early Due to landing new orders for a consider- domestic and global markets, Aviastar’s and as this year, with the deliveries planned to number of Tu-204 and Il-96 aircraft and VASO’s production lines have been busy start in 2008. However, whether the company virtual exhaustion of Aviastar’s and VASO’s for several years to come (mind you, VASO is to stick to the schedule or not is hinged 1990s backlog of these aircraft, resumption is getting more and more engaged in pro- – as with the SuperJet – on whether the of their production has come to the fore. For duction of SuperJet regional aircraft, while developer completes the planes’ certification this purpose, the manufacturers needed to Aviastar is gearing up for productionising the in full or not. buy metal and components. Therefore, IFC Il-76 upgraded transports). Summing up the results of the Russian made deals with them in 2006 and began The third major Russian airliner manufac- airliner industry in 2006 and plans of domes- to pay for constructing new planes of the turer, Gorbunov KAPO, is going to continue tic aircraft manufacturers for the future, it types from scratch. As a result, construction to fulfil its contracts with FLC and the gov- is worth mentioning that the situation, alas, of as many as 23 airliners was launched for ernment in the coming years. The company has not changed radically, judging by the the first time since the dissolution of the is to complete, test and deliver two Tu-214s number of new airliners delivered to opera- Soviet Union, those being 10 Il-96s in vari- (RA-64509 and RA-64513) to Transaero and tors. Of the 33 civil aircraft built, only three ous variants to be built by VASO and 13 pas- two Tu-214SRs (RA-64514 and RA-64515) (!) were delivered to domestic airlines and senger and cargo Tu-204s by Aviastar, with for Rossiya airline. In addition, KAPO is two were exported (several more aircraft were www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 7 civil aviation | results

made for Russian and foreign users, but their deliveries were postponed until 2007, with the remaining two dozens-plus mentioned by Rosprom’s stats being light planes (M-101T, SM-92T, An-3) and a Be-200ChS delivered to the Emergencies Ministry. Compare that with the 34 civil aircraft made in 2005 (re: Rosprom’s 2005 annual report). At the time, Russian carriers took delivery of six airliners

Regional and short-haul airliners production could give a real impetus for Russia’s commercial aircraft industry growth in the nearest future. Top: Antonov An-148 assembling at VASO plant, June 2006. Bottom: the first SuperJet-100 prototype (95002) for static tests arrival to Moscow, 28 January 2006 VASO

ing last year’s air show in Farnborough, the Ilyushin Finance Co. signed agreements with the Aviakor and Ilyushin companies on delivering 30 Il-114s and 25 An-140-100s to Russian carriers within the coming five years. As far back as 2005, IFC clinched deal on supplying three Russian air compa- nies with 39 brand-new An-148s in various configurations, whose production is to be launched by VASO in 2007. By late last year, the Tu-334-100 orderbook had comprised 52 orders from four Russian carriers and a Ukrainian one, with the Tu-334-100 slated to enter production at KAPO in 2007 in line with the government’s resolution. However, while these agreements have not resulted in firm orders yet and some remain rather hazy, the developer of the SuperJet-100 can boast

Andrey Fomin firm orders for 61 aircraft, even though the aircraft, which is supported by the federal (four Tu-204-300s and two Tu-214s), with ernment goes with us, we will be able to place authorities, has not started its trials yet. In one more aircraft (Il-96-300) sold abroad. a major order with the industry indeed,” all, the above orders total 168 regional and Nonetheless, the developments in 2006 – Alexander Rubtsov concluded. short-haul aircraft that could be delivered IFC’s new orders for both domestic and Regional and short-haul aircraft may take by 2010. global markets – serve a reason to believe the central place in this order. The need of The aircraft are promoted on the global that the Russian civil aircraft industry may Russian and some foreign carriers for such market as well. Although potential buyers of experience its long-awaited revival in the aircraft is driven by the gradual expiry of the An-140 regional aircraft as well as An-148 coming years. UAC’s organisation provides the service life and approaching termination and Tu-334 short-haul airliners, most likely, for IFC aircraft leasing as its speciality, and of the operation of the An-24, Yak-40 and be several Middle East, Asia Pacific and the company is intent on assuming leadership Tu-134 fleets. Aircraft in the class are in high African countries, traditional operators of in restarting and boosting airliner production demand worldwide as well. Russian develop- Soviet/Russian planes, the SuperJet’s devel- in Russia. ers have come with several advanced planes oper‘s ambitions are not limited to these “We suggest the aircraft production be in the class. The Il-114 and An-140 50-seat regions. Sukhoi eyes the Western market, increased sharply,” IFC’s Director General turboprops have passed the tests and been whose capacity in the coming decade and Alexander Rubtsov said during the meet- productionised a long time ago, but their pro- a half, it believes, may number up to 560 ing with the media on the company’s 2006 duction rate remains negligible for a number Sukhoi regionals, including about 280 air- performance. “We have taken stock of all of reasons. The An-148 70-seater completed craft in North America and about 200 in Russian aircraft manufacturers making com- its certification flight tests late last year and Europe. In whole, the Russia’s United mercial planes and identified the principal will be ready for delivery any time soon, Aircraft Corporation plans to deliver not less problems. The problem of personnel is very once it has received its type certificate. The than 500 regional and short-haul airliners in complicated, for one. Secondly, the leasing Tu-334 102-seater has been certificated and the next 8 years, since 2008 till 2015. Time model should be modified to beef up its loan may enter full-rate production this year. The will show if marketing experts are right or component. Hence, we asked the government 95-seat SuperJet-100 is gearing up for trials, wrong, however, it is clear even now that the for its guarantees on the same terms applied with its delivery slated for late next year. future of the Russian airliner industry is going to funding the export deliveries. At issue is A possible production rate of these aircraft to be heavily hinged specifically on pursuing acquisition of 200–250 aircraft within five in the near future is hinted at by the number the production of regional and short-range years for a total of about $6 billion. If the gov- of the firm orders landed. For instance, dur- airliners.

8 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru civil aviation | results 2006 airliner production by Russian manufacturers and plans for 2007–08 (passenger aircraft with a capacity of at least 30 seats and freighters) Manufacturer Type Customer Qty Leasing Contract Registration Maiden flight Date of company (agreement of or c/n date delivery intent) date VASO Il-96-300 Cubana Aviation (Cuba) 1 IFC 9.07.2004* 016 14.01.2006 02.2006 (Voronezh) (CU-T1251) Il-96-300 Cubana Aviation (Cuba) 2 IFC 10.04.2006 12.2006 12.2006 2007 Il-96-300 Rossiya 1 IFC (2006) 2007 Il-96-400T Atlant-Soyuz 2 IFC 27.06.2005 RA-96101 2007 RA-96102 2007–2008 Il-96-400T/М Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) 5 IFC 11.2006 after 2007 Il-96-400T SyrianAir (Syria) 3 IFC (06.2006)*** after 2007 Il-96-400T Silk Route Cargo (China) 2 IFC (04.2006)*** after 2007 (+3 options) An-148-100 Air Union 10 IFC 28.04.2005 2007–2008 Aviastar Tu-204-120СЕ Air China Cargo (China) 5 – 8.09.2001 64030(B-2871) 14.05.2006 2007 (Ulyanovsk) 64031 2007 64034 2007–2008 China Eastern Cargo (China) 64035 2007–2008 64041 2007–2008 Tu-204СЕ Cubana Aviation (Cuba) 1 IFC 10.04.2006 64036 19.12.2006 2007 Tu-204-100 2 IFC 10.04.2006 2007–2008 Tu-204-300 Vladivostok Avia 2 IFC 27.11.2006 2008 Tu-204С Volga-Dnepr 6 IFC (2006) after 2007 Tu-204-300 Air Koryo (PDRK) 1 - 04.2006 2007–2008 (+1 optiion) Tu-204-100 Iran Airtour (Iran) 5 IFC 2006 after 2007 Tu-204-100 SyrianAir (Syria) 4 IFC (06.2006)*** after 2007 KAPO Tu-214 Dalavia 1 FLC 29.05.2003** RA-64512 11.07.2006 30.08.2006 (Kazan) Tu-214 Transaero 2 FLC 02.2005 RA-64509 17.11.2006 2007 RA-64513 2007 2 2008 6 after 2008 Tu-214SR Rossiya 2 - RA-64514 2007 RA-64515 2007 Tu-214 Rossiya 2 - 2008 Tu-334 **** 1 RA-94005 21.11.2003 2007 Tu-334 **** 1 RA-94003 2007 Aviakor Tu-154М Kuban Airlines 2 MIC RA-85123 5.05.2006 6.06.2006 (Samara) RA-85795 7.08.2006 22.08.2006 An-140 Yakutiya 1 FLC 16.08.2005 RA-41250 2.08.2005 6.09.2006 An-140-100 2 2007 An-140-100 **** 10 IFC 2006 2007–2008 KnAAPO SuperJet-100 Aeroflot 30 7.12.2005 since 2008 (Komsomolsk- **** 10 FLC 17.08.2005 after 2008 on-Amur) AirUnion (KrasAir) 15 9.12.2006 after 2008 (+15 options) Dalavia 6 19.12.2006 2008–2009 (+4 options) Su-80GP Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 2 (2006) 2008 air company * The first aircraft under the contract (CU-T1251) was delivered in December 2005. ** The first four aircraft under the contract (RA-64502, RA-64503, RA-64507, RA-64510) were delivered in 2001-05. *** A firm order has not been awarded yet. **** The end user has not been determined yet. The aircraft made and/or delivered in 2006 are in bold letters Export contracts are highlighted in yellow www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 9 industry | report

SOKOL GAINING HEIGHT Report from Nizhny Novgorod

The Sokol Aircraft Building Plant in Nizhny Novgorod, the oldest Russian aircraft manufacturer, turns 75 in February this year. The plant set up in 1932 as Plant No 21 (then Gorky-based Sergo Ordzhonikidze Aircraft Plant, Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) Aircraft Production Association) participated in production of numerous types of aircraft developed by N.N. Polikarpov, S.A. Lavochkin, A.I. Mikoyan and other outstanding Soviet designers. Today, the Sokol plant has advanced production facilities ensuring the complete production cycle and enabling international requirements-compliant cutting-edge aircraft to be made. In the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the company, our correspondents paid a visit to Sokol, were received by the management and pilots, and were shown the production lines and in-house flight-test facility.

Watershed Sokol’s 2006 production rate growth the MiG-29UBT combat trainer fighters 2005 and 2006 proved to be the watershed over 2005 and continuation of the works under the con- to the Sokol plant. The company finished Sales growth – 292 per cent (3.7 billion rubles) tract with MiG Corp. on the MiG-29K/KUB the two years in the black at a level high Commodity output – 260 per cent shipborne fighters ordered by the Indian enough for the Russian aircraft industry. GDP – 126 per cent Navy. The Yak-130 third flying prototype in It has never produced such a wide range Staff on the payroll – 105 per cent the production configuration was delivered of products as now – not even during Average salary – 121 per cent for the joint official tests, and the aircraft the Soviet times. Under the current con- Labour productivity – 122 per cent was productionised for the Russian Air tracts, the plant’s production programme Salary schedule – 127 per cent Force. A 10-ship M-101T batch was deliv- covers full-rate production of as many as Sales volume per worker – 278 per cent ered for use as air taxi under the Dexter five aircraft at the same time, of which programme and as a trainer by Russian two are made from scratch (Yak-130 and civil aviation flight schools. In addition, the M-101T), two are upgraded (MiG-29UB output. For instance, it equalled only 7 per plant plans to productionise the MiG-35 and MiG-31) and separate airframe parts cent in 2005, but this year it is to grow fighter, kick off the MiG-31 upgrade for are made for MiG-29K/KUB. The five roughly to 10 per cent and 2008 is to see the RusAF and foreign customers and launch a programmes were run concurrently each at beginning of its considerable increase mostly number of other programmes. its own pace and have gathered momentum through launching the full-rate production recently. of the Yak-130 combat trainer and MiG-31 Production and personnel So far, the volume of work under the gov- upgarde. To hit such ambitious targets, the plant has ernmental defence procurement programme Key developments in Sokol’s last years up-to-date production facilities, including is not the backbone of the company’s total operation included the export deliveries of its own design bureau, blank stamping, forg-

10 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru industry | report

The three foundations underlying current production programme of the Sokol plant – the MiG fighters (MiG-31E interceptor shown above), the Yak-130 combat trainer (bottom) and the M-101T Gzhel comfortable business plane and trainer (left)

Yevgeny YEROKHIN Photos provided by Sokol plant

ing, casting, machining, tooling, assembling, this year mostly through hiring more opera- Mikhail Shibayev, Director General, Sokol galvanic and painting ones. It also has a flight tors of numerically-controlled machines and plant JSC: “We strive to make the plant attractive to test facility of its own, an aviation training milling machines, etc. new skilled personnel in terms of the salary centre and a commercial aircraft mainte- The company has worked out a corporate and life standards. The management is doing nance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre. development plan for 2006–10 based on the its utmost to woo young people to the plant. One of the problems being faced by the current contracts and most promising pre- Various benefits are provided, e.g. stipends plant is some shortage of skilled personnel. liminary agreements. The contracts made for apprentices, personal bonuses for The thing is that the personnel on payroll recently (first of all on the MiG-29K/KUB, graduates of training institutions, lump-sum grants, etc. A dormitory is under construction. have dropped by several times since the col- Yak-130 and M-101T) have contributed to We have got a swimming pool, an outpatient lapse of the Soviet Union. In 2006 the pay- the increase in the output and the consid- department, a club and a sports centre. roll equalled 6,700 personnel. Now that the erable workload for the company. In this Arrangements are in the pipeline to introduce production has surged, it is not that easy to connection, Sokol’s management has taken mortgage. Sokol is actively collaborates beef up the personnel, since the company is a decision to set up a new machine shop to with educational institutes of the city and Nizhny Novgorod region. An Aircraft-building lacking skilled, seasoned specialists who are process airframe structural parts. educational department has been set up well versed in the finer points of aircraft man- by the company, an affiliate of the Moscow ufacture. The corporate development plan Living MiG Aviation Institute (MAI) and Nizhny Novgorod makes provision for beefing up the payroll up A number of measures to be taken due to Polytechnic Institute. Another step to counter to 11,000–12,000 personnel by 2010. Today, Sokol joining the United Aircraft Corporation the personnel shortage and increase the this is Sokol’s principal objective and one of (UAC). In line with Presidential Decree No 140 labour productivity has been the acquisition of a range of latest high-capacity machines the most difficult ones to boot. The payroll dated 20 February 2006, Sokol was included from German and Russian manufacturers.” should swell to 7,000 personnel as early as into emerging UAC. But establishing the struc- www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 11 industry | report

The main activities of the Sokol plant under the MiG “theme” had been connected with production and upgrade of MiG-29UB twin-seaters: another MiG-29UB assembling is shown above; MiG-29UBT is ready for delivery to its customer (bottom).

Alexei Fyodorov, Director General/Designer is in many respects due to the MiG-21bis “We have got such contracts that we are General of the MiG Corp., president of the modernisation programme for the Indian fulfilling,” Mikhail Shibayev told our cor- UAC, chairman of the board of the Sokol Air Force, production and upgrade of the respondents. plant JSC: MiG-29UB, MiG-31, etc. Sokol sees the future for the MiG pro- “The Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Building Plant The cooperation has resulted in sever- grammes in productionising the future Sokol plans to invest about $700 million into al major contracts for supplying the MiG MiG-35 multirole fighter – a heavily upgrad- its production capabilities in 2006 through Corp. with rigging and components to build ed derivative of the existing MiG-29, which 2010. The bulk of the money is to be paid MiG-29K/KUB fighters ordered by the could be rated as a Generation 4++ air- for modernising and technical re-equipment and Indian Navy. Sokol is assembling airframe craft. “The MiG-35, shipborne MiG-29K advanced technology introduction as well. Sokol components for the advanced Indian carri- and Yak-130 are going to secure our basic is to become the mainstay company in MiG erborne fighters (under the deal struck three future for the coming decades,” Mikhail aircraft production in five years.” years ago, the Indian Navy is to take deliv- Shibayev opined. The plant is to take part ery of 12 MiG-29K single-seaters and four in the MiG-35 programme under long-term MiG-29KUB twin-seaters, with an option contracts to be made with the MiG Corp. in ture of UAC and relations within it as well as for 30 more aircraft like that). In addition, a manner similar to how the contracts struck distribution of roles of individual companies Sokol and the MIG Corp. have been running under the MiG-29K/KUB programme are within the corporation has just begun. some other major programmes. being fulfilled. Digital technologies will In 2005 MiG Corp. Director General (now One of them concerns the production and be widely used when productionising the UAC President) Alexey Fyodorov became upgrade of MiG-29UB twin-seat combat MiG-35. chairman of the board of the Sokol plant trainers under contracts with foreign custom- JSC and this has beefed up companie’s coop- ers. Sokol’s leaders believe that large-scale Second to none erative links with the MiG Corp. Its striving production of the aircraft of the type is hardly Another export-oriented programme that to get buddy-buddy with Sokol is owing realistic, though the modernisation of the has gathered momentum at Sokol concerns to Sokol retaining many skilled production existing MiG-29UBs will continue as long as the production of an export variant of the specialists and unique technologies, which new orders are awarded. MiG-31 long-range high-altitude intercep-

12 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru industry | report

MiG-31 upgraded fighter taking off from the Sokol plant airfield

Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov, Corp. determined its specifications. It has 21st-century ‘flying school bench’ commander-in-chief, Russian Air Force: been displayed at air shows repeatedly, con- However, the MiG Corp. is not the only “The MiG-31 interceptor, embodying tinuing to fly now. The MiG-31E’s export developer Sokol plant cooperates with. The numerous unique technologies, has been permit has been issued, and the advertising plant is bullish on the progress of the the backbone of the interceptor fleet of the and export configuration descriptors have Yak-130 new-generation combat trainer pro- air defence arm of the Russian Air Force. Its been completed. duction programme to be run in support of high speed and altitude serve the base for There have been preliminary requests for the Russian Defence Ministry. enhancing its combat capabilities further the MiG-31E, with orders being negoti- Sokol plant made two Yak-130 production with emphasis on its multirole capability. ated. configuration prototypes in 2004–05, with The unique flight characteristics of the Another important MiG-31-related pro- the third aircraft completed and submitted gramme run jointly with the MiG Corp. aircraft and its radar can be improved on order from the Defence Ministry is the Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov, further. In November 2006, we signed a long-term programme on upgrading the commander-in-chief, RusAF, speaking in preliminary agreement on the official trials MiG-31 fleet in service with the Russian the wake of his February 2005 flight on the of the upgraded MiG-31, and now the Air Air Force. At present upgraded MiG-31 Yak-130 from Sokol plant’s airfield: Force is facing bright vistas in large-scale prototypes are at the final stage of their “I flew in the rear seat of trainers for 25 upgrade of its interceptor fleet.” official trials. years, training cadets, but I have not seen Sokol has been selected as prime contrac- such an excellent aircraft like this. It is easy to tor under the MiG-31 upgrade programme fly and meets up-to-date requirements. Having tor, the MiG-31E, to which keen interest and, therefore, has readied a production line. completed a training course on this aircraft, has been shown by several Middle East and To cut costs, the plant is going to combine the rookies will feel confident in the cockpits of North Africa countries that have long oper- upgrade with complete scheduled overhaul to cutting-edge combat aircraft. The service needs ated Sokol-built MiG-25P interceptors. extend TBO, service life, warranties, etc. A about 200 planes like that, and we will be buying The MiG-31E was derived by Sokol plant number of suppliers and subcontractors have them gradually.” at its own expense. Sokol and the MiG been selected to this end. www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 13 industry | report

for tests in 2006. To date, Sokol and Yakovlev have struck a deal for the fourth Yak-130 to be delivered in July 2007 for use under the official test programme. The aircraft is under construction. In addition, the plant receives funding under a contract with Yakovlev for another Yak-130 airframe for fatigue tests to be deliv- ered in August 2007. The plant also landed a long-term Defence Ministry contract for building the Yak-130 for the Air Force. Sokol started construction of the 12-ship preproduction batch as far back as 2005. The production line has been completed. A year ago, the Yak-130 was awarded the first export order. The planes will be built by .

Sergey Chemezov, Director General, Rosoboronexport, speaking on the Yak-130’s export prospects on his June 2006 visit to Sokol plant: “This is a very promising aircraft for promoting RusAF commander-in-chief Gen. Vladimir on the global market. It is the only aircraft in Mikhailov after familiarisation flight in the first ery of M-101Ts, with the first two aircraft the world, combining the characteristics of the Yak-130 built by the Sokol plant, accepted by the flying schools in Ulyanovsk trainer and the fighter. We know real well that February 2005 (top) and Buguruslan. Several more planes are military experts of several countries have very 6-seat M-101T turboprop comfortable to be accepted soon. An M-101T flying keen interest in it.” passenger planes are in service with the first and ground crew conversion centre and an Russia’s air taxi company since last spring M-101T MRO centre have been established in Nizhny Novgorod. Owing to the hike in orders for the M-101T, Sokol plant set up a new shop independent from its military production facilities in 2005 to assemble the M-101T. The shop is manned by young personnel trained by the company. This is today of the Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Building Plant Sokol. Having overcome the negative trends besieging the whole aircraft industry in the 1990s, Sokol plant has made quite a spurt over the past several years. The three foundations underlying its current production pro- Air taxi use as Dexter air taxi cabs. The first Gzhel gramme are the MiG fighters, the Yak-130 Sokol plant found itself to be central was delivered to Dexter on 3 March 2006, combat trainer and the M-101T Gzhel to the cooperative efforts to produce the and AMG has been operating as many as comfortable business plane and trainer. M-101T Gzhel light multirole plane devel- eight air taxis to date. Several more aircraft The production rate of the three has been oped by the Myasishchev design bureau. The are slated for delivery this year. The M-101T picking up. By its 75th anniversary, the M-101T is new on the Russian market. Its is made in PAX and VIP configurations (six company had had its production lines turboprop engine, long range, high speed, and four seats, respectively). The number operating virtually to capacity and ensured sealed cabin and comfortable seats make of aircraft used under the Dexter air taxi an even more promising future. the aircraft comfortable for business trips. programme is to have been 45 in the fol- For this reason, the M-101T Gzhel has been lowing years. The total number of aircraft Sergey Nedoroslev, chairman of the board, selected by the Avia Management Group to be made by Sokol plant to complete the Kaskol Group, speaking in December 2005 (AMG), which runs the first national air taxi programme is about 200. on IFC’s granting Dexter a $8 million loan programme dubbed Dexter, to make up its In addition to the planes delivered to to be spent on developing the first Russian air taxi fleet. Recently, the plane was given AMG, three more M-101Ts are in service in air taxi system: another very important role to play, with Nizhny Novgorod. They are owned by Sokol “The first tranche of IFC’s credit has served it having been selected the airliners future plant that flies them on special passenger and another proof that the decision to select pilots training aircraft. cargo missions in support of the company. Russian M-101T aircraft from Sokol plant for The Air Transport Systems company About a year ago, Russian civil avia- launching the Dexter programme was right.” (Russian acronym VTS) leases M-101Ts for tion flying schools started taking deliv-

14 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru industry | in brief

far, the government’s share in Minister Andrey Reus; Air Force UAC registered UAC is much higher than planned, Commander-in-Chief Vladimir totalling 90.1 percent, while private Mikhailov; presidential aide Igor On 2 November 2006, the UAC’s authorised capital stock: stockholders account only for 9.9 Shuvalov; head of the Federal session of the governmental 100 percent of the stock of the percent of UAC’s stock (these are Agency for Industry Boris Alyoshin; commission on integrating the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company, the shares of Irkut’s co-owners, head of the Federal Agency for companies of the Russian aircraft 15% of the Aviaexport Foreign which are being transferred to Federal Property Management industry, chaired by Industry and Trade Association, 38 percent of UAC). Valery Nazarov; head of the Federal Energy Minister Victor Khristenko, Ilyushin Finance Co., 25.5 percent By the time of UAC’s Military Technical Cooperation approved the establishing of the of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur registration, the Federal Agency Commission Mikhail Dmitriyev; United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Aircraft Production Association, for Federal Property Management MiG Corp. Director General Alexey being set up under Presidential 86 percent of the Ilyushin had considered the evaluated Fyodorov; Rosoboronexport Decree No 140 dated 20 February interstate aircraft-making shares of joint stock companies Director General Sergey Chemezov; 2006. company, 38 percent of the included into UAC’s authorised Transport Minister Igor Levitin; Opening the session of the Nizhny Novgorod-based Sokol stock and provided the data used Deputy Economic Development governmental commission, which aircraft-making plant, 25.5 by the governmental commission and Trade Minister Andrey was set up by Resolution No 223 percent of the Novosibirsk Aircraft to form the policy of the Russian Belousov; Sberbank’s Chairman dated 20 April 2006, Victor Production Association, 90.8 Federation as to the size of UAC’s of the Board Andrey Kazmin and Khristenko reminded those present percent of the Tupolev joint stock authorised capital stock and the VTB’s President and Chairman of that “the future of the aircraft company and 58 percent of the size of the Russian Federation’s the Board Andrey Kostin. Alexey industry lies in the deliberate Financial Leasing Company. share in it. At the first stage, Fyodorov was recommended as integration with the global market, The commission authorised UAC’s authorised capital stock is president and chairman of the in international cooperation with the feasibility of introducing 38.2 to be about 96.7 billion rubles, or board. concurrent preservation and percent of the total worth of the slightly over $3.6 billion, with the UAC’s registration was furthering of core aircraft-making Irkut Corp.’s stock as contribution Russian Federation’s share in it completed on 20 November 2006, competencies in the Russian of private stockholders to UAC’s standing at about 87 billion rubles, when the corporation was issued Federation, in reasonable authorised capital stock. Since or about $3.3 billion. with its registration certificate and concentration of assets and in Sukhoi that is becoming part of Members of the commissioned registered with the tax authorities. large-scale involvement of private UAC owns 11.89 percent of Irkut, came to an agreement on the The UAC joint stock company is capital and private initiative”. the newly established corporation draft charter of UAC and set forth registered at 22 Ulansky Lane, Currently, there is a proactive will get Irkut’s controlling stock of provisions on the composition of Moscow. assets consolidation within the 50.09 percent. Given that Sukhoi the corporation’s board of directors The first session of the industry – the stage the Western also owns 74.5 percent of stock and auditing committee. The board United Aircraft Corporation’s aircraft manufacturers have of its major aircraft manufacturers includes Deputy Prime Minister/ board of directors took place passed already. The gist of the KnAAPO and NAPO, it turns out that Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov as in mid-December. Among other consolidation is the establishing of UAC is to own these companies chairman; Igor Putilin, First Deputy things, it approved Alexey Fyodorov UAC. According to the minister, the lock, stock and barrel. The control Chairman of the Military Industrial as president and chairman of the asset consolidation is a difficult, stock of two leading commercial Commission under the auspices board of UAC. Other personnel and long-term and unavoidable process aircraft manufacturers, Aviastar in of the Russian government; organisational matter were tackled comprising the conduct of technical Ulyanovsk and VASO in Voronezh, Deputy Industry and Energy as well. auditing, determining specialities are taken over by UAC as well, even of individual companies, devising though the two are not apparently Company Capitalisation, Stock submitted Asset’s share in and implementing a restructuring on the current list (since more billion rubles to UAC, % UAC’s value, % plan and fulfilling corporate than 73 percent of Aviastar’s stock ($) procedures required. are owned by Tupolev and over 56 Sukhoi 52.4 (2.0) 100 54.2 Victor Khristenko noted that all percent of VASO’s stock belongs KnAAPO 38.0 (1.4) 25.5 10.0 relevant steps were been made to Ilyushin). to set up the new corporation, As a result, the bulk of the Russian NAPO 2.7 (0.1) 25.5 0.7 e.g. the commission have military and commercial aircraft Irkut 25.0 (0.95) 38.2 9.9 completed evaluation of the stock developers and manufacturers Sokol 3.1 (0.12) 38 1.2 the companies submit to UAC’s are to be consolidated under authorised capital stock as the UAC at the first stage. Stage II Ilyushin 11.7 (0.44) 38 4.6 payment and has worked out is to see two remaining Russian Finance Co. the terms of privatising those aircraft-making majors, the MiG Ilyushin 11.9 (0.45) 86 10.6 companies. The Deloitte & Touche Corp. and KAPO (both are federal Tupolev 4.0 (0.15) 90.8 3.8 CIS company handled the auditing state companies so far), as well as of the companies’ market value. a number of private stockholders Financial 8.0 (0.3) 58 4.8 Leasing UAC’s founder, the Russian operating in the aircraft industry, Company Federation, contributes the joining UAC by 1 April 2007 Aviaexport 2.0 (0.08) 15 0.2 following stock as its share in following their privatisation. So

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 15 военная авиация | репортаж IVCHENKO-PROGRESS ENGINES FOR TRAINERS AND LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT

For more than 60 years the Zaporozhye Machine-Building Design Bureau Progress State Enterprise named after Academician A.G. Ivchenko (SE IVCHENKO-PROGRESS) is involved in design of engines to power aircraft and helicopters of various types and industrial drives and special equipment as well. For this period of time the engine-manufacturing plants produced over 70000 units of piston and gas turbine aeroengines, industrial turbine starters and drives. The aeroengines designed by SE IVCHENKO-PROGRESS power 57 types of aircraft operated in 109 countries of the world. The sphere of SE IVCHENKO-PROGRESS activities is as follows: design, manufacture, certification, overhaul, test, development, putting into series production and further improvement of consumer’s characteristics of aviation and industrial gas turbine engines. More than 60 certificates of Bureau Veritas, AR MAK and GosAviaSluzhba of Ukraine confirm the quality, reliability and the right to produce and upgrade engines. Fyodor MURAVCHENKO, Designer General, Doctor of Science (Engineering), Hero of Ukraine, Associate of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Currently there is a demand in trainers of improved combat training featuring stability and flight qualities of updated and prospective fighters and a high “cost-effectiveness” factor, as well as in a development of light attack airplanes and fighters based on the trainers. Such aircraft required a new engine having the performance of the best in the world turbofans designed for combat aircraft. AI-25TLSh

L-39U

The modified AI-25TL engine version with a thrust of 1850 kgf at a maximum power rating. The main AI-25TLSh advantages as compared with the basic engine are as follows: a higher maximum thrust, acceleration time is two times lower. The flight tests showed a substantial improvement in the aircraft dynamic characteristics (acceleration, rate of climb), reduced takeoff and maneuver time. The engine has passed interstate tests and is mounted in the L-39U airplane, its installing in the JL-8 trainer is possible. The updated engine when installed in the L-39 airplane extends its lifetime by 10-15 years Operational power rating Combat Training Maximum power (S/L static; ISA) Thrust, kgf 1,850 1,720 Specific fuel consumption, kg/kgf·h 0.58 Maximum power (S/L; М 0.6; ISA+15°С) Thrust, kgf 1,250 1,100 Acceleration time, sec, max 6 Dimensions, mm Length (with exhaust pipe) 3,358 Width 985 Height 958 Weight, dry, kg 350 Assigned service life, h 4,000

SE IVCHENKO-PROGRESS 2, Ivanova st., 69068, Zaporozhye, Ukraine Tel.: +38 (0612) 65-03-27 Fax : +38 (0612) 65-46-97, 12-89-22 E-mail: [email protected] www.ivchenko-progress.com

16 взлёт 10/2006 октябрь www.take-off.ru военная авиация | репортаж AI-222 Yak-130

The SE IVCHENKO-PROGRESS has designed the AI-222 engine featuring AI-222-25 Performance the performance of the best in the world Max power turbofans designed for combat aircraft. (S/L static; ISA; in=1) Thrust, kgf (flat-rated up to 2,500 tamb=+30°C) Specific fuel 0.64 consumption, kg/kgf·h Max power (H 5,000 m; M 0.6; ISA; in=0,97) Thrust, kgf 1,450 Cruise AI-222-25 (H 10,000 m; M 0.6; ISA; in=0,97) The basic engine with a takeoff thrust of 2500kgf. It is currently passing a program of Thrust, kgf 300 official tests as installed in the Yak-130 training combat aircraft (Russia). Specific fuel 0.875 The materials of parts and special coatings offer an all-climate engine operation. consumption, kg/kgf·h The engine modular design allows a quick line-replacement of modules, which Dimensions, mm 2,318x860x1,084 served out their service life or damaged in combat operations. The engine consists of 12 Weight, dry, kg 440 modules. Assigned service life, h 6,000 AI-222-22

The modified AI-222-25 engine version with a thrust of 2200 kgf under maximum power rating at takeoff. This engine was designed with a fan of varied diameter and reduced engine total air flow rate. The engine core is fully unified with that of the basic AI-222-25 bypass turbofan.

AI-222-25 UVT

The modified AI-222-25 engine version with a vectored thrust (VT). A swiveling jet pipe, which is an individual module, installed on the rear turbine bearing support flange was developed. To increase the aircraft maneuverability and takeoff and landing characteristics the all engines of the AI-222 engine family can be equipped with the vectored thrust systems which provide an all-aspect deviation of a jet stream up to 20° from the engine axis.

AI-222K-25F The modified AI-222-25 engine version with a thrust of 4200 kgf under a full afterburning at takeoff. The turbine compressor section is completely unified with the basic AI-222-25 engine. The experimental batch of the AI-222K-25F engines is under manufacturing now to power advanced trainers. Preliminary bench tests have been already started. AI-222-28 This modified engine version will be developed by introducing a turbine with an improved cooling system in the basic engine. This turbine type is designed as based on the experience of the D-18T and D-27 turbine development which allows a significant increase in a gas temperature while ensuring a thrust increased up to 2800 kgf at takeoff and up to 3000 kgf at combat rating. The compressor and combustion chamber sections of the AI-222-25 and AI-222-28 engines are completely unified.

Due to optimum thrust and fuel efficiency values, low noise and emission levels, high service life and low operating cost which meet the requirements of the XXI century the AI-222 family engines will allow to develop highly competitive manned airplanes and UAVs. www.take-off.ru взлёт 10/2006 октябрь 17 military aviation | in brief

First two Su-34s delivered to RusAF Vladimir Karnozov

15 December 2006 saw the and conversion of combat pilots to handover ceremony of two produc- it. In Lipetsk, RusAF’s Combat and tion Sukhoi Su-34 multirole tactical Conversion Training Centre (CCTC) strike aircraft at the Novosibirsk pilots and technicians will start learn- Aircraft Production Association’s ing to fly and maintain it and devising (NAPO) airfield. The acceptance methodological recommendations report was signed by Russian Air and combat training for flight and Force Commander Gen. Vladimir ground crews of combat units. Once Mikhailov, Sukhoi Director General fitted with additional avionics systems Mikhail Pogosyan and NAPO and having completed a number of Director General Fyodor Zhdanov. tests, the second production aircraft

Mention should be made that this that the military accepted officially Vladimir Karnozov has been, essentially, the first deliv- in Novosibirsk in December will join ery of new production warplanes them. Under a three-year contract to Mikhail Pogosyan, advanced to RusAF over almost decade and NAPO’s full-rate Su-34 produc- with the Defence Ministry, NAPO bombers’ production rate at NAPO a half. Until then, the manufactur- tion for the Russian Air Force is is to make and deliver 18 Su-34s is to be eight to ten aircraft a ers had been only overhauled and under way in line with the Defence to RusAF in order to have con- year by then. According to Deputy upgraded Soviet-built aircraft. Ministry’s resolution signed in verted a bomber air regiment to Prime Minister – Defence Minister The two newly painted Su-34s 2005 based on the preliminary the Su-34 by 2010. According Sergey Ivanov, the state arma- were given side numbers 01 and conclusion as to the aircraft’s ment programme provides for 02. The first of them was assem- compliance with the Service’s delivery of 58 Su-34s to the Air bled by NAPO last summer and first requirements, drawn from the Force until 2015. According to flown by the plant’s test pilots on 12 results of the first stage of the offi- the Service’s chief, Gen. Vladimir October 2006. Now, it has been taken cial trials completed in June 2003. Mikhailov, RusAF needs about over by military test pilots; the crew The first stage of the official joint 200 Su-34 aircraft to oust the of the Defence Ministry’s Chkalov tests of the Su-34 modified in line current Su-24M bomber fleet GLITs State Flight Test Centre – Col. with RusAF’s specified specifica- gradually. So far, concurrently Igor Malikov (leading Su-34 test pilot, tions requirements was over with with making Su-34s, NAPO over- Hero of Russia) and Col. Alexander success on 30 September 2006. hauls and upgrades Su-24Ms, the Oschepkov (test navigator) – was In December, the next, three-year latest of which was built by NAPO to ferry it to Akhtubinsk. Early this stage of Su-34 tests commenced in 1993. The attendees of the year, the first production Su-34 and to integrate advanced weapons early production Su-34 accept- a preproduction aircraft of the type within its weapons suite, which ance ceremony were shown some (side number 48) will fly to Lipetsk is intended to beef up the plane’s of the Su-24M2s overhauled and

following a brief test programme combat capabilities. Vladimir Karnozov upgraded by NAPO for the RusAF.

18 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru military aviation | in brief

Air Force took delivery of six Su-25SMs

flight recorders as well as L-150 report was submitted, the 121 ARZ ELINT station replacing the plant launched the so-called series obsolete radar warning receiver. upgrade of the Russian Air Force’s The weapons suite features the Su-25 fleet. “Essentially, the new more sophisticated R-73 missiles aircraft has been developed in less instead of the R-60 air-to-air than four years,” Gen. Mikhailov missile. The operating envelope said at the acceptance ceremony. of the organic dumb and smart “The aircraft have been tested air-to-surface weapons, including and then improved even more, the Kh-25ML and Kh-29L laser and here they are.” Once the six beam-riding homing missiles, has upgraded aircraft have been given

Yevgeny Yerokhin Yevgeny been expanded, with the weapons new paintjobs, they received new suite being beefed up with the side numbers (01 through 06) as Six upgraded Sukhoi Su-25SM totally renovated weapons and KAB-500Kr TV-guided smart well. ground attack aircraft were avionics suites allowing the use of bombs. At present, the plant is upgrading accepted by the Russian Air Force TV-guided and laser beam-riding The fly-out of the first 121 another batch of the Air Force’s at the Defence Ministry’s 121st precision-guided munitions. The ARZ-upgraded Su-25SM (side attack aircraft. According to the Aircraft Repair Plant (121 ARZ) attack aircraft’s uprated targeting/ number 33) took place on 5 March Service chief speaking at Kubinka at Kubinka AFB (Moscow Region) navigation suite enhances the 2002, with the aircraft unveiled as AFB, six more newly upgraded on 28 December 2006. Those accuracy of navigation by far and, a static display during the MAKS Su-25SMs are slated for acceptance were the first Su-25s returned to coupled with the latest weapons 2001air show. It was followed into by RusAF in 2007, with eight more to RusAF following their upgrade management system, increases the the trials by the second upgraded follow suit in 2008. Gen. Mikhailov being handled by the 121 ARZ accuracy of both ‘dumb’ and ‘smart’ aircraft (side number 19) in 2003. said two attack aircraft regiments in plant that is prime contractor for air-to-ground weapons, including The joint official testing programme all are to convert to the Su-25SM in the upgrade programme. The that during complicated manoeuvres was wrapped up in 2005. Once the the near future. warplanes were accepted by RusAF and increased maximum combat Commander-in-Chief Gen. Vladimir employment altitude. The hostile Mikhailov in the presence of 121 aircraft kill probability has grown by ARZ chief Yakov Kazhdan, Sukhoi several times.” Attack Aircraft Scientific Production The improvements of the Concern Chief Designer/Director avionics suite include the General Vladimir Babak, personnel PrNK-25SM upgraded targeting/ of the plant and RusAF officers. navigation system with the A-737 Once the first six upgraded aircraft satnav receiver and a colour complete their trials, they are to be multipurpose LCD in at the pilot’s ferried to the Combat and Conversion combat station, SUO-39 fire Training Centre (CCTC) in Lipetsk control system, Banker-2 radio, where, according to Gen. Mikhailov, ARK-M radio direction-finder,

“the best instructor pilots will teach advanced video cameras and Yerokhin Yevgeny these aircraft to fight and refine their combat techniques”, and then they will enter the inventory of the attack aircraft regiment garrisoned at Budyonnovsk (Stavropol Region) and organic to the 4th Air Force/ Air Defence Army operating in the North Caucasus Military District. The 121 ARZ plant and the Sukhoi Attack Aircraft concern have been running the Su-25 upgrade programme for the Russian Defence Ministry since 2001. The basic upgrades include enhanced precision, a wide weapons employment envelope and a service life extension. According to Sukhoi,

“the Su-25SM is fitted with the Yerokhin Yevgeny

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 19 military aviation | in brief

Russian Long-Range Aviation to get new Tu-160s

The Kazan Aircraft Production first heavily upgraded aircraft of Association (KAPO) is completing the type, capable of using both another new Tu-160 strategic advanced precision-guided bomber intended to beef up the munitions (e.g. cutting-edge cruise Tu-160 fleet operated as part of missiles) and ordinary ordnance. the 121st Guards Heavy-Bomber According to Defence Minister Air Regiment of the 37th Air Army Sergey Ivanov speaking during the at Engels AFB in the vicinity of July 2006 acceptance ceremony

Saratov. Now, the regiment flies of the overhauled Tu-160 c/n 202 Dmitry Pichugin 15 Tu-160s, with the 15th one (now it has side number 19 and delivered in July 2006 following was named after its chief designer by year-end. It may be followed by 1990s. In addition, two more of the its overhaul and upgrade by KAPO. Valentin Bliznyuk), the new Tu-160 another aircraft of the type – one Air Force’s Tu-160s have arrived to The new bomber is to become the was planned to have been completed of the backlog dating back to the KAPO for overhaul. Il-76MD-90 kicks off official Another Ka-50 built in trials Arsenyev

In late December 2006, tests of end of 2006. In addition, the next another production Kamov Ka-50 Ka-50 (c/n 03-04) has virtually been helicopter started at the airfield of completed. It is to join the tests the Progress aircraft plant in the soon. According to the RIA Novosti town of Arsenyev in the Primorsky news agency, Progress is intent on Region. The machine with c/n 03-03 making four Ka-50s for the Defence completed its first flight with the Ministry in 2007. Their construction plant’s test pilot Vladimir Utval. The began as far back as the ‘90s. In Ka-50 he flew out is the second addition, airframes and assemblies

Mikhail Kuznetsov aircraft of the type completed by of several more aircraft are being Progress last year on order from the worked on. As is known, during In October last year, the first first flight on 27 December 2005. Russian Defence Ministry. The first his visit to the Russian Far East in upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90 airlifter The aircraft has been flown to machine, which was made there as August 2006, Deputy Prime Minister in service with RusAF’s 61st Air Army the LII Flight Research Institute in far back as in late 1990s but sat idle and Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov started its official test programme. Zhukovsky for the main stage of for six years for want of engines told the press that 12 Ka-50s were It is powered by advanced Perm its test programme that is expected and other components in the wake planned to be bought before 2015 Motors PS-90A-76 turbofan engines. to be short enough, because the of the termination of the Ka-50’s under the governmental defence Compared with the D-30KP-2 that commercial variant of the re-engined full-rate production and acquisition procurement programme. Prior use to power the Il-76MDs in combat airlifter, the Il-76TD-90VD built by in 1998, kicked off its trials in to that, he had said: “Under the units, the PS-90A-76 features a Tashkent aircraft production Corp. August last year. governmental defence procurement 20-percent increase in thrust and a (TAPC) on order from Volga-Dnepr The Progress factory made programme, 12 such aircraft 17–19-percent hike in efficiency, airline in 2005, has completed its 12 Ka-50s in 1991–98, with five will be acquired. All of them are which enabled the Il-76MD-90’s tests and been operated actively prototypes built by Kamov company designed for service with the Main carrying capacity to grow up since last summer. Volga-Dnepr out of Moscow in 1982–90. Some of Intelligence Directorate and for to 50 t and allows the airlifter’s is going to take delivery of the them were given to the military and accomplishing special missions, operation from shorter runways. second aircraft like that in 2007, the remainder to the developer for including counterterrorist ones.” In addition, the Il-76MD-90 and this year the first of the two tests, further upgrade and deriving By the way, the Arsenyev-based powered by PS-90A-76 engines re-engined Il-76TD-90s ordered by new versions. The 12th production Progress plant pins its hopes on the is compliant with ICAO’s Chapter Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines will aircraft turned to be unlucky, having feasibility of exporting Ka-50s and IV noise standards, which enables be delivered to the customer. got stuck at the plant since then. Ka-52s. Talks on that became more the aircraft of the type to operate According to repeated statements Once the funding resumed in 2006, high-profile last year. throughout the world in the wake by RusAF commander-in-chief Gen. it was first to be prepared for flights of the international rules becoming Vladimir Mikhailov, the Service’s last August. It was followed by the more stringent. military transport arm will have Ka-50 c/n 03-03 on its first flight. The airlifter was upgraded by received 12 upgraded Il-76MD-90s According to an official news VASO plant in Voronezh, which until 2010. VASO will re-engine them release by the Federal Agency for airfield was used by the first under the current governmental Industry, both machines had been

Il-76MD-90 (RA-78854) for its arms procurement programme. delivered to the customer before the NTV

20 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru

military aviation | project MIG-35 FUTURE OF FULCRUM FAMILY Pavel Novikov

The representative of the new versions generation of the popular MiG-29 light tactical fighter – its heavily upgraded MiG-35 multirole derivative – is to make its debut at the upcoming Aero India 2007 air show in Bangalore. Referred to as a Generation 4++ aircraft, the fighter may succeed the current MiG-29 and MiG-29SMT on the global arms market a few years further down the road. Unveiling the MiG-35 demonstrator at Bangalore pursues a definite goal: it is the model that the MiG Corp. and Rosoboronexport intend to submit for the Medium MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender the Indian Air Force (IAF) is to announce in the near future. Under the MMRCA programme, IAF plans to get 126 advanced fighters, the bulk of which is to be assembled by the Indian aircraft factories. Competitors of the MiG-35 under the upcoming tender are to be the US F-18E/F and F-16 Block 70, French Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale, West European Typhoon and Swedish Gripen. Most of them are very stiff competitors, and for this reason, minor modifications to the existing MiG-29 will not be enough for the MiG-35’s developer to come on top in the tender. Therefore, the MiG-35’s design, albeit outwardly similar to the production MiG-29, embodies a number of radical innovations that qualify it as a Gen. 4++ warplane.

22 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru military aviation | project

Tasks and objectives The MiG-35 is being derived from the and two-seat configurations (they might be The MiG-35 multirole tactical combat MiG-29K multirole carrierborne fighter re-designated as MiG-33 and MiG-33D aircraft is designed for round-the-clock developed on order from the Indian Navy in the future) and the single-seat MiG-35 elimination of aerial and surface threats in and, together with it, will make up the family and twin-seat MiG-35D multirole tactical any weather in the face of the enemy’s active of MiG-29 tactical fighter new-generation fighters carrying the new-generation and passive electronic countermeasures derivatives, which entered production avionics and weapons suites. In addition, (ECM). Its objectives include aerial threat in 2006. The family is expected to be to meet the requirements of some of the interception, air superiority, interdiction, made up of by at least four commonised customers, there will be production of suppression of enemy air defences, close air variants – the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB the MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 multirole support and naval threat elimination. multirole shipborne fighters in the sing-seat tactical fighters commonised with the MiG-35 and MiG-35D in terms of airframe and basic aircraft systems, but featuring somewhat more modest capabilities in terms of avionics and weapons that are to be commonised with the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K/KUB. Each pair of the fighters features a 90-per cent or more degree of commonality, with the singleseater and twinseater having the same design of their fuselage forward sections and cockpit canopy and the singleseater’s rear combat station occupied by an extra fuel tank or additional avionics units, if the customer wishes so. Compared to the existing MiG-29, the basic new features of the MiG-35 and MiG-35D are going to be the following: - supermanoeuvrability through the use of the reduced longitudinal stability aerodynamic configuration, fly-by-wire control system and powerful engines, especially if the latter are fitted with the thrust vector control system; - extended range by means of a larger internal and external fuel capacity and the in-flight refuelling capability; - high survivability due to reduced observability, up-to-date self-defence suite, aircraft system redundancy, etc.; - enhanced reliability owing to time-proven technical and design solutions, integral systems ’health’ monitoring and failure forecasting.

Design features In terms of design, the MiG-35 and MiG-35D are derivatives of the upgraded two-seat MiG-29M2 fighter that was, in turn, derived in 2001 from the MiG-29M prototype (side number 154) made in 1990. It has an upgraded sharp-LERX aerodynamic configuration and a quadruple-redundant 3D digital fly-by-wire control system ensuring good stability and controllability in the manual and automatic flight modes, including automated mid-air refuelling and supermanoeuvrability at poststall angles of attack. At the same time, the MiG-35 will be radically different from both the production Andrey FOMIN MiG-29 and MiG-29SMT, on the one hand, and the MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 prototypes, on the other, in terms of www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 23 military aviation | project .J(ŠNVMUJSPMFGJHIUFSHFOFSBMMBZPVU %SBXJOHCZ"MFYFZ.JLIFZFW

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24 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru military aviation | project

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www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 25 military aviation | project Mikhail Kuznetsov

manufacturability. It will embody large to carry various payloads weighing a total before first overhaul – 1,000 hours) and welded structures of the basic airframe of 6,500 kg and attached to 11 hardpoints – an afterburning thrust of 9,000 kgf each load-bearing elements and feature a 10 under the wing and one under the belly. (5,400 kgf each at maximum rating). At radically increased use of composites. On In the future, the plane is going to ditch its the customer’s request, the fighter can be the one hand, this will allow a hike in its dorsal air brake, whose job will be handled fitted with RD-33MKV thrust vector control assigned life and service life (up to 6,000 by differentially deflected rudders. engines whose nozzles can swivel ±20° flight hours and 40 years) and, on the other, all-aspect. Thrust vector control engines this will facilitate the reduction in its radar Powerplant have been refined on the MiG-29M-OVT signature. The MiG-35 will be powered by upgraded prototype (side number 156). The RD-33MK A larger wing is to be designed for the Klimov RD-33MK engines featuring a far differs from the production RD-33 Series 3 MiG-35, making its wingspan as long as extended life (assigned life – 4,000 in both an extended service life and the that of the one on the MiG-29K/KUB. The hours, time BARK-42 digital automatic monitoring and new wing will have two extra hardpoints. As control system usage, and are fitted with a result, the MiG-35 will so-called smokeless combustors as well. The be able RD-33MK was developed by the Klimov company in St. Petersburg and has been in full-rate production by Chernyshev MMP since 2006 to fit the MiG-29K/KUB carrierborne fighters under construction on order from the Indian Navy. Klimov works to hone the engine still further, which could yield a version boasting even better characteristics. The MiG-35 is to be fitted with the advanced KSA-33M double accessory gearbox with sharply enhanced reliability equipped with advanced VK-100 turbine starters. The accessory gearbox was developed by Klimov and manufactured by Krasny Octiabr.

MiG-35 bottom view showing its OLS-K 360-deg. lookdown optronic search-and- track system in a conformal pod under the

Mikhail Kuznetsov straboard air duct

26 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru military aviation | project

The fighter’s internal fuel capacity is to corporation is developing the Zhuk-AE stations (both integral and podded ones) increase by about 1.5 times over that of AESA radar and the NIIPP Semiconductor and a chaff/flare dispenser. the standard MiG-29 through reconfiguring Device Research Institute is handling To enhance pilot training and flight the existing fuel cells within the airframe the development of the OLS-UEM and safety, the MiG-35 will be outfitted with and introducing new ones. In addition, OLS-K optronic systems and a number of the -B-35 flight data recorder, the aircraft will have an integral in-flight optronic self-defence sensors as well. At the SVR-23M1K video recorder and Trenazh-29 refuelling system and larger drop tanks. The customer’s request, the upper mentioned weapon simulation and effectiveness control single-seat variant has an extra fuel cell of optronics set can be replaced with the system. about 620 litres in place of the backseater’s upgraded KOLS-13SM IRST and podded The MiG-35’s avionics suite may combat station. Sapsan-E IR/laser targeting system from incorporate foreign-made systems, should the UOMZ Urals Optical and Mechanical the customer wishes so. New-generation avionics suite Plant. The new-generation avionics suite The PrNK-35 targeting/navigation suite Weapons options is an open-architecture design using a from the Ramenskoye Instrument Design On air-to-air missions, the MiG-35 MIL-STD-1553B-compliant multiplex Bureau (RPKB) comprises up-to-date relies on the RVV-AE medium-range data bus. This provides the aircraft with inertial and satellite navigation aids. In terms active radar-guided missiles and R-73E multirole combat capability and simplifies of the cockpit management system layout, dogfight IR-guided missiles. To deal integration of new Russian and foreign the MiG-35 and MiG-35D are similar with ground targets, it uses the Kh-29TE avionics and weapons, including podded enough to the MIG-29K and MiG-29UB TV-guided missiles, KAB-500Kr (OD) ones. The HOTAS capability is designed to (the singleseater’s pilot is provided with and KAB-1500Kr TV-guided bombs or control weapons. three large multifunction liquid-crystal KAB-500L and KAB-1500L-F laser-guided The MiG-35’s fire control system is displays and a wide-angle head-up display; bombs, as well as 3M14-AE long-range wrapped around the promising Zhuk-AE the rear seat of the twinseater is furnished active radar-guided missiles along with active phased-array radar, OLS-UEM with four LCDs), but its LCDs’ resolution such ‘dumb’ weapons as 80mm and 122mm forward-looking IRST system, OLS-K and operating speed is to be enhanced rockets and 100–1,500 kg gravity bombs. 360-deg. lookdown IRST in a conformal somewhat. The self-defence suite includes Elimination of naval threats is achieved pod under the straboard air duct and a the L-150 ELINT station, missile launch by means of Kh-31A and Kh-35E antiship helmet-mounted target designation and warning and laser illumination warning missiles. Hostile radars are dealt with by indication system. The Phazotron-NIIR receivers, SAP-518 and KS-418 active ECM using Kh-31P antiradiation missiles. In

MiG-35 basic specifications (with MiG-35D data in brackets)

Crew 1 (2) Overall length, m 17.3 Wingspan, m 11.99 Height, m 4.5 Takeoff weight, kg: - normal 17,500 (17,800) - maximum 23,500 Maximum landing weight, kg 16,800 Maximum combat load, kg 6,500 Maximum speed, km/h: - at sea level 1,400 - at high altitude 2,100 Service ceiling, m 17,500 Maximum g-load 9 Maximum range, km: - without drop fuel tanks 2,000 (1,700) - with 3 drop tanks 3,000 (2,700) - with 3 drop tanks and 1 mid-air refuelling 6,000 (5,700) Andrey Zhirnov www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 27 military aviation | project

the future, the MiG-35 can be equipped a multilevel training regimen is to be standards is being introduced. Spare supply with prosprective guided weapons. At established to make use of an automated and service provision are to rest on the present, the technology demonstrator has 9 interactive training system and procedural, direct-to-home principle at regional MRO hardpoints that will grow in number to 11 on flight/navigation, combat and integrated centres. The MiG-35 is to be subject to production aircraft, with the max payload simulators. In addition, the MiG Corp. on-condition maintenance, which is to increase to 6,500 kg. The MiG-35 is offers to introduce its Il-103 initial and to allow a considerable reduction in the to retain the 30mm GSh-301 integral MiG-AT basic training aircraft to the flying operating costs of the customer. rapid-fire automatic cannon standard to all crew training arrangements. The final MiG-29-family fighters. conversion and training of flying crews Programme status can be conducted using the MiG-35D In the late 2006 the MiG Corp. has Flying crew training and aircraft twinseaters. prepared a technology demonstrator maintenance To ensure effective MiG-35 operation, under the MiG-35 programme. It has To train flying and ground crews in personnel training and logistics, an been converted from the MiG-29M2 operating and maintaining the MiG-35, information system compatible with NATO (side number 154) twinseater used heavily

Mikhail Kuznetsov First MiG-29KUB for Indian Navy has flown 20 January saw the first prototype of the MiG-29KUB multirole carrierborne MiG-29 family prototypes and flying testbeds, including two MiG-29K fighter complete its maiden flight at Gromov LII’s airfield in Zhukovsky. The prototypes vintage 1988 (No 311 and 312), the MiG-29M2 (No 154), aircraft was built under the contract with the Indian Navy. It was flown by three MiG-29SMT and two MiG-29UB fighters, were involved in the Mikhail Belyayev, senior test pilot under the programme, and Pavel Vlasov, programme with more than 700 test sorties performed in 2002–06. The MiG Corp. chief test pilot and flight-test programme manager. Interestingly, second prototype under the programme, the single-seat MiG-29K, is the new fighter first flew three years sharp on that day after the deal on the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB for the Indian Navy had been clinched. The contract was signed on 20 January 2004. It provides for delivery 12 MiG-29K singleseaters and four MiG-29KUB twinseaters in 2007–09 and an option for 30 more fighters to be delivered until 2015. The first shipborne fighter prototype for the Indian Navy was built in the two-seat configuration and is soon to be followed by a singleseater whose construction is being completed by the MiG Corp. Both versions feature a very high degree of commonality, even more so that their nose sections are virtually identically and have the same ‘twin-seat’ cockpit canopy, with the single-seat MiG-29K featuring an extra fuel cell instead of the rear seat. The MIG-29K/KUB’s avionics suites comprises Russian, French, Israeli and Indian-made systems. Their weapons suites are all-Russian and generally similar to those of the upgraded MiG-29SMT fighters. Flight testing of separate technical solutions, aircraft systems, new avionics and weapons for MiG-29K/KUB aircraft started in 2002. Eight Mikhail Kuznetsov

28 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru military aviation | project

in 2002–06 to hone the design and air show in Bangalore, it is to start flight first MiG-35 prototype in the production aerodynamics of the new forward fuselage testing of its AESA radar. configuration is to be made and submitted section, advanced cockpit management Given the high degree of commonality for tests in the end of the next year. system and a number of avionics systems. between the MiG-35 and MiG-29K, a large Production of the MiG-35 and MIG-35D is All of these are to be embodied in the part of the test flights completed under the to be run by the team that is manufacturing the future production MIG-35 and MiG-35D carrierborne fighter’s test programme, including MiG-29K/KUB fighters ordered by the Indian fighters. In 2006, the advanced OLS-UEM those involving the MiG-29M2 prototype, Navy. Some large airframe parts are to be made IRST was fitted to and tested on the plane, MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UB flying testbeds by the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod, with followed by the OLS-K pod-mounted as well as MiG-29M-OVT supermanoeuvrable the rest of parts and the final assembly to be optronic targeting system. Late 2006 saw prototype, could be taken into account. handled by the MiG Corp.’s Production Centre the aircraft fitted with a Zhuk-AE AESA The design study of the MiG-35’s in the town of Lukhovitsy out of Moscow. radar demonstrator featuring an array about production model is set to be completed Once relevant deals are clinched, the delivery 500 mm in diameter. This March, after the in November this year, with that of the of the first MiG-35 and MiG-35D fighters may technology demonstrator returns from the whole avionics suite in February 2008. The kick off until the end of the decade.

now being preparing for flight tests and will be taken into the sky later MiG-29KUB prototype flown on 20 January became the first flying aircraft this year. in the new family of MiG-29 next generation versions that will include At the same time with kicking off the MiG-29KUB flight test programme, MiG-35 and MiG-35D multirole combat aircraft as well. the MiG Corp. launched series production of the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB fighters for the customer. The first series-production aircraft are now under construction at the MiG Corp.’s plant in Lukhovitsy out of Moscow. The production programme heavily relies on the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod, which makes large airframe parts for them. Andrey Fomin Andrey Fomin Andrey Fomin www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 29 military aviation | project Zhuk-AE first Russian AESA radar for fighters

A feature of the MiG-35 multirole combat aircraft setting it apart from the previous members of the MiG-29 family is its Russia-first multimode active

phased-array radar – the Zhuk-AE. The radar was Sergey Sokut developed by the Phazotron-NIIR corporation, with its first example fitted to the MiG-35 technology technical risk and speed up the development lighter radar with fewer TRs, reduced power demonstrator in late 2006. by borrowing some technical solutions and consumption and weight within 220–240 kg. The Zhuk-AE AESA radar’s basic strengths over systems proven in the Zhuk-family radars, Such a variant of the Zhuk-AE, designated also the exiting slotted-array radars (e.g. the Zhuk-ME e.g. the computing system comprising the as FGA-29, measuring 600 mm in diameter (array of the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K/KUB fighters) data processor and signal processor, exciter diameter – about 500 mm) and having a reduced is an expanded waveband, a greater number of with the synchroniser, etc. The main radically number of TRs (680), was made in 2006, completed acquired and tracked threats, simultaneous lookup/ novel and the most sophisticated module of the test programme at Phazotron-NIIR’s test lookdown capability, an extended acquisition the radar is the phased array proper, which bench and was fitted to the MiG-35 demonstrator range, enhanced terrain-mapping resolution, just includes the radiating field of radiating elements, in the end of the year. It is slated to enter its flight to name a few. The principal advantage of the up to thousand TRs connected with them, cooling trials in this March. Its air target acquisition range AESA (including that over the existing passive system, power distribution and TR control system, is expected to measure 130–140 km, and the rest phased-array radars installed on several types of microwave energy TR distribution system used of of the AESA radar design’s characteristics are to fighters now) is a quantum leap in survivability subsequent amplification and phasing, backup be retained, e.g. beam swivel by 70 deg. in all and reliability, which is due to the very philosophy power supply and beam control unit. Based on directions, multiple-target capability, combined of AESA. Unlike all other types of airborne radars, an extensive research into the phased array operating modes, precision terrain-mapping with AESA consists of about 1,000 self-contained design for the Zhuk-AE radar, a choice was made a resolution of up to 1x1 m, etc. transmit/receive modules (TR). Therefore, failure of the equidistant hexagonal radiating module Operating in the air-to-air mode, the Zhuk-AE of several dozens or even hundred of TRs due to distribution, with a decision taken to make TRs in will be able to automatically acquire and a technical glitch or combat damage entails no groups of four. track at least 30 threats, while being able to failure of the whole radar. simultaneously engage 2–6 of them with dogfight At the same time, developing an AESA is very and medium-range missiles, keeping an eye on difficult thing to do in terms of technology due the airspace at the same time. The radar will to the need of developing relatively inexpensive also be able to cue radar homing missiles on reliable miniature TRs. Phazotron-NIIR, whose to the targets, feed target designation to the radars fit all MiG-29s took up the development of helmet-mounted sighting and indication system, such a radar to equip the MiG-35. Tomsk-based etc. In the air-to-ground mode, it will be able

Micran company and Semiconductor Instrument Phazotron-NIIR to pinpoint moving and static surface threats, Research Institute were contracted to develop and generate firing solutions for air-to-ground missiles manufacture the TRs (at the picture on the right). The first Zhuk-family AESA radar mockup and guided bombs with various guidance systems Having pondered several designs of the AESA, with the 700mm-diameter phased array tilted and map the terrain in several modes. Phazotron-NIIR Corp. decided to reduce the 20 deg. upwards was unveiled at the MAKS There are plans to later get back to a 2005 air show in August 2005. The data sheet larger-diameter AESA (about 700 mm), with indicated that the radar would be able to track the number of TRs to slightly exceed 1,000 up to 30 threats while maintaining surveillance and the acquisition range to extend to 200 km. of the airspace, as well as engage eight of Concurrently, the computer system and wide-band them simultaneously. Its max target acquisition exciter are to be improved. The modified version range in air-to-air mode is 200 km in the front of the Zhuk-AE (FGA-35) will be fitted to the hemisphere and 80 km in the rear hemisphere production MiG-35 further down the road. So and that in the lookdown mode is up to 300 km. far, parallel with this work and preparations for The maximum beam deflection angle was to flight-testing the first prototype, Phazotron-NIIR equal ±70 deg. in azimuth and elevation. Further is completing the second FGA-29 for its full-scale design work showed that the radar was to be rig tests. Based on the outcome of the trials, two too heavy (about 400 kg). In this connection, full-size Zhuk-AE radars are to be made as early

Phazotron-NIIR a decision was taken to try and develop a as next year to mount MiG-35s.

30 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru

The 558th Aircraft Repair Plant (558 ARP) – a government-owned compa- ny in the Belarus city of Baranovichi – is among the eldest aircraft MRO providers in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It turns 66 this year. The plant is a specialist in aircraft overhaul and one of the best compa- nies supervised by the Belarus State Military Industrial Committee. For over 15 years, the 558 ARP has been an independent player on the world’s market, 558 ARP: WE GIVE AIRCRAFT A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

holding a complete package of governmental the first to accept upgraded Mi-8s outfitted and Belarus patents have been taken for the licences to run R&D, manufacture, overhaul, with an effective navigation suite making them aircraft engine remanufacturing technology upgrade and sell military fixed-wing and rota- night-capable. The warplanes carry advanced by means of laser welding during overhaul. In ry-wing aircraft and their components. fire control, navigation, targeting, integral addition to be used in house, these and many The company is a known stickler to con- test and real-time datalink systems, improved other developments are commercial products vention when it comes to overhauling aircraft radars and upgraded cockpit management sys- being offered for sale. in line with the current standards. The 558 tem, with the MiG-29BM also fitted with the The company is prepared to provide ARP’s quality management system complies mid-air refuelling system. top-notch plane and helicopter overhaul and with the current international standards, with Test and demonstration flights involving upgrade services owing to its wealth of experi- the company having been certificated as com- live fires proved the novelties to be very effec- ence in dealing with aircraft of various types pliant with the ISO 9001:2000 standard by tive. During the 3rd international arms show and sophisticated facilities. Bureau Veritas Quality International. The MILEX 2005 in the Belarus capital city of certification of its quality management system Minsk, the Su-27UBM1 was unveiled at a The 558th Aircraft Repair Plant offers the as meeting international aerospace standard firing range where it employed KAB-500L pre- following services: IAQS 9100-2000 is slated for 2007. In addi- cision-guided bombs and S-8 rockets. Foreign • overhaul and upgrade of the Su-27, Su-25, tion, the company has been working on having experts present at the firing range praised the Su-17, MiG-29 and An-2 fixed-wing and its repair and overhaul work certificated. In quality of the upgrade, since all targets had Mi-8 and Mi-24 rotary-wing aircraft; 2004–05, it learnt to overhaul helicopters and been wiped out on the first pass. • aircraft overhaul in cooperation with the then was certificated by the Interstate Aviation The upgrade of the above aircraft pro- customer at the latter’s facilities; setting up Committee in 2006 as a MRO organisation, vided the 588 ARP with a priceless expertise which entitles it to overhaul the Mi-8 and in comprehensive modernisation, including an MRO facility for the customer; Mi-17 helicopters and their components. the design, development, official testing and • repair of instruments and checkout gear for The company’s success rests on its close maintenance stages. The company offers its aircraft operation and repair; cooperation with aircraft developers and man- services in aircraft modernisation to potential • overhaul of plane and helicopter ufacturers for the sake of technical support. customers. components; Today, few aircraft repair plants can handle Introducing latest technologies in the • warranty and routine maintenance of such a wide range as the 558 ARP can. It is course of overhaul has always been among the overhauled aircraft, including spares supply; a specialist in overhauling and upgrading the 558 ARP’s priorities. Application of advanced • development, manufacture and delivery of Su-27, Su-25, Su-22, MiG-29 and An-2 technologies and development of production maintenance equipment; planes and Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-24 and Mi-35 and check equipment, which used to be the pre- • manufacture and delivery of aircraft spares; helicopters, learning the ropes in modernising serve of work-improvement suggestion fans, is • manufacture and delivery of integrated the L-39 trainer. an independent sphere of the company’s activ- simulators for training flying crews; Over the past years, the company has made ities. The plant has been proactive in devising • training and conversion of the customer’s a true breakthrough in overhauling the aircraft and applying innovative production techniques flying and ground crews in operating aircraft operated by the Belarus Air Force and got the and equipment, thus slashing overhaul costs and their equipment as well as training experience in upgrading the Su-27, Su-25, and enhancing its quality by far. Experts know aircraft MRO specialists and production of MiG-29 and Mi-8. The Belarus Air Force the company’s advances made in cooperation training aids. was the first to take delivery in 2004–05 of with research institutes and organisations of the upgraded MiG-29BM and Su-27UBM1 Belarus. Particularly, the company has devel- The 558th Aircraft Repair Plant is always open multirole aircraft capable of using virtually all oped unique automated workplaces enabling to cooperation and will certainly respond to existing air-launched weapons, including pre- personnel to detect faulty elements of aircraft business proposals. cision-guided munitions. The service also was avionics in only several minutes. Four Russian

32 take-off february 2007 commercial www.take-off.ru COMBINING

TECHNOLOGIES

AND EXPERIENCE

The Republican Production Enterprise 558 Aircraft Repair Plant 50 Let VLKSM str., 7, Baranovichi, 225320, Brest region, Republic of Belarus Tel.: +375 (163) 42-99-54 Fax: +375 (163) 42-91-64, 42-42-32 E-mail: [email protected] cosmonautics | in brief

Advanced Soyuz orbited planetary scout

On 27 December 2006, a there was no need in that, since said, “but there is a probability started on 2 January 2007. The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a the satellite weighs only 630 kg. of small fragments still falling satellite is expected to become fully transfer orbit stage lifted off However, the Russian Space Agency somewhere in southwest Colorado operational by early February and from the Baikonur launch centre, was unable to find a heavier payload or northwest New Mexico.” NORAD start researching the first of the carrying European research satellite for the Soyuz-2.1b’s test launch, warned the locals of the danger sky’s areas selected. Corot. The satellite is to operate and launching a rocket to haul a posed by finds like that just to be on The Corot is facing two tasks: in the polar orbit with an apogee full-scale mockup is uneconomical the safe side. first of all, it will look for new of 915 km, a perigee of 896 km because lobbing a Soyuz-2.1b into The Russian Space Agency planets outside of the Solar and an inclination of 90 deg. for space costs at least $35 million. responded that “the theoretical System. Scientists know about as three years. Scientists are going As a result, the rocket had to be possibility of falling of individual many as 200 such bodies, most of to use it to research the deeper tested with the minimum payload fragments of the Soyuz-2’s third which are the so-called gas giants. inner structure of stars and search on board. It was a risky affair for the stage over the territory of the United Academics hope that the Corot will for new telluric planets (i.e. those customer, given the Corot’s price States exists, but it has not been spot hundreds or maybe thousands similar to the Earth, having rock of $225 million and ESA’s refusal corroborated by the calculation more of such huge planets by structure and able of contribute to of insuring its research spacecraft. made by Russian experts”. The gauging the fluctuation of stellar the origin of life). Nonetheless, the customer saved a agency also specified that the radiation. Still, astronomers expect The launch was the first one pile, having paid only about $10.7 Fregat transfer orbit stage ceased that the bird will manage to find 10 for the new Soyuz-2 carrier of the million ($17,000 per kilogram of the to exist at 21.24 hrs Moscow time to 40 medium-sized planets similar so-called 1b stage (Soyuz-2.1b). payload) for the launch. on 27 December when it entered to the Earth among hundreds of A spokesperson for the Progress The risk proved to be justified. the atmosphere over the Pacific new extrasolar planets. According design bureau, the maker of the The Soyuz-2.1b easily lofted the (intended coordinates of the entry to the Corot’s designers, it has a LV, stressed that the third stage satellite into the intended orbit. The point – 9.93 deg. N., 177.58 deg. feeling for ‘stone’ planets, whose is powered by an advanced rocket launch was somewhat clouded by W.) and sank. NORAD abstained year totals 50 or less terrestrial motor from the KBKhA Chemical NORAD’s 4 January 2007 report from joining the dispute, all the days. Automatics Design Bureau in that fragments of the launch vehicle more so that no rocket fragments In addition, the Corot mission is Voronezh. The company maintains (probably, those of the third stage were found in the United States as to help scientists to investigate the the motor boasts the best specific or transfer orbit stage) entered the of mid-January. inner structure of stars by means characteristics among the motors atmosphere over the United States Meanwhile, the Corot continued of astroseismic techniques, i.e. in the class and allows a 900 kg on 27 December. “Normally, such on its mission with smoothly. by observing orbital oscillations hike in the weight of the payload. objects burn before they reach the According to ESA, its onboard allowing one to judge on the However, in case with the Corot, ground,” NORAD’s press release systems were turned on and tests structure of a ’s core. The Satellite is to measure the mass, age and chemical composition of selected stars. This will enhance scientists’ understanding of the general structure of the universe. Every 150 days, the Corot will be reoriented towards a new sector of outer space and will begin a new cycle of research. The satellite was developed by France’s National Space Research Centre in cooperation with French national laboratories and scientists from Austria, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Brazil. Almost half of its mass falls on the payload, such as an optical telescope, two cameras and a computer. The main parabolic mirrors of the telescope measure 30 cm in diameter and the focal range is 1.1 m. to enhance the telescope’s sensitivity, European experts developed a dedicated screen preventing excessive light from getting to the mirrors. Sergey Sergeyev/www.kosmodrombaikonur.ru

34 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru cosmonautics | in brief

GLONASS constellation growing

On 25 December 2006, a has not so much expanded the Proton-K launch vehicle with a DM constellation, as replaced the upper stage and three GLONASS-M losses. Nonetheless, Reshetnev satellites blasted off from the maintains that the mission of speedy Baikonur launch centre at 23.18 reinforcement of the constellation Moscow time. Three and a half will be accomplished in the near hours later, the satellites separated future. The Defence Ministry and from the upper stage smoothly and Russian Space Agency are to have went to an orbit close enough to reinstated the GLONASS fleet to its the intended one. Following the minimum strength of 18 satellites Titov Main Spacecraft Test and by the end of the year, with the Control Centre assuming control stated federal allocation under the of the birds, they were dubbed programme standing at 11 billion Cosmos-2423, 2425 and 2426. rubles (just over $400 million). This According to a spokesperson of strength is sufficient for continuous the Reshetnev Applied Mechanics positioning in Russia. Since that Association (NPO PM), the three moment, GLONASS will be fully satellites had had their onboard operational for users in Russia – systems checked and had been both military and commercial oriented towards the Earth by ones – and by 2009, when the mid-January. They enjoy glitch-free constellation will have its organic operation, noted the spokesperson strength of 24 satellites (six in of Reshetnev that made them. three planes), foreign subscribers According to the GLONASS Applied will have an opportunity to use Consumer Centre, the satellites GLONASS as well after signing are in slots 10, 14 and 15 of relevant agreements with Russia. Plane 2 that remained unused for The Defence Ministry also has a long time. Now they are at the worked out the legal guidelines for

service-entry stage. Once fully operating GLONASS in support of Sergey Sergeyev/www.kosmodrombaikonur.ru operational, they will beef the non-military users. It cancelled its GLONASS constellation up to 16 restrictions on precision positioning positioning (precision within 30 m Truth be told, GLONASS still satellites: three of the 19 birds on 1 January 2007 (there have been and higher was considered as secret) faces another unresolved problem now in orbit will be deactivated no official documents published but the cancellation dragged its feet. that is just as serious. Russia lacks (Cosmos-2382 has been inoperable yet, but Defence Minister Sergey In the autumn 2005, Ivanov said full-rate production of GLONASS since July 2006 while Cosmos-2375 Ivanov has said repeatedly that the during a governmental meeting: “We receivers for a wide range of users and Cosmos-2396 since September restrictions were to be scrapped on have taken the necessary decision as well as topographic and digital 2006). that date). Secrecy posed problem on lifting the secrecy”. However, maps to ensure the full use of The December insertion for GLONASS for a long time. approving all the paperwork kicked GLONASS throughout the country. became another launch under Over past years, civilian agencies off only in early 2006, and it looks The Russian Space Agency plans the Global Navigation System demanded the Defence Ministry lift like it has been completed only to take on the problem with federal programme. However, it the restrictions on the precision of recently. governmental support this year. Third launch of the ‘second’ Soyuz

At 11.34 hrs Moscow time on 25 glitch suffered by the Fregat and Mechanics Association (NPO According to NPO PM, Meridian December, an upgraded Soyuz-2.1a then by another day. The successful PM) and, according to the satellites operating in highly elliptical launch vehicle was launched from insertion on 25 December was the manufacturer’s spokesperson, orbit have improved performance, the Plesetsk launching facility, second one under the flight test was designed for communication an extended service life and a higher carrying a Fregat transfer orbit stage programme of the new Soyuz-2.1a between ships and ice degree of reliability. In addition, they and a Meridian communications LV featuring an advanced control surveillance aircraft in the vicinity operate in an expanded frequency satellite. The satellite was inserted system, a Russian Space Force of the Northern Sea Route and range. The birds of the series carry into its desired orbit at 18.32 hrs spokesman noted. The first launch land-based stations as well as multigroup repeater gear. In the Moscow time. of the carrier took place in Plesetsk for expanding the sitcom station future, Meridians are to oust the At first, the launch was slated on 8 November 2004. network throughout the Arctic existing communications system for 23 December, but it had been The Meridian satellite was areas of Siberia and the Russian wrapped around Gorizont and delayed by a day due to a software made by the Reshetnev Applied Far East. Express-A satellites.

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 35 cosmonautics | in brief

Proton – ArabSat: take 2

At 23.01 Moscow time on 8 the customer assuming control November 2006, the Russian over it. Space Agency lofted a Proton-M The ArabSat-4B was made by launch vehicle carrying a -M EADS Astrium. It measures 1.8 m transfer orbit stage and the BADR-4 by 2.5 m and weighs 3,304 kg. Once (ArabSat-4B) telecom satellite in its geostationary orbit, it occupied owned by a Saudi organisation the slot above 26 deg. E. and can of the same name – ARABSAT perform TV broadcasting, telephone (Arab Satellite Communication communications and data-linking Organisation). The launch took for users in North Africa, the Middle place at Pad 39 of Site 200 at East and part of Western Europe. The the Baikonur space launch facility. satellite’s service life is estimated at 10 min later, the satellite riding 15 years. on the Briz-M transfer orbit stage This ArabSat launch is the second separated from the last stage of the one last year. The first launch from Proton-M launch vehicle and went Baikonur on 28 February failed. into the transfer orbit en route to After lofting by a similar Proton-M its geostationary orbit. The rocket’s booster, a malfunction of the Briz-M stages followed the established transfer orbit stage prevented pattern, with the first stage coming the ArabSat-4A from reaching down to the Earth in the Karaganda its calculated orbit, causing the Region of Kazakhstan, the second termination of the mission on 24 stage and the fairing dropping in the March. The Briz-M righted itself Altai Region of Russia and the third during the 5 August 2006 launch of stage splashing down somewhere the Hotbird-8 on a Proton-M. Until Sergey Sergeyev/www.kosmodrombaikonur.ru in the Pacific. 4 hrs sharp after the then, only a Proton-K fitted with the KazSat into orbit. The latest insertion Proton-M launched on 12 December blast-off, the ArabSat-4B separated DM-3 transfer orbit stage had flown of the new ArabSat proved to be 2006, orbiting Malaysian telecom from the transfer orbit stage, with on 18 June to insert Kazakhstan’s a success. Another Briz-M-fitted satellite MiaSat-3. Angara to fly in four years Mars ‘flight’ as early as this The new-generation Angara-5 year launch vehicle may fly for the first time in 2011, said Vladimir Volunteers are sought within the Biological Problems Institute’s medical Nesterov, head of Khrunichev State framework of the preparations for the commission in two stages. At Stage I, Space Research and Production unique 500-day Mars manned mission applicants will have to submit their Center. “The philosophy of the simulation experiment (Mars-500 medical records on the state of their new-generation launch vehicle programme) slated to begin in the health, with the records to be issued development has been somewhat fourth quarter of 2007. More than 120 less than month before the selection. altered,” he stressed. This means people, including 16 women, from 21 Those who pass Stage I will take that the smaller Angara-1.1 or countries (Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Stage II selection at the Medical and Anagra-1.2 may be launched first Belarus, Colombia, Estonia, India, Biological Problems Institute. in 2010 depending on how the Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Two vacancies have been reserved programme evolves. 2011 is to see the UK, the United States, Ukraine, for ESA personnel to participate in the the first experimental launch of the etc.) have volunteered so far. A Mars-500 programme. In addition, a Angara-5 ‘heavy’ rocket. selection board has been set up, with decision has been taken that ESA “We have made a long-term cosmonaut-physician Boris Morukov, representatives would participate in

contract on this programme with Andrey Fomin M.D., Medical and Biological Problems space flight simulation experiments up the Defence Ministry, and the work Institute deputy director, appointed to to 105 days long. on the Angara launch vehicle is compartments of the new LV. chair it. The selection board includes During the preparations for the on schedule,” Nesterov said. In The company has been making doctors, psychologists and lawyers. Mars-500 experiment, a new 250 cu.m early November, the news came components for the Proton LVs Based on analysis of the volunteers’ module had been built in the institute’s that the Omsk-based Polyot and Briz upper stages ordered by questionnaires, applicants will be mockup hall, and work on refurbishing company was joining the Angara Khrunichev, with production of informed of the terms of medical the interior of the EU-150 experimental programme. Polyot is going to early units for the Angara to begin and psychological selection to facility’s 150 cu.m module is nearing make components and individual this year. be conducted by the Medical and completion.

36 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru cosmonautics | in brief

First Soyuz to launch from Kourou in two years

On 16 November, the Russian government submitted a bill on ratification the Russian-French agreement on cooperation in developing and manufacturing Soyuz launch vehicles for operations from the space launch facility in French Guiana. The agreement was achieved as far back as November 2003, but the parties had been unable to come to terms for three years. Now, representatives of the Russian and European space industries finally stated that the difficulties had been ironed out and Russian specialists

would go to Guiana in early 2007 to Andrey Fomin implement the project. At first, construction of the of the Soyuz-ST launch vehicle), A launch will go at $50 million. said. Besides, Europeans admit launch pad for Russian Soyuz General Engineering Design Thus, the programme’s annual that manned Soyuz craft may rockets was to begin in 2004, but Bureau (launching facility) and turnover may total $200 million. be launched from Kourou in the the preparatory period dragged on, Lavochkin Scientific Production About 85 percent of the sum will future. because Europe faced the problem Association (Fregat transfer orbit be the preparation and launch According to the Russian Space of financing. The total cost of stage), with 8.5 million euros more costs, and the remainder will be Agency, work on the launching the programme is valued at 344 for developing and making the the profit of Arianespace that facility and LV is on schedule. million euros, half of which is to be launch pad’s maintenance tower. is the launch operator (in other Devising the design records is paid by Arianespace at the expense The tower is needed to protect joint programmes, operators nearing the end and construction of a European Investment Bank the facility from the elements are joint ventures, as a rule, of the underground facility is loan guaranteed by the French (downpours and high humidity as e.g. Russo-French Starsem that beginning. Europeans have been government. The remainder is a whole). “We are not investing launches Soyuzes at Baikonur). working on the pad by building being shouldered by the European any money of our own,” Victor Operating at such a pace, the roads and laying service lines, and Space Agency. From the outset, Remishevsky, deputy chief of the Guiana Space Centre project is are to start constructing buildings Russia viewed its participation in Russian Space Agency, confirmed supposed to be repaid in seven to on the ground. Meanwhile, the the programme only as the seller of during a news conference on 17 nine years. Once Arianespace pays Soyuz-2 launch vehicle is nearing technology and intellectual labour November 2006. off via launches the 130 million the completion of its flight tests without any financial injections. At the same time, Russia has euros that have been paid to the in Russia to serve the base for For a year and a half, Europeans automatically relinquished the Russian companies, the company deriving the Soyuz-ST. Under tried to persuade their Russian profit to be generated by Soyuz will start buying launch vehicles, the test programme, two rockets colleagues to reconsider but gave launches from Kourou. According equipment and services directly carrying Fregat transfer orbit stages up in the end. In March 2005, a to Arianespace President Jean-Ives from the Russian manufacturers. were flown in late December: a package of agreements was signed, Le Gall, the first launch is planned “Russia will see its companies Soyuz-2.1a orbited a Meridian unleashing the funding in full. 121 for late 2008 or early 2009. The landing contracts and investments communications satellite from million euros have been allocated company plans to start fulfilling into the space industry coming in, Plesetsk and a Soyuz-2.1b lobbed from the basic sum to Russia’s a whole range of commercial and the profit will be generated into orbit ESA’s Corot research Progress design bureau (the maker contracts, 2–4 launches a year. by the companies,” Remishevsky satellite from Baikonur. Space tourism gets pricier

The fare to the ISS a space Mr. Sevastyanov, this is due to the commercial cosmonauts, because for by NASA. The second one is a tourist will have to pay has grown growing prices for materials and their flights are paid by private commercial cosmonaut whose fare from $20 million to $21 million, components used in construction investment and they conduct a lot is paid for by private investment. Korolev Energia Rocket and Space of spacecraft. He believes space of research on board the ISS,” he The mission commander is always Corp.’s Designer General Nikolay tourism will grow fast, especially said. “When we launch a Soyuz a Russian cosmonaut whose fare Sevastyanov said during the in the West. with a crew of three, two of the is paid by the government under Moscow-Beijing video conference “Such cosmonauts should three pay for flying. As a rule, one the federal space exploration in November 2006. According to not be called tourists, rather is an astronaut whose fare is paid programme,” Sevastyanov said.

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 37 contracts and deliveries | interview

The development and manufacture of the BrahMos supersonic antiship mis- sile system has been among the key joint Russian-Indian arms develop- ment programmes recently. The mis- sile has been under joint development by Russian and Indian as a derivative of the Yakhont antiship missile from NPOMash in Reutov, Moscow Region. The derivative is to have land-based, air-to-surface and sea-launched ver- sions. A joint venture under the same name was set up to run the programme, with the acronym BrahMos standing for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moscow. The joint venture is manned by staff from Russia’s NPOMash and India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The programme’s kick-off was authorised by the intergovernmental agreement made in February 1998. The contract for developing the BrahMos BRAHMOS AEROSPACE’S MANAGING CO-DIRECTOR was signed in July 1999. Since then, the Russian-Indian weapon has passed the design, prototyping and test phases, ALEXANDER MAKSICHEV: having entered full-rate production and started entering service. The BrahMos Aerospace joint venture’s Russian man- aging co-director Alexander Maksichev “THE PRIORITY IS THE spoke with Take-Off’s columnist Vladimir Scherbakov on the recent developments under the BrahMos programme and the future it faces. AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILE”

Mr. Maksichev, could you outline the current the Indian Navy reconsidered its priorities Naturally, the efforts are not isolated from each status of the BrahMos programme? and placed emphasis on the shipborne missile other. They are a single whole. First of all a few words about what has been system. Still, we carried on with developing Were there any trials of the mobile system in done. To date, the naval version of the missile and testing the mobile variant on our own. 2006? has been developed. The Indian Navy com- Naturally, other Indian armed services kept an Right, for instance, we conducted firing tests mand placed an order for it with us. Mind you, eye on the programme. against radiocontrast targets in support of the the order is big enough and covers both ships in As a result, the Indian Army became the next Indian Army on 30 May. The tests were con- the inventory and those under construction or customer of ours, having placed an order for ducted in a very tough environment – in a being designed. the missile system’s mobile version. The Indian desert. The ambient temperature was as high For instance, three Project 15A ships have Army’s order was firm and big enough to outfit as +55°C. A special target had been built at the been ordered and are being built now. A recent the first BrahMos battalion. We are to launch firing range for the tests. development is the Indian Navy’s decision to deliveries in 2007. We expect a follow-on order The tests were as realistic as possible. Target fit our missiles to the ships of the second series further down the road. designation data were fed in the command made up of three Project 11356 guided-missile Which version of the missile is going to equip vehicle, and a standard-issue mobile launcher frigates. In the future, BrahMos missiles may the battalion? was used. The missile hit the target smooth- equip Project 17A ships as well. Out missile is, essentially, versatile. All the ly – smack the bull’s eye. Its warhead had been It is also important that the Indian Navy has tests we have conducted involved the versatile detached; hence, it punched through the target had its crews and support personnel trained in missile fired on targets of different types. Simply and continued on its way. handling and firing BrahMos cruise missiles, put, the BrahMos missile is effective against We achieved our objectives, and the Indian with our company’s staff acting as instructors. various radiocontrast targets that can be either Army’s command got a proof of the mobile The complements of the first several ships to land-based or seaborne. The existing homer missile system’s combat readiness and wasted mount the BrashMos (the INS Rajput, etc.) featuring an improved software package call for no time to order the systems to outfit its first were the first to receive the training, as were the no modification of the hardware when engaging battalion. technicians who would maintain missiles. threats on land or at sea. How was the order divided between the In retrospect, one can see that early under Who developed the software? BrahMos programme’s participants? the BrahMos programme, the missile was The Russian side remains responsible for the Half of the work is being handled in India, conceived as a self-propelled weapon that the missile itself. The Indian side is in charge of the specifically launchers, command vehicles, Indian Navy, we believed, would be interested matters pertinent to developing or refining the transport-loader vehicles and a number of in. However, with the programme under way, software for different versions of the weapon. other components of the system. Russia is On the photo above: Dr. A.S. Pillai, BrahMos Aerospace CEO&MD (left) and Alexander Maksichev, handling the missile side of the deal, though BrahMos Aerospace managing co-director (right) during Indian Defence Minister some missile parts are made by the Indian Shri A.K. Antony visit to BrahMos Aerospace company industry as well.

38 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contracts and deliveries | interview

A trilateral agreement has been signed by section and a somewhat modified attachment BrahMos Aerospace Ltd., NPOMash and fixtures. Something has been proven and some- DRDO on distributing the workload in vari- thing still has to be proven, but the process has ous segments of the programme, among which got going, as they say. are air-launched missile development and a As far as the system’s elements are con- number of steps to further refine the weapon. cerned, the Indian side has been responsible for What is the status of the submarine-launched their development by tradition, i.e. the aircraft missile version of the BrahMos? launcher will be developed and tested by Indian Again, the missile is versatile. Therefore, we engineers. Although we will turn, naturally, envision no special problem with deriving a to other Russian developers, say, the Sukhoi submarine-launched variant from it whatsoever. design bureau, for example. NPOMash, the Russian prime contractor on the What matters is the desire of the customer, sub-lunched BrahMos, has a wealth of experi- the Indian Air Force in this case, to have ence in developing underwater-launched mis- an air-launched missile to be part of the siles. Prototypes have been tested – launched Su-30MKI’s weapons suite. The customer is from under water, from a vertical test rig, even very helpful to us in tackling all issues. from a submarine. Therefore, we believe the Farther down the road, we expect the matter has been resolved, and if the customer air-launched variant of the BrahMos missile places an order, we will fulfil it quickly, ensuring to become of interest to third parties whose air top quality. forces operate the Su-30 or Su-27 fighters. Now, we have reached, probably, the subject How many BrahMos missiles are to be car- most interesting to our readers – development of ried by the Su-30MKI? an air-launched version of the BrahMos. To date, a decision has been taken to fit Developing an air-launched BrahMos deriv- the Su-30MKI with one BrahMos missile, ative is a key activity for us today. Money has because we want to reduce the amount of been allocated to fund the effort. modifications and expedite the air-launched What is going to be done in the first place? variant’s fielding with the IAF. We have selected the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter However, such a missile will fit heavy aircraft as the carrier of our missile. This does not such as the Tupolev Tu-142ME or Ilyushin mean that we will be unable to mount the Il-38SD easily as well and do so in a far greater BrahMos on some other aircraft. We can do number. Equipping the maritime patrol air- The final assembly of missiles will take place that. However, the Su-30MKI has become the craft from Embraer is a possibility as well. both in Russia and in India. For instance, there priority platform to carry our cruise missile. Today, our key objective is to prove the fea- is an assembly facility in Hyderabad, where We expect we will have completed the effort sibility of the air-launched version of the mis- Indian workers assembly missiles. We launched in two years. Modification of the missile proper sile. If all goes well, the weapon will spread to two Hyderabad-assembled missiles during the has begun, and several structural elements that other types of aircraft. test firings. have to be upgraded have been tested. For Thank you for an interesting interview. In addition, individual missile elements have example, the air-launched variant will feature Hopefully, the Russian-Indian cooperation been productionised in Mumbai (the former a different nose under the BrahMos programme will remain as Bombay) by two major companies productive as it is today. Larssen & Turbo and Godridge select- ed by the Indians to make BrahMos’s units. The latter include compartments, wings, empennage and non-metal ele- ments, e.g. such sophisticated items as the transport-launch tube and non-metal compartments. Farther down the road, the Indian side is to supply such domestically developed and made components, as the navigation system and onboard computer. To date, the homer has been made by the Russian side. India may take on the task some time in the future. What other key events of 2006 would you mention? A decision has been taken to increase the authorised capital stock of our company not so long ago. Russia has transferred a relevant sum very early in 2006, with India doing the same. Now, we have launched additional work, for which we pay with that money – about $50 million. www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 39 contracts and deliveries | in brief

Russia offers to upgrade Indian MiG-29s

The MiG Russian Aircraft singleseaters. They were delivered At the same time, the avionics management suite is reported to be Corporation offers the Indian during 1986–95 and have retained and weapons suites produce a based on multifunction LCDs from Air Force a comprehensive a considerable service life to be high degree of commonality with the Russian Avionics company programme to upgrade the IAF’s extended even more in the course the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB and a HUD from Phazotron-NIIR MiG-29 fighter fleet. The talks of the upgrade. In all, India has carrierborne fighters, which Corp. The foreign-made avionics have been under way for quite a taken delivery of 84 Soviet- and deliveries India may commence might be the Thales Topsight while, with the Indians expected Russian-made fighter jets of the as early as this year. The so-called helmet-mounted target designator, finally to make up their mind in the type (48 in 1986–87, 24 in 1989 ‘international avionics suite’ Sagem Sigma INS/satnav system, nearest future. If the Russian offer and 10 in 1995) but some of them integrates systems from various Indian Tarang ELINT station and an is accepted, the prime contractor have been lost to air accidents. foreign manufacturers. Such Israeli electronic countermeasures is going to be the MiG Corp. 64 IAF MiG-29s are supposed an experience was drawn from system (the same are going to fit that will lead a host of Russian to be subject to upgrade, of which the Russian-Indian programmes the MiG-29K/KUB). subcontractors developing and 56 are singleseaters and eight are on upgrading Indian MiG-21bis The upgraded MiG-29UPG’s manufacturing advanced systems twinseaters. The per-unit cost of fighters to MiG-21bis UPG weapons suite is to be similar to fit the IAF MiG-29 fighters. By modernisation to Gen. 4+ standard Bison standard, developing and to those of the MiG-29SMT and tradition, part of the new avionics is estimated at about $10 million, producing the Su-30MKI fighters, MiG-29K/KUB, i.e. the organic to upgrade the fighters may be with roughly half of the sum to be etc. weapons are to be beefed up supplied by French, Israeli and spent on latest avionics and the The fire control suite of the with RVV-AE active radar homing Indian companies. Some details rest on upgrading the airframe and upgraded IAF MiG-29s that could medium-range air-to-air missiles of the MiG Corp.’s programme powerplant. The latter will extend be designated as MiG-29UPG is to and air-to-surface precision-guided were released in Zhukovsky during the fighters’ service lives and be wrapped around the advanced munitions, such as Kh-29T, Kh-31A the 22 January presentation of ensure transition to on-condition Zhuk-ME slotted-array radar and Kh-31P missiles, KAB-500Kr the first MiG-29KUB carrierborne maintenance. developed by Phazotron-NIIR guided bombs, etc. fighter prototype, built under the Overall, the IAF MiG-29 upgrade Corp., and the advanced OLS-UEM The first six IAF MIG-29s, contract with Indian Navy. concept is similar to that of integrated optronic sighting including four singleseaters and At present, three IAF air the MiG-29SMT fighters sold system with the laser, IR and TV two twinseaters, are supposed to squadrons operate 74 MiG-29s, to Yemen and the ones being capabilities, developed by NIIPP be upgraded and tested in Russia, including eight MiG-29UB twin-seat exported to Algeria. There are, institute (the same radar and with the rest of the fleet to be combat trainers, with the rest however, some difference as far as optronic system are to be fitted modernised at the customer’s being MiG-29 ‘Variant B’ (‘9-12B’) specific systems are concerned. to the MiG-29K/KUB). The cockpit production facilities in India. Algeria accepts new MiGs

The Algerian Air Force early 2006 and finally approved advanced MiG fighters to Russian It had been preceded by Yemen accepted the first batch of the as part of a larger package of Vice-Premier/Defence Minister that bought 18 such aircraft with advanced MiG-29SMT and Russian-Algerian arms trade Sergey Ivanov on his visit to the slightly different avionics suite and MiG-29UBT fighters from Russia agreements during the visit of MiG Corp.’s production facility with no dorsal fuel tank as well in December last year. According Russian President Vladimir Putin in Lukhovitsy, Moscow Region as two MiG-29UBT twinseaters in to the 8 December message by the to Algeria in early March 2006. (see the pictures). Algeria has 2004–05, and by Ethiopia that had Interfax-AVN news agency, “the According to the MiG Corp.’s become the third country to get two of its MiG-29s upgraded to first two MiG-29SMT fighters were spokesperson, a total of 34 fighters the MiG-29SMT into its inventory. MiG-29SMT standard in 2005. shipped to Algeria last week”. are slated to delivery, of which 28 The delivery was handled by the MiG-29SMTs and six MiG-29UBTs MiG Corporation. The first two worth in excess of 1.5 billion, with MiG-29UBT upgraded combat the option for 30 more of those trainers followed suit late in the being an possibility. month. They had been built by the On 6 January, a prototype of the Sokol plant in Nizhny Novgorod. Algerian MiG-29SMT version (side The fighters were airlifted by number 919), equipped with an An-124 Ruslan transports. In upgraded avionics suite (including addition, An-124 Ruslan and An-22 the Zhuk-ME slotted-array radar Antey transports flew associated and advanced cockpit management equipment to Algeria. system), expanded weapons The first MiG deliveries to Algeria options, additional dorsal fuel tank were conducted under the contract and a mid-air refuelling system,

signed by Rosoboronexport in was displayed among other Anton Pavlov

40 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contracts and deliveries | in brief

China still to buy Su-33?

The feasibility of a sale of Chinese that it was very different to Russian-made Sukhoi Su-33 the production Su-27 irrespective carrier-borne fighters to the PLA’s of the outer similarity. As a result, naval air arm was in the foreground faced with a dire need to get early of the recent Airshow China 2006 carrier-borne fighters as soon as in Zhuhai. Although the Russian possible to launch training of its delegation in its official answers naval pilots, China concluded that it to numerous questions by Chinese made more sense to buy the Su-33 reporters was rather tight-lipped directly from the manufacturer, (for instance, head of the delegation KnAAPO, that is a division of the Alexander Denisov, chief of the Sukhoi company. Federal Military Cooperation A preliminary agreement on the Service, said: “The Chinese side sale is expected to be reached in is interested in it, but the talks are the near future. Initially, China plans still at the preliminary stage.”), it to buy 20–24 production Su-33s became known on the sidelines of in the standard configuration,

the air show that the signing of early with the fighters to be used for collection Take-off agreements are not too far away. training future PLANAF’s pilots Earlier, China had pondered on the ground-based carrier deck the PLA’s Navy (they are slated and weapons under development the feasibility of launching simulator under construction in for launching between 2007 and for the advanced land-based independent Su-33 production at its China – an analogue of the Russian 2014), China will need more Su-35 derivative, particularly, Shenyang plant, leaning on its Nitka training facility at the Saki ship-borne fighters to activate the Irbis-E phased-array radar, experience in licence production and airfield in the Crimea. Then, the combat carrier air groups. It is cutting-edge long-range missiles, modernisation of Russian Su-27SK training is to shift to the real McCoy: believed that China would like etc. In addition, acquisition is fighters (Chinese designation the Varyag aircraft carrier bought to commonise the weapons and being mulled over of the twin-seat J-11). The Su-27K (T10K-7) from Ukraine in 1999 and having avionics suites of Su-33Ks and combat trainer/multirole aircraft prototype aircraft abandoned at the been at a shipyard in Dalian since Chinese Su-30MK2s to enable that could be derived from the former Soviet Air Force Research the summer 2005 is believed to be them to employ a wide range Su-27KUB combat trainer Institute’s Kirovskoye airfield in the completed and commissioned as a of air-to-air and air-to-ground undergoing tests since 1999. The wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse training carrier. guided weapons (today’s Su-33 Chinese Navy’s total requirement was bought from Ukraine in 2004 Further down the road as cannot do that so far). Later on, for naval fighters in the Su-33 to this end. However, detailed full-fledged aircraft carriers are the Chinese carrier-borne Sukhois class for the coming decade are examination of its design told the built and commissioned with might be outfitted with systems estimated at about 100. Indonesia to get more Sukhois

In October, the Indonesian Russian-Indonesian middle-term armament to the tune of over $1 presidents – Vladimir Putin and government approved accepting a military technical cooperation billion. However, the 2004 disastrous Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – on five-year $1 billion Russian loan programme was initialled as far tsunami and the ensuing financial the latter’s visit to Russia. The first for procuring new arms, including back as three years ago. Under crisis made Indonesia limit itself to instalment of the loan is planned Sukhoi Su-27/Su-30 aircraft to beef the programme, Jakarta planned an four Su-27SKs and Su-30MKs and to be spent on buying six latest up the first four Sukhoi fighters acquisition of 12 Sukhoi fighters three Mi-35 helicopters as well. fighters from KnAAPO – three shipped to Indonesia in 2003. The and a batch of helicopters and naval The parties resumed their military Su-30MK2s and three Su-27SKMs – technical cooperation last summer and weapons to fit them. This was when Russia offered Indonesia a announced officially during the loan to buy a batch of materiel. Indodefence 2006 arms show in the Settling the terms of the loan took Indonesian capital city of Jakarta several months. In October 2006, last December. the Indonesian Defence Ministry’s In addition, Indonesia is going to Secretary General Lt.-Gen. Shafri purchase five Mi-17 utility and four Shamsuddin said: “The government Mi-35 attack helicopters as well has given the green light, and the as other army and naval materiel only thing remaining is signing the within the framework of the loan. contracts.” The decision was taken The contract for six advanced late in November last year during Sukhoi fighters may be signed any

Take-off collection Take-off the meeting of the two countries’ time soon.

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 41 contracts and deliveries | in brief

Il-76 deliveries to China slip behind schedule

One of last year’s problems of the wake of China’s 2000-04 acqui- the Russian-Chinese military techni- sition of 100 Sukhoi Su-30MKK and cal cooperation was caused by the Su-30MK2 multirole fighters with way the contract for a large batch mid-air refuelling capability. To date, of Ilyushin Il-76 airlifters and Il-78 Chinese B-6H aircraft derived from tanker planes was being fulfilled. The the B-6 bomber itself a derivative of deal was clinched on 8 September the Russian-made Tu-16 have acted

2005 in Sochi during the 12th ses- as tankers. Gerard Helmer sion of the Russian-Chinese inter- Deliveries of the Il-76s and Il-78s governmental military technical to China under the new contract manufacturer of aircraft of the the Chinese deal. The Ulyanovsk cooperation commission co-chaired were supposed to begin as early type), all the more so that the regional office of Rosoboronexport by Russian Defence Minister Sergey as 2006, but the customer has not bulk of components and structural informed the Rosbalt news agency Ivanov and Chinese Defence Minister taken delivery of a single plane. materials for the new Il-76s is sup- on 28 December that Russian com- Cao Gangchuan. The deal provides Moreover, it is known that TAPC has plied by Russia. pany Ilyushin would be the prime for Russia to sell China 38 aircraft not even launched the construction, Head of the Russian del- contractor for building the Il-76s during 2006–10 – 34 Il-76MD airlift- which could not but cause serious egation to the Zhuhai air show for China instead of TAPC. The ers and four Il-78MK tankers pow- concern in China. Alexander Denisov, deputy chief latter will make the airframes of 15 ered by Saturn D-30KP-2 engines. Experts believe that the cause of the Federal Military Technical of the 38 aircraft that are slated for The aircraft were to be made by the of the slippage is the keen con- Cooperation Service, officially delivery in 2008–10. The remainder Tashkent Aircraft Production Corp. tractual price of the aircraft, due to stated in Zhuhai: “The contract shall be made by the Aviastar plant named after Valery Chkalov (TAPC), which Russia and Uzbekistan can- will be fulfilled.” He admitted that in Ulyanovsk, Russia. The Russian but Russia’s Rosoboronexport com- not come to terms on the financial “there are certain problems but government will have allocated pany was appointed prime contrac- aspects of building new Il-76s. In they are irrelevant to the Chinese over 6 billion rubles (about $230 tor in line with a Russian-Uzbek addition, the dire economic stand- side”. “The problems concern the million) before 2009 to this end. agreement. ing of TAPC has resulted in a third party – Uzbekistan. Proactive The Il-76 production in Ulyanovsk At present, the PLA operates more personnel drain, with the plant talks are under way. The contract is planned to kick off in 2010, with than a dozen Il-76MD transports having a difficult time in fulfilling will be fulfilled,” Alexander Denisov Aviastar to be able to roll out 10 bought in Russia in the 1990s, but the avalanche of orders. This puts stressed. Il-76MDs and 10 Il-76MFs annually lacks tankers so far despite the pro- transfer of Il-76 production to a The news has come that very late starting since 2012. In such a case, tracted negotiations. The need for Russian plant high on the agenda last year, Rosoboronexport decided the contract for 38 Il-76s and Il-78s them came into the foreground in (to date, TAPC has been the sole to replace the main contractor under could be completed in 2013. Be-103 and Su-80 to be assembled in PRC?

Important news during the Zhuhai a possibility before year-end. The fighters licence-produced of air- for 2008. So far, the first pre- air show in November was the suc- agreements might cover the initial craft kits provided by KnAAPO and production Su-80GP c/n 01-05 cessful talks with CATIC on Sukhoi stage of assembling up to 50 Be-103 with KnAAPO’s assistance. Sergey (registration number 82912) issuing a licence to assemble amphibians at a yet-to-be-built facto- Drobyshev estimated the possible built by KnAAPO last summer Be-103 light multipurpose amphibians ry in Zhuhai from KnAAPO-supplied amount of work on the Su-80GP in is being prepared for its certi- and Sukhoi Su-80GP multipurpose kits. Launching the production in China at “more than 100 aircraft”. fication tests. Soon, it will be regional cargo/passenger aircraft the free economic zone will allow Considering China’s growing need of joined by two more aircraft (c/n manufactured by its division KnAAPO a sharp reduction in prime cost via regional planes, the Su-80GP mar- 01-06 and 01-07) virtually ready in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. While exempting the amphibians from cus- ket In China may total “up to 500 for their maiden flights. In addi- China’s interest in getting the Be-103 toms due on US-made engines and aircraft” within the coming 15–20 tion, KnAAPO in 2007 is to launch production licence was expressed systems intended to fit the amphib- years. Chinese investors into the pro- assembly of the first eight pro- during the Gidroaviasalon air show ians. Currently, KnAAPO has to pay gramme are major banks, in which duction Su-80GPs, with deliveries in Gelendzhik last September, the these customs dues, which affects the governmental has a share. “If the slated for mid-2008. According information on a similar intent of the the price of the Be-103s made in talks succeed, a governmental agree- to the plane’s chief designer Chinese for Su-80GP came as a true Komsomolsk-on-Amur. ment will be required to further opti- Gennady Litvinov, a number of surprise. As far as assembling Su-80GP mise the programme, i.e. to obtain Russian governmental agencies Sergey Drobyshev, KnAAPO’s regional transports in China is con- preferences,” Drobyshev said. have placed orders for 31 air- head of the Be-103, SA-20P and cerned, there are indications that it However, the contract on craft. A contract was awarded by Su-80 programme directorate, told might be launched at the aircraft plant Su-80GP licence production in an airline in Petropavlovsk-Kam Take-Off that the parties had made in Shenyang – the company enjoying China will be feasible only after chatsky, with other Russian Far a good headway during the talks, long-term links with KnAAPO since the aircraft has been issued its Eastern air companies displaying with preliminary agreements being it was productionising the Su-27SK type certificate, which is planned their interest in the Su-80GP.

42 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contracts and deliveries | in brief

Tupolev offers its freighters to China

Resumption of a kind of return of Russian commercial aircraft to the Chinese market is to be manifested by the delivery of five Tupolev Tu-204-120CE cargo aircraft that could be followed by more orders for this and other Russian planes. Unfortunately, at the recent Zhuhai air show last autumn, Tupolev failed to showcase its first ‘Chinese’ Tu-204-120CE (No 64030) that had completed its tests and been ready for delivery to the customer, Air China Cargo, whose paintjob it had been sporting since the early autumn

when it got Chinese registration Andrey Fomin B-2871. Due to the red tape, the certification paperwork relevant to A rather unexpected display at the is to have had five Tu-204-120CEs Tu-334s in 2007. Actually, this the aircraft had not been completed. show was another Tupolev plane – by then. The Tu-334’s chief designer would hardly be called ‘production’, Therefore, Tupolev brought to China the 102-seat short-haul Tu-334 Igor Kalygin told Take-Off that the since the plant would just brush its prototype Tu-204C (RA-64024) represented by the second flying first Tu-334 prototype (RA-94001), up the 94005 shown in Zhuhai powered by Russian-made example (No 94005) that was made which is at Tupolev’s flight test and complete the third aircraft PS-90A engines and operated by in 2003 by the Aviant plant in Kiev. facility in Zhukovsky, was planned (94003) sitting incomplete at the the Aviastar-Tu airline (ATu). The Tupolev’s official stance on why they for refurbishing as the cargo MiG Corp.’s factory in Lukhovitsy prototype was a hit with the Chinese brought the Tu-334 to Zhuhai boils version’s prototype. for quite a while. To this end, the public (see the picture). down to offering its future cargo As is known, the Kazan Aircraft unfinished third bird had been According to Tupolev’s Director derivative to the Chinese, because Production Association (KAPO) taken by road to Kazan before the General Igor Shevchuk speaking according to Tupolev’s leaders, it is is to launch full-rate production New Year holidays. If the plans at a news conference during this version that the Chinese may of the aircraft of the type under come true, the first two Tu-334s Airshow China on 1 November, need. For this purpose, a large door the governmental resolution dated will have entered service before the the first Chinese Tu-204-120CE’s similar to those on the Tu-204C 15 April 2005. However, KAPO end of this year. According to Igor certification paperwork was and Tu-204-120CE is to be cut in lacks money to productionise the Shevchuk, at least five airlines are expected “some day soon”, after the Tu-334’s fuselage, enabling Tu-334, and Tupolev decided to use salivating over them. Igor Kalygin which the plane could be shipped the modified aircraft to haul up to the air show in Zhuhai to try and said that the Tu-334’s orderbook to the customer. Shevchuk also seven standard cargo containers, resolve the problem by calling the had had at least 50 orders by the highlighted that the second with their total weight to be 12–14 t aircraft industry’s leaders to help time the Zhuhai air show kicked off. China-ordered Tu-204-120CE (the Tu-204’s cargo versions carry KAPO to get the money it lacks Kavminvody had ordered 25 aircraft, (No 64031) had been completed by 13 containers weighing a total of from the national budget. Tupolev Rusline – 10, Rossiya – seven while Aviastar by the date of the air show. 30 t). One of the strengths of the and Tatarstan’s administration Tatarstan and Motor Sich – five The remaining three aircraft under offer is seen by Tupolev in heavy are ready to shoulder the rest of each. Another 10 aircraft are to the 8 September 2001 contract are commonalisation of the Tu-334 and the money needed to finance the be ordered by a Kazakh carrier. In to be built in Ulyanovsk in 2007. Tu-204, particularly, full commonality productionising of the Tu-334. all, 24 carriers have voiced their Shevchuk also reminded that the of the cockpits, which is to greatly However that may be, it was willingness to buy Tu-334s and contract makes provision of the simplify Tu-334 crew training and reported in late November that signed agreements and MoU for a option for 10 more Tu-204-120CEs. the plane’s operation in China that KAPO would make the first two total of almost 300 planes. Mi-26 comes to PRC

The Russian-made Mil Mi-26T respectively) reached an agreement to set up Russian-Hong Kong joint clinched. Under the deal, Rostvertol helicopter that features the largest with Civil Aviation Administration venture Rostvertol Helicopters shall lease a Mi-26T fire-fighting lifting capacity in the world is to of China (CAAC) on the Mi-26’s China Ltd. to promote the Mi-26T machine to Harbin company Feilong go to China soon. During a visit to certification in China. The news came (Mi-26TC) on the Chinese market. for three years. Talks are under China in April last year, the joint on 23 October 2006, on the verge of By the time the air show kicked way on selling or leasing two more delegation of the Mi-26 developer Airshow China 2006, that Rostvertol off, the first contract on Mi-26T Mi-26TC helicopters to Feilong in and manufacturer (Mil Helicopter and the Hong Kong-based company leasing and Chinese crew training 2007 and the fourth machine to the Plant and Rostvertol company Lectern Aviation made an agreement at Rostvertol’s premises had been China Eastern Company.

www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 43 contracts and deliveries | cooperation

Sukhoi’s division KnAAPO shipped the first four Su-30MK2 fighters to Venezuela in December last year. This is the first Flanker-family aircraft delivery to a Latin American country. On 10 December the pair of the Su-30MK2s flew during the air parade on the Venezuelan Air Force Day at Libertador air base, attended by President Hugo Chavez who had been re-elected as president just five days before. The contract for 24 Su-30MK2 multirole fighters and a batch of advanced Mi-35M attack, Mi-17V-5 utility and Mi-26T heavylifter helicopters was signed last summer in the course of Chavez’s visit to Russia. The smooth beginning of fulfilling the contract under so tight a schedule, which ensured the Su-30MKs’ participation in the air parade on 10 December 2006, gave powerful impetus to the Russo-Venezuelan cooperation in arms trade and to crafting new lucrative agreements on deliveries of Russian combat aircraft and other material to Venezuela and some other Latin American countries.

HEADING FOR VENEZUELA! First Su-30s arrive to Latin America

New partner said the nation was intent on buying “a batch taken during Hugo Chavez’s visit to Russia, Venezuela is soon expected to turn into a of Sukhoi fighters”. His statement came on slated for late July 2006. closest buyer of Russian aircraft and other the heels of the US official refusal to supply The meat of the matter is that the United materiel. This stage of cooperation was spares for the Venezuelan F-16 fighters bought States voiced in May 2006 its concern caused kicked off by the visit of Venezuelan lead- from the United States over 20 years ago. To by the Venezuelan intention to acquire lat- er Hugo Chavez to Moscow in November cap it all, citing Venezuela’s links with the est Russian-made fighters. However, Deputy 2004 when the two parties agreed on a sale Iranian and Cuban intelligence services, the Prime Minister, Russia’s defence minister of a large batch of helicopters and small Bush administration put the country on the list Sergey Ivanov drove it home in response to arms. Later, the agreement turned into a of ‘nations of concern’ within the framework media reports: “There are no international deal that Russia would deliver 33 helicop- of fighting terrorism and banned arms exports legal restrictions on selling Russian weapons to ters to field with a rapid reaction battalion, to Venezuela, including third-country arms Venezuela. Venezuela is not subject to any pro- namely 20 Mi-17V-5s, 10 Mi-35s and three comprising US-made components. hibitive or discriminative action and is entitled Mi-26Ts. In line with the deal, a contract was Hugo Chavez was quick to react: “They to turn to any state to buy any materiel that is signed in 2005 for delivery of the first batch of do not want to sell us spares. Well. We will not banned.” six Mi-17V-5s, eight Mi-35s and a Mi-26T. buy very good Russian planes; they are better Deliveries of the Kazan-made Mi-17V-5 than the F-16. Russian aircraft are among the First Flankers in Latin America helicopters to Venezuela began in February world’s top-notch warplanes, I saw them in Probably, the main result of Hugo Chavez’s last year and those of the Rostvertol-made Algeria.” Chavez also offered the Venezuelan visit to Moscow in July 2006 was a contract on Mi-35s in July 2006. F-16s to any country willing to buy, i.e. Iran. delivery of 24 Su-30MK2 multirole fighters The Russo-Venezuelan cooperation got Later, the news came that he, probably, meant during 2006–08 along with relevant weapons new impetus from an unexpected early-May Venezuela would buy 24 Sukhoi Su-30MK and ground-based gear. In addition, a major 2006 statement by President Hugo Chavez on fighters from KnAAPO, with buying future Russian aircraft maintenance centre is to be Venezuelan radio. The Venezuelan president Su-35s as a possibility. A decision was to be set up in Venezuela, according to Venezuelan

44 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contracts and deliveries | cooperation

Left: the first pair of Sukhoi/KnAAPO Su-30MK2 fighters delivered to Venezuela last year – at the air parade on 10 December 2006 Top: Venezuela became the first country to receive Mil/Rostvertol Mi-35M modernised combat/transport helicopters, the first delivery took place in July 2006 Bottom: Mil/Kazan Helicopters Mi-17V-5 multirole transport helicopters are in service with Venezuelan Air Force since February 2006

Andrey FOMIN Photos by Venezuelan Air Force and from Take-off collection

Defence Minister Raul Isaias Baduel. Given parade on the country’s Independence Day them to be on time for the 10 December air that, the estimated deal is worth almost $1.5 on 5 July last year. The aircraft with side parade was specified. The date determined billion. numbers 501 and 502, which were the pro- the implementation of the first stage of the The Venezuela-destined Su-30MK2 fighters totypes of the Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2 deal. Despite so tight a schedule, KnAAPO are in production at Komsomolsk-on-Amur built by KnAAPO for China, were selected has done its best to do the job on time, and Aircraft Production Association. The for display to the potential customer. The the first two Su-30MK2s entered flight tri- Venezuelan fighters, which sometimes are unique 14,629km hop from Moscow’s als as early back as October. By the end referred to as Su-30MK2V, are virtually iden- Vnukovo Airport to Venezuelan air base El of the month, they had been painted the tical to the 24 Su-30MK2s delivered to the Libertador vic. Caracas with stopovers at Varna way the customer wanted them to, with the Chinese Navy’s air arm (PLANAF) and four (Bulgaria), Malta, Casablanca (Morocco), Sal first aircraft sporting the bright Venezuelan Su-30MK2Vs delivered to the Vietnamese Air island (Cabo Verde), Recife and Paramaribo flag on its tails. The Venezuelan acceptance Force. Unlike the Su-30MKI, Su-30MKM (Surinam) lasted from 29 June to 2 July. team accepted the first two Su-30MK2s in and Su-30MKA aircraft in production in Sukhoi’s test pilots Vyacheslav Averyanov and Komsomolsk-on-Amur in early November, Irkutsk for the Indian, Malaysian and Algerian Sergey Bogdan who later displayed the air- with the planes having been airlifted by an air forces respectively, the Venezuelan fighters craft during the parade flew the fighters. The An-124 Ruslan transport to Luis del Valle carry Russian-only avionics and weapons like extra-long-range flight and impressive display Garcia air base in Barcelona, 230 km east of the Chinese and Vietnamese aircraft do. of the fighters at the parade left quite an Caracas by 1 December. The Venezuelan military had had an oppor- imprint on the Venezuelan authorities. On-site assembly and flight preparations tunity to see the capabilities of the Su-30MK2 Right after the signing of the contract in of both aircraft that were given Venezuelan before the contract had been signed. On July, KnAAPO kicked off assembly of the Air Force side numbers 1259 and 0460 was its invitation, Rosoboronexport quickly first batch production fighters that at Hugo finished in the record-breaking time. Just arranged a hop of two Su-30MK prototypes Chavez’s request were to be delivered before several days after unloading the Ruslan, to Venezuela to participate in the military the end of the year. The requirement for KnAAPO’s test pilots Alexander Pulenko www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 45 contracts and deliveries | cooperation

and Pavel Tarakanov flew them out in the pleted them. The remaining ten Su-30MK2s Venezuelan skies. 6 December witnessed the are to be built and delivered in 2008. first two Venezuelan Su-30MK2s flown by the An agreement for 24 more aircraft could be Russian pilots as an escort of the presidential made in the future. The parties have agreed Aircraft 0001, the Airbus A319CJ, from which that the additional Su-30MK2s might be Hugo Chavez was watching his new gain with replaced with even more advanced Su-35 pleasure. The news coverage of the event was fighters, should they be ready for delivery by shown by all Venezuelan TV channels. then. The public demonstration of the two Su-30MK2s during the parade in com- Helicopter aspect of the deal memoration of the Day of the Venezuelan In addition to the fighter contract signed Air Force was vested in Sukhoi’s test pilots by Hugo Chavez on his visit to Moscow last Vyacheslav Averyanov and Sergey Bogdan, summer, the parties agreed on new helicop- last summer’s heroes of the Venezuelan skies. ter deliveries. The option for 14 Mi-17V-5 Venezuelan pilots occupied rear seats in the utility, two Mi-35 attack and two process. The aerobatics of the Venezuelan Sukhois during the 10 December parade left a huge impression on those present. Hugo Chavez, who reviewed the parade, and other Venezuelan military leaders and Air Force brass did not conceal their satis- faction. The holiday is over, and the time has come for Venezuelan pilots to learn flying their new aircraft. According to the Venezuelan Air Force commander, General Cordero Lara, the first team of Venezuelan pilots and technicians had been trained in Russia by the time the first Su-30MK2s arrived. “The Russian-made Su-30 will oust the current fleet of US-made F-16s,” he said. The aircraft are to be deployed with the 13th Fighter Air Group stationed in the vicinity of Barcelona. Meanwhile, KnAAPO furnished next two fighters for delivery. They were flown into Venezuela by an An-124 in the middle of December. Thus, the first phase of the deal was fulfilled. Next ten aircraft will be shipped to Venezuela this year, once KnAAPO has com-

46 take-off february 2007 www.take-off.ru contracts and deliveries | cooperation

Left: two Su-30MK2 fighters escort Venezuela’s Aircraft 0001 with Hugo Chavez onboard, 6 December 2006

Left bottom: KnAAPO test pilots Alexander Pulenko (right) and Pavel Tarakanov (left) who took two delivered fighters into the Venezuelan skies for the first time in early December, with their colleague from FAV

Right: Hugo Chavez (in the center) hurrying up to look at his new Flankers

Bottom: Sukhoi test pilots Vyacheslav Averyanov (2nd from left) and Sergey Bogdan (2nd from right) who flew Su-30MK2s at the air parade on 10 December

to Kazan Helicopters. Both machines will feature cutting-edge navigation and commu- nication aids and self-defence suite to protect from shoulder-launched SAMs. The two VIP Mi-17s are slated for delivery in 2008.

US response A hike in the Russo-Venezuelan arms trade could not pass unnoticed by the United States that had repeatedly expressed its concern about it. Small wonder, America is losing another of its arms markets. However, Russian Vice-Premier Sergey Ivanov, dual-hatted as defence minister, told the media on 26 July 2006: “The Russo-Venezuelan contract for Sukhoi-family fighters and helicopters is not to be reconsidered.” “Revision of the contract is absolutely inadmissible,” stressed he, adding: “24 air- craft are not too many for such a big country Mi-26T heavylift helicopters was turned Although Kazan Helicopters delivered as Venezuela. In addition, Venezuela is not into a firm order. Earlier, Venezuela had its brand-new Mi-17V-5s only a year ago, subject to any international sanctions and issued a firm order for 15 military helicop- Venezuelan crews have mastered them in no there are no restrictions whatsoever on the ters (six Mi-17V-5s, eight Mi-35Ms and a time and operate them in various exercises. contract.” Mi-26T). The six Kazan Helicopters-made Interestingly, Venezuela has become the first The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokes- Mi-17V-5s were delivered earlier in 2006 country to field the Mi-35M attack helicop- man Mikhail Kamynin touched upon the US (three in February and three more in June). ter – a heavily upgraded machine differing statements, saying on the same day: “Russia’s The first four Mi-35Ms were shipped to from the production Mi-24V and Mi-35 in military and technical cooperation with Venezuela on 5 July last year, with one of a number of key improvements. To com- Venezuela as well as other countries is con- them being shown in flight to the Venezuelan plete the existing contracts, Russian helicop- ducted in compliance with the international military leaders as early back as 13 July. ter manufacturers will have to ship 14 more and Russian laws.” Next four Rostvertol-made Mi-35Ms and Mi-17V-5 multirole, two Mi-35M attack and In such a situation, the US State the first Mi-26T were shipped to Venezuela two Mi-26T transport helicopters in the com- Department decided to try another approach. in late December. Under a separate agree- ing year or two. Many experts believe that the State Dept.’s ment, Kazan Helicopters early in July last Late in November 2006, it became known sanctions slapped on Rosoboronexport and year delivered three civil Mi-172s fitted with of Venezuela clinching another deal for two Sukhoi late in July stemmed from the Russian Israeli search-and-rescue equipment to the Mi-17 helicopters in VIP version designed success in Venezuela. On the face of it, the two Venezuelan natural and man-made disaster for the president (one machine was main and companies were accused of alleged deals with relief service. the other a backup). The order was awarded Iran, “violating the US law”, particularly, an www.take-off.ru take-off february 2007 47 contracts and deliveries | cooperation

Rosoboronexport supply D-36 turbofan engines to power the “under the future Venezuelan An-74s. Iran and Syria Polyot kicked off assembling An-74s Non-proliferation from KSAMC-made components in 1993. Act” on 28 July However, the plant has delivered only five 2006 along with five such aircraft by now. Two Polyot-built An-74s Indian and North were bought by the Russian Emergencies Korean companies Ministry and the Federal Security Service remained. They with the other ones by commercial carriers. ban financial The An-74 with a carrying capacity of operations of the 10 t can haul cargo, vehicles and pas- sanctions-stricken companies in sengers, be used in humanitarian relief the United States, prosecution of US compa- operations, patrol land and maritime bor- alleged late-July 2006 nies caught in cooperating with them, etc. ders and airland and airdrop operations in deal on upgrading the Iranian adverse climes and on austere airfields. The Su-24MK bomber fleet. However, Sukhoi Future orders aircraft was heavily used in Latin America, officially informed a Take-Off correspond- Speaking at the Venezuelan Air Force e.g. several such planes have been oper- ent that no such contract had been made. School, President Hugo Chavez made sev- ated successfully in Peru and Columbia. Moreover, neither Rosoboronexport, nor eral statements about future orders for The Omsk-based Polyot plant is expected Sukhoi, not the Federal Military Technical Russian aircraft. In particular, he said to assemble the first An-74 for Venezuela Cooperation Service were even asked by Iran his country planned to buy a number of in as early as late 2007. The six An-74s to discuss the issue. In all probability, the US Russian-made Antonov transport planes are estimated to cost about $72 million. intelligence ‘erred’. However, a hollow pre- in the near future. Earlier, Venezuela had Experts believe that in future Venezuela text was served to kick Rosoboronexport and wanted to acquire eight EADS C-295 might need up to 12 An-74s and up to Sukhoi that had put up stiff competition for transports and two CN-235MPA maritime 8 heavier Ilyushin Il-76 transports. US defence manufacturers. Well, who may patrol aircraft, but the acquisition had been Another subject Hugo Chavez touched benefit from the sanctions? Maybe, the US derailed by the United States that vetoed on in his speech was acquisition of advanced companies cooperating with Sukhoi under sales of aircraft containing US-made parts light attack aircraft. Last year, the Venezuelan a purely commercial SuperJet 100 regional to Venezuela. Air Force selected Brazilian EMB-314 airliner programme and having to ponder According to the Kommersant daily, the Super Tucano as its light attack/advanced what they have to do in this situation? Rosoboronexport company and Venezuelan combat trainer aircraft but the United States Fortunately, the common sense prevailed, government are working out a contract for put a squeeze on the Brazilians, torpedo- and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov six Antonov An-74 transport aircraft to ing the deal as with the C-295 transport. said on 20 November 2006 that the United be sold to Venezuela. The planes are to Chavez said his government was mulling States had lifted the sanctions slapped on be made by the Polyot company in Omsk over importing Russian-made Sukhoi Su-25 Sukhoi. The decision was taken following (Russia) out of units to be made in coopera- or Su-39 (Su-25TM) ground attack air- “the relevant investigation”, US President tion with the primary An-74 manufacturer, craft instead. The first batch might number George Bush told his Russian counterpart the Kharkov State Aircraft Manufacturing 20–30 warplanes. In addition, Venezuela is Vladimir Putin personally during their meet- Company (KSAMC), Ukraine. Another eying advanced Russian combat trainer, the ing in Vietnam. The sanctions imposed on Ukrainian enterprise, Motor Sich, will Yakovlev Yak-130.

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