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ACIG Special Reports
RUSSIAN EXHIBITORS-I
As always, the Russians dominate the show but do not overshadow the others. Most of the displays were traditional but some were exclusive.
A full scale mockup of the Yak-130's forward section where both student and instructor enjoy full glass cockpits with 3 MFDs and no standby analogue instruments. Russia's selection of the type over the MiG-AT last year, prevented Yakovlev from fading away and four production aircraft are scheduled to be rolled out this year with full deliveries from 2005 onwards. Sukhoi's much advertised ultramodern Su-30MKI simulator for the IAF was unfortunately hidden away in the chamber seen behind the mockup.
Vympel's missile family including the RVV-AE,the R-27ER1,the R-73E AAMs and the TV guided X(Kh)-29TE ASM with the latter resembling an enlarged R-73! All these missiles are already in IAF service.In the background,one can notice the NPO Saturn AL-55 engine specifically aimed for trainer and light civil aircraft. It has a 3 stage HP compressor, single stage HP and LP turbines, a FADEC unit with an empty weight of just 315 kg, a mass flow rate of 28.5 kg/sec and and a specific fuel consumption of 0.69 kg/kg-f/hr. NPO Saturn claim that the engine is interchangeable with any aircraft type using the SNECMA Larzac thanks to it's design, hinting at the HJT-36.
A beautiful model of the Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut with the Al-31FP thrust vectoring engine for the Su-30MKI, in the background. The engine will be built under license at HAL's Engine Division, Koraput, who will also manufacture the single crystal turbine blades for the same.
The Zvezda X(Kh)-31A relies on active radar homing for ranges between 5 and 70 km while the anti radiation Kh-31P employs passive homing onto hostile emissions.The X-35 anti-ship missile has now evolved a low flying variant known as the ITS-35 which can also be used for training. The ITS-35 can be equipped with TV or IR guidance, a larger warhead and sports an extended range upto 200 km against both maritime and ground targets. This would leave the X-31 as the only one in the family to not support IR, laser and TV guidance.
The Zvezda-Strela X(Kh)-25 is of modular design which can incorporate TV(X-25MT), IR(X-25MTP) and laser guidance (X-25ML). The latest X-25MPU anti radiation missile has a new passive wide band seeker that can operate on entire bands of frequencies used by enemy radars. Launch weight is around 320 kg, warhead weight 86 kg, speed 450 m/s with a range of up to 40 km.
An 'inside view' of the Al-31FP through it's vectoring nozzle.
The lesser known 100-seat Tupolev Tu-334(left) powered by Lotarev D-436T1 engines has been selected by Aeroflot as the replacement for the ageing Tu-134A. MiG MAPO has'nt been so lucky - the MiG-AT was rejected by both India and Russia. Despite this, the MiG-AT remains an extremely advanced product that features adjustable performance including the engine thrust rating, reprogrammable FCS and an onboard cockpit simulation system to match the syllabi of various training stages. On the other hand, the MiG-29K will almost certainly be selected by the Indian Navy as it's next generation carrier based strike fighter.
Initially plagued with reliability issues and 'smokiness', the Klimov RD-33 has spawned several updates for the latest in MiG-29 series such as the RD-33K,the RD-33-3M and the RD-33-10M as well as version that uses. These feature full corrosion protection and a smoke-free combustion chamber and the latter have highly uprated thrust for use on carrier based MiG-29K (9.41) aircraft whose intakes have been enlarged for the purpose. HAL's Engine division set up an overhaul facility for RD-33 engines in 1997.
The Phazotron-NIIR Kopyo-M equips the Mig-21-93 (Bison) and is claimed to increase the aircraft's combat efficiency by a factor of 8. Equipped with the Ts501F digital signal processor, it can achieve ranges up to 72 km against fighter sized targets in the forward hemisphere, tracks 10 and engages two of them simultaneously. The radar is also designed to provide future growth capabilities.
The electronically scanned Kopyo-F is still under development and is expected to cost around 50% more than the Kopyo-M. It is a lighter and more reliable set, coming in three versions that offer low, medium and higher ranges. With an antenna diameter of 440 mm, it is aimed for small nosed aircraft or as a rearward facing radar for the Su-30/Su-34 series.The transmitter has a peak power output of 4 kW and 0.4 kW average.
Phazotron's Zhuk-MSE is essentially an enlarged version of the Zhuk-M radar for applications on larger aircraft such as the Su-27 and Su-30. Barring the larger 980 mm antenna, most components and parameters remain common. The radar can also perform the functions of basic air data instruments and offer information support during low altitude flight. The Zhuk-M/MSE has an extraordinary range of features and functions for a mechanically scanned unit.
KB Mashinostroeniya design bureau's next generation Igla-S(Super) with increased explosive charge, fragments and a new impact/proximity fuse with an algorithm to calculate the precise moment of detonation for maximum damage.The missile has the capability to easily engage low flying UAVs and cruise missiles and can be offered with a manportable twin launcher.
© Copyright 2002-3 by ACIG.org
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