But there needs to be competition between bureaus in the large aircraft sector, Ilyushin vs Tupolev, similar to historical rival Sukhoi and MiG bureaus.
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Military Aviation Industry: News
lancelot- Posts : 3113
Points : 3109
Join date : 2020-10-18
- Post n°376
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
I agree with merging Myasishchev with Ilyushin.
But there needs to be competition between bureaus in the large aircraft sector, Ilyushin vs Tupolev, similar to historical rival Sukhoi and MiG bureaus.
But there needs to be competition between bureaus in the large aircraft sector, Ilyushin vs Tupolev, similar to historical rival Sukhoi and MiG bureaus.
GarryB- Posts : 40415
Points : 40915
Join date : 2010-03-30
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- Post n°377
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
If they are all part of one organisation UAC (OAK) then it makes no sense to merge departments further... it would make more sense to create a unified management that manages all departments and have each department retained for each of the design bureaus so you keep the designers and engineers but eliminate duplication in management.
Management will need to be bigger than for any individual bureau, but will be much less than having complete management teams for each design bureau.
It means you have more complete design and development bureaus that compete for contracts, but once contracts are decided then management can share technologies and expertise across the UAC to get cooperation making better products.
For instance Il is working hard with all the transport aircraft it is working on, so any Tupolev designers that are not focussed on the PAK DA or Tu-160 or Tu-22 or Tu95 upgrades could be shared to help Il get their work done more efficiently.
In some instances you could add other designs, for instance the Tu-330 programme seems to be a promising aircraft, and in a 30 ton payload range it has potential to be a useful aircraft for a lot of countries. For others the 20 ton capacity of the Il-272 makes sense if they also want the 60 ton capacity of the Il-476 because using both together would make sense in terms of commonality... but a country wanting a 25 ton payload capacity might just opt for a Tu-330 if you see what I mean.
The Tu-330 is different enough to be useful in its own right and the number of An-12s that need to be replaced means they are going to need a lot of aircraft anyway.
UAC management need to be bipartisan and not just favour certain design bureau departments and allocate resources and jobs to suit their workloads... sometimes changing their workloads by introducing another solution can be the best choice... the pressure is reduced for the Il-272 and it is not so rushed... its commonality with the Il-476 means it will be a useful aircraft anyway... I mean who in the west would not want a scaled down cheaper C-17 with a payload of 30 tons?
I suspect most would settle for a cheaper C-17....
Management will need to be bigger than for any individual bureau, but will be much less than having complete management teams for each design bureau.
It means you have more complete design and development bureaus that compete for contracts, but once contracts are decided then management can share technologies and expertise across the UAC to get cooperation making better products.
For instance Il is working hard with all the transport aircraft it is working on, so any Tupolev designers that are not focussed on the PAK DA or Tu-160 or Tu-22 or Tu95 upgrades could be shared to help Il get their work done more efficiently.
In some instances you could add other designs, for instance the Tu-330 programme seems to be a promising aircraft, and in a 30 ton payload range it has potential to be a useful aircraft for a lot of countries. For others the 20 ton capacity of the Il-272 makes sense if they also want the 60 ton capacity of the Il-476 because using both together would make sense in terms of commonality... but a country wanting a 25 ton payload capacity might just opt for a Tu-330 if you see what I mean.
The Tu-330 is different enough to be useful in its own right and the number of An-12s that need to be replaced means they are going to need a lot of aircraft anyway.
UAC management need to be bipartisan and not just favour certain design bureau departments and allocate resources and jobs to suit their workloads... sometimes changing their workloads by introducing another solution can be the best choice... the pressure is reduced for the Il-272 and it is not so rushed... its commonality with the Il-476 means it will be a useful aircraft anyway... I mean who in the west would not want a scaled down cheaper C-17 with a payload of 30 tons?
I suspect most would settle for a cheaper C-17....
LMFS- Posts : 5142
Points : 5138
Join date : 2018-03-03
- Post n°378
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
The General Director of the UAC told the President of Russia about the implementation of aircraft construction programs
Yuri Slyusar, General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC "UAC" as part of the Rostec State Corporation), told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a working meeting about the preparations for the MAKS-2021 air show and the status of a number of aircraft construction programs of the corporation.
"Preparations for the MAX are in full swing: despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic, we expect that the participation of both business and visitors will be at the level of 2019," Yuri Slyusar said. "The invitation was accepted by all our traditional partner countries and partner companies," he said, adding that this year Kazakhstan is the main partner country of the air show.
"Of course, we are preparing several surprises, several novelties," said the general director of the UAC, adding that this is why we would like to see the head of state at the event. "Traditionally, I visit there, of course, I will come," Vladimir Putin replied.
Yuri Slyusar told the President about the progress made on civil aviation programs since their previous meeting. Thus, the short-haul Superjet aircraft, despite the general drop in air traffic caused by the pandemic, is being intensively operated. "We currently have 155 aircraft operating on the wing, we will deliver 30 more aircraft during this year, in total, by the end of the year, more than 180 aircraft will fly," the head of the UAC said.
He added that over the past year, thanks to the investments made, it was possible to increase the serviceability of the aircraft by ten percent, and the average flight time on the car increased, amounting to about seven to eight hours. "This is, in principle, a level comparable to competitors - classmates, with whom we are always compared," Yuri Slyusar explained, adding that " airlines are happy, because where 200-seat cars used to fly, 100-seat cars are now in demand."
According to Yuri Slyusar, the "Superjet" is gradually becoming the basis of the Russian fleet of regional aircraft and it is on this car that passengers will travel within the country, including on routes going past Moscow.
Speaking about the development of the Superjet program, the head of the UAC noted the ongoing work on the creation of domestic aircraft systems, primarily the PD-8 engine as an alternative to the current Russian-French power plant. "Our fellow engine engineers are demonstrating significant success, and we hope that within two years we will receive our new domestic engine, which will be offered to customers along with the French one," the CEO said.
Yuri Slyusar highlighted the progress in improving the quality of after-sales service of aircraft, stressing that the investments and efforts that were directed to solving this problem have yielded results.
The head of the UAC thanked for the decision to provide state guarantees for the supply of 59 Superjet aircraft, which allowed, with the participation of Promsvyazbank, to conclude contracts for the supply of aircraft to the airline.
Speaking about the status of the program for the creation of a new medium-haul passenger aircraft MS-21, Yuri Slyusar said that more than 500 flights have already been made, and tests are continuing intensively.
The head of the UAC separately spoke about the advantages of the wing developed for this aircraft and produced from domestic composite materials. "This is a unique infusion technology that allows you to make a wing of great elongation, which gives better aerodynamics, better economy," he said, explaining that a factory in Ulyanovsk was specially built for the production of such a wing. "There, in fact, we literally" bake" these wings and deliver them to Irkutsk, where they are docked with the aircraft and then delivered to customers, " Yuri Slyusar said.
As one of the main tasks, the head of the UAC outlined bringing the production level of the MS-21 to 36 aircraft per year by 2025, and in the future to the level of 72 aircraft per year.
"The car is in demand: only in the domestic market about 600 cars of this class will be purchased in the next ten years – this is according to the most conservative estimates. And, of course, we expect that a significant part of our domestic market will be occupied by MS-21 aircraft, including thanks to state support measures," the head of the UAC said.
He added that along with the finalist enterprises that are part of the UAC, the cooperative enterprises can also use the MS-21 program to create new complexes and systems. "This is not just import substitution, it is also the creation of a new generation of systems that will not only replace foreign systems with domestic ones, but also offer new functionality at a more attractive price. - the head of the UAC is sure. "Therefore, the main task now is to deploy a strong production of the MS-21."
Yuri Slyusar also spoke about the ongoing tests of the new Il-114–300 regional turboprop aircraft, which made its first flight in December 2020. Now the aircraft is being tested, the second flight model is being built in Lukhovitsy near Moscow. UAC plans to produce twelve such machines per year, " but we hope that the market, including measures to support aviation mobility in hard - to-reach regions, will increase the demand for this machine," the CEO said.
Speaking about the production situation in the strategic aviation segment, Yuri Slyusar described the situation as balanced, noting that contracts have been signed with the Ministry of Defense both for the production of new Tu-160s and for the modernization of the existing fleet of strategists, which will ensure a stable load of the Kazan Aviation Plant for at least seven years.
The head of the UAC called the delivery of the first serial Su-57 the main event in the segment of operational and tactical aviation. In 2021, the UAC expects to deliver four cars, and then the task is to reach the level of twelve cars per year. "In total, we have signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense for 76 such vehicles," Yuri Slyusar recalled. "We hope that since this machine is chosen by the platform, the main machine for solving a wide range of tasks, the order for these machines will be measured in hundreds," he said, noting that the task of the UAC is to be technologically ready for this. Summing up, Yuri Slyusar said that there is work to be done on the development of several versions of this machine.
https://uacrussia.ru/ru/press-center/news/gendirektor-oak-rasskazal-prezidentu-rossii-o-realizatsii-samoletostroitelnykh-programm
Yuri Slyusar, General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC "UAC" as part of the Rostec State Corporation), told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a working meeting about the preparations for the MAKS-2021 air show and the status of a number of aircraft construction programs of the corporation.
"Preparations for the MAX are in full swing: despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic, we expect that the participation of both business and visitors will be at the level of 2019," Yuri Slyusar said. "The invitation was accepted by all our traditional partner countries and partner companies," he said, adding that this year Kazakhstan is the main partner country of the air show.
"Of course, we are preparing several surprises, several novelties," said the general director of the UAC, adding that this is why we would like to see the head of state at the event. "Traditionally, I visit there, of course, I will come," Vladimir Putin replied.
Yuri Slyusar told the President about the progress made on civil aviation programs since their previous meeting. Thus, the short-haul Superjet aircraft, despite the general drop in air traffic caused by the pandemic, is being intensively operated. "We currently have 155 aircraft operating on the wing, we will deliver 30 more aircraft during this year, in total, by the end of the year, more than 180 aircraft will fly," the head of the UAC said.
He added that over the past year, thanks to the investments made, it was possible to increase the serviceability of the aircraft by ten percent, and the average flight time on the car increased, amounting to about seven to eight hours. "This is, in principle, a level comparable to competitors - classmates, with whom we are always compared," Yuri Slyusar explained, adding that " airlines are happy, because where 200-seat cars used to fly, 100-seat cars are now in demand."
According to Yuri Slyusar, the "Superjet" is gradually becoming the basis of the Russian fleet of regional aircraft and it is on this car that passengers will travel within the country, including on routes going past Moscow.
Speaking about the development of the Superjet program, the head of the UAC noted the ongoing work on the creation of domestic aircraft systems, primarily the PD-8 engine as an alternative to the current Russian-French power plant. "Our fellow engine engineers are demonstrating significant success, and we hope that within two years we will receive our new domestic engine, which will be offered to customers along with the French one," the CEO said.
Yuri Slyusar highlighted the progress in improving the quality of after-sales service of aircraft, stressing that the investments and efforts that were directed to solving this problem have yielded results.
The head of the UAC thanked for the decision to provide state guarantees for the supply of 59 Superjet aircraft, which allowed, with the participation of Promsvyazbank, to conclude contracts for the supply of aircraft to the airline.
Speaking about the status of the program for the creation of a new medium-haul passenger aircraft MS-21, Yuri Slyusar said that more than 500 flights have already been made, and tests are continuing intensively.
The head of the UAC separately spoke about the advantages of the wing developed for this aircraft and produced from domestic composite materials. "This is a unique infusion technology that allows you to make a wing of great elongation, which gives better aerodynamics, better economy," he said, explaining that a factory in Ulyanovsk was specially built for the production of such a wing. "There, in fact, we literally" bake" these wings and deliver them to Irkutsk, where they are docked with the aircraft and then delivered to customers, " Yuri Slyusar said.
As one of the main tasks, the head of the UAC outlined bringing the production level of the MS-21 to 36 aircraft per year by 2025, and in the future to the level of 72 aircraft per year.
"The car is in demand: only in the domestic market about 600 cars of this class will be purchased in the next ten years – this is according to the most conservative estimates. And, of course, we expect that a significant part of our domestic market will be occupied by MS-21 aircraft, including thanks to state support measures," the head of the UAC said.
He added that along with the finalist enterprises that are part of the UAC, the cooperative enterprises can also use the MS-21 program to create new complexes and systems. "This is not just import substitution, it is also the creation of a new generation of systems that will not only replace foreign systems with domestic ones, but also offer new functionality at a more attractive price. - the head of the UAC is sure. "Therefore, the main task now is to deploy a strong production of the MS-21."
Yuri Slyusar also spoke about the ongoing tests of the new Il-114–300 regional turboprop aircraft, which made its first flight in December 2020. Now the aircraft is being tested, the second flight model is being built in Lukhovitsy near Moscow. UAC plans to produce twelve such machines per year, " but we hope that the market, including measures to support aviation mobility in hard - to-reach regions, will increase the demand for this machine," the CEO said.
Speaking about the production situation in the strategic aviation segment, Yuri Slyusar described the situation as balanced, noting that contracts have been signed with the Ministry of Defense both for the production of new Tu-160s and for the modernization of the existing fleet of strategists, which will ensure a stable load of the Kazan Aviation Plant for at least seven years.
The head of the UAC called the delivery of the first serial Su-57 the main event in the segment of operational and tactical aviation. In 2021, the UAC expects to deliver four cars, and then the task is to reach the level of twelve cars per year. "In total, we have signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense for 76 such vehicles," Yuri Slyusar recalled. "We hope that since this machine is chosen by the platform, the main machine for solving a wide range of tasks, the order for these machines will be measured in hundreds," he said, noting that the task of the UAC is to be technologically ready for this. Summing up, Yuri Slyusar said that there is work to be done on the development of several versions of this machine.
https://uacrussia.ru/ru/press-center/news/gendirektor-oak-rasskazal-prezidentu-rossii-o-realizatsii-samoletostroitelnykh-programm
GarryB, dino00, Kiko and Finty like this post
LMFS- Posts : 5142
Points : 5138
Join date : 2018-03-03
- Post n°379
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Slyusar in Krasnaya Zvezda:
To ensure air supremacy
The United Aircraft Corporation is implementing plans to update the aircraft fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
What are the advantages over foreign counterparts of the promising single-engine light tactical aircraft Checkmate, which was first shown at MAKS-2021? Are you managing to fulfill the plans for the production of aircraft and the supply of aircraft to the troops in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? How is the work on the modernization and creation of a new long-range aircraft Tu-160M going? What will the use of artificial intelligence technologies give in the design of new aviation complexes? Yuri SLYUSAR, General Director of PJSC UAC, answers these and other questions of Krasnaya Zvezda.
- Yuri Borisovich, I propose to start the conversation with your premiere at the International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky near Moscow. It was a new single-engine light tactical aircraft (LTS) Checkmate, which you personally presented to the President ...
- Yes, we presented our new promising development at the airshow - LTS Checkmate, assembled at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Gagarin, a branch of the Sukhoi company ... We plan to take the plane into the air in 2023.
- At MAKS you said that the new Checkmate light fighter will be able to withstand foreign combat aircraft of the fifth generation and, in the future, the sixth. Due to what - flight characteristics, aircraft weapons, reduced visibility in radar, infrared and other areas of the detection spectrum, or due to the electronic warfare equipment placed on board?
- Due to the totality of the properties you have listed. The new LTS was created on the basis of proven solutions and the latest technologies, tested and used today in our flagship - the Su-57. The cockpit is equipped with an intelligent crew support system. The aircraft is also equipped with an integrated electronic countermeasures system, which will prevent the enemy from detecting the aircraft and using weapons. Among the important distinguishing features of the Checkmate LTS, I will single out radar with an active phased antenna array, built-in optical detection and guidance systems and the ability to organize network-oriented actions both with the same type of aircraft and with other types of combat vehicles.
The key advantage - the cost of the machine and its operation - becomes evident in comparison with the competition. For example, Checkmate has 6-7 times less cost per flight hour than its main international competitor F-35. At the same time, the purchase price of the LTS is comparable to the Saab Gripen NG with incomparably greater combat capabilities. So the Checkmate is an aircraft for buyers for whom operational economics is key.
To ensure air supremacy
- Representatives of which countries showed commercial interest in this aircraft at MAKS-2021?
- First of all, I would like to note that this is an aviation complex with a high potential for modernization. The aircraft can be adapted to the wishes of the customer and has an open architecture. This makes it possible to install on-board equipment from various manufacturers on it. The machine was originally designed to use almost the entire range of ASPs, including promising ones. These factors are of great importance for our foreign colleagues. At MAKS, partners from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America were interested in the new fighter.
- How cloudless are the prospects for creating a drone based on Checkmate?
- The aircraft was originally designed as an aviation platform capable of becoming the base for a whole family of aircraft. The unmanned modification of the LTS Checkmate is no exception. We believe that it will be in demand among customers, because it will increase all-aspect awareness, the survivability of the combat system, and will make it possible to apply new tactical techniques.
- Yuri, let's move to the affairs of larger and more talk about the total contribution that you head the corporation to the strengthening of military-technical potential of the country and re-equipment of the Russian army ...
- United Aircraft Corporation - the main supplier of aircraft for various purposes for the Ministry of Defense of Russia, we are responsible for the timely provision of VKS with high-quality and modern aviation systems. For us, the Russian military department is the main customer, which determines not only the delivery plan, but also the purpose, appearance and characteristics of the aircraft.
Until recently, we were at the stage of replacing third-generation aircraft with fourth-generation aircraft: Su-35, MiG-35, Su-30SM, Su-34. And since this year we have together risen to the next level - we have begun deliveries to our main customer of the fifth generation Su-57 aircraft, we have very big joint plans for this platform.
- Fulfillment of the state defense order is an important area of activity for your company, which reliably ensures the employment of personnel and the utilization of production facilities for many years. However, in 2020 it became more difficult to work due to the spread of the coronavirus in the world. Has the United Aircraft Corporation managed to overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and return production processes to normal so far? Has the difficult epidemiological situation affected the pace of research and development work, serial production?
- We have structured our work so that the pandemic does not affect our work on military programs. Of course, all the necessary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus were and are being followed at our sites.
So, in 2020, the UAC enterprises, within the framework of the state defense order, fully fulfilled large long-term contracts for the supply of Su-35 and Su-34.
In the transport aviation segment, we are increasing the pace of production of heavy military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A, we continue testing the light transport aircraft Il-112V.
An important large project is the renewal of the Tu-160 strategic bombers; it is being implemented in several stages. First, Tupolev is deeply modernizing combatant Tu-160s. The first aircraft of this series - Tu-160M - made its first flight at the end of last year, successfully passed factory tests, and is now completing preliminary tests in Zhukovsky. The aircraft is equipped with new NK-32 series 02 engines produced by UEC, the onboard equipment has been modernized, which improves the characteristics of the base machine.
At the Kazan Aviation Plant, work is being completed on the manufacture of the second such aircraft, which will immediately join the tests. After their completion, the aircraft will be presented for state tests, where they will be evaluated by specialists from the Ministry of Defense, including in conditions that best meet the combat situation. After that, the modernized aircraft will be transferred to combat units of long-range aviation.
Secondly, in addition to deep modernization, work is underway at Tupolev to assemble a completely new
Tu-160M built from scratch . So all the competencies that we had in the field of long-range aviation have been preserved and developed.
During the Army-2020 International Military-Technical Forum, several major contracts were signed for the supply of aviation equipment to the Russian Aerospace Forces. These agreements were the result of the implementation of instructions developed following the results of a meeting held by the President of Russia in May 2020 on the support of the aviation industry and air transportation. The contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense provide for advanced supplies of equipment, the purchases of which are planned in the state armament program.
What is especially important in the current situation, the implementation of decisions on support measures took place quickly and in the required volume. Together with colleagues from the Ministry of Defense, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, solutions were promptly prepared and approved, which kept the high workload of our main enterprises. So, thanks to these decisions, the largest plant of the corporation in Komsomolsk-on-Amur has actually doubled the workload in the current period and now, until 2028 inclusive, the enterprise has to fulfill a rich production plan.
It should be noted that the UAC design bureaus maintains a high load: in all segments, the modernization of operated and development of promising aircraft continues.
Speaking of state support, I must say about the government's adopted and already implemented program for the financial recovery of the UAC. The problem debts of enterprises that had formed over the decades, which practically blocked their development, were partially repaid and partially restructured. The condition for such support is the adoption of a number of serious measures to improve the efficiency of the corporation. First of all, this is a reduction in non-production costs, redundant levels of management, elimination of duplication of auxiliary functions. It is important that when optimizing the work of enterprises and design bureaus, workers of basic specialties and engineers will not be laid off.
- The Ministry of Defense today pays great attention to the organization of maintenance of weapons and equipment throughout their entire life cycle, that is, from development and serial production to service, repair and disposal. Tell me, have you already managed to effectively build this entire "chain" in cooperation with the military department?
- We prioritize the maintenance of our equipment throughout the entire life cycle. We proceed from the fact that the Aerospace Forces faces important military tasks, and that repair and modernization is our job. As an example, together with the signing at the Army-2020 forum of an agreement with the Russian Ministry of Defense on the supply of new heavy military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A, an agreement was also signed for servicing military transport aircraft of the Il company.
- Scientific and technological progress does not stand still. What technological challenges, in your opinion, will the Russian defense industry have to meet in the coming years? What is your vision for the future of the defense industry in the 2020s in relation to the growth of artificial intelligence, manufacturing robotics and digital transformation of technological processes?
- The Russian aircraft industry must be advanced. This thesis finds support, and in fact, from the head of state, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Thanks to this support, we have significantly modernized our enterprises, intensively develop new equipment and create a scientific and technical groundwork.
This also applies to the intellectualization of aviation technology, which we restrainedly call "the use of artificial intelligence technologies." As the aviation systems improved, the developers began to understand that, in addition to improving the flight performance of aircraft, on-board systems and means of destruction, the development of aviation equipment should also go towards a comprehensive assessment and forecasting of the current combat situation, on the basis of which effective and adaptive decisions are made to the situation. for the control of the complex and its on-board equipment, as well as the implementation of group actions. This can only be realized on the basis of artificial intelligence technologies.
These technologies are used and will be even more actively used, for example, in the fifth generation fighter Su-57, as well as in the project of a heavy attack unmanned aerial vehicle. Intellectual support at these complexes consists in giving the pilot the necessary recommendations on the use of aviation weapons, in group actions, overcoming the air defense system and the defense of the aircraft. It also provides automatic control of the onboard systems modes.
- In recent years, a lot has been said about the problem of import substitution, which arose in connection with the unfriendly position of Western countries towards Russia, especially after the Crimean spring of 2014. More broadly, we are talking about ensuring the technological independence of our country. At what stage of solving this problem is the UAC today?
- In KLA, everything is simple in this sense - we have achieved complete import substitution and import independence in combat aviation.
- The creation of modern weapons, military and special equipment is currently unthinkable without relying on fundamental and applied sciences. On this site, the ERA military technopolis in Anapa is becoming more and more active. Does your company interact with him?
- Yes, we became a member of the ERA technopolis back in March 2021, and one of our specialists has already defended a project on supercomputer technologies at an offsite meeting of the technopolis council. I am sure that the implementation of the initiatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to support science and advanced developments will speed up the process of work on topical innovative projects, including in the UAC.
- The President of Russia has repeatedly drawn attention to the need to solve the problems of diversification in high-tech sectors of the defense industry in a changing market environment. Does the Russian defense industry have any serious groundwork in this area? To what extent is the defense industry capable of becoming a locomotive in the development of the civilian sector of industry?
- In Russia, the military-industrial complex has always been at the forefront of technology and economic development. Of course, advanced solutions designed for the military will eventually spill over into civilian products; this happens not only in our country, but in all industries and in all countries.
And of course, we are also faced with the task of ensuring the diversification of production, ensuring that the share of civilian products is above 50 percent. In the implementation of this task, the corporation is significantly helped by the actively developing segment of domestic regional passenger transportation.
- The defense-industrial complex, like the Armed Forces, is famous for its long-standing traditions of loyal service to the Fatherland. What is being done in the UAC today to preserve historical memory, for the heroic and patriotic education of a new generation of defense workers who did not have a chance to go through the trials of either the Great Patriotic War or the Cold War?
- At the enterprises and in the design bureau of the UAC, traditions of respect for history are very strong. We cherish the memory of the immortal feat of the Heroes who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, of those who worked in the rear in factories, creating victorious equipment and weapons for our army. During the war, aviation plants provided the front with tens of thousands of aircraft, which made a huge contribution to the common cause of defending the Motherland. And today our engineers and workers, facing new challenges of the time, are inspired by these examples. We see our main task in ensuring the security of our country reliably in the future, creating the most advanced aircraft.
http://redstar.ru/chtoby-garantirovat-gospodstvo-v-vozduhe/
To ensure air supremacy
The United Aircraft Corporation is implementing plans to update the aircraft fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
What are the advantages over foreign counterparts of the promising single-engine light tactical aircraft Checkmate, which was first shown at MAKS-2021? Are you managing to fulfill the plans for the production of aircraft and the supply of aircraft to the troops in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? How is the work on the modernization and creation of a new long-range aircraft Tu-160M going? What will the use of artificial intelligence technologies give in the design of new aviation complexes? Yuri SLYUSAR, General Director of PJSC UAC, answers these and other questions of Krasnaya Zvezda.
- Yuri Borisovich, I propose to start the conversation with your premiere at the International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky near Moscow. It was a new single-engine light tactical aircraft (LTS) Checkmate, which you personally presented to the President ...
- Yes, we presented our new promising development at the airshow - LTS Checkmate, assembled at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Gagarin, a branch of the Sukhoi company ... We plan to take the plane into the air in 2023.
- At MAKS you said that the new Checkmate light fighter will be able to withstand foreign combat aircraft of the fifth generation and, in the future, the sixth. Due to what - flight characteristics, aircraft weapons, reduced visibility in radar, infrared and other areas of the detection spectrum, or due to the electronic warfare equipment placed on board?
- Due to the totality of the properties you have listed. The new LTS was created on the basis of proven solutions and the latest technologies, tested and used today in our flagship - the Su-57. The cockpit is equipped with an intelligent crew support system. The aircraft is also equipped with an integrated electronic countermeasures system, which will prevent the enemy from detecting the aircraft and using weapons. Among the important distinguishing features of the Checkmate LTS, I will single out radar with an active phased antenna array, built-in optical detection and guidance systems and the ability to organize network-oriented actions both with the same type of aircraft and with other types of combat vehicles.
The key advantage - the cost of the machine and its operation - becomes evident in comparison with the competition. For example, Checkmate has 6-7 times less cost per flight hour than its main international competitor F-35. At the same time, the purchase price of the LTS is comparable to the Saab Gripen NG with incomparably greater combat capabilities. So the Checkmate is an aircraft for buyers for whom operational economics is key.
To ensure air supremacy
- Representatives of which countries showed commercial interest in this aircraft at MAKS-2021?
- First of all, I would like to note that this is an aviation complex with a high potential for modernization. The aircraft can be adapted to the wishes of the customer and has an open architecture. This makes it possible to install on-board equipment from various manufacturers on it. The machine was originally designed to use almost the entire range of ASPs, including promising ones. These factors are of great importance for our foreign colleagues. At MAKS, partners from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America were interested in the new fighter.
- How cloudless are the prospects for creating a drone based on Checkmate?
- The aircraft was originally designed as an aviation platform capable of becoming the base for a whole family of aircraft. The unmanned modification of the LTS Checkmate is no exception. We believe that it will be in demand among customers, because it will increase all-aspect awareness, the survivability of the combat system, and will make it possible to apply new tactical techniques.
- Yuri, let's move to the affairs of larger and more talk about the total contribution that you head the corporation to the strengthening of military-technical potential of the country and re-equipment of the Russian army ...
- United Aircraft Corporation - the main supplier of aircraft for various purposes for the Ministry of Defense of Russia, we are responsible for the timely provision of VKS with high-quality and modern aviation systems. For us, the Russian military department is the main customer, which determines not only the delivery plan, but also the purpose, appearance and characteristics of the aircraft.
Until recently, we were at the stage of replacing third-generation aircraft with fourth-generation aircraft: Su-35, MiG-35, Su-30SM, Su-34. And since this year we have together risen to the next level - we have begun deliveries to our main customer of the fifth generation Su-57 aircraft, we have very big joint plans for this platform.
- Fulfillment of the state defense order is an important area of activity for your company, which reliably ensures the employment of personnel and the utilization of production facilities for many years. However, in 2020 it became more difficult to work due to the spread of the coronavirus in the world. Has the United Aircraft Corporation managed to overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and return production processes to normal so far? Has the difficult epidemiological situation affected the pace of research and development work, serial production?
- We have structured our work so that the pandemic does not affect our work on military programs. Of course, all the necessary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus were and are being followed at our sites.
So, in 2020, the UAC enterprises, within the framework of the state defense order, fully fulfilled large long-term contracts for the supply of Su-35 and Su-34.
In the transport aviation segment, we are increasing the pace of production of heavy military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A, we continue testing the light transport aircraft Il-112V.
An important large project is the renewal of the Tu-160 strategic bombers; it is being implemented in several stages. First, Tupolev is deeply modernizing combatant Tu-160s. The first aircraft of this series - Tu-160M - made its first flight at the end of last year, successfully passed factory tests, and is now completing preliminary tests in Zhukovsky. The aircraft is equipped with new NK-32 series 02 engines produced by UEC, the onboard equipment has been modernized, which improves the characteristics of the base machine.
At the Kazan Aviation Plant, work is being completed on the manufacture of the second such aircraft, which will immediately join the tests. After their completion, the aircraft will be presented for state tests, where they will be evaluated by specialists from the Ministry of Defense, including in conditions that best meet the combat situation. After that, the modernized aircraft will be transferred to combat units of long-range aviation.
Secondly, in addition to deep modernization, work is underway at Tupolev to assemble a completely new
Tu-160M built from scratch . So all the competencies that we had in the field of long-range aviation have been preserved and developed.
During the Army-2020 International Military-Technical Forum, several major contracts were signed for the supply of aviation equipment to the Russian Aerospace Forces. These agreements were the result of the implementation of instructions developed following the results of a meeting held by the President of Russia in May 2020 on the support of the aviation industry and air transportation. The contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense provide for advanced supplies of equipment, the purchases of which are planned in the state armament program.
What is especially important in the current situation, the implementation of decisions on support measures took place quickly and in the required volume. Together with colleagues from the Ministry of Defense, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, solutions were promptly prepared and approved, which kept the high workload of our main enterprises. So, thanks to these decisions, the largest plant of the corporation in Komsomolsk-on-Amur has actually doubled the workload in the current period and now, until 2028 inclusive, the enterprise has to fulfill a rich production plan.
It should be noted that the UAC design bureaus maintains a high load: in all segments, the modernization of operated and development of promising aircraft continues.
Speaking of state support, I must say about the government's adopted and already implemented program for the financial recovery of the UAC. The problem debts of enterprises that had formed over the decades, which practically blocked their development, were partially repaid and partially restructured. The condition for such support is the adoption of a number of serious measures to improve the efficiency of the corporation. First of all, this is a reduction in non-production costs, redundant levels of management, elimination of duplication of auxiliary functions. It is important that when optimizing the work of enterprises and design bureaus, workers of basic specialties and engineers will not be laid off.
- The Ministry of Defense today pays great attention to the organization of maintenance of weapons and equipment throughout their entire life cycle, that is, from development and serial production to service, repair and disposal. Tell me, have you already managed to effectively build this entire "chain" in cooperation with the military department?
- We prioritize the maintenance of our equipment throughout the entire life cycle. We proceed from the fact that the Aerospace Forces faces important military tasks, and that repair and modernization is our job. As an example, together with the signing at the Army-2020 forum of an agreement with the Russian Ministry of Defense on the supply of new heavy military transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A, an agreement was also signed for servicing military transport aircraft of the Il company.
- Scientific and technological progress does not stand still. What technological challenges, in your opinion, will the Russian defense industry have to meet in the coming years? What is your vision for the future of the defense industry in the 2020s in relation to the growth of artificial intelligence, manufacturing robotics and digital transformation of technological processes?
- The Russian aircraft industry must be advanced. This thesis finds support, and in fact, from the head of state, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Thanks to this support, we have significantly modernized our enterprises, intensively develop new equipment and create a scientific and technical groundwork.
This also applies to the intellectualization of aviation technology, which we restrainedly call "the use of artificial intelligence technologies." As the aviation systems improved, the developers began to understand that, in addition to improving the flight performance of aircraft, on-board systems and means of destruction, the development of aviation equipment should also go towards a comprehensive assessment and forecasting of the current combat situation, on the basis of which effective and adaptive decisions are made to the situation. for the control of the complex and its on-board equipment, as well as the implementation of group actions. This can only be realized on the basis of artificial intelligence technologies.
These technologies are used and will be even more actively used, for example, in the fifth generation fighter Su-57, as well as in the project of a heavy attack unmanned aerial vehicle. Intellectual support at these complexes consists in giving the pilot the necessary recommendations on the use of aviation weapons, in group actions, overcoming the air defense system and the defense of the aircraft. It also provides automatic control of the onboard systems modes.
- In recent years, a lot has been said about the problem of import substitution, which arose in connection with the unfriendly position of Western countries towards Russia, especially after the Crimean spring of 2014. More broadly, we are talking about ensuring the technological independence of our country. At what stage of solving this problem is the UAC today?
- In KLA, everything is simple in this sense - we have achieved complete import substitution and import independence in combat aviation.
- The creation of modern weapons, military and special equipment is currently unthinkable without relying on fundamental and applied sciences. On this site, the ERA military technopolis in Anapa is becoming more and more active. Does your company interact with him?
- Yes, we became a member of the ERA technopolis back in March 2021, and one of our specialists has already defended a project on supercomputer technologies at an offsite meeting of the technopolis council. I am sure that the implementation of the initiatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to support science and advanced developments will speed up the process of work on topical innovative projects, including in the UAC.
- The President of Russia has repeatedly drawn attention to the need to solve the problems of diversification in high-tech sectors of the defense industry in a changing market environment. Does the Russian defense industry have any serious groundwork in this area? To what extent is the defense industry capable of becoming a locomotive in the development of the civilian sector of industry?
- In Russia, the military-industrial complex has always been at the forefront of technology and economic development. Of course, advanced solutions designed for the military will eventually spill over into civilian products; this happens not only in our country, but in all industries and in all countries.
And of course, we are also faced with the task of ensuring the diversification of production, ensuring that the share of civilian products is above 50 percent. In the implementation of this task, the corporation is significantly helped by the actively developing segment of domestic regional passenger transportation.
- The defense-industrial complex, like the Armed Forces, is famous for its long-standing traditions of loyal service to the Fatherland. What is being done in the UAC today to preserve historical memory, for the heroic and patriotic education of a new generation of defense workers who did not have a chance to go through the trials of either the Great Patriotic War or the Cold War?
- At the enterprises and in the design bureau of the UAC, traditions of respect for history are very strong. We cherish the memory of the immortal feat of the Heroes who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, of those who worked in the rear in factories, creating victorious equipment and weapons for our army. During the war, aviation plants provided the front with tens of thousands of aircraft, which made a huge contribution to the common cause of defending the Motherland. And today our engineers and workers, facing new challenges of the time, are inspired by these examples. We see our main task in ensuring the security of our country reliably in the future, creating the most advanced aircraft.
http://redstar.ru/chtoby-garantirovat-gospodstvo-v-vozduhe/
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- Post n°380
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
This is a very long and detailed piece on the development of intellectual support technologies by Sukhoi, starting from Su-35 and going to full autonomous operation
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5ddfbc8b9515ee00ac9e370a/intellektualnyi-proryv-61111f217a62e47685a720ab
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5ddfbc8b9515ee00ac9e370a/intellektualnyi-proryv-61111f217a62e47685a720ab
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- Post n°381
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
LMFS wrote:This is a very long and detailed piece on the development of intellectual support technologies by Sukhoi, starting from Su-35 and going to full autonomous operation
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5ddfbc8b9515ee00ac9e370a/intellektualnyi-proryv-61111f217a62e47685a720ab
On the UAC channel has other older interesting articles
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- Post n°382
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Denis Manturov gave an interview to Interfax:
- Denis Valentinovich, how many planes and helicopters are planned to be built in 2021?
- UAC plans to deliver about 30 passenger aircraft this year. But we must understand that these plans can be adjusted by the situation on the air transportation market, including those related to the pandemic. I will not disclose plans for military aircraft. If we talk about helicopters, about 190 units will be produced in 2021.
- When will the first Tu-160M built from scratch start flight tests?
- Serial production of the new Tu-160 has already been launched at the plant in Kazan. We expect that the first such machine will be tested next year.
Let me remind you that at the same time, Tupolev is conducting a deep modernization of the combat Tu-160. The aircraft are equipped with new NK-32 engines of the second series produced by UEC, the on-board equipment has been upgraded, improving the characteristics of the basic machine. These vehicles are already being tested and will soon be transferred to the next stage of testing by specialists of the Ministry of Defense, including in conditions that best meet the real situation. After that, the upgraded aircraft will be transferred to the combat units of Long-range aviation.
- How are the work on the creation of a new strategic bomber PAK DA progressing? In your opinion, will it surpass the American competitor B-21 Raider in its characteristics?
- As planned, a complex of development works is being implemented. Together with the customer, the appearance of the aircraft was determined. In accordance with the contract and the consolidated schedule, the working design documentation is being gradually transferred to the manufacturer. At the production site itself, the aggregate assembly of prototypes is underway. Of course, we set the task to create equipment that surpasses the capabilities of other countries equipment.
- Will there be a new "doomsday plane" in Russia to replace the Il-80?
- The Russian aviation industry can produce aircraft of all classes, including aircraft for this purpose. Work in this direction is underway. The customer of such special vehicles is the military department.
- Do you think Russia will be able to withstand competition in the global market of attack drones? Will it be possible to reduce the gap with other countries?
- Russia is a very strong player in this market, we have created the entire line of attack UAVs. Like our combat aircraft, combat drones are at the world level. We rely on the domestic scientific and technological school and tradition, we do not lag behind the United States, Israel, China and Turkey in this matter. At the same time, we create all the necessary conditions for the development of radio electronics and the electronic component base for this direction.
For example, the Kronstadt company, commissioned by the Russian Defense Ministry, was able to create the Orion UAV (Pacer), which is not inferior in its flight performance to the best foreign analogues. The complex is of interest abroad - we have already received official applications from a number of foreign partners. Currently, a pool of potential customers of Orion-E has been formed. The complex can be supplied in two versions: in reconnaissance and reconnaissance-strike, it depends on the needs and wishes of the customer.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a new modification of the Orion-E with a satellite data transmission channel was recently presented at the MILEX-2021 international defense exhibition in Minsk. Such a complex can transmit information from its boron equipment to the control point in real time from any distance without restrictions. On the basis of this project, Russia is ready to offer development directions that will even anticipate the trends in this class of aircraft in some ways.
- When will the Russian Federation be ready for mass production of heavy attack drones, in particular, the S-70 Hunter and Altius?
- The first batch of the Altius UAV is already in production, serial deliveries will begin at the end of this year. As for the S-70 "Hunter" – here we see the interest of the military department, we are preparing for the serial production of this drone, we are working on the issue of concluding a long-term contract next year.
- Is the conclusion of an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for development work on a high-speed combat helicopter expected in the near future, or are these works being postponed for the time being?
- The Russian Helicopters Holding company is conducting preliminary work on a promising high-speed and transport-combat helicopter, according to the results of which the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will decide on the conclusion of the contract.
- Will the Russian Federation continue to cooperate with Belarus to strengthen its armed forces, in particular, through the supply of S-400 air defense systems and Su-30SM aircraft?
- Russia and Belarus have long been linked by close allied relations. The countries are co-founding members of the Union State, the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, and also conduct military cooperation within the framework of the CSTO. In this regard, there are objectively plans for further improvement and strengthening of the air defense system of the Republic of Belarus, which is a member of the Union State. With this in mind, Belarus can also be supplied with such state-of-the-art air defense systems as the S-400, developed and manufactured by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Concern. As for the aircraft, at the end of 2019, four Su-30SM fighters were delivered to the Belarusian side. Thus, the contract of 2017 between the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and Irkut Corporation can be considered fulfilled.
- When will the first batch of S-400s for India be ready for delivery to the customer? Will the coronavirus interfere with supplies?
- The work on this project is carried out in accordance with the contractual obligations of the Russian side and, of course, we will make every effort to deliver the contracted volumes on time and with proper quality.
- In what terms can contracts be signed with India for the purchase of 21 MiG-29 fighters, six Ka-31 helicopters, the modernization of 59 Indian MiG-29s and the production of 18 Su-30MKI aircraft under license?
- In 2021, a tender request was received from the headquarters of the Indian Air Force for the supply of an additional batch of MiG-29UPG fighters this year, as well as for the completion of existing aircraft in service. The commercial offer of the Russian side is currently being considered by the customer, we are waiting for a decision on it. The issue of supplying kits for the production of an additional batch of Su-30MKI aircraft requires some time to be worked out due to the need to include new aviation weapons and electronic equipment in their composition. As for helicopters, proposals for the supply of the Ka-31 have been sent to our Indian partners in 2020, and we are currently waiting for a decision on conducting contract negotiations.
Source:
- Denis Valentinovich, how many planes and helicopters are planned to be built in 2021?
- UAC plans to deliver about 30 passenger aircraft this year. But we must understand that these plans can be adjusted by the situation on the air transportation market, including those related to the pandemic. I will not disclose plans for military aircraft. If we talk about helicopters, about 190 units will be produced in 2021.
- When will the first Tu-160M built from scratch start flight tests?
- Serial production of the new Tu-160 has already been launched at the plant in Kazan. We expect that the first such machine will be tested next year.
Let me remind you that at the same time, Tupolev is conducting a deep modernization of the combat Tu-160. The aircraft are equipped with new NK-32 engines of the second series produced by UEC, the on-board equipment has been upgraded, improving the characteristics of the basic machine. These vehicles are already being tested and will soon be transferred to the next stage of testing by specialists of the Ministry of Defense, including in conditions that best meet the real situation. After that, the upgraded aircraft will be transferred to the combat units of Long-range aviation.
- How are the work on the creation of a new strategic bomber PAK DA progressing? In your opinion, will it surpass the American competitor B-21 Raider in its characteristics?
- As planned, a complex of development works is being implemented. Together with the customer, the appearance of the aircraft was determined. In accordance with the contract and the consolidated schedule, the working design documentation is being gradually transferred to the manufacturer. At the production site itself, the aggregate assembly of prototypes is underway. Of course, we set the task to create equipment that surpasses the capabilities of other countries equipment.
- Will there be a new "doomsday plane" in Russia to replace the Il-80?
- The Russian aviation industry can produce aircraft of all classes, including aircraft for this purpose. Work in this direction is underway. The customer of such special vehicles is the military department.
- Do you think Russia will be able to withstand competition in the global market of attack drones? Will it be possible to reduce the gap with other countries?
- Russia is a very strong player in this market, we have created the entire line of attack UAVs. Like our combat aircraft, combat drones are at the world level. We rely on the domestic scientific and technological school and tradition, we do not lag behind the United States, Israel, China and Turkey in this matter. At the same time, we create all the necessary conditions for the development of radio electronics and the electronic component base for this direction.
For example, the Kronstadt company, commissioned by the Russian Defense Ministry, was able to create the Orion UAV (Pacer), which is not inferior in its flight performance to the best foreign analogues. The complex is of interest abroad - we have already received official applications from a number of foreign partners. Currently, a pool of potential customers of Orion-E has been formed. The complex can be supplied in two versions: in reconnaissance and reconnaissance-strike, it depends on the needs and wishes of the customer.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a new modification of the Orion-E with a satellite data transmission channel was recently presented at the MILEX-2021 international defense exhibition in Minsk. Such a complex can transmit information from its boron equipment to the control point in real time from any distance without restrictions. On the basis of this project, Russia is ready to offer development directions that will even anticipate the trends in this class of aircraft in some ways.
- When will the Russian Federation be ready for mass production of heavy attack drones, in particular, the S-70 Hunter and Altius?
- The first batch of the Altius UAV is already in production, serial deliveries will begin at the end of this year. As for the S-70 "Hunter" – here we see the interest of the military department, we are preparing for the serial production of this drone, we are working on the issue of concluding a long-term contract next year.
- Is the conclusion of an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for development work on a high-speed combat helicopter expected in the near future, or are these works being postponed for the time being?
- The Russian Helicopters Holding company is conducting preliminary work on a promising high-speed and transport-combat helicopter, according to the results of which the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will decide on the conclusion of the contract.
- Will the Russian Federation continue to cooperate with Belarus to strengthen its armed forces, in particular, through the supply of S-400 air defense systems and Su-30SM aircraft?
- Russia and Belarus have long been linked by close allied relations. The countries are co-founding members of the Union State, the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, and also conduct military cooperation within the framework of the CSTO. In this regard, there are objectively plans for further improvement and strengthening of the air defense system of the Republic of Belarus, which is a member of the Union State. With this in mind, Belarus can also be supplied with such state-of-the-art air defense systems as the S-400, developed and manufactured by the enterprises of the Almaz-Antey Concern. As for the aircraft, at the end of 2019, four Su-30SM fighters were delivered to the Belarusian side. Thus, the contract of 2017 between the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and Irkut Corporation can be considered fulfilled.
- When will the first batch of S-400s for India be ready for delivery to the customer? Will the coronavirus interfere with supplies?
- The work on this project is carried out in accordance with the contractual obligations of the Russian side and, of course, we will make every effort to deliver the contracted volumes on time and with proper quality.
- In what terms can contracts be signed with India for the purchase of 21 MiG-29 fighters, six Ka-31 helicopters, the modernization of 59 Indian MiG-29s and the production of 18 Su-30MKI aircraft under license?
- In 2021, a tender request was received from the headquarters of the Indian Air Force for the supply of an additional batch of MiG-29UPG fighters this year, as well as for the completion of existing aircraft in service. The commercial offer of the Russian side is currently being considered by the customer, we are waiting for a decision on it. The issue of supplying kits for the production of an additional batch of Su-30MKI aircraft requires some time to be worked out due to the need to include new aviation weapons and electronic equipment in their composition. As for helicopters, proposals for the supply of the Ka-31 have been sent to our Indian partners in 2020, and we are currently waiting for a decision on conducting contract negotiations.
Source:
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- Post n°383
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Interesting that the journalist mentioned cooperative upgrades of the remaining 59 mig29 aircraft. Not sure if the journalist is overstating and really its just an offer by russia or if it is actually in the works. If it was then it could be a sign that the 21 new mig29 sales also included the zhuk aesa radars.
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- Post n°384
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Kazan Aircraft Factory received contracts worth more than 360 billion rubles from the Ministry of Defense.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on August 27 during a visit to the Kazan Aviation Plant. During the visit, the Head of the Department of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mikhail Gorbunova (a branch of PJSC Tupolev) visited the deeply modernized Tu-160M combat strategic missile carriers, products manufactured by KAZ, as well as an exhibition of unmanned aerial vehicles, where, in particular, the Altius-RU and Forpost attack UAVs were presented. This was reported in the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
During the inspection of the company's workshops, the minister was informed that in order to resume production of the Tu-160, electron beam welding installations were restored at the plant, which make it possible to weld and anneal the main power elements of the structure. As a result, in December 2020, the new Tu-160 was removed from the slipway and transferred to the final assembly shop. The Minister of Defense climbed into the cockpit of this plane. Here he was told about the combat potential of the new strategic bombers, which has significantly increased compared to its predecessors.
"What we talked about five or six years ago has been done. This is our common victory" – the minister said, addressing the plant's employees.
The Defense Minister was also shown a highly upgraded Tu-22M3M long-range bomber in flight. Sergei Shoigu was informed that this is the second prototype. All routine maintenance work was performed on the aircraft, and during preliminary flight tests, automatic control systems, night-time lighting equipment, and radio communication equipment at different frequencies were checked. The machine is ready for further testing.
The Kazan Aviation Plant produces special-purpose aircraft based on the standard design of the Tu-214, repairs and upgrades of Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft, reproduces the Tu-160 aircraft in the Tu-160M2 version, performs experimental design work on new products and conducts their tests. And also-production and supply of components and assemblies of aircraft in cooperation with other enterprises of the united aircraft building company.
On February 2, 2020, the first flight of the upgraded Tu-160M aircraft took place at the KAZ airfield. On October 30 of the same year, a Tu-160M rocket carrier with NK-32 series II engines flew. In March 2021, the missile carrier was transferred to the flight test base of PJSC Tupolev to prepare for the next stage of flights - preliminary tests.
On August 28, on the Rossiya-1 TV channel, Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian Defense Ministry signed contracts with the Kazan Aviation Plant for 364 billion rubles with a term of execution until 2028. According to him, the plant will carry out a deep modernization of Tu-95MS strategic bombers and deliver Tu-214 aircraft to the military department. We are talking about life-cycle contracts that allow "to reduce the cost of a flight hour, feel comfortable at a distance of 10-15 years" – he said.
Source:
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on August 27 during a visit to the Kazan Aviation Plant. During the visit, the Head of the Department of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mikhail Gorbunova (a branch of PJSC Tupolev) visited the deeply modernized Tu-160M combat strategic missile carriers, products manufactured by KAZ, as well as an exhibition of unmanned aerial vehicles, where, in particular, the Altius-RU and Forpost attack UAVs were presented. This was reported in the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
During the inspection of the company's workshops, the minister was informed that in order to resume production of the Tu-160, electron beam welding installations were restored at the plant, which make it possible to weld and anneal the main power elements of the structure. As a result, in December 2020, the new Tu-160 was removed from the slipway and transferred to the final assembly shop. The Minister of Defense climbed into the cockpit of this plane. Here he was told about the combat potential of the new strategic bombers, which has significantly increased compared to its predecessors.
"What we talked about five or six years ago has been done. This is our common victory" – the minister said, addressing the plant's employees.
The Defense Minister was also shown a highly upgraded Tu-22M3M long-range bomber in flight. Sergei Shoigu was informed that this is the second prototype. All routine maintenance work was performed on the aircraft, and during preliminary flight tests, automatic control systems, night-time lighting equipment, and radio communication equipment at different frequencies were checked. The machine is ready for further testing.
The Kazan Aviation Plant produces special-purpose aircraft based on the standard design of the Tu-214, repairs and upgrades of Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft, reproduces the Tu-160 aircraft in the Tu-160M2 version, performs experimental design work on new products and conducts their tests. And also-production and supply of components and assemblies of aircraft in cooperation with other enterprises of the united aircraft building company.
On February 2, 2020, the first flight of the upgraded Tu-160M aircraft took place at the KAZ airfield. On October 30 of the same year, a Tu-160M rocket carrier with NK-32 series II engines flew. In March 2021, the missile carrier was transferred to the flight test base of PJSC Tupolev to prepare for the next stage of flights - preliminary tests.
On August 28, on the Rossiya-1 TV channel, Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian Defense Ministry signed contracts with the Kazan Aviation Plant for 364 billion rubles with a term of execution until 2028. According to him, the plant will carry out a deep modernization of Tu-95MS strategic bombers and deliver Tu-214 aircraft to the military department. We are talking about life-cycle contracts that allow "to reduce the cost of a flight hour, feel comfortable at a distance of 10-15 years" – he said.
Source:
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- Post n°385
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
"UAC from the "confederation" should become a single company"
UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar on how the company's management is changing and who will order Superjet100 New
In next yearThe United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is to deliver the first MS-21 medium-haul airliners to Rossiya Airlines. Certification of the aircraft is due to be completed in December. UAC has completed 680 test flights out of 800, UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar said in an interview with Vedomosti.
He emphasizes that the 220 billion rubles spent on the creation of the MS-21 and subsequent investments can be considered investments in the development program of the aviation industry as a whole. The Corporation is counting on massive state support for the production and promotion of Russian aircraft, including in foreign markets. Last year's model-state guarantees for the supply of 59 Superjet aircraft for Red Wings, Rossiya and Azimut-laid the foundations for such support, but we are talking about expanding it, in particular at the expense of the National Welfare Fund (NWF), the mechanisms are being finalized, says Slyusar.
UAC, which became part of Rostec in 2019, then began to transform the corporation's management. Slyusar explains what has been done and what needs to be done so that UAC "turns from a" confederation " into a single company."
– Next year, the first deliveries of the MS-21 are expected. What will be its real cost for first-time buyers?
– The real cost, of course, we can not name, none of the world's manufacturers ever do this. This is always a matter of negotiation. It depends on many factors, including the appearance of the aircraft, the amount of advance payments, etc. We are well aware that the cost should be comparable to the price of competitors. Airlines are unlikely to be willing to buy equipment more expensive, pay a lease payment that differs from a similar payment for a foreign-made aircraft.
"And the catalog price?"
- Catalog – about $97 million. Catalog prices are comparable to the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 families.
– How many flights do you need to perform on the MS-21 to get certified by the Federal Air Transport Agency?
– The number of flights is determined by the program of ground and flight certification tests agreed with the Federal Air Transport Agency. According to preliminary estimates, about 800 flights were required for certification of the aircraft. This number can change both up and down depending on the ability to work out several modes in one flight. Currently, the aircraft make about 40 flights a month. More than 680 flights have already been completed.
– And all four MC-21 prototypes participate in these flights? They also have structural differences.
-Four MC-21 – 300 prototype aircraft are participating in certification flight tests, two more aircraft-resource and static, in addition, another prototype aircraft with a PD-14 engine.
The certification program is extensive, and the machines are specialized. Accordingly, aircraft may differ in terms of test equipment, and even in terms of design. For example, initially the first aircraft were equipped with an emergency escape system and a tail support. But I would like to emphasize once again: all aircraft take part in the certification program. A significant part of the tests has already been passed.
– How much money has been invested in the creation of the MS-21?
– It's not just building an airplane. This is a whole program for the development of the aviation industry, the creation of a number of new technological solutions, composite production, and the modernization of a number of cooperative enterprises under the MS-21 program. To date, investments have amounted to about 220 billion rubles, and this is not the final figure. Of these funds, R & D accounts for the largest share – more than 170 billion, while the remaining funds are primarily technical re – equipment. In addition, we invest in an after-sales service system.
Most of the investment in the project consists of budget funds, about 150 billion rubles, more than 50 billion rubles – own and borrowed funds, the remaining part – investments of Rostec.
"Program 59 has proven itself well"
– After a meeting with the president at the MAKS air show in July, Industry Minister Denis Manturov said that the president supported last year's decisions to promote 59 "Superjets" – state guarantees for 140 billion rubles – to the market "as a basis" for ensuring the supply of our civil aircraft and helicopters in the future. What was meant by that?
– Let me remind you that the decision on 59 aircraft, which was made in May 2020, made it possible not to stop the production of the Superjet during the difficult period of the pandemic.
The President supported us then. Production of "Superjets" continues, the enterprise in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is working. The aircraft proved to be even more in demand during the pandemic, as Russian airlines opened several dozen new routes based on Superjets, and in just a few years – about 200 routes. The car has become the mainstay of the regional transportation fleet, flying up to 8-9 hours a day. From the point of view of transport accessibility, development of regional transportation, preservation of skilled jobs and increasing the pace of aircraft production, state support has proved to be justified.
The idea of the meeting is what the Minister said: to preserve the best of the approach applied to 59 aircraft. But to form a comprehensive support system, taking into account the use of NWF funds, partnership with leasing companies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport. "Program 59" for a year and a half has proven itself well and needs to scale, extend and expand the range of aircraft.
– So there are state guarantees for the supply of all Russian-made aviation equipment?
- The mechanisms are still being finalized. We are talking about a set of state support measures. Most likely, we can talk about subsidizing the interest rate of bank loans, state guarantees, and funds of the National Welfare Fund.
All experts are well aware that with the first MC-21 aircraft that have just rolled off the assembly line, it will be very difficult for us to independently, without state support, provide airlines with the same operating economy as for the Boeing 737, of which 10,000 were produced, or for the Airbus 320, of which a comparable number were built.
Hundreds of foreign passenger planes that fly in our country are put on the market according to a well-developed financial scheme, where serious resources of Western banks are involved. The low cost of credit resources – 2-3%, the long nature of the money used in leasing schemes make it possible to keep a moderate rate for equipment operators. The effective life of the aircraft is 25-30 years, leasing contracts are concluded for 10-15 years. Compared to our competitors ' foreign aircraft, such a financial model exists based on foreign financial institutions.
To be successful in the market, we just need to create an equally effective financial platform. Each percentage in the loan rate is an additional millions of rubles in the airline's lease payment. In this context, NWF funds, long money at a low interest rate, are the most important factor for the sustainable development of the industry.
Investment in the aircraft industry is a systematic investment in the development of the country's industrial infrastructure as a whole. Otherwise, the governments of the United States, Europe, and China would not be doing this.
– The president's instructions following the summer meeting at MAKS set out the amount of state support for the aviation industry until 2024: allocate 318 billion rubles from the budget, including 80 billion rubles in the form of a property contribution to Rostec for subsequent transfer to the UAC; allocate up to 238 billion rubles more to subsidize the issue of bonds or a loan from Rostec. The National Welfare Fund was instructed to allocate up to 279 billion rubles for the supply of aircraft. Are these already approved figures?
– We have submitted our proposals and are awaiting approval.
– Last year, UAC was recapitalized from the budget by 250 billion rubles, thanks to which it was possible to write off the corporation's old debts. What is the current amount of your debt?
– Our total loan portfolio was about 600 billion rubles. After the restructuring and repayment of part of the debt at the expense of state support and own funds in early 2021, the level was 320 billion rubles, today the portfolio of commercial loans is about 300 billion rubles. At the same time, about half is restructured debt. In addition, taking into account the implementation of the scheme of advanced deliveries of equipment in the interests of the Ministry of Defense, we received an additional 40 billion rubles. These are subsidized loans.
– What are these loans from which banks?
- In many leading banks, including our corporate bankNovikombank. Now the portfolio is balanced.
– Why do you have to take loans for new projects?
– The main source of revenue for us is still the state defense order (SDO). By the way, the most important decision was made during the pandemic, our colleagues from the Ministry of Defense supported us, and we started implementing a scheme for advanced deliveries of equipment. This gave an additional load during a difficult period. The state budget means stability of work, guaranteed employment, loading of enterprises, serial production, but low marginality. We deliver GOZs, usually with a small margin, which is not enough to finance promising programs. And we have them, with rare exceptions, all are in the investment phase. Therefore, attracting credit resources remains a relevant tool for financing developments.
"The element of pressure on commercial operators is inappropriate"
– When will it be possible to reach the economic payback of the MS-21 project? That is, to start operating these aircraft without such massive support?
– For us, the watershed for the MC-21 is the achievement of the serial production that is now indicative, i.e. 72 aircraft per year.
– Is it for 2028-2029?
– According to the current plans-2027. Next year, four aircraft should be produced in Irkutsk, then 12, then 24, 36 and then up to 72 units per year. At the same time, taking into account our experience, we are already deploying a single after-sales service platform for the entire line of civil aircraft.
As the number of aircraft in operation reaches high serial production, it will be dozens of aircraft already. Accordingly, there will be a growing interest in aircraft after-sales service as a business not only on the part of developers and manufacturers, but also on the part of private companies. From the point of view of investments in after-sales service, creation of warehouses, competence in repair of components, training. As we see it now on the "Superjet", which is already in operation one and a half hundred.
– By private companies, do you mean Novaport, which wants to create Superjet maintenance bases for Red Wings, and, probably, Sheremetyevo, with which you signed a sublease agreement on July 21 for a complex for aircraft maintenance?
- Yes, different players. For example, we signed an agreement with Sheremetyevo at MAKS. It involves the construction of a hangar and a maintenance center. Today, S7-Technics, A-Technics, and Tulpar Technician also have a certificate for SSJ100 maintenance and repair. Vitaly Vantsev Group of Companies (co-owner of Azimut, which operates SSJ100, and Vnukovo Airport. – «Vedomosti") shows interest in creating a center on the basis of Vnukovo, where there will be a warehouse, repair of components, and maintenance.
– Can you name the implementation dates for the Vnukovo project?
– I would not dare to give exact figures and dates without my partners. But we are discussing the creation of such a competence in detail. We are very attracted to the repair of components, so as not to send them abroad. This gives three obvious advantages: saving time, reducing costs and minimizing sanctions risks, and reducing sensitivity to any exacerbations.
– UAC should certify the import-substituted version of the SSJ100 before the end of 2023. When can deliveries begin? Maybe you already have substantive negotiations with customers?
– Everything is quite transparent with commercial companies. They need a competitive aircraft with a competitive economy. Reliable, serviceable, and safe. The operation of which brings money.
Our task is to make sure that the program for equipping the updated SSJ platform is not just a replacement of foreign pin-to-pin equipment with similar Russian copies, but that it is a new generation of equipment with new functions that give new opportunities to the aircraft. We set this ambition as a target in cooperation with our partners and system suppliers, primarily from the Rostec contour. Everyone is well aware that choosing Russian history requires serious investment. The element of pressure on commercial operators is inappropriate.
There are other customers who are sensitive primarily to the issue of the country of production - these are federal authorities that prefer to operate 100% domestic equipment, companies with state participation. This is also an important part of the potential demand for this machine.
– To what extent do you still count on commercial customers here? Do you have a guideline on how much they will account for?
– We certainly count on commercial customers, as I have already noted. It is too early to say about the specific share. Much will depend on the structure of demand in the market at the time of the release of the car.
– During the air show in Moscow, the manufacturer met with potential operators on the topic of import-substituted Superjet. What was discussed there?
– We consider it important to properly build interaction with potential customers from the earliest stages when implementing this project. This allows us to take into account additional nuances and new needs of airlines already at the stage of creating the aircraft, so that the output is exactly the product that will be in demand by the market. Just during the air show, we held one of the first such meetings. We plan to continue this practice.
The terms of the project remain the same. 2024 is the year when deliveries of this aircraft begin. The key element is the new PD-8 engine. Colleagues from UEC (United Engine Corporation. - Vedomosti) they are working on it, the engine is being created. The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Rostec aviation cluster companies. We have signed contracts with domestic developers, manufacturers of equipment, systems and aggregates, and all of them are being implemented.
– At one stage of the project, the creation of an ultra-dense version of the Superjet100 (for 115, 120, 125, 130 and 140 seats in a single-class layout) was discussed. Is it now decided to develop this version?
– No, the primary task is to create a version of the Superjet equipped with Russian systems and units of the new generation in the current passenger capacity. It makes sense to discuss the feasibility and possibilities of developing the family and creating various versions with increased passenger capacity in the context of the entire line of civil aircraft, including the MC-21 line with its possible expansion into both the upper and lower segments.
The corporate transformation that is taking place in the UAC civil aviation unit is aimed at creating not just a single structure to save administrative and managerial costs, but also at creating a structure that would manage the creation and development of a single line of civil aircraft. Individual manufacturers that were different legal entities at the time of creation will be located within a single company, with a single management. This work is already underway.
– A single line under a single brand?
- Yes.
– The domestic operator, apparently, does not care so much whether there will be one brand or several? This is more of a marketing story for promotion abroad. Does the plan with a single brand mean that UAC expects serious exports of civil aircraft in the future? With the "Superjet" did not work out.
- Marketing principles are identical both in our country and abroad. There is no special background here. As for the external market as a whole, we have never removed the export direction from the agenda. Recently, the global market has been living in a pandemic situation, so the history of external active positioning in general has slowed down somewhat in all countries of the world for most manufacturers. However, this track is gradually coming to life. In the future, we see export opportunities.
We take into account all the nuances of the difficult experience of Superjet's initial entry into the foreign market, including the working conditions of those operating partners with whom we dealt. Therefore, the logic of the development of the civil line involves two stages. At the first stage, a fairly serious domestic market is considered as a driver of program development. At the next stage, well-established schemes of financial and leasing support, product improvement, and after-sales service are expanding to the international level. We are also developing a unified after-sales service system for civilian products in this logic.
"We are building on a product strategy"
– In March, it was announced that the Sukhoi and MiG legal entities would be liquidated and a single corporate center for aircraft construction would be created. Why is this done? What will UAC look like in the future?
– There are several clear tasks in the framework of the transformation program approved by Rostec. First: UAC from the "confederation" should become a single company. The second is why this is done. In order to increase business efficiency, make the administrative and management unit more compact, reduce costs, and at the same time increase manageability. The third. What logic is being laid. We build on our product strategy. The internal structure of the combined company will include four product areas-civil, operational-tactical (military), transport, strategic and special. Asset consolidation follows these four tracks. On the basis of the UAC, combined with Sukhoi and MIG-that is, with a division of military aviation-a general corporate center of the entire corporation will be formed. At the same time, the design bureaus will remain, continue to work and develop as separate structural divisions of the combined structure.
We have some examples. A strategic aviation division was created on the basis of Tupolev in 2015-2016. We have combined both the design bureau and the plant into a single structure with vertical management. As a result, all operational issues remain in the internal loop and are promptly resolved, while transaction and bureaucratic costs are eliminated. Work has benefited from this. A civil aviation division was formed a year and a half ago, and the formation of a military aviation division based on Sukhoi and MiG is currently in an active phase. In parallel, the process of integrating transport aviation assets based on Ilyushin is underway, and legal registration should be completed in November this year.
– What will happen to the civilian division?
– As I have already said, SCAC (former company "Sukhoi Civil Aircraft", now a branch of "Irkut ""Regional aircraft". - "Vedomosti"), which developed the "Superjet", and " Irkut "(developed the MS-21. - "Vedomosti"), " UAC-integration center "(competence center for the integration of avionics. - Vedomosti), Aerocomposite (center of competence for creating composite structures, including the MS-21 wing – - Vedomosti) were merged into the civil aviation division based on Irkut a year and a half ago. Now there is a process of unification and standardization of activities within the merged company, combining and optimizing duplicate functions. Taking into account the different stages of the life cycle of the MS-21 and SSJ, while leaving two civilian design bureaus. But in the future, of course, the engineering center, which will be engaged in the development of the entire line of civil aircraft, will also be a single structure.
– This is approximately in what years?
– Now we combine everything that is not related to the design/testing process within the newly formed divisions. For example, you don't need to have a financial service, a legal service, a corporate service, or a purchasing service in several locations. It's too early to talk about design bureaus, because these are creative teams, creative people, and unique connections. We are extremely careful in our approach to the transformation of design departments in the group as a whole. At the same time, we consider it important to gradually develop a common infrastructure for different design bureaus at a new technical level. For example, a high-performance computing center or a common bench base. But we don't touch the design bureaus themselves. I would like to reassure you that there has been a lot of speculative talk about this recently. The main task is to increase the efficiency and efficiency of work, to create conditions for development, including infrastructure.
– How much will the UAC staff be reduced as a result of the transformation?
- The number of employees decreased from 91,000 in 2019 to 87,000 in 2020. And up to 83,000 should be reduced this year.
"At whose expense?"
- First of all, administrative and managerial personnel and support functions. We try to take things related to service functions, such as cleaning, catering, maintenance of power facilities, provision of vehicles, repair of equipment and structures, outside the corporation's contour.
At the same time, we keep the main production workers, and in some places we even recruit them, because the workload of enterprises is growing, and the production of new aircraft is developing. Retaining and attracting highly qualified personnel is one of our key tasks. We follow trends in the labor market in Russia and globally in general.
– The United Aircraft Design Center of the UAC, which Rostec reported about in the spring – - what is it?
– This is an infrastructure project aimed at improving the working conditions of designers and engineers of our design bureaus. We want to build a modern office building for them, in which they would be comfortable and convenient to work. With the necessary equipment, with a unified information system, with the infrastructure that I mentioned, which will be created in the interests of all design bureaus. This is not a combination of design bureaus as a process of merging organizational structures, but creating conditions for their creative and comfortable work in one place. We chose a historical place on Leningradka, on the territory of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Through the fence-KB Mikoyan, not far across the road – "Ilyushin". This territory makes it quite possible to locate designers working in our Moscow design bureaus. We already have proposals on the concept of the complex and its approach. In addition to the working space for designers, it is planned to place stands, all the necessary infrastructure, social facilities (fitness, recreation area, etc.) – up to the aviation Museum.
– This is a major investment project.
– Yes, it is. In fact, we plan to use the sale of some of the assets that are being released to raise money and use it to create this new center.
– When will construction start and how much will the project still cost?
– We are at the preliminary stage, we are working on design issues. While at the concept stage, but we plan to start this year, go to the active phase. In total, the project should take a maximum of 3-4 years. Examples for us are both Rostec City and, for example, the Yandex headquarters. We have someone to look up to.
We are talking about a modern, high-rise, glass, equipped, beautiful, comfortable building.
It's too early to say about the cost. We are currently making calculations. But this is about 200,000 square meters. m – you can estimate the cost.
– What other projects are planned in line with the transformation of the UAC?
– The key direction is corporate transformation, forming the outline of a single two-level company, when there is a common corporate management center and separate enterprises in the form of branches-design bureaus, production facilities, and competence centers. Modeled on other Rostec holdings. In addition, it is the development of the production system, a more efficient model of cooperation between the group's enterprises, and the active implementation of business digitalization projects. In the context of building a more compact management model and optimizing support functions, we are creating several corporate-wide service centers. This applies to the IT sector, financial services, and a number of other areas.
In addition to these pressing tasks, we try to look a little wider. For example, there is an idea to improve the territories of factories. A lot of money has been invested in the technical re-equipment of the sites, but, as usual, it is not very common for us to pay attention to the external side. And I want people to feel comfortable at the factory, to understand that they are in a well-maintained environment that meets all the most modern, including aesthetic, requirements. In addition to the fact that the plant creates modern aviation complexes and high-performance equipment, it should also look like a place where innovations are created from the outside. This is especially important for young people. Especially in cities like Komsomolsk, this is very important. On the example of Komsomolsk, we are making such a pilot project of landscaping. Then we'll see if we can extend this practice to other factories.
"There is a lot of interest in Checkmate"
- Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that the crash in August of the only prototype of the military transport Il-112B will slow down the entry into the market of regional Il-114-300s (with the same TV7-117ST engine). Experts estimated that they will appear on the market not in 2023, but in 2024. Do you think this is a realistic time frame?
– A commission is working to investigate the incident. When we get the results, we will understand the future schedule for implementing the program and the necessary actions to minimize risks. The second prototype Il-114-300 is currently being assembled in Lukhovitsy. There are two Il-112 prototypes in production in Voronezh. We do not stop manufacturing airframes.
– The UAC developed the Checkmate fighter presented at MAX on its own initiative, right?
– Yes, the fighter concept was proactively proposed a year ago. Then the president supported it. We were instructed to speed up, and we did. Therefore, in a year, thanks to digital design methods and the use of supercomputer technologies, we managed to create a new aircraft. Documentation was developed, units were manufactured, and assembly was carried out. The plane that we showed at the air show is not just a demonstrator or prototype, it is a real sample. We hope to launch our first flight in 2023.
– Have foreign customers already managed to evaluate the aircraft?
– Judging by the visits of delegations to the pavilion [on MAKS], the interest is very high. And, of course, we will now carry this plane to exhibitions, if they return to the usual offline mode. We believe that this aircraft – for us at least-is a revolution in design, in customer relations, and in the organization of after-sales services.
– Will the Ministry of Defense order it?
– This aircraft as a platform implies both a two-seat, and optionally manned, and unmanned versions. We hope that our key customer will be interested in this approach and modification options.
– Do you plan to use the engine of the second stage – "product 30" – for this aircraft in the future?
- Over time. Aircraft and engines often live in different life cycles. Sometimes the same engines are put on several aircraft. Sometimes several engines are put on one plane. This is a natural process. But, of course, we will consider the engine of the second stage for this aircraft, too, not only for the Su-57.
– The Ministry of Industry and Trade did not participate in financing the development of this aircraft?
– This is an initiative development, but we hope for the help of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Of course, we need government support in creating this product and this platform.
– How much money may be required to start production?
– There is already a figure, but we are not sure that we can name it. Let's just say: it is quite reasonable. We use in the new car the existing advanced reserve created in the framework of various other design developments, not only the Su-57. Therefore, there are no mega-expenditures for testing here.
https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/characters/2021/10/18/891601-oak-konfederatsii
UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar on how the company's management is changing and who will order Superjet100 New
In next yearThe United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is to deliver the first MS-21 medium-haul airliners to Rossiya Airlines. Certification of the aircraft is due to be completed in December. UAC has completed 680 test flights out of 800, UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar said in an interview with Vedomosti.
He emphasizes that the 220 billion rubles spent on the creation of the MS-21 and subsequent investments can be considered investments in the development program of the aviation industry as a whole. The Corporation is counting on massive state support for the production and promotion of Russian aircraft, including in foreign markets. Last year's model-state guarantees for the supply of 59 Superjet aircraft for Red Wings, Rossiya and Azimut-laid the foundations for such support, but we are talking about expanding it, in particular at the expense of the National Welfare Fund (NWF), the mechanisms are being finalized, says Slyusar.
UAC, which became part of Rostec in 2019, then began to transform the corporation's management. Slyusar explains what has been done and what needs to be done so that UAC "turns from a" confederation " into a single company."
– Next year, the first deliveries of the MS-21 are expected. What will be its real cost for first-time buyers?
– The real cost, of course, we can not name, none of the world's manufacturers ever do this. This is always a matter of negotiation. It depends on many factors, including the appearance of the aircraft, the amount of advance payments, etc. We are well aware that the cost should be comparable to the price of competitors. Airlines are unlikely to be willing to buy equipment more expensive, pay a lease payment that differs from a similar payment for a foreign-made aircraft.
"And the catalog price?"
- Catalog – about $97 million. Catalog prices are comparable to the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 families.
– How many flights do you need to perform on the MS-21 to get certified by the Federal Air Transport Agency?
– The number of flights is determined by the program of ground and flight certification tests agreed with the Federal Air Transport Agency. According to preliminary estimates, about 800 flights were required for certification of the aircraft. This number can change both up and down depending on the ability to work out several modes in one flight. Currently, the aircraft make about 40 flights a month. More than 680 flights have already been completed.
– And all four MC-21 prototypes participate in these flights? They also have structural differences.
-Four MC-21 – 300 prototype aircraft are participating in certification flight tests, two more aircraft-resource and static, in addition, another prototype aircraft with a PD-14 engine.
The certification program is extensive, and the machines are specialized. Accordingly, aircraft may differ in terms of test equipment, and even in terms of design. For example, initially the first aircraft were equipped with an emergency escape system and a tail support. But I would like to emphasize once again: all aircraft take part in the certification program. A significant part of the tests has already been passed.
– How much money has been invested in the creation of the MS-21?
– It's not just building an airplane. This is a whole program for the development of the aviation industry, the creation of a number of new technological solutions, composite production, and the modernization of a number of cooperative enterprises under the MS-21 program. To date, investments have amounted to about 220 billion rubles, and this is not the final figure. Of these funds, R & D accounts for the largest share – more than 170 billion, while the remaining funds are primarily technical re – equipment. In addition, we invest in an after-sales service system.
Most of the investment in the project consists of budget funds, about 150 billion rubles, more than 50 billion rubles – own and borrowed funds, the remaining part – investments of Rostec.
"Program 59 has proven itself well"
– After a meeting with the president at the MAKS air show in July, Industry Minister Denis Manturov said that the president supported last year's decisions to promote 59 "Superjets" – state guarantees for 140 billion rubles – to the market "as a basis" for ensuring the supply of our civil aircraft and helicopters in the future. What was meant by that?
– Let me remind you that the decision on 59 aircraft, which was made in May 2020, made it possible not to stop the production of the Superjet during the difficult period of the pandemic.
The President supported us then. Production of "Superjets" continues, the enterprise in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is working. The aircraft proved to be even more in demand during the pandemic, as Russian airlines opened several dozen new routes based on Superjets, and in just a few years – about 200 routes. The car has become the mainstay of the regional transportation fleet, flying up to 8-9 hours a day. From the point of view of transport accessibility, development of regional transportation, preservation of skilled jobs and increasing the pace of aircraft production, state support has proved to be justified.
The idea of the meeting is what the Minister said: to preserve the best of the approach applied to 59 aircraft. But to form a comprehensive support system, taking into account the use of NWF funds, partnership with leasing companies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport. "Program 59" for a year and a half has proven itself well and needs to scale, extend and expand the range of aircraft.
– So there are state guarantees for the supply of all Russian-made aviation equipment?
- The mechanisms are still being finalized. We are talking about a set of state support measures. Most likely, we can talk about subsidizing the interest rate of bank loans, state guarantees, and funds of the National Welfare Fund.
All experts are well aware that with the first MC-21 aircraft that have just rolled off the assembly line, it will be very difficult for us to independently, without state support, provide airlines with the same operating economy as for the Boeing 737, of which 10,000 were produced, or for the Airbus 320, of which a comparable number were built.
Hundreds of foreign passenger planes that fly in our country are put on the market according to a well-developed financial scheme, where serious resources of Western banks are involved. The low cost of credit resources – 2-3%, the long nature of the money used in leasing schemes make it possible to keep a moderate rate for equipment operators. The effective life of the aircraft is 25-30 years, leasing contracts are concluded for 10-15 years. Compared to our competitors ' foreign aircraft, such a financial model exists based on foreign financial institutions.
To be successful in the market, we just need to create an equally effective financial platform. Each percentage in the loan rate is an additional millions of rubles in the airline's lease payment. In this context, NWF funds, long money at a low interest rate, are the most important factor for the sustainable development of the industry.
Investment in the aircraft industry is a systematic investment in the development of the country's industrial infrastructure as a whole. Otherwise, the governments of the United States, Europe, and China would not be doing this.
– The president's instructions following the summer meeting at MAKS set out the amount of state support for the aviation industry until 2024: allocate 318 billion rubles from the budget, including 80 billion rubles in the form of a property contribution to Rostec for subsequent transfer to the UAC; allocate up to 238 billion rubles more to subsidize the issue of bonds or a loan from Rostec. The National Welfare Fund was instructed to allocate up to 279 billion rubles for the supply of aircraft. Are these already approved figures?
– We have submitted our proposals and are awaiting approval.
– Last year, UAC was recapitalized from the budget by 250 billion rubles, thanks to which it was possible to write off the corporation's old debts. What is the current amount of your debt?
– Our total loan portfolio was about 600 billion rubles. After the restructuring and repayment of part of the debt at the expense of state support and own funds in early 2021, the level was 320 billion rubles, today the portfolio of commercial loans is about 300 billion rubles. At the same time, about half is restructured debt. In addition, taking into account the implementation of the scheme of advanced deliveries of equipment in the interests of the Ministry of Defense, we received an additional 40 billion rubles. These are subsidized loans.
– What are these loans from which banks?
- In many leading banks, including our corporate bankNovikombank. Now the portfolio is balanced.
– Why do you have to take loans for new projects?
– The main source of revenue for us is still the state defense order (SDO). By the way, the most important decision was made during the pandemic, our colleagues from the Ministry of Defense supported us, and we started implementing a scheme for advanced deliveries of equipment. This gave an additional load during a difficult period. The state budget means stability of work, guaranteed employment, loading of enterprises, serial production, but low marginality. We deliver GOZs, usually with a small margin, which is not enough to finance promising programs. And we have them, with rare exceptions, all are in the investment phase. Therefore, attracting credit resources remains a relevant tool for financing developments.
"The element of pressure on commercial operators is inappropriate"
– When will it be possible to reach the economic payback of the MS-21 project? That is, to start operating these aircraft without such massive support?
– For us, the watershed for the MC-21 is the achievement of the serial production that is now indicative, i.e. 72 aircraft per year.
– Is it for 2028-2029?
– According to the current plans-2027. Next year, four aircraft should be produced in Irkutsk, then 12, then 24, 36 and then up to 72 units per year. At the same time, taking into account our experience, we are already deploying a single after-sales service platform for the entire line of civil aircraft.
As the number of aircraft in operation reaches high serial production, it will be dozens of aircraft already. Accordingly, there will be a growing interest in aircraft after-sales service as a business not only on the part of developers and manufacturers, but also on the part of private companies. From the point of view of investments in after-sales service, creation of warehouses, competence in repair of components, training. As we see it now on the "Superjet", which is already in operation one and a half hundred.
– By private companies, do you mean Novaport, which wants to create Superjet maintenance bases for Red Wings, and, probably, Sheremetyevo, with which you signed a sublease agreement on July 21 for a complex for aircraft maintenance?
- Yes, different players. For example, we signed an agreement with Sheremetyevo at MAKS. It involves the construction of a hangar and a maintenance center. Today, S7-Technics, A-Technics, and Tulpar Technician also have a certificate for SSJ100 maintenance and repair. Vitaly Vantsev Group of Companies (co-owner of Azimut, which operates SSJ100, and Vnukovo Airport. – «Vedomosti") shows interest in creating a center on the basis of Vnukovo, where there will be a warehouse, repair of components, and maintenance.
– Can you name the implementation dates for the Vnukovo project?
– I would not dare to give exact figures and dates without my partners. But we are discussing the creation of such a competence in detail. We are very attracted to the repair of components, so as not to send them abroad. This gives three obvious advantages: saving time, reducing costs and minimizing sanctions risks, and reducing sensitivity to any exacerbations.
– UAC should certify the import-substituted version of the SSJ100 before the end of 2023. When can deliveries begin? Maybe you already have substantive negotiations with customers?
– Everything is quite transparent with commercial companies. They need a competitive aircraft with a competitive economy. Reliable, serviceable, and safe. The operation of which brings money.
Our task is to make sure that the program for equipping the updated SSJ platform is not just a replacement of foreign pin-to-pin equipment with similar Russian copies, but that it is a new generation of equipment with new functions that give new opportunities to the aircraft. We set this ambition as a target in cooperation with our partners and system suppliers, primarily from the Rostec contour. Everyone is well aware that choosing Russian history requires serious investment. The element of pressure on commercial operators is inappropriate.
There are other customers who are sensitive primarily to the issue of the country of production - these are federal authorities that prefer to operate 100% domestic equipment, companies with state participation. This is also an important part of the potential demand for this machine.
– To what extent do you still count on commercial customers here? Do you have a guideline on how much they will account for?
– We certainly count on commercial customers, as I have already noted. It is too early to say about the specific share. Much will depend on the structure of demand in the market at the time of the release of the car.
– During the air show in Moscow, the manufacturer met with potential operators on the topic of import-substituted Superjet. What was discussed there?
– We consider it important to properly build interaction with potential customers from the earliest stages when implementing this project. This allows us to take into account additional nuances and new needs of airlines already at the stage of creating the aircraft, so that the output is exactly the product that will be in demand by the market. Just during the air show, we held one of the first such meetings. We plan to continue this practice.
The terms of the project remain the same. 2024 is the year when deliveries of this aircraft begin. The key element is the new PD-8 engine. Colleagues from UEC (United Engine Corporation. - Vedomosti) they are working on it, the engine is being created. The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Rostec aviation cluster companies. We have signed contracts with domestic developers, manufacturers of equipment, systems and aggregates, and all of them are being implemented.
– At one stage of the project, the creation of an ultra-dense version of the Superjet100 (for 115, 120, 125, 130 and 140 seats in a single-class layout) was discussed. Is it now decided to develop this version?
– No, the primary task is to create a version of the Superjet equipped with Russian systems and units of the new generation in the current passenger capacity. It makes sense to discuss the feasibility and possibilities of developing the family and creating various versions with increased passenger capacity in the context of the entire line of civil aircraft, including the MC-21 line with its possible expansion into both the upper and lower segments.
The corporate transformation that is taking place in the UAC civil aviation unit is aimed at creating not just a single structure to save administrative and managerial costs, but also at creating a structure that would manage the creation and development of a single line of civil aircraft. Individual manufacturers that were different legal entities at the time of creation will be located within a single company, with a single management. This work is already underway.
– A single line under a single brand?
- Yes.
– The domestic operator, apparently, does not care so much whether there will be one brand or several? This is more of a marketing story for promotion abroad. Does the plan with a single brand mean that UAC expects serious exports of civil aircraft in the future? With the "Superjet" did not work out.
- Marketing principles are identical both in our country and abroad. There is no special background here. As for the external market as a whole, we have never removed the export direction from the agenda. Recently, the global market has been living in a pandemic situation, so the history of external active positioning in general has slowed down somewhat in all countries of the world for most manufacturers. However, this track is gradually coming to life. In the future, we see export opportunities.
We take into account all the nuances of the difficult experience of Superjet's initial entry into the foreign market, including the working conditions of those operating partners with whom we dealt. Therefore, the logic of the development of the civil line involves two stages. At the first stage, a fairly serious domestic market is considered as a driver of program development. At the next stage, well-established schemes of financial and leasing support, product improvement, and after-sales service are expanding to the international level. We are also developing a unified after-sales service system for civilian products in this logic.
"We are building on a product strategy"
– In March, it was announced that the Sukhoi and MiG legal entities would be liquidated and a single corporate center for aircraft construction would be created. Why is this done? What will UAC look like in the future?
– There are several clear tasks in the framework of the transformation program approved by Rostec. First: UAC from the "confederation" should become a single company. The second is why this is done. In order to increase business efficiency, make the administrative and management unit more compact, reduce costs, and at the same time increase manageability. The third. What logic is being laid. We build on our product strategy. The internal structure of the combined company will include four product areas-civil, operational-tactical (military), transport, strategic and special. Asset consolidation follows these four tracks. On the basis of the UAC, combined with Sukhoi and MIG-that is, with a division of military aviation-a general corporate center of the entire corporation will be formed. At the same time, the design bureaus will remain, continue to work and develop as separate structural divisions of the combined structure.
We have some examples. A strategic aviation division was created on the basis of Tupolev in 2015-2016. We have combined both the design bureau and the plant into a single structure with vertical management. As a result, all operational issues remain in the internal loop and are promptly resolved, while transaction and bureaucratic costs are eliminated. Work has benefited from this. A civil aviation division was formed a year and a half ago, and the formation of a military aviation division based on Sukhoi and MiG is currently in an active phase. In parallel, the process of integrating transport aviation assets based on Ilyushin is underway, and legal registration should be completed in November this year.
– What will happen to the civilian division?
– As I have already said, SCAC (former company "Sukhoi Civil Aircraft", now a branch of "Irkut ""Regional aircraft". - "Vedomosti"), which developed the "Superjet", and " Irkut "(developed the MS-21. - "Vedomosti"), " UAC-integration center "(competence center for the integration of avionics. - Vedomosti), Aerocomposite (center of competence for creating composite structures, including the MS-21 wing – - Vedomosti) were merged into the civil aviation division based on Irkut a year and a half ago. Now there is a process of unification and standardization of activities within the merged company, combining and optimizing duplicate functions. Taking into account the different stages of the life cycle of the MS-21 and SSJ, while leaving two civilian design bureaus. But in the future, of course, the engineering center, which will be engaged in the development of the entire line of civil aircraft, will also be a single structure.
– This is approximately in what years?
– Now we combine everything that is not related to the design/testing process within the newly formed divisions. For example, you don't need to have a financial service, a legal service, a corporate service, or a purchasing service in several locations. It's too early to talk about design bureaus, because these are creative teams, creative people, and unique connections. We are extremely careful in our approach to the transformation of design departments in the group as a whole. At the same time, we consider it important to gradually develop a common infrastructure for different design bureaus at a new technical level. For example, a high-performance computing center or a common bench base. But we don't touch the design bureaus themselves. I would like to reassure you that there has been a lot of speculative talk about this recently. The main task is to increase the efficiency and efficiency of work, to create conditions for development, including infrastructure.
– How much will the UAC staff be reduced as a result of the transformation?
- The number of employees decreased from 91,000 in 2019 to 87,000 in 2020. And up to 83,000 should be reduced this year.
"At whose expense?"
- First of all, administrative and managerial personnel and support functions. We try to take things related to service functions, such as cleaning, catering, maintenance of power facilities, provision of vehicles, repair of equipment and structures, outside the corporation's contour.
At the same time, we keep the main production workers, and in some places we even recruit them, because the workload of enterprises is growing, and the production of new aircraft is developing. Retaining and attracting highly qualified personnel is one of our key tasks. We follow trends in the labor market in Russia and globally in general.
– The United Aircraft Design Center of the UAC, which Rostec reported about in the spring – - what is it?
– This is an infrastructure project aimed at improving the working conditions of designers and engineers of our design bureaus. We want to build a modern office building for them, in which they would be comfortable and convenient to work. With the necessary equipment, with a unified information system, with the infrastructure that I mentioned, which will be created in the interests of all design bureaus. This is not a combination of design bureaus as a process of merging organizational structures, but creating conditions for their creative and comfortable work in one place. We chose a historical place on Leningradka, on the territory of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Through the fence-KB Mikoyan, not far across the road – "Ilyushin". This territory makes it quite possible to locate designers working in our Moscow design bureaus. We already have proposals on the concept of the complex and its approach. In addition to the working space for designers, it is planned to place stands, all the necessary infrastructure, social facilities (fitness, recreation area, etc.) – up to the aviation Museum.
– This is a major investment project.
– Yes, it is. In fact, we plan to use the sale of some of the assets that are being released to raise money and use it to create this new center.
– When will construction start and how much will the project still cost?
– We are at the preliminary stage, we are working on design issues. While at the concept stage, but we plan to start this year, go to the active phase. In total, the project should take a maximum of 3-4 years. Examples for us are both Rostec City and, for example, the Yandex headquarters. We have someone to look up to.
We are talking about a modern, high-rise, glass, equipped, beautiful, comfortable building.
It's too early to say about the cost. We are currently making calculations. But this is about 200,000 square meters. m – you can estimate the cost.
– What other projects are planned in line with the transformation of the UAC?
– The key direction is corporate transformation, forming the outline of a single two-level company, when there is a common corporate management center and separate enterprises in the form of branches-design bureaus, production facilities, and competence centers. Modeled on other Rostec holdings. In addition, it is the development of the production system, a more efficient model of cooperation between the group's enterprises, and the active implementation of business digitalization projects. In the context of building a more compact management model and optimizing support functions, we are creating several corporate-wide service centers. This applies to the IT sector, financial services, and a number of other areas.
In addition to these pressing tasks, we try to look a little wider. For example, there is an idea to improve the territories of factories. A lot of money has been invested in the technical re-equipment of the sites, but, as usual, it is not very common for us to pay attention to the external side. And I want people to feel comfortable at the factory, to understand that they are in a well-maintained environment that meets all the most modern, including aesthetic, requirements. In addition to the fact that the plant creates modern aviation complexes and high-performance equipment, it should also look like a place where innovations are created from the outside. This is especially important for young people. Especially in cities like Komsomolsk, this is very important. On the example of Komsomolsk, we are making such a pilot project of landscaping. Then we'll see if we can extend this practice to other factories.
"There is a lot of interest in Checkmate"
- Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that the crash in August of the only prototype of the military transport Il-112B will slow down the entry into the market of regional Il-114-300s (with the same TV7-117ST engine). Experts estimated that they will appear on the market not in 2023, but in 2024. Do you think this is a realistic time frame?
– A commission is working to investigate the incident. When we get the results, we will understand the future schedule for implementing the program and the necessary actions to minimize risks. The second prototype Il-114-300 is currently being assembled in Lukhovitsy. There are two Il-112 prototypes in production in Voronezh. We do not stop manufacturing airframes.
– The UAC developed the Checkmate fighter presented at MAX on its own initiative, right?
– Yes, the fighter concept was proactively proposed a year ago. Then the president supported it. We were instructed to speed up, and we did. Therefore, in a year, thanks to digital design methods and the use of supercomputer technologies, we managed to create a new aircraft. Documentation was developed, units were manufactured, and assembly was carried out. The plane that we showed at the air show is not just a demonstrator or prototype, it is a real sample. We hope to launch our first flight in 2023.
– Have foreign customers already managed to evaluate the aircraft?
– Judging by the visits of delegations to the pavilion [on MAKS], the interest is very high. And, of course, we will now carry this plane to exhibitions, if they return to the usual offline mode. We believe that this aircraft – for us at least-is a revolution in design, in customer relations, and in the organization of after-sales services.
– Will the Ministry of Defense order it?
– This aircraft as a platform implies both a two-seat, and optionally manned, and unmanned versions. We hope that our key customer will be interested in this approach and modification options.
– Do you plan to use the engine of the second stage – "product 30" – for this aircraft in the future?
- Over time. Aircraft and engines often live in different life cycles. Sometimes the same engines are put on several aircraft. Sometimes several engines are put on one plane. This is a natural process. But, of course, we will consider the engine of the second stage for this aircraft, too, not only for the Su-57.
– The Ministry of Industry and Trade did not participate in financing the development of this aircraft?
– This is an initiative development, but we hope for the help of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Of course, we need government support in creating this product and this platform.
– How much money may be required to start production?
– There is already a figure, but we are not sure that we can name it. Let's just say: it is quite reasonable. We use in the new car the existing advanced reserve created in the framework of various other design developments, not only the Su-57. Therefore, there are no mega-expenditures for testing here.
https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/characters/2021/10/18/891601-oak-konfederatsii
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Autodestruct- Posts : 148
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- Post n°386
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Russian Helicopters will build or upgrade ten overseas repair and service centers.
https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2021/11/9/17049/
It's not the best article, sorry, because they don't specify how many new ones will be created and how many existing centers will get increased capability. Still, it's good news either way because MRO goes a long way to drive sales.
https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2021/11/9/17049/
It's not the best article, sorry, because they don't specify how many new ones will be created and how many existing centers will get increased capability. Still, it's good news either way because MRO goes a long way to drive sales.
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George1- Posts : 18488
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- Post n°387
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation pays critical debts, set to become profitable in 2024
According to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, all UAC's loans that are worth 250 bln rubles, are routinely serviced
DUBAI, November 15. /TASS/. Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec) has repaid all critical debts it had accumulated, routinely servicing a 250 bln rubles ($3.4 bln) debt now, Chief Executive Officer of Russia's state hi-tech corporation Rostec Sergey Chemezov told reporters on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow on Monday, adding that UAC is expected to become profitable following the financial recovery procedure approximately in 2024.
"We have virtually repaid all critical debts. All today’s loans are routinely serviced," he said, adding that the loans are worth 250 bln rubles. "There are debts there that we have restructured for 15 years," CEO said, adding that "all those debts are serviced and are not critical."
The program for UAC’s financial recovery implies that the corporation will become profitable in 2024, Chemezov said. Moreover, the process of merging assets is currently underway in the corporation, he added.
Net loss of UAC under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) was up 2.7-fold by the end of 2020 compared to the previous year at 165.5 bln rubles ($2.27 bln).
https://tass.com/defense/1361561
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d_taddei2- Posts : 3012
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- Post n°388
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Ever wanted to smell like a cockpit of a Russian fighter, well now u can
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10230311/Russian-defence-firm-launches-aftershave-captures-scent-inside-new-fighter-jet.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10230311/Russian-defence-firm-launches-aftershave-captures-scent-inside-new-fighter-jet.html
Autodestruct- Posts : 148
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- Post n°389
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
The second composites plant of Umatex was opened on 11/22/21 in Tatarstan, and the first to make PAN precursors. Capacity is 5000 tons/yr.
"Literally 4-5 years ago, 80 percent of composites in Russia were imported. Several years have passed and already 90 percent of the composites are ours, domestic. At the same time, the market as a whole has doubled. Not everyone believed in this project very much, many doubted. First, they believed that in Russia, in principle, it is impossible to build high-tech production from scratch. Secondly, it is definitely impossible to do this in such a timeframe. Three years is the net construction period of the plant," said Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev at the launch ceremony of the new production.
https://aviation21.ru/v-tatarstane-zapushheno-proizvodstvo-pan-prekursora-dlya-uglevolokna/
Given the numbers and different types of airliners, drones, fighters and such heavily using composites, they will need yet another plant very soon.
"Literally 4-5 years ago, 80 percent of composites in Russia were imported. Several years have passed and already 90 percent of the composites are ours, domestic. At the same time, the market as a whole has doubled. Not everyone believed in this project very much, many doubted. First, they believed that in Russia, in principle, it is impossible to build high-tech production from scratch. Secondly, it is definitely impossible to do this in such a timeframe. Three years is the net construction period of the plant," said Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev at the launch ceremony of the new production.
https://aviation21.ru/v-tatarstane-zapushheno-proizvodstvo-pan-prekursora-dlya-uglevolokna/
Given the numbers and different types of airliners, drones, fighters and such heavily using composites, they will need yet another plant very soon.
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marcellogo- Posts : 674
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- Post n°390
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Autodestruct wrote:The second composites plant of Umatex was opened on 11/22/21 in Tatarstan, and the first to make PAN precursors. Capacity is 5000 tons/yr.
"Literally 4-5 years ago, 80 percent of composites in Russia were imported. Several years have passed and already 90 percent of the composites are ours, domestic. At the same time, the market as a whole has doubled. Not everyone believed in this project very much, many doubted. First, they believed that in Russia, in principle, it is impossible to build high-tech production from scratch. Secondly, it is definitely impossible to do this in such a timeframe. Three years is the net construction period of the plant," said Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev at the launch ceremony of the new production.
https://aviation21.ru/v-tatarstane-zapushheno-proizvodstvo-pan-prekursora-dlya-uglevolokna/
Given the numbers and different types of airliners, drones, fighters and such heavily using composites, they will need yet another plant very soon.
As it come with warships the same is valid for industrial plants also: once you have built one , the other ones will be much more easy to get.
Isos- Posts : 11586
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- Post n°391
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivchenko_AI-25
Just saw this. So the engine the sr-10 trainer jet uses is an ukrainian engine.
Did they solve this issue ? Do they have a russian made engine for it ?
The program isn't going well. If they keep an ukrainian engine it won't go anywhere.
Just saw this. So the engine the sr-10 trainer jet uses is an ukrainian engine.
Did they solve this issue ? Do they have a russian made engine for it ?
The program isn't going well. If they keep an ukrainian engine it won't go anywhere.
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PapaDragon- Posts : 13455
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- Post n°392
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Isos wrote:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivchenko_AI-25
Just saw this. So the engine the sr-10 trainer jet uses is an ukrainian engine.
Did they solve this issue ? Do they have a russian made engine for it ?
The program isn't going well. If they keep an ukrainian engine it won't go anywhere.
This program wasn't even requested by VKS
They tried to make a full product on their own and offer it to VKS and it could have worked but they shot themselves in the dick with engines
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- Post n°393
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Do they have russian engines for it ? They still have their chances since no one else is presenting cheap basic jet trainer.
Mig presented an advanced trainer which role is already taken by yak-130. Always late and stupid those decision makers from mig...
Mig presented an advanced trainer which role is already taken by yak-130. Always late and stupid those decision makers from mig...
lancelot- Posts : 3113
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- Post n°394
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Isos wrote:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivchenko_AI-25
Just saw this. So the engine the sr-10 trainer jet uses is an ukrainian engine.
Did they solve this issue ? Do they have a russian made engine for it ?
The program isn't going well. If they keep an ukrainian engine it won't go anywhere.
They used that engine because that is what they had available.
It could be replaced with the NPO Saturn Al-55. It has about same diameter, weight, and thrust.
The engine is a non-issue.
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Isos- Posts : 11586
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- Post n°395
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Actually they can use the one in the yak-130.
lancelot- Posts : 3113
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- Post n°396
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Isos wrote:Actually they can use the one in the yak-130.
The Al-222 is heavier and more powerful. Would require a significant aircraft redesign I think.
GarryB- Posts : 40415
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- Post n°397
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Just saw this. So the engine the sr-10 trainer jet uses is an ukrainian engine.
Salut are making the engines they previously got from Motor Sich... fully made in Russia now.
The SR-10 would use the same engine.
Did they solve this issue ? Do they have a russian made engine for it ?
The Al-55 engine from Saturn is/was going to substitute it in time... it is rather less powerful in its current standard version but the suggested replacement model is more powerful... off the top of my head the Motor Sich engine is 2.5 tons thrust in the non AB version, and the original Al-55 without AB is 1.75 tons thrust, but 3 tons thrust in the AB model.
They tried to make a full product on their own and offer it to VKS and it could have worked but they shot themselves in the dick with engines
They went with engines available at the time because jet trainers were not a product of the Soviet Union at that time and their engines were made in the Ukraine.
Do they have russian engines for it ? They still have their chances since no one else is presenting cheap basic jet trainer.
They currently make the engine for teh Yak-130 in Russia with no Ukrainian components or input.
Progress on the Al-55 is hard to come by.
Mig presented an advanced trainer which role is already taken by yak-130. Always late and stupid those decision makers from mig...
Actually the MiG was lighter and cheaper to buy and to operate... they went for the Yak-130 because they thought they could make it a cheap light fighter but it is not a cheap anything... the fighter version.... Yak-131 was cancelled, and a ground attack version to replace the Su-25 in the CAS role went no where too so essentially it is a very expensive lead in fighter trainer... the Al-55 in its original 1.75 ton thrust versions was ideal for the MiG-AT and it could have been produced in the numbers they wanted without worrying about getting another transitional light trainer between the propeller model (Yak-152) and the Yak-130 to replace the lighter and cheaper L39.
MiG were smart... it was the Air Force that were dumb.
Actually they can use the one in the yak-130.
They will when the version with the AB is ready.
Otherwise it is not powerful enough for the Yak-130 which is rather heavier than the MiG-AT.
There are heavier versions of the AL-55 planned including a 3 ton thrust model for Yak-130 and Yak-131 types of LIFT/light fighter, but also a further improved model with 5 tons thrust for light fighters and CAS Su-25 replacements...
Found on wiki:
http://www.russia-algeria.ru/3/Saturn_english_2010.pdf
Saturn catalogue from 2010 in english, showing the plans for the AL-55 engine....
Last edited by GarryB on Sat Nov 27, 2021 9:31 am; edited 1 time in total
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- Post n°398
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
Those are nice engines. Similar are used on small business jets and now on big drones.
They also have the AL-222 with a version with AB and thrust-vectoring.
They also have the AL-222 with a version with AB and thrust-vectoring.
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- Post n°399
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
GarryB wrote:Progress on the Al-55 is hard to come by.
...
Actually the MiG was lighter and cheaper to buy and to operate... they went for the Yak-130 because they thought they could make it a cheap light fighter but it is not a cheap anything... the fighter version.... Yak-131 was cancelled, and a ground attack version to replace the Su-25 in the CAS role went no where too so essentially it is a very expensive lead in fighter trainer... the Al-55 in its original 1.75 ton thrust versions was ideal for the MiG-AT and it could have been produced in the numbers they wanted without worrying about getting another transitional light trainer between the propeller model (Yak-152) and the Yak-130 to replace the lighter and cheaper L39.
MiG were smart... it was the Air Force that were dumb.
The Al-55 is used on the Indian HAL HJT-36 Sitara trainer aircraft. It has been produced in small numbers. The engine is available just not mass produced yet.
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-05-01/hjt-36-flight-test-resumption-renews-hope-al-55-engine
This article claims 20 engines were delivered to India.
I think the Yak-130 was the better choice over the MiG AT. It is way more advanced as a trainer and is a better fit to model modern fighters.
While the Yak-130 could in theory operate as a small fighter aircraft for poorer nations it would require some modifications to add radar, etc.
The Chinese have a model of the JL-10 like that. But I think the market is limited and such an aircraft makes no sense for Russia itself.
The MIG AT had too much foreign content in it.
The MiG AT would never be as cheap as a single engine aircraft like the Czech L-39 aircraft which was the cheap Russian jet trainer aircraft.
The lightweight trainer would have to be something which competes with the L-39 in cost.
I think it is a fool's errand to think the Yak-130 can replace the Su-25 in CAS because it simply lacks the engine power to do it and the airframe is not designed to resist arms fire. The Su-25 engine is almost as powerful as the RD-33 engine on the MiG-29 if you look at the specs for it.
The Al-222 engine on the Yak-130 has 25 kN max thrust, with two engines that would be 50 kN. The R-195 engine on the Su-25 has 44 kN max thrust, with two engines that is 88 kN. RD-33 as used in MiG-29 is 50 kN.
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- Post n°400
Re: Military Aviation Industry: News
The Al-55 is used on the Indian HAL HJT-36 Sitara trainer aircraft. It has been produced in small numbers. The engine is available just not mass produced yet.
If Russia had adopted the MiG-AT then it would have gone into production as the main engine for that aircraft. To be used on the Yak it would need a version with an AB fitted, but with engines already being made in Russia for it there is no urgency which means no money to upgrade the Russian engine.
I think the Yak-130 was the better choice over the MiG AT. It is way more advanced as a trainer and is a better fit to model modern fighters.
I think there was room to introduce both... the MiG-AT as a standard trainer to replace the L39... it would be cheaper and lighter and could be made in larger numbers, while the Yak could be the advanced lead in fighter trainer for specialist training before you got into the two seat MiG or Sukhoi... nobody is going straight from jet trainer to Su-57.
The MIG AT had too much foreign content in it.
Everything did...
While the Yak-130 could in theory operate as a small fighter aircraft for poorer nations it would require some modifications to add radar, etc.
The Chinese have a model of the JL-10 like that. But I think the market is limited and such an aircraft makes no sense for Russia itself.
The whole point of a light fighter is low cost operations and the Yak-130 seems to cost more per hour to run than the MiG-35.
The MiG AT would never be as cheap as a single engine aircraft like the Czech L-39 aircraft which was the cheap Russian jet trainer aircraft.
The lightweight trainer would have to be something which competes with the L-39 in cost.
But it is... that is what it was designed for... low cost operations... being a much lighter aircraft it was able to use the 1.75 ton thrust AL-55 instead of needing the almost 2.5 ton thrust Ukrainian engine the Yak uses...
I think it is a fool's errand to think the Yak-130 can replace the Su-25 in CAS because it simply lacks the engine power to do it and the airframe is not designed to resist arms fire. The Su-25 engine is almost as powerful as the RD-33 engine on the MiG-29 if you look at the specs for it.
I totally agree, but most air forces try other types for the role to see if they can perform better. There was the A-16 version of the F-16 to replace the A-10... shock, horror... too fragile for the job... in the 1980s the Soviets thought the Yak-38 might be a good CAS like the Harrier in the west, and they tested it in Afghanistan... and it was awful.
The thing is that you can get it right but it has to be the plan to start with, and in most cases the idea of a light fighter variant is created because the original LIFT has become too expensive to justify on its own and it needs other capabilities...
The Al-222 engine on the Yak-130 has 25 kN max thrust, with two engines that would be 50 kN. The R-195 engine on the Su-25 has 44 kN max thrust, with two engines that is 88 kN. RD-33 as used in MiG-29 is 50 kN.
I would say the best solution going forward would be for the AL-55 to be used on the MiG-AT instead of the SR-10 or LMS-901, and an improved afterburner equipped AL-55 model could be fitted to the Yak-130... two 3 ton thrust engines replacing two 2.5 ton non AB engines...
The point is that the MiG-AT is cheaper to operate and simpler and safer to use and would free up the Yak-130 to move up and be more of a light fighter type with perhaps options for radar sets of different types and of course all the new light weapons for drones and helicopters would be ideal for these aircraft to carry.
Perhaps a MiG-29M upgrade where it can have two seats or one seat with extra fuel and can be converted between the configurations at field level so you can swap between a trainer and a light fighter as you wish.
Converting the Yak-130 to a single non afterburning RD-33 would give it more power but I suspect one RD-333 is more expensive than the two engines it currently uses.
The F-5 made the same shift from two small light cheap engines to a bigger more powerful more expensive engine in the F-20... which ended up a failure.