Pics from ‘Engines 2012’ show (yesterday):

First pic reads ‘Future work/research’, control of air intakes (white); electrically driven pumps (yellow) and automatic fuel system (red):

Salyut’s KND 924-3 LP compressor probably for AL-31F-M3 and Izd.129/Type 30:

…whisperings of BrahMos 2?

So let me get this straight. Having been fortunate enough to have designed an aircraft carrier that was large enough with enough deck space to allow the relative seamless transition to a more interoperable and flexible platform (CATOBAR/EMALS), operating significantly more capable warplanes (F-35C), the UK government has decided to revert to the (then much lamented) far less capable and inflexible STOVL configuration- due to an accounting number that has been categorically disputed by someone in the know (assistant secretary of the US Navy, Sean J Stackley).

I’m also staggered by the recent Royal Navy’s wholesale endorsement of the F-35B, I was under the impression that (outside the USMC), medium class STOVL fighters were of ever decreasing tactical value…..or does the RN envisage launching future heavy UCAVs off a ski-ramp and recovering them vertically?

Given that the political decision-making has been undertaken by Mr. Bean, I wonder if Edmund Blackadder will be tasked with delivering this volte-face to parliament. I can’t wait!!:D

An update on Salyut’s AL-31FM2 engine as reported in last week’s AW&ST:

AL-31FM2 has completed climactic bench tests and is expected to enter flight tests early 2013. The tests have confirmed the static thrust increase of 4,080 lb. (to 32,000 lb.) compared to the AL-31FP, and 2,200 lb. more thrust than the AL-31FM1, these increases are due to an improved LP turbine and FADEC.

The engine size has remained the same and thus can be retrofitted to existing Flankers without changes to airframe or nacelles, according to Salut’s acting Chief Designer, Gennady Skirdov. The engine will make it’s display debut @ an industrial show at Zhukovskii in the summer.

Salut hopes the RuAF will select the engine for Su-27SM3 and Su-34. I guess this would probably be the most likely candidate for the IAF’s Super 30 upgrade.

Quadbike, you really ought to let the F-35 fantasies go (there is a good chance the IN will select the F-35C/EMALS somewhere down the line for their future carriers, but for the IAF it’s a no-go). The technical evaluation had nothing to do with L1, hence the two best candidates were down selected. IAF preferences would have been derived from technical ability (though CISMOA and risks of US political leveraging probably played a part)…..so there’ll be no “haunting”.

Even EADS is not taking Reddy’s mischief making seriously, at worst committee protocols will merely temporarily stall negotiations and, as yet, it appears Dassault’s offset negotiations with Indian industry are proceeding irrespectively. Hence EADS is holding on for the outside chance of L2 (having failed to realise that winning L1 means offering a competitive package!).

High-level Brazilian interest in the Indian technical MMRCA evaluation should reinforce it’s credibility and the leaked Swiss technical evaluation should put Rafale’s selection beyond reproach.

Privateer, these are the latest updates from Pyotr Butowski in this month’s AI. T-50-1 was being prepared for high AoA tests and had been fitted with an anti-spin chute, but was grounded last August after the discovery of cracks in its load-bearing structure. In all probability T-50-1 will never fly again.

Emile, I think it’s safe to assume that Izdeliye 129/Type 30 are the in-house designations for the same family of prospective engines.

One thing Russia learnt is that when you no longer have money leap development is far too risky to be effective. So instead they test their 5th gen sensors on the Su-35 while developing a LO airframe. In the end, you get twice the money back. The sensors developed for the Su-35 will start making money on the export market and at home, and when the PAK-FA is ready, you’ll be able to provide a cost effective solution with far lesser things to be developed, with far better reliability.

Sukhoi and KnAAPO love to describe the Su-35S’ sensor suite as ‘fifth generation’, and it is evolving into a formidable platform, but the number of systems that will migrate to the PAK-FA amounts to…..errr….zero.

The Russkies are currently investing in and consolidating their R&D infrastructure in order to create a Russian DARPA, so pretty soon they’ll be in direct competition with their US counterparts as to how many countless millions they can waste.

From ‘B’ to ‘C’ to ‘B’……now back to ‘C’?

Cameron orders independent review into F-35 decision
By Richard Scott
3/30/2012

Prime Minister David Cameron has asked the UK Treasury to conduct an independent assessment of the costs associated with converting one of the two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to operate the F-35C: the carrier variant (CV) of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Cameron’s intervention follows a meeting with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond on 19 March, during which Hammond is believed to have recommended backtracking on the CV acquisition plan because of the costs of carrier conversion. He is thought to have instead advocated the purchase of the F-35B, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of JSF.

The prime minister’s decision to seek an independent review is thought to reflect two principal concerns. First, the political embarrassment resulting from a U-turn on one of the central components of the coalition government’s October 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR); second, the possible adverse reaction from the US government and the US Navy (USN).

http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065966492&channel=defence&subChannel=business

Apparently a UK MoD study of the costs of converting the carriers (installing EMALS) was said to have arrived at the £1.8bn figure.

The ‘Daily Telegraph’ claims to have seen a letter from the Assistant Secretary of the US Navy Sean J Stackley to defence equipment minister Peter Luff, claiming the EMALS equipment would cost £458m (+ £400m for installation).
Stackley’s letter reportedly ended by saying: “The department of navy is committed to supporting the success of the UK CVF (conventional carrier).”

What’s not clear is whether the initial cost and newly communicated cost apply to only one carrier conversion, or both.

Appears to be a learning curve exercise in order to produce a much more capable fighter in the medium term.

Mitsubishi starts building ATD-X stealth prototype
Kosuke Takahashi, JDW Correspondent
Tokyo

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on 28 March began assembling the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X) fighter: a prototype for a future fighter to replace the Japan Air Self-Defence Force’s Mitsubishi F-2.

“The aim is to produce a purely indigenous fighter aircraft,” Takashi Kobayashi, general manager of Mitsubishi Heavy’s aerospace systems, said at a ceremony at the company’s Tobishima plant in Aichi Prefecture. “Today marks the first step on the tough road towards that goal.”

The ATD-X, also known as ‘Shinshin’ (Heart of God), is being developed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which has provided a project budget of JPY39.2 billion (USD480 million). It plans for the ATD-X to be airborne by Fiscal Year 2014.

The ATD-X has been designed to be a stealthy air-superiority fighter with enhanced manoeuvrability. The MoD will use it to research advanced technologies and system integration, after which it plans to produce a sixth-generation fighter encompassing I3 (informed, intelligent and instantaneous) concepts and counter-stealth characteristics.

Fuji Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy are to manufacture the aircraft’s fuselage, main wings and cockpit, while Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) is providing two XF5-1 twin-turbofan afterburning engines for the prototype. To reduce the aircraft’s weight, carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is being used for around 30 per cent of the whole airframe.

http://kosuke2009.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/my-latest-for-jdw-mitsubishi-starts.html

They’re very ambitious in the engine programme, eventually hoping to develop a F-119 class turbofan. Although the XF5-1 only has a 11,000lb thrust rating, IHI Corp. has considerable experience in building the 29,000lb F110-GE-129 for MHI’s F-2. Kudos :).