X-posted from BR. the AL55 is based on AL31F. no afterburner
and much reduced size & thrust ofcourse.
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 28, 2004, Wednesday
HEADLINE: 7.1. RUSSIA TO SUPPLY AIRCRAFT ENGINES TO INDIA [$]
SOURCE: Vedomosti, April 26, 2004, p. 2
BYLINE: Alexei Nikolsky
quote:
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India will equip its training planes with Russian-made AL-55 engines, which are not yet in regular production. This deal could bring in over $200 million for the Russian aviation industry. According to analysts, winning this tender proves that Russia is still able to offer promising systems to the fastidious Indian arms market.
In early April India announced a tender to purchase engines for its HJT-36 training aircraft. The Ufa Engine-Building Association (UMPO) has won the tender. A source close to the Federal Military Technology Cooperation Service (MTCS) told us that the AL-55 engine – designed by NPO Saturn, and to be produced at UMPO – won the tender, defeating the Larzac engine produced by Snecma.
A source at the MTCS said that Rosoboronexport (Russian Arms Exports) will sign the contract for supplying AL-55 engines by the end of May, and implementation will start next year.
India faces an urgent need for a “flying desk,” says military historian Mikhail Barabanov. Due to weak pilot skills, in the 1990s the Indian Air Force lost over 100 fighters in crashes – more than in the wars with Pakistan. The Indian aviation industry is not able to produce its own up-to-date engine.
The AL-55 engine is not yet in production, and launching regular production will require large-scale research and development efforts, says Konstantin Makiyenko, an analyst with the Strategy and Technology Analysis Center. Thanks to the Indian contract, Russia will be able to launch production of the engine with thrust power of 2.5-3 tons, which is not available at the moment.
Konstantin Makiyenko: “This win is significant because we are still able to sell unfinished systems to the demanding Indian military, despite keen competition from Western producers. What’s more annoying is that due to the absurd rivalry between MiG-AT and Yak-130 planes, last year Russia lost a $1.6 billion contract to the BAE Systems obsolete Hawk training jet for intensive pilot training.”
According to a source close to the MTCS, Russia will now have to be content with supplying spare parts for the Indian training plane – in addition to engines, the supplies may include ejector seats and armaments.
The deal on the AL-55 engines may entail other large contracts for supplying engines to India. Yuri Yeliseyev, general director of the Salyut plant in Moscow, says Salyut has been working with RSK MiG on testing the AL-31 engine, which can be installed in the MiG-27 fighter-bomber, produced in India from the mid-1990s. Overall, 165 MiG-27 planes were constructed in India.
If the Indian military accepts the offer from RSK MiG, the value of the deal could exceed $250 million, says Makiyenko.
Translated by Andrei Ryabochkin
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