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INDUSTRY
• Irkut taking stock • Pre-production Su-80GP makes maiden flight • Ilyushin Finance ordered 6 more Il-96s from VASO • First SaM146 assembled • Agreement on Su-35’s engine signed • AL-31F-M1 in official trials • PS-90 production increased • Boeing 787’s heat exchangers are made in Russia TVC. Thrust vector control provides MiG-29M with totally new capabilities The MiG-29M-OVT super-manoeuvrable multirole fighter prototype will be in the spotlight at the upcoming Farnborough air show. RSK MiG’s Senior test pilot, Hero of Russia Pavel Vlasov will demonstrate a unique set of aerobatics stunts in the MiG-29M-OVT during the demo flights. The aircraft is based on pre-production MiG-29M fighter No 156 and is basically a flying testbed for testing and refining the RD-33 engine with a thrust vector control nozzle – the so-called KLIVT system (the Klimov Vectoring Thrust), developed by the St. Petersburg-based Klimov Plant – and studying the impact of the TVC on flight characteristics and combat capabilities of the fighter. The aircraft, which made its maiden flight with a TVC nozzle in August 2003, was first demonstrated to the public at the MAKS 2005 air show in Zhukovsky outside Moscow in August 2005. It made its first flight in European skies over Berlin at the ILA 2006 air show in May 2006. Now Pavel Vlasov will dazzle participants and visitors of the Farnborough air show with the unique aerobatics. Those, who have seen Vlasov flying the MiG-29M-OVT, do not doubt that the new MiG fighter is even slightly superior to the Su-30MKI super-manoeuvrable aircraft, the traditional star of demonstration flight, as far as their manoeuvrability is concerned. However, unique aerobatics are not what matters most: according to RSK MiG Chief Designer Nikolay Buntin, head of MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-29M/M2, and MiG-29M-OVT programmes, the thrust vector control provides the new MiG with totally new capabilities in both the super-manoeuvrability and the conventional flight modes. As is known, TVC engines will be mounted on production MiG-29M and MiG-29M2 fighters, which may be designated MiG-35 in the future. This fact boosts the interest towards the new aircraft to be demonstrated at the Farnborough air show even further. Andrey Fomin reviews Russia’s experience in TVC on combat aircraft and its prospects for new MiG fighters 100 Days after decree. United Aircraft-Building Corporation establishment on schedule Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the long-expected decree on establishing the United Aircraft-Building Corporation (UAC) on 20 February 2006. On 1 June the decree marked 100 days since its publication, with the first intermediate results traditionally summed up after this period of time. The results were discussed at the recent Moscow conference with an ambitious name of “Russian aircraft industry and air transportation after UAC establishment”. The conference, sponsored by the National Investments Council saw participation of about a hundred heads of Russian and foreign companies, experts and high-ranking officials. Our correspondent Valery Ageyev also attended the conference ILA 2006 • German-Russian ILA air show • Global AviaSpas presentation • MiG to convert Airbus A320s into cargo aircraft • Aquaglide’s debut CONTRACTS AND DELIVERIES • First Tu-204 freighter built for China • Ka-32’s debut in Chile • L-15 kicks off trials • Sukhoi to deliver fighters for future Chinese aircraft carriers? FINANCE AND INSURANCE Russian Insurance Centre: Insurance guarantees for aerospace risks The Russian space and aircraft industries are a priority for the Russian economic development, since companies with cutting-edge technologies – the driving force behind technologic progress – operate in these fields. To support these branches of industry, considerable financial and investment resources have to be available and feature reliable financial protection, of which insurance is the most important element. The Russian Insurance Centre places emphasis on insuring Russia’s defence industry, particularly its aerospace branch, and its foreign military and technical cooperation system as well. Over the past 15 years, the company has been running comprehensive insurance programmes in support of major aircraft and aero engine manufacturers. It is also the leader of the Russian space insurance market. Its wealth of insurance experience and reliable reinsurance coverage enable it to cover huge space and space-associated risks, including loss of or damage to launch vehicles and spacecraft throughout their life cycles, third-party spacecraft launch liability, manufacturer and user liability for failure to meet contractual obligations, etc. Dmitry Izvekov, Chairman of the Board of the Russian Insurance Centre, tells about his company’s experience in aerospace insurance business MILITARY AVIATION • RusAF got its first upgraded Tu-160 • First production Mi-28N delivered to Defence Ministry • Yak-130’s official trials to complete in early 2007 Exercise of ‘Strategists’ from Ukrainka This April, Lt.-Gen. Igor Khvorov, officer commanding the 37th Air Army (Long-Range Aviation), checked the combat readiness of the 326th Heavy Bomber Air Division at Ukrainka Air Force Base in the Amur Region in the Russian Far East. In so doing, he had the division conduct a command post exercise (CPX) simulating a conventional-weapons live-fire air operation from 11 to 14 April. With the exercise in full swing, the 326th Division’s ‘strategists’ were joined by their mates from Engels AFB in European Russia. The CPX culminated in launching live ALCMs and dropping live bombs at firing ranges throughout the country Take-Off’s special correspondent Dmitry Pichugin visited Ukrainka AFB, with his visit resulting in his photo report covering the strategic bomber fleet’s exercise Wings of the Baltic. In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the first victory of Russian naval pilots On the 21 June 1916 (4 July 1916 in line with the Gregorian date), eight aeroplanes clashed in the skies over the Baltic Sea, four German ones and four Russian hydroplanes designed by Dmitry Grigorovich and based on the aircraft-carrying cruiser Orlitsa of the Russian Imperial Navy. During the battle, Lt. S.A. Petrov and his gunner WO N.P. Korshunov downed a German plane whose crew had to force-land and was taken prisoner of war. Another two German planes were damaged by 1st Lt. A.N. Izvekov and his gunner WO A.V. Nazarov and Petty Officer G.G. Kartsev and his gunner WO Sychkin. The day of the first victory in an air battle has been celebrated as the birthday of the Russian naval aviation ever since. This year marks its 90th anniversary. The first hydroplanes appeared at the Baltic as far back as 1912, and 27 April 1918 is considered to be the official birthday of the Baltic Fleet’s air arm, since the first Special Air Brigade was activated by the Fleet on that date. The Black Sea, Pacific and Northern Fleets got their aviation as an independent branch in 1921, 1932 and 1936 respectively. Thus, the Baltic became the birthplace of the Russian naval aviation. Decades later, the Baltic Fleet air branch comprises fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, helicopter and transport units operating up-to-date combat and transport fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft COSMONAUTICS • Long-awaited Resurs • Another Progress docked with ISS • KazSat lofted to geo-synchronous orbit • ISS Space Holding Company to emerge • Clipper is changing Battle for the Moon. Episode II In April 2006 Russia and the entire world celebrated the 45th anniversary of the first space flight, carried out by Soviet cosmonaut Yury Gagarin. The occasion became the reason for both recalling the past of the Russian space exploration, and dipping into its future. However, despite all the efforts of the officials, everyone could not but compare it with ambitious space exploration plans of the US. The 45-year old issue became the topic of the month: who will be the first to land on the Moon in the XXI century? Alina Chernoivanova tries to find out why do Russians and Americans rush to the Moon again and what is the possible result of the ‘Moon race’ second round could be |
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