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MOSCOW AIRSHOW BRINGS RUSSIAN DEBUTANTES

Every two years, the Moscow International Aviation and Space Exhibition (MAKS) at the Zhukovsky test center is the showcase for all areas of aerospace in Russia and its neighboring CIS countries. This year's show, the fourth MAKS, left a mixed impression of the situation of this once powerful industry. An almost omnipresent lack of funds and orders, enormous overcapacities along with a structure which is not suited for today's market are in contrast to the numerous premières and the persistent clinging to projects some of which are technologically very interesting.

From the Russian point of veiw at least, the jewel of the new aircraft is the Sukhoi S-37 "Berkut", a fighter technology demonstrator with forward swept wings. While the aircraft, which up to now has been funded solely by Sukhoi itself, had its first flight already on September 25, 1997, the airshow participation at MAKS '99 was its first public appearance. The S-37 presented a short flying display on different days, disappearing into a hangar right after landing.

According to Sukhoi's general director Mikhail Pogosyan, the Berkut has accumulated around 40 flights, fulfilling the expectations of the designers. However, Sukhoi still does not reveal many details about the aircraft. It is still not clear whether the S-37 will later be used for tests with new armaments along with the aircraft's aerodynamical evaluation. There is also an option of exchanging the Aviadvigatel D-30F6 turbofans with the Saturn Al-41F with thrust vector control. Everything will depend on the available budget. After hesitating for a long time, the Russian forces will reportedly support the project now to some degree.

Sukhoi can pursue projects like the S-37 only because it has foreign exchange available from its Su-27 aircraft family exports. China has ordered several aircraft and for India, Sukhoi is currently working on the two-seat Su-30MKI. Following the crash of a prototype at the Le Bourget airshow a couple of weeks ago, testpilot Wyatcheslav Averyanov showed the most unbelievable manoeuvers in Zhukovsky with another aircraft. The aircraft's thrust vector control allows somersaults at zero speed, extremely long tailslides along with other "tricks".

Along with Averyanov, navigator Vladimir Schendrik who belonged to the crash crew was "rehabilitated" in Zhukovsky. Together with test pilot Igor Soloviev, he set three climb and altitude records with the Su-32FN in the weight category C1r (35 to 45 tons) on 19 August. The aircraft reached 16500 meters with a payload of 2300 kg.

Besides the known Su-32FN, Sukhoi also presented the Su-33KUB in flight at MAKS '99. This aircraft also features two side-by-side seats but has a rounded nose for the N-014 radar from Fasotron and also has larger wings. Following a first flight test phase in Zhukovsky, the aircraft is now scheduled for tests at the naval test center in the Crimea.

Along with the development of new Su-27 versions, Sukhoi and its associated manufacturing plants are now also pursuing modernization programs of existing aircraft which are in service with the Russian forces. The Irkutsk plant has equipped a Su-30K (number 302) with new systems to improve the aircraft's air-to-ground capabilities. The modification includes the addition of equipment such as GPS, better computers and a liquid crystal colour display. The aircraft can now carry air-to-ground weapons such as the Kh-59E, Kh-31 or Kh-29. A similar upgrade is also offered by the Ramenskoye PKP design bureau, which is planning to integrate two color displays.

As compared to Sukhoi's activities at the show, the MAPO holding's (Mikoyan aircraft) presence was rather moderate. The company's new chief executive Nikolay Nikitin (formerly with Sukhoi) announced the date of the first flight of the 1.44 (MFI) testbed for the fall of this year. "Everybody understands that it will never enter series production. The aircraft development was ordered in 1983 by the central committee of the Communist Party. This "customer" does not exist any more", says Nikitin.

Mikoyan now uses the 1.44 as a demonstrator for new technologies. There are currently no more than 30 flights planned to evaluate the basic aircraft performance data. Only after that is completed will there be a decision on the further use of the aircraft.

Meanwhile MAPO must focus on the sales and modernization of the MiG-29. Just recently some aircraft, worth 150 to 200 million US Dollars, could be sold to Bangladesh. Furthermore, MAPO plans to diversify into the civil market and is looking at a participation in the final development and production of the Tupolev Tu-334.

Following a delay of several years, this 72- to 102-seater finally entered flight test in February of this year and was shown for the first time in flight in Zhukovsky. However, there is still a big uncertainty about the future financial support and about the aircraft production at the Aviant plant in the Ukraine. The Russian airlines, which are hit by decreasing passenger numbers, are very reluctant to order domestic airliners.

Tupolev, for example, only managed to deliver 14 aircraft of its Tu-204 in the past years, some of them to the Egyptian leasing company Sirocco. One major problem is the missing Western certification of the aircraft. In this respect, Ilyushin is already one step ahead. The Il-96T, a freighter, received its FAA certification at the beginning of June. The manufacturer has also logged orders from Aeroflot which has also signed contracts for the passenger version Il-96M. Still, there is a problem with the financing. The US Exim Bank is participating since the Il-96 is powered by PW2000 engines and has Rockwell Collins avionics.

The most important news from the helicopter market was the Kamov Ka-60 "Kasatka" which has been in flight test since December of last year. The aircraft was shown in the static display only, along with another version of the Ka-50 attack helicopter. The aircraft number 014 featured a new nose section which has two ball-shaped containers for the sight systems. Further modifications include the cockpit which will be upgraded with three large color displays and GEC Marconi helmet displays for the pilots. The Ka-50 is scheduled to enter flight test this year.

At the show, Kamov announced the sales of up to ten Ka-31 to India. These helicopters have an extendible and swivable antenna underneath the fuselage, and will be used as ship-based early warning aircraft. India is also interested in a fighter for its Navy and has offers for the MiG-29K or a Su-30 version. The order could be placed in 1999.

Along with the aircraft manufacturer, MAKS traditionally is a showcase for the suppliers. Zenit presented a new reconnaissance camera which is in production for the Russian air force's Su-27. Elektroavtomatika showed a new head-up display wit a 20 by 30 degree field of view, along with other displays. UOMS displayed its FLIR and TV sensors which have a potential market in Mi-8/17 or Mi-24 helicopter updates. Radar manufacturer Fasotron focused on phased array antennae. Reportedly, the Fasotron products are significantly cheaper that the competing systems from Leninets and NIIP. The tests have already begun.

As far as engines were concerned, Klimov demonstrated the function of the thrust vector nozzle for the RD-133 engine which is a new version of the MiG-29 engine. The nozzle can move in all directions, supposedly with a rate of 30 degrees per second. Progress and Motor Sitch from the Ukraine showed the mock-up of their AI-222 which is designed for new trainers such as the Yak-130 or the MiG-AT. The high-pressure compressor and the combustion chamber are being tested since 28 April.

There was only a very limited participation from companies outside of Russia or the CIS. Only Dassault and Cessna brought some business jets to Zhukovsky, hoping for sales to the so called "new Russians" who would have the necessary money. Other than these two companies, only the ones who are involved in cooperation with domestic firms exhibited at the MAKS '99, among them mainly companies from Germany.

Dasa used the opportunity to reconfirm the planned cooperation with MAPO and the arms export agency Rozvoorouzhenije. A new memorandum of understanding expands the activities of the joint venture company MAPS, which was founded in 1993, to the international market. The business goal is to modernize MiG-29s which are still flying in the former Warsaw Pact states. Dasa is also supporting the Russian MiG-29 offer to Austria.

At the show, Eurocopter, Mil and Kazan Helicopters signed a contract for "the design of a heavy twin-engine prototype in the 15-ton class". This is supposed to give a push to the Mi-38 project which was started in the mid-nineties: "The goal is to set up a capable structure within Euromil." Eurocopter will be responsible for the cockpit lay-out and the electronics.

The German-Russian cooperation also pertains to the spaceflight industry. The Bremen based OHB-System GmbH is marketing the Cosmos rocket via its Cosmos International joint venture. The rocket is built by Polyot in Omsk and will be used next year to launch the science satellites Champ, Mita and Bird from Plesetsk.

The American industry is active in Russia also. Mil and the ZAGI research institute will develop new rotor blades for the Sikorsky S-76. Engineers from Ilyushin are employed in design work for modifications to the 777 and for a freighter conversion of older 767 aircraft.

The Russian aerospace industry is not a total loss yet. However, it is difficult to see whether it has reached the low point already. At least, the Russian Aerospace and Space Agency (RASA) is now willing to look into a long needed restructuring. The RASA suggested to focus the available funds on a few programs which have potential on the international market.

From page 70 of FLUG REVUE 10/99