High pressure turbine al 31f. Fnpts "mmpp "salute"

The AL-31F aircraft engine is installed on the Su-27 fighter and its modifications Su-27UB, Su-32FN, Su-34.
AL-31F is a dual-circuit, twin-shaft turbojet aircraft engine of a modular design with an afterburner and a supersonic adjustable nozzle.

Repair of aircraft engines AL-31F in the Aircraft Repair Network of the Air Force is carried out by FSUE "121 ARZ" of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Kubinka).

Thrust in afterburner mode: 12500 kg.s.

Takeoff thrust: 7850 kg.s.

Specific fuel consumption in afterburner mode: 1.96 kg/hp
Specific fuel consumption in cruising mode: 0.666 kg/hp.h
Pressure boost ratio: 23.0
Maximum gas temperature in takeoff mode: 1660°K
Engine weight: 1530 kg
Dimensions:
– length: 4945 mm
– diameter: 910 mm

– height: 1240 mm

It was designed for
enterprises of KB them. Lyulki, located near the VDNKh metro station.
Huge work to optimize the turbine stages of this aircraft engine
performed by a group led by Professor MPEI, Doctor of Technical Sciences. V.D. Venidiktova (S.V. Granovsky (works at JV Alstom), A.M. Karelin. All three have two higher education and graduated with honors from Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School. Baranova on the Aviamotornaya metro station.
And part of the work was done by Rybinsk Saturn.
The engine was tested in the village of Turaevo at the CIAM Research Center, not far from Lytkarino
under Moscow.
And already mass-produced at the Salyut plant, near the metro
Semenovskaya on Budenov Avenue and at the Ufa Industrial Association since 1981.
Directly at this plant in the center of Moscow
passed control tests.
Now Salut has built a stand in Kapotnya,
because the Muscovites did not want to hear the roar further.
As soon as the tests began, the computer of the SGA embassy immediately appeared and recorded the parameters of the aircraft engine.

Salyut sold these aircraft engines of a modified design to China, but even received losses due to the fact that for some reason the contract was concluded in US dollars.
KB Lyulka seems to have filed a lawsuit against Salut for not paying
or not all paid
for intellectual property of KB (payments for patents).
From each aircraft engine, he must pay deductions in KB.

And the dollar has depreciated a lot in a few years.
The Chinese are trying to copy the aircraft engine and arrange its export sale, like a Kalashnikov assault rifle, but so far they have not had time to do it.
That is, we can say that there are not literate economists on Salute.

Here is an example of how these aircraft engines helped Ethiopia in the war.
Russia donated or debited Ethiopia about $1 billion
debts.

Vedomosti. 01/13/2003. /Aleksey Nikolsky/.

Last year, Russia returned to the Ethiopian arms market, supplying one of the poorest countries in the world with seven Su-27 fighter jets worth over $100 million. "MiG".
Ethiopia thawed several prisoners back in 1998-1999. contracts and acquired last year through Rosoboronexport seven heavy Su-27 fighters from the Russian Air Force. This was reported to Vedomosti by an employee of the Russian Defense Ministry, whose words were confirmed by a source in one of the Russian aircraft manufacturing companies. According to the expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Konstantin Makienko, the cost of one used Su-27 is about $15 million.
Ethiopia is considered one of the poorest countries in Africa. The Ethiopian population is often starving, and only international humanitarian assistance serves as salvation. Another famine, which began at the end of last year, threatens, according to the government of Ethiopia, more than 13 million inhabitants of this country. Ethiopia is often cited as an example of a country whose creditors must write off all debts - it is in such a difficult situation. This spring, renowned rock singer and underdeveloped countries debt relief activist Bono said in Addis Ababa: “It is simply inconceivable that Ethiopia, where 62% of adults cannot read and where one million children are orphans, pays $100 million a year to us ".
This country is ready to pay even more for weapons. According to the Military Balance directory, the country's military spending in 2000 amounted to $450 million with a GDP of $6.7 billion. However, Ethiopia's main enemy, Eritrea, with which it fought in 1998 and 2000. , spent $260 million on defense in 2000 with a GDP of $710 million. 1998 - 1999 from Russia under a contract worth almost $160 million, which also included artillery systems and ammunition. Eritrea then relied on six MiG-29s bought in Russia for $60 million.
In May 2000, the UN imposed an arms embargo on warring countries for a period of one year. After the end of the ban, both opponents, who were a single country until 1993, began to rearm. Thus, according to Marat Kenzhetaev, an expert at the Center for the Study of Disarmament Problems at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Eritrea ordered five more MiG-29s from RAC MiG in 2001 and, according to unconfirmed reports, bought several Su-27s from the Ukrainian Air Force. Ethiopia also thawed a second $200 million contract concluded with Russia in 1999, which probably includes an additional seven Su-27s. According to Kenzhetaev, it is difficult to identify the source of funds to pay for the contracts, but Ethiopia certainly paid Russia for the weapons in foreign currency.

On the base Federal State Unitary Enterprise "SPC Gas Turbine Engineering" Salyut» a scientific and technical council was held dedicated to the results of development work on the modernization of the AL-31F engine of the second stage (AL-31F M2). The Sukhoi Design Bureau is interested in a product for the further remotorization of the Su-27SM and Su-34 aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force.

The Scientific and Technical Council, which was attended by all interested parties - representatives of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, NTC im. Lyulka, United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation, was held for the first time in the last five years. Sergei Rodyuk, head of the department of leading designers, made a report on the results of work achieved during the modernization of the AL-31FM2 engine of the second stage.

All work related to the second stage of engine modernization is carried out in accordance with the given schedules. To date, special bench tests of the engine of the second stage in the CIAM thermal chamber have been completed, which confirmed the possibility of achieving a static thrust of 14,500 kgf and ensuring the declared characteristics in flight. Compared to the AL-31FM of the first stage, the flight thrust was increased by 9%.

“Modernization of the AL-31F engine is being carried out without changing its overall dimensions and is aimed at maintaining the possibility of remotorizing the entire Su-27 aircraft fleet without additional changes to the aircraft airframe or engine nacelle,” said Gennady Skirdov, acting general designer of Salyut.

By the end of 2012, it is planned to complete the program of special bench and life tests, as well as to begin the implementation of the program of special flight tests preceding the state special tests.

According to Vladislav Masalov, Director General of the Salyut Research and Production Center for Gas Turbine Engineering, serial deliveries of the upgraded engine can be started as early as 2013. "The AL-31F M2 engine can be considered as inexpensive option for the remotorization of the fleet of Su-27, Su-30 and Su-34 aircraft operated by the RF Ministry of Defense, as well as for deliveries to foreign customers, ”said CEO"Salute". To meet the requirements terms of reference and specifications for the Su-27SM and Su-34 aircraft, it is necessary to use an engine with increased thrust and better costs. The use of the AL-31F M2 engine on these aircraft will ensure that the requirements are met. Its installation will not require any modifications to the aircraft and can be carried out directly in operation.

Short info:

Engine AL-31FM2- turbojet bypass engine based on AL-31F. Engine thrust in special mode 14,500 kgf. The assigned resource of the upgraded engine exceeds 3,000 hours. The engine has minimal differences from the 3, 20 and 23 series. unit costs fuel, including in afterburner modes. Does not require modification of the aircraft side when installed on aircraft such as the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 instead of engines of other series. Modernization is possible when repairing engines of early series. The flight characteristics and operational characteristics of the aircraft have been improved by increasing the parameters and eliminating the oxygen supply system. Increased accuracy of regulation and quality of diagnostics.

Specifications:

Length, mm 4945

Maximum diameter, mm 910

Height, mm 1240

Weight, kg 1530

Specific fuel consumption, kg/N h:

in afterburner mode 1.96

at the maximum mode 0.75

cruising 0.66

Air consumption through the compressor, kg/s 112

Compressor pressure ratio 12.7

Gas temperature in front of the turbine, °C 1387

Thrust, kgf:

maximum unafterburner 7850

afterburner 12500

The AL-31F engine is intended for installation on Su-27 aircraft and its modifications (Su-27SK, Su-30MK, Su-32MF).

Modifications:

AL-31K - engine for carrier-based aircraft Su-33. Afterburner thrust increased to 13300 kgf. Differs in additional anticorrosive protection.

AL-31ST is an engine for gas pumping stations.

AL-31F - basic. Mounted on Su-27, Su-27UB, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35.

AL-31FM1 - ​​modernized. Afterburner thrust increased to 13,500 kgf.

AL-31FM2 - forced up to 14000 kgf. It features a three-stage low pressure compressor.

AL-31FM3 - forced.

AL-31FN - with the lower location of the gearbox. Developed by order of China.

AL-31FP (AL-31FU) - with a rotary nozzle. Developed in 1988-1994. Weight increased by 110 kg, length - by 0.4 m. Installed on the Su-33UB, Su-37.

Serially produced since 1981 at plant No. 165 in Moscow (Moscow MPP Salyut) and at UMPO (Ufa)

It was developed from the first half of the 1970s at the OKB im. A.M. Cradles. At present, OKB im. Lyulki is part of NPO Saturn.

History of creation and design features:

The AL-31F turbojet engine (“product 99”) was developed in the 70s at the Salyut Moscow Machine-Building Production Enterprise under the leadership of General Designer V.M. Chepkin for the Su-27 aircraft and its modifications. (After the death of A. M. Lyulka in 1984, the work on the engine and its modifications was headed by the general designer V. M. Chepkin). Serial production was organized in 1981 at the Ufa Machine-Building Production Association and MMPP Salyut.

AL-31F is a two-shaft bypass turbojet engine with displacement of flows behind the turbine. The engine has a modular design. It consists of a 4-stage low pressure compressor with variable inlet guide vane, an intermediate casing with a central drive box, a 10-stage high pressure compressor with an adjustable first group of stages, an external circuit, an annular combustion chamber, a single-stage cooled high pressure turbine, a single-stage cooled turbine low pressure, afterburner and supersonic jet nozzle. The engine has a top arrangement of units. The oil system is closed. Start is carried out from an air starter. The engine runs on aviation kerosene grades T-1, TS-1, RT.

It was exported to India and China. Overhaul is carried out at the aircraft repair plant No. 121 in Kubinka.

AL-31- a series of aviation high-temperature turbojet bypass engines with afterburners, developed under the guidance of A. M. Lyulka at NPO Saturn. The name stands for Arkhip Lyulka, "F" - afterburner, at the AL-31 plant it is called Product 99. Engine design began in 1973, the first tests took place in 1977, and state tests were successfully completed in 1985. Since 1981, AL-31 engines have been produced at UMPO (Ufa) and MMPP Salyut (Moscow). After the death of A. M. Lyulka in 1984, the work on the engine and its modifications was headed by the general designer V. M. Chepkin. At present, OKB im. Lyulki is part of NPO Saturn.

The estimated cost of one AL-31F engine (as of 2008) is 96.4 million rubles.

Design features

AL-31F - Basic two-circuit twin-shaft turbojet engine with mixing flows of the inner and outer circuits behind the turbine, an afterburner common for both circuits and an adjustable supersonic all-mode jet nozzle. The engine is modular.

It consists of a 4-stage low-pressure axial compressor with an adjustable inlet guide vane (VNA), a 9-stage high-pressure axial compressor with an adjustable VNA and guide vanes of the first two stages, high and low pressure turbines - single-stage axial; blades of turbines and nozzle devices are cooled. The main combustion chamber is annular. Titanium alloys (up to 35% of the mass) and heat-resistant steels are widely used in the engine design. Turbine blades have cavities in the form of labyrinths for cooling from the inside; a Christmas tree-type shank is used to attach the blade to the disk. The rotors are attached to the shaft using roller bearings.

The engine has an electric ignition system. The launch system can start the engine both on the ground and in flight. To start the engine on the ground, a starting device is used located in the remote engine box. During normal engine operation, the cooling of the turbines is partially switched off to save fuel.

The use of VNA gave high resistance to surge, in practice, this meant that the engines would remain operational when the aircraft entered a tailspin. The engine in flight can be used in all modes without restrictions. The pickup time from the idle mode to the maximum mode at low altitude is 3-5 s, at medium altitude 5 s, at high altitude 8 s. Maximum rotational speed 13,300 rpm.

Modifications

A large number of modifications have been developed on the basis of the AL-31F.

AL-31F

The basic version of the engine is used on Su-27 fighters and its modifications. The temperature of the gases in front of the turbine is 1665 K. Initially, the assigned resource of the serial AL-31F was only 100 hours, while the Air Force required 300 hours, but then over time it was brought up to 1500 hours. The overhaul life at maximum operating modes ranged from 5 to 15 hours. The maximum number of start-up cycles (TAC) is 300.

AL-31FP

The main difference from the basic AL-31F engine is thrust vector control, which significantly increases the maneuverability of the aircraft. Vector change is possible up to ±16° in the vertical plane and up to ±15° in any direction. The engine was developed at NPO Saturn and is manufactured at UMPO.

AL-31FP engines are installed on 4++ generation fighters: some modifications of the Su-30 and Su-37.

R-32

Uprated AL-31F engine for the record-breaking P-42 aircraft, based on the Su-27. Afterburner thrust of the engine was increased to 13600 kgf.

AL-31F series 3

Variant of the AL-31F engine for the carrier-based Su-33 fighter. Unlike the basic AL-31F, an additional mode (OR) with a thrust of 12800 kgf appeared, which is briefly used when the aircraft takes off from the deck with a full combat load or during an emergency go-around.

AL-31FN

Modification of the AL-31F with the lower arrangement of the gearbox for the Chinese fighter Chengdu J-10. It has a traction force increased by 200 kg compared to the basic version. Developed at MMPP Salyut, from 2009 300 engines will be delivered under two contracts.

The R&D contract between China and Russia was signed in 1992, and funding was also provided by China. In 1994, the engine was finally designed.

Initially, the engine was developed jointly by NPO Saturn and MMPP Salyut, but after 1998, MMPP Salyut developed the documentation and launched mass production of the AL-31FN on its own. In 1999, the Federal Agency for the Protection of the Results of Intellectual Activity (FAPRID) was created under the Ministry of Justice. In an effort to delegitimize the rights of the developer, Yury Eliseev, General Director of MMPP Salyut, managed to sign a license agreement with FAPRID (No. 1-01-99-00031), which became the very first agreement of this kind concluded by the newly created agency. Referring to it, Salyut considers the 1998 license agreement with Saturn as void.

AL-31F-M1

Upgraded engine AL-31F MMPP Salyut with a four-stage low-pressure compressor KND-924 with a diameter increased from 905 to 924 mm, providing a 6% higher air consumption, as well as a more advanced digital system automatic control. The temperature of the gases in front of the turbine for this engine is increased by 25°C. The engine is dual-circuit, the first circuit passes through the "jacket" for cooling, then it is mixed after the turbine with the hot second two-shaft circuit.

The first flight on January 25, 2002, has been mass-produced since 2006 for the Su-27 family of fighters, is installed without modifications in any fighters, including early years of production, installed on 1 Su-27SM / SM2 regiment and are already being installed on the Su-34s being produced . Adopted by the Air Force of the Russian Federation in 2007. It has an increased thrust force by 1000 kgf (13,500 kgf), an overhaul life of 1000 hours, an assigned resource of 2000 hours while maintaining overall dimensions and weight. Specific fuel consumption has been reduced. It has a modification with a controlled thrust vector, with a resource of 800 hours.

• Length 4.945 m
• Maximum outer diameter 1.14 m
• Weight 1520 kg

AL-31F-M2

The AL-31FM2 engine is a bypass turbojet engine based on the AL-31F. Blades with perforation along the edges are made by casting, the temperature before entering the turbine is increased by 100°C compared to Al-31F. Engine thrust in special mode 14,300 kgf, in full afterburner mode 14,100 kgf. The assigned resource of the upgraded engine exceeds 3,000 hours. The engine has minimal differences from series 3, 20 and 23. Traction characteristics are increased with a decrease in specific fuel consumption, including in non-afterburning modes. It does not require modification of the aircraft board when installed on aircraft such as the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34, unlike engines of other series. In 2012, the engine is planned to be put into flight tests.

File:AL-31m2

AL-31F-M3

3rd stage of modernization of the AL-31F MMPP Salyut, a new three-stage LPC with wide-chord blades of spatial profiling and an increased compression ratio up to pk = 4.2 is additionally installed, which makes it possible to increase thrust up to 15,300 kgf (obtained in static tests). Blades and disc are one piece. Since 2002, the engine has been on bench tests.

AL-41F1

The engine of the "first stage" for a promising fifth-generation aviation complex with a thrust of 15,000 kgf. Created on the basis of the AL-31F, AL-31FP and AL-41F engines. Despite the scheme similar to the AL-31F, the engine consists of 80% new parts. It is distinguished from its predecessors by increased thrust (15,000 kgf versus 12,500 for the AL-31F), a fully digital control system, a plasma ignition system, a new larger-diameter turbine, a significantly increased resource (4,000 hours versus 1,000 for the AL-31F) and improved consumption characteristics. development amounted to 3 billion rubles.

AL-31ST

"Ground" stationary modification AL-31F with a capacity of 16 MW for use as a drive for gas pumping stations.

In November last year, Rosoboronexport signed a major contract for the supply of 180 AL-31F engines to China for Su-27SK and Su-30MKK aircraft, estimated by experts at $550 million. manufacturing enterprise(MMPP) Salyut, which traditionally supplies AL-31F engines to Chinese market. The new order allowed Salyut to reach a record level of production over the past 15 years: the plan for this year provides for the manufacture of products worth 16.9 billion rubles. (about 600 million dollars), which is almost 90% of the production volume of the enterprise in 1991 - Last year the existence of the USSR. 83% of MMPP Salyut's income is currently provided by export deliveries, however, the company is confident that sooner or later this ratio will change, and the upgraded versions of the AL-31F developed at Salyut for the domestic Air Force will find application on Russian military aviation fighters. Recently, our correspondents Petr Butovsky and Viktor Drushlyakov visited the Salyut MMPP and were able to get acquainted with the main programs of the enterprise.

Stages of modernization of the serial AL-31F, developed at the Salyut MMPP

Engines of the AL-31F family are mass-produced by two enterprises: MMPP Salyut in Moscow and UMPO in Ufa. According to the established tradition, export deliveries to China are the prerogative of Salyut, and the Indian Air Force is armed by UMPO. Deliveries of engines to other countries are carried out by both companies jointly. Since 1992, the PRC Air Force has received about 280 Sukhoi fighters into service: 76 Su-27SK and Su-27UBK, 76 Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2 imported from Russia, as well as up to 105 J-11 (Su-27SK ), built under a Russian license directly in China. The first batches of Su-27SK and Su-27UBK arrived in China in 1992 and 1996, and it is for them that the new engines, for which Salyut recently received an order, are intended. The fact is that the assigned resource of the AL-31F, produced in the 90s. is 900 hours, and taking into account the intensive operation of the Su-27 in China, they already require replacement with new ones. Recall that having bought a license for the production of Su-27SK, the PRC did not receive the right to produce its own engines for them. True, China is developing its own WS10 engine of this class, but new large orders for the AL-31F and AL-31FN in Russia indicate that this engine is still far from mass production.

The November contract for 180 AL-31Fs was preceded by another big deal: four months earlier, in July 2005, Salyut received an order from China for 100 AL-31FN engines for new Chinese J-10 fighters (see Rise No. 10/2005, p. 42). The first shipment to the customer took place already in October last year, and the delivery of the last batch of AL-31FN is scheduled for the third quarter of 2006. In addition, in early 2005, Salyut signed a three-year contract for the repair and supply of spare parts for previously built AL-31F engines.

AL-31FN (at the factory it is called "product 39") is specially designed for use on the J-10 aircraft. It differs from the base AL-31F (“product 99V”) by the lower location of the gearbox, while the main characteristics of the engine remain unchanged. Back in 1997, China purchased from A. Lyulka-Saturn" nine experimental AL-31FN engines, which were installed on the first prototypes of the J-10. The serial version of the AL-31FN appeared in 2000. Its development was carried out by A. Lyulka-Saturn", and further fine-tuning - KB "Salute". For the next prototypes and the first production J-10s, China ordered another 54 AL-31FNs. All of them were delivered in 2001-2003. to the Celestial Empire already "Salute". The program of the Chinese J-10 fighter is developing quite intensively, which means that Salyut may soon receive new orders from the “great neighbor” from the east.

June 23, 2000 by the lead developer and manufacturer power plant for a promising fighter PAK FA Russian government determined the Rybinsk NPO "Saturn", which received an order to create an engine, now known under the code name "product 117C". The same engines are planned to be used on new modifications of the Su-27 family of fighters.

Salyut in this program was assigned only a modest role as a manufacturer of components and assemblies of the new engine, which is a deep modernization of the current AL-31F. The management of the enterprise could not come to terms with this, therefore, in the same summer of 2000, Salyut, on its own initiative, began a program of phased modernization of the serial AL-31F, which could become an alternative to the “product 117C”. This became possible thanks to the organization at the plant in early 2000 of its own Design Bureau promising developments(KBPR).

The engine of the first stage of modernization developed at Salyut was named AL-31F-M1 (“product 99M1”). Unlike the serial AL-31F, it is equipped with a modified four-stage low-pressure compressor KND-924-4 with a diameter increased from 905 to 924 mm, as well as a new digital integrated engine controller KRD-99Ts. The increase in the performance of the AL-31F-M1 compressor can be used in two ways: on the one hand, it gives an increase in engine thrust by 6-15%, and on the other hand, it allows, with the same thrust, to reduce the temperature of the gases in front of the turbine by 35K, which significantly increases the engine life.

Flight tests of the 9th copy of the AL-31F-M1 on the flying laboratory LII Su-27 No. 37-11 (onboard No. 595) began on January 25, 2002. Later, two engines of this type were installed on this aircraft. In total, 27 flights with AL-31F-M1 engines were performed on the Su-27 No. 37-11 as part of flight design tests, in addition, by the beginning of this year, six out of ten planned flights under the state test program took place. State tests of the AL-31F-M1 should be completed in the spring of 2006, after which the engine will be considered ready for serial production and will be able to be installed on the Su-27 aircraft of the Russian Air Force during their repair and modernization.

At the beginning of 2006, Salyut began testing the engine of the next stage of modernization - AL-31F-M2 ("99M2"), which recently received a new name AL-31F-SM ("99SM"), emphasizing the possible scope of its application - modernized fighters Su-27SM. There are two main differences of the "second stage": these are new turbine disks and re-profiled compressor blades KND-924-4. Thanks to these modifications, the afterburner thrust of the AL-31F-SM increases to 14,000 kgf. It is important that the engines

AL-31F-M1 and AL-31F-SM are fully interchangeable with serial AL-31F used on Su-27 aircraft - you only need to install a spacer in front of the engine inlet, the need for which is determined by the increase in fan diameter. Moreover, the previously produced AL-31F can be quite easily brought up to the level of the upgraded AL-31F-M1 and AL-31F-SM by replacing individual modules during their overhaul.

In December 2006, Salyut expects to begin testing the engine of the third stage of modernization - AL-31F-ME ("99MZ"), which is distinguished by the use of a fundamentally new low-pressure compressor KND-924-3, a new combustion chamber and new turbine blades. The three-stage compressor KND-924-3 with wide-chord blades is made using the "blisk" technology. The innovations will make it possible to raise the thrust of the AL-31F-M3 to 15,000 kgf.

Above: The KND-924-3 three-stage wide-chord fan, developed by Salyut and using blisk technology, will be used on AL-31F-M3 engines

The rotary nozzle, created at the Salyut MMPP using the KLIVT technology (developed by the V.Ya. Klimov Plant) for the upgraded AL-31F engines, provides all-angle thrust vector control

Below: the AL-31F-M1 engine upgraded in the first stage, the state tests of which are being completed this spring

It is no secret that the new modifications of the Su-27 family are, first of all, the Su-34 attack aircraft, the mass production of which has recently begun in Novosibirsk for the Russian Air Force, and the promising Su-35 multifunctional fighter for export deliveries, the testing of which should begin in 2006- 2007 need more powerful engines. The first Su-34s are still flying with serial AL-31Fs, but it is obvious that their thrust is not enough to realize all the potential capabilities of this 45-ton aircraft. Two types of upgraded engines are suitable for use on such aircraft today: the “product 117C” developed by NPO Saturn and the AL-31F-M1 (or AL-31F-SM) developed by MMPP Salyut. However, Salyut's chances of getting an order for the remotorization of these aircraft should not be assessed as high: the Air Force entrusts the right to choose the power plant to Sukhoi, and, as you know, for a number of understandable reasons, it focuses on working with Saturn. Unfortunately, Salyut should not flatter itself too much about its participation in the modernization program for combatant Su-27s: so far, the Russian Air Force does not plan to replace the engines on these aircraft with modernized ones.

The chances of new Salyut developments on aircraft of the Russian Navy aviation can be estimated somewhat higher. All Su-33 naval fighters today are equipped with AL-31F series 3 ("99A") engines built by Salyut. Unlike the rest of the serial AL-31F series 2 ("99V"), they have increased thrust to 12,800 kgf in the so-called "special" mode of operation, which is achieved by a short-term increase in the temperature of the gases in front of the turbine by 75K. However, the use of such a regime does not pass without a trace for the engine: the resource of AL-31F ser. 3 is only 700 hours (for the first engines of this modification - and even more so only 300 hours), while the current AL-31F ser. 2 - 1500 hours, and for future AL-31F-M1 - 4000 hours. In addition, the recent accident and a prerequisite for a flight accident on board the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR that occurred in the Atlantic on September 5 last year (see "Rise" No. 10 /2005, pp. 44-47), clearly testify to the undoubted benefits of increasing the thrust-to-weight ratio of Su-33 fighters. In this context, Salyut is negotiating with the command of the Russian Naval Aviation on the possibility of re-engining combatant Su-33 aircraft with AL-31F-M1 engines.

However, in this case, the path of new "Salyutov" engines on board Russian military aircraft may not be easy. In such a situation, it will no longer be surprising if they find application much earlier on aircraft flying with red stars - but not domestic, but Chinese. Work in this direction is already underway. Salyut offers its AL-31F-M1 for Chinese Su-27SK and J-11, Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2, as well as Su-33MK, which, according to experts, China may order from Russia in the near future to equip its first aircraft carrier.

Another version of the "Chinese" development of events is the use of the AL-31FN-M1 engine with increased thrust with an all-angle UVT on the new J-10 fighters. The prototype of the modernized AL-31FN-M1 ("39M1") was manufactured at Salyut in 2005, and this year the company plans to complete the full cycle of its testing.

At one time, in 2000, Salyut produced an experimental batch of ten AL-31FP ("96") engines with a UVT system designed by JSC "A. Lyulka-Saturn. Subsequently, serial production of the AL-31FP for the Indian Su-30MKI was mastered at UMPO, and Salyut took the path of introducing a different nozzle rotation control scheme, providing for the possibility of an all-aspect UVT. The basis was the position of the CLIVT technology, developed by the St. Petersburg "Plant im. V.Ya. Klimov" for modifications of the RD-33 engines used on the MiG-29 fighters and, again, the Chinese FC-1. In principle, for a twin-engine aircraft of the Su-27 or Su-30 type, thrust vector control in one plane, implemented in the AL-31FP engines, is quite sufficient. But in the case of a single-engine J-10, the advantages of an all-angle UVT turn out to be preferable. Therefore, Salyut acquired the documentation on the KLIVT system from Klimov, but then significantly revised it. Models of AL-31F-M1 engines with an all-aspect UVT have been demonstrated publicly since 2002 in Zhukovsky on Su-27 aircraft No. 595 and 598. The “live” rotary nozzle as part of the AL-31F engine is undergoing long-term testing at the MMPP stand "Salute" in Moscow. The developer claims that the life of the rotary nozzle, already confirmed by tests, currently reaches 750 hours, and it is planned to increase it to 1000 hours in the near future.

Testing of the AL-31F engine equipped with an all-aspect UVT nozzle at the Salyut MMPP stand

Another modification of the AL-31F, developed by the Salyut MMPP, is the AL-31F 30C series engine (“Product 53”), designed for the remotorization of Indian MiG-27M fighter-bombers. A proposal to equip the modernized MiG-27M with such an engine was submitted to India in June 2003, and recently this program received a new impetus: MMPP Salyut and RAC MiG agreed to jointly finance the conversion of a demonstrator aircraft for testing AL- 31F Ser. 30C. In September 2003, a model of such an engine was installed on the MiG-27M No. 01-01 aircraft, which was already non-flying by that time, and in March 2004 Salyut began bench tests of the first and then the second full-size AL-31F ser. 30C. Recently, the third engine of this type was assembled at the enterprise, already intended for flight tests. It is expected that the upgraded MiG-27M, equipped with this engine, will be able to take off in the second quarter of 2006.

In addition to fulfilling major Chinese contracts for the supply of AL-31F, AL-31FN and the development of their upgraded versions of the MMPP, Salyut is actively involved in a number of other engine building programs today. For the Russian Air Force, in cooperation with Ukrainian enterprises, it is preparing for the serial production of new AI-222-25 engines for the Yak-130 combat training aircraft. In the same cooperation since 1993, he has been involved in the manufacture of turbofan engines of the D-436 family for Be-200 amphibious aircraft, passenger Tu-334 and new regional An-148. In case of winning the tender for the engine for the promising short-medium haul aircraft MS-21, Salyut will produce another Russian-Ukrainian turbofan engine - AI-436T12. In 2003, it was also planned to master the production of a number of units and components of the D-27 propfan engine for the promising An-70 military transport, however, due to the position of the Russian Air Force on this aircraft, these works were suspended.

In addition, Salyut is repairing the AL-21F-3A engines it previously produced, which are used on Russian Su-24 front-line bombers of all modifications, and offers them the AL-21F-3M version upgraded during the repair with an increased thrust of 300 kgf. The repair of R15B-300 engines for MiG-25RB aircraft is also underway. The new turboprop engine TV-500S with a capacity of 630 hp is the own development of the enterprise's design bureau. for the SM-92T aircraft, which is planned to be handed over for bench tests next summer. It is also impossible not to recall that 20% of Salyut's income comes from work on civilian topics - primarily on industrial power plants created on the basis of obsolete aircraft engines.

However, no matter how wide the range of activities of MMPP Salyut is, there is no doubt that the basis of its production program is the manufacture, repair and modernization of engines of the AL-31F family. And it seems undeserved if the entire experience of the enterprise in this area is in demand only abroad. The most advanced aircraft of the Russian Air Force were traditionally equipped with Salyut engines, so maybe you should not ignore his proposals to further increase their combat capability?