The fourth aerospace salon MAX-99 has proved that the CIS aircraft industry not only exists, but is also capable of feeding the market with brand-new types of both military and civil airplanes.
AIR Novelties
AIR Novelties
The fourth aerospace salon MAX-99 has proved that the
CIS aircraft industry not only exists, but is also capable of feeding the market with
brand-new types of both military and civil airplanes.
Though being called novelties, almost all these new planes
have been designed back in the USSR times or represent the improved modifications of the
basic Soviet models. At the same time, although the salon has officially acquired the
international status, all the foreign companies from 24 states worldwide displayed only
the ground-based exhibits. As a matter of fact, this is OK taking into account the fifth
place of the MAX among the similar-type salons in compliance with the international table
of ranks. Only CIS-made aircraft showed their capabilities in the sky. Naturally, military
airplanes and helicopters amazed the spectators the most, though civil aircraft as well
performed wonders of aerobatics. By the way, the experts claimed the program of exhibition
flights to be one of the most extensive in the world. Several world records have been hit
during the air shows.
An outsider could think that more than three hundred
aircraft construction companies aimed their best efforts at attracting attention of
representatives of over 50 foreign official delegations. However, only 5 more or less
significant contracts have been signed at the salon.
All the exhibited airplanes, helicopters, and other
aircraft, as well as spacecraft, anti-aircraft defense systems, and various outfit and
equipment for planes and helicopters, can be broken down into civil and military groups.
It is worth mentioning that Russian and Ukrainian airspace industries mainly earn incomes
from military orders, as well as from launches of commercial satellites. The latter
article of incomes is more typical for Russia and Kazakhstan, though Ukrainian companies
also get some revenues from manufacturing of satellite components. That is why the
military and space exhibits at the MAX were rather extensive.
Twenty companies exhibited rocket and space equipment and
aircraft. The principal exhibits were:
manned spacecraft (such as models of the international space station and
of Mir orbital station);
equipment for global communications and telecasting (models of Sesat and
Exrpress-K2 spacecraft, as well as Troika projects, Gonets, and Ruslan);
Earth monitoring and prospecting of natural resources (models of
Resurs-F1, Resurs-DK, and Meteor-3M spacecraft);
high-accuracy coordination and timing equipment (mock-up of Glonass-M
navigation satellite);
technological developments to manufacture new materials and high-purity
substances in the space (model of Foton spacecraft);
means for injection of payloads in orbit (models of marine-based Sea
Launch complex, models of Proton, Angara, Soyuz-2, Rokot, Strepa, Start, and Cosmos launch
vehicles);
propulsion engineering (mock-ups of liquid-fueled RD-170, RD-180, RD-191,
RD-124 engines etc).
Besides, the exhibition included the working model of
starting complex for Soyuz launching vehicle, full-scale mock-up of Yakhont guided
antiship missile, sensing units and transforming equipment, working terminals and systems
for satellite communications, modern technologies etc.
The novelties comprised Ukrainian-Russian Tu-334 short-haul
airplane with 100 seats, which performed several demonstration flights at the salon.
Altogether, the program of test flights for this aircraft has so far included only 8
flights and a couple show performances. An-70 and An-140 planes performed very nice flight
programs. In late September 1999, the first commercially manufactured An-140 was assembled
in Kharkov. The list of novelties also comprised Be-200 amphibian, Il-114-100 regional
airplane, Ka-60, Ka-31, and Mi-28NE helicopters, Su-27KUB, S-37, and MiG-29UBT battle
planes. Il-96MT, Tu-204, Il-76MT, Mi-34, and Ka-32 also showed good performance. Overall,
some 130 aircraft were placed at the site of the airfield.
Speaking about large contracts sealed at the salon, it is
worth mentioning the success of Mil Design Bureau, which signed a contract for
manufacturing of heavy twin-engine Mi-38 helicopter with French-German Eurocopter concern.
Pratt & Whitney company of North America will supply engines for the copter. The new
helicopter is anticipated to occupy the market niche between Mi-8 and Mi-36, which is the
most load-capacious helicopter in the world. Russian manufacturers and Eurocopter
commenced their joint work on a helicopter with carrying capacity for 15 tons back in 1994
by setting up Euromil company. Later on, the works somewhat slowed down owing to financial
problems. At the moment, the project is progressing on and the pilot prototype of Mi-38 is
scheduled for the first flight in 2001. The subsequent second stage of cooperation
envisions market research. It is planned to arrange commercial manufacturing of military
and civil multipurpose helicopters, which will be sold on the world and Russian markets.
Specialists with Eurocopter estimate the capacity of these markets at 300 helicopters
during 10 years. The first supplies are anticipated in 2005.
In compliance with the project, Mil Design Bureau, Kazan
Helicopter Building Plant, and Eurocopter hold equal stakes in Euromil. Costs of the first
stage of the project amounting to approximately USD 500 mln. will be equally defrayed by
the three business partners. Eurocopter believes that the upcoming 6 months will be
conclusive for definition of the project implementation terms and of legal support to the
project execution.
In the near future, Mil Design Bureau plans to launch
programs for creation of night-time Night Hunter Mi-28N helicopter and of civil
modification of Mi-38 helicopter. Nowadays, virtually all the new military modifications
of Mi copters have been equipped or are currently being equipped with night-vision
devices. Besides to the night vision, the Night Hunter and Mi-24VM will be rigged out with
more modern rotorcraft flight structures and tail rotors, as well as with contemporary
weapons and a set of electronic systems, which will greatly enhance the already impressive
fighting efficiency of Mi-24. The widely used Mi-3 helicopter is also being upgraded for
operations at the night time. Special attention has been paid to rewarding works on
certification of modified Mi helicopters owned by foreign countries.
Speaking about the Ukrainian exhibits at the MAX, one can
state that all the 12 Ukrainian companies displayed their willingness to cooperate in
aircraft construction and propulsion engineering with CIS and other foreign companies.
However, it is needless to say that willingness to cooperate is not enough. The actual
results of cooperation are required. Valeriy Kozakov, the Deputy Minister for Industrial
Policy, believes that the list of the actual results includes a number of negotiations on
An-70 and promotion of this airplane on the Western European markets. According to V.
Kozakov, at the salon, the Ukrainian delegation and German and Russian plenipotentiaries
continued negotiations on design of the military-transport plane based on An-70 – An-7X
for the needs of the NATO member-states. Moreover, representatives of Ukrainian-Russian
Medium Transport Aircraft syndicate (which comprises 15 companies supplying components and
units for An-70) and German Air Truck company (bringing together 8 enterprises) have
approved a plan for elaboration of the An-7X program, which foresees among Ukraine,
Russia, and Germany. Supposedly in October, the two syndicates will establish a business
entity to coordinate manufacturing, sales, and promotion of these planes on the Western
European markets. Valeriy Kozakov did not exclude the possibility of final assemblage of
An-7X in one of the Western European countries, so that Ukraine and Russia will
manufacture and supply components and units.
During the salon, the Policy Group of Ukrainian, Russian,
and German plenipotentiaries held a meeting and called attention to high competitiveness
of An-7X as compared to the other undertakings. Besides, plenipotentiaries of the
Ukrainian-Russian Interagency Policy Group met to discuss the issue of An-70 and signed a
memo of cooperation. It is worth reminding that Antonov Aviation Scientific and Technical
Complex pins high hopes to An-70 airplane. From 2001-2002 till 2010-2015, the Russian and
Ukrainian Air Forces are planned to place orders for more than 200 new An-70 planes (165
planes for Russia and 65 planes for Ukraine). German, French, Italian, Spanish, Danish,
and Portuguese Departments of Defense have also displayed interest in An-7X. The potential
demand for An-7X in the world comes to 1,500 planes, provided the EUR 50 mln. base price
for An-7X and EUR 40 mln. base price for An-70.