Ukraine is among the few world countries enjoying an almost complete closed cycle of airplane manufacturing in the aircraft industry. Ukraine’s mighty scientific, technical, and production potentials allow engaging in design and manufacturing of airplanes, aircraft engines, accessory components, radioelectronic and optoelectronic systems, along with rendering repair, overhaul, and maintenance services to the airplanes manufactured.
AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
Ukraine is among the few world countries enjoying an
almost complete closed cycle of airplane manufacturing in the aircraft industry. Ukraine’s
mighty scientific, technical, and production potentials allow engaging in design and
manufacturing of airplanes, aircraft engines, accessory components, radioelectronic and
optoelectronic systems, along with rendering repair, overhaul, and maintenance services to
the airplanes manufactured.
The Ukrainian aerospace industry embraces over 40 high-tech
companies employing highly skilled staff, possessing up-to-date equipment, and
manufacturing sui generis machinery. Five separate organizations and a branched network of
laboratories at institutes of the Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences and at
universities make up the scientific and research bases of the Ukrainian aircraft industry.
O.K. Antonov Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex and
Zaporozhje-based Progress Machine-Building Design Bureau named after academician Ivchenko
are the intellectual backbone of the aircraft construction sector. These two companies
design Antonov trademark airplanes and engines for these aircraft.
Antonov Scientific and Technical Complex (ASTC) was founded
back in 1946. From the date of its establishment, this company has created more than 20
types of novel passenger, military transport, and special airplanes, along with some 100
aircraft modifications. On December 30, 1992, the Aviation Register of the International
Aviation Committee issued certificate #P-2 to the ASTC for the right to construct civil
airplanes.
Engineering works on An-70 medium cargo plane invoke
increased interest of Western specialists. Such an attention of the Europeans is mainly
caused by the fact that this airplane meets almost all the requirements posed by air
forces of the EU member-states to this aircraft class.
An-70 belongs to the class of operational-tactical, short
takeoff and landing military transport airplanes. This aircraft can carry practically all
the types of military materiel and equipment, up to 47 tons in gross weight. An-70 is
capable of delivering 20-35-ton cargo for the distance of 3,800-7,400 km at the cruising
speed of 750 km per hour. Depending on utilization and on takeoff mass, An-70 can be used
both on concrete runways with poor surface endurance, 1,800 meters in length, and on
unpaved grounds, 600-900 m in length. Being a military transport plane, An-70 has a good
performance to serve as a civil transport aircraft.
Enterprises of Ukraine and the Russian Federation jointly
work on creation of An-70 airplane. At present, An-70 is undergoing flight tests. By late
1999, it is planned to conduct numerous tests in order to obtain preliminary orders from
the clients, needed to commence full-scale commercial manufacturing.
Implementation of this project will allow the interested
countries to save a couple billion US dollars on expenditures. Besides, it will minimize
the technical risk of the project since European companies have no experience in design of
large military transport airplanes. Moreover, construction terms can be diminished, while
assemblage could be conducted both in foreign and in Ukrainian companies.
By utilizing An-124, Ukraine intends to fill a proper place
on the market for air freightage. Transportation of cargo is the only growing sector of
the domestic airlift. Air cargo turnover reports average annual growth tempos of 20%.
In January 1999, the ASTC and OJSC Aviastar of Russia
compiled and submitted a joint proposal for lease of An-124-210 heavy transport airplanes
to the Royal Air Force of Great Britain. The tender terms proclaimed that Great Britain
requires 4 strategic military transport planes to be leased for 7 years. An-124-210 is the
evolutionary successor of Ruslan airplanes, which have shown excellent performance in
commercial flights and in military and humanitarian missions worldwide for 10 years.
Manufacturing of new An-140 cargo and passenger airplane is
one of the most worthwhile programs of Antonov Scientific and Technical Complex. The cost
of this plane is anticipated to be much lower than that of its analogues in other
countries. An-140 is designed to transport 52 passengers at the cruising speed of 555 km
per hour over the distance of up to 2,300 km without refueling.
Tests of An-140 are progressing on. The tests employ three
airplanes, one of which is undergoing lab tests for static endurance, and the other two
are on the stage of flight tests. Each one of these two planes has already made up to 150
test flights. In June 1999, they were joined by the fourth airplane manufactured at the
facilities of Kharkov State Aircraft Construction Enterprise. On April 2, 1999, one of the
An-140 planes departed from the flight base of the ASTC in Arkhangelsk (Russia) to undergo
testing program in conditions of natural icing. Conducted in Gostomel, prior tests with
ice stimulators have proven that there should be no problems under natural testing
conditions. Test pilots report high performance of the airplane during the conducted test
flights. The airplane has shown its ability to work on poorly prepared airdromes and ease
of operation, which will allow low-skilled pilots to fly these planes.
V. Shishkov, Deputy Chief Designer and Director of the
An-140 program, informed that testing and certification program for An-140 airplane fits
in the planned schedule. By the end of 1999, the program should be completed. The first
airplanes to be forwarded to clients in early 2000 will be certified.
At the moment, governments of Ukraine and Iran negotiate on
selling licenses for the right to manufacture this plane. At present, a plant for
manufacturing of An-140 is being constructed in Iran with Ukraine’s assistance. JSC Motor
Sich of Zaporozhje will supply aircraft engines.
Iran has already transferred about USD 25 mln. to Antonov
Scientific and Technical Complex. The money is intended for completion of tests and
certification of An-140 by late 1999. The total value of the Iranian contract is not
disclosed. The designers plan An-140 to replace the obsolete An-24 airplanes.
According to estimations by the MPP experts, Ukraine has
the needs for some 89 An-140 type airplanes, Russia – for 460, and other CIS countries
– for 170 such planes. Kharkov Aircraft Enterprise will be the one to manufacture An-140
in Ukraine.
Kharkov State Aircraft Construction Enterprise is one of
the most powerful aircraft constructors in Ukraine and in the CIS. The enterprise has got
an over 70-year experience in manufacturing of passenger, cargo, and military airplanes.
Jointly with Antonov Scientific and Technical Complex, Kharkov Enterprise has set up
production of An-72 and An-72P (patrol) lightweight transport planes, thereupon commencing
production of An-74 planes for the needs of commercial aviation.
At present, a whole family of An-74 planes has been
designed, including An-74T lightweight transport airplanes, convertible An-74TK cargo and
passenger planes, and An-74-200D executive planes.
AVIANT Aircraft Works of Kiev is one of the elder
functioning aircraft construction plants in Ukraine. Utilizing its potential, AVIANT is
presently engaged in construction of several types of airplanes, such as:
-
An-32 in the following modifications: An-32B – commercially
manufactured multi-purpose transport airplane, An-32P – convertible plane intended for
extinguishing of forest fires, An-32V – commercially manufactured multi-purpose
transport plane, and Patrol An-32, which is being designed on the basis of An-32V; -
Tu-334-100 – short-haul plane of new generation intended for flights on
air-routes, up to 3,000 km in length, and for transportation of 102 passengers. It is
planned to construct a branch of modifications on the basis of Tu-334-100.
Therewith, the Works assembles An-70 and An-124 airplanes.
Zaporozhje-based Progress Machine-Building Design Bureau
named after A.G. Ivchenko is one of the leaders in the world’s aircraft propulsion
engineering. The main activities of Progress cover design, production, testing, finishing,
certification, and repair of gas turbine engines for aircraft and industrial use.
Developments by the Design Bureau are distinguished for the best combination of
accumulated experience with up-to-the-minute novelties in construction and modern
technologies.
Certificate #P-3 issued by the Aviation Register of the
International Aviation Committee in 1993 and certificate #CA.47.93 issued by Bureau
Veritas in 1993 verify quality and reliability of Progress engines. Engines by the Design
Bureau meet the ICAO requirements for ecological performance.
The Design Bureau has created D-18T engines, which equip
Ruslan An-124 transport planes. The latter became world-renowned for successful operations
in express freightage of heavyweight mono-cargo and large batches of commodities. Mria
An-225, which is the biggest cargo airplane in the world with carrying capacity for 250
tons of cargo, is rigged out with D-18T engines. Mria plane is capable of transporting
cargo both inside the cargo compartment and on the outside of fuselage. D-136, the world’s
most powerful turbo-power engine, is designed on the basis of D-36. D-136 engines are
installed in Mi-26 and Mi-26T helicopters with super-big carrying capacity. There are
conducted works for creation of a family of reliable and efficient D-436T1/T2/T3 engines
of new generation for new Tu-334-100/200/300 airplanes and for modified Tu-134M, Yak-142,
and An-74-300 planes. Besides, D-436TP engine is being designed for Be-200 amphibian
aircraft. Tu-334-100 and Be-200 planes have already performed their first flights.
Being an outcome of persistent efforts, D-27, the world’s
first turbofan engine, is the pride of the Progress staff. Fuel efficiency of D-27 is some
25-30% higher than those of contemporary turbojet two-circuit engines. This turbofan
engine is mounted on An-70 military transport short takeoff and landing airplanes. By the
way, An-70 currently participates in the tender for the best European airplane and claims
the title of "Europe’s Future Large Aircraft".
The latest developments by the enterprise include AI-450
low-sized turbo-shaft engine, which is to be utilized in Ka-266 and Ka-228 helicopters,
and AI-22 two-circuit turbojet engine, which will be used in Tu-324 and Yak-48 executive
planes. Further modifications of AI-22 may be mounted on trainer airplanes, such as
AI-X22-25 version on Yak-130 plane, L159 on MiG-UTS etc.
Progress Design Bureau attaches much importance to
utilization of aircraft engines in land-based power plants.
Products by the enterprise enjoy high quality and are
capable of competing with the most advanced products by the leading propulsion engineering
companies of the world. 80 countries employ airplanes, equipped with engines made by
Progress. The Progress engines are widely recognized for their high dependability,
efficiency, ease of operations, and long life span.
OJSC Motor Sich of Zaporozhje is also one of the foremost
companies in designing, manufacturing, testing, servicing, and repairing aircraft and
helicopter engines. This OJSC has designed 43 types and modifications of contemporary
dependable engines for 53 types of various-purpose airplanes and helicopters utilized in
94 countries worldwide. Motor Sich possesses a branched infrastructure and combines 8
special machine-building plants.
OJSC Motor Sich views manufacturing of D-436TI family
engines as a priority direction of activities. These engines are designed for Tu-334
airliners for regional routes and for Tu-230 transport airplanes. Besides, D-436TI engines
are intended to re-equip the functioning Tu-134, Yak-42, An-72, and An-74 aircraft.
D-436TP – the marine version of the engine – is used as a power plant on the unique
Be-200 multi-purpose aircraft.
Turboprop twin-shaft engine with loose TV3-II7VMA-SBMI
turbine is one of the recent developments of the enterprise. The engine is to be utilized
in sustaining power plant of An-140 passenger airplane and its modifications.
New An-70 medium transport plane by Antonov company is
aimed at satisfying demands of many consumers in a number of countries. The new airplane
is equipped with D-27 engines produced by Motor Sich, which combine the most recent
technical concepts.
AI-22 high-efficiency, two-circuit engine for Tu-324 and
Yak-48 airliners is among the forward-looking creations of OJSC Motor Sich. The first
models of AI-22 will be produced this year. Using gasifier of this engine as the basis, it
is planned to design a family of AI-X22 engines for modern trainer airplanes.
Nowadays, Ukraine does not only offer products on the
aircraft markets. The country also pays much attention to the field of technical services
for reconstruction, overhaul, and modernization of foreign-owned aircraft designed and
manufactured in the ex-USSR and, particularly, in Ukraine.
Ukraine has a substantial potential to conduct such works.
Numerous enterprises engaging in repair and reconstruction of aircraft machines are
located in Ukraine. The range of such machines comprises almost all the types of airplanes
and aircraft engines, made in the former USSR. Productive capacity of Ukrainian aircraft
repair and overhaul plants was one of the highest in the USSR. Ukraine has still retained
the scientific and production potential, which allows modernizing these machines as well.
Ukraine’s neighboring member-countries of the former Warsaw
Pact own the a large number of aircraft machines. Ukraine can well provide comprehensive
services to these airplanes.
For instance, Bulgaria possesses about 300 aircraft; Poland
– 600; Romania – 450; Hungary – 100; and the Czech Republic together with Slovakia
– 350 airplanes.
Besides, one should keep in mind that African and Middle
Eastern countries also possess a rather big number of airplanes manufactured in the former
USSR.
Under the initiative of Ukraine’s aviation companies,
UkrAviaProm Association has been established in Ukraine. The aims of the Association are
to retain scientific, technical, industrial, and social potentials of the sector; to
renew, develop, and expand high-efficiency technologies under contemporary conditions; to
promote Ukrainian-made aviation machines on the world market; and to support programs in
aircraft construction.
36 enterprises of the aviation complex have become members
with the Association. These include aircraft construction companies, manufacturers of
aircraft engines, of separate units, accessories, on-board electronic equipment, aircraft
gauges, along with aircraft repair and overhaul plants, leading institutes and design
offices, which engage in development of aircraft machines.
One of the major objectives of the Association is
coordination of operations of enterprises in aviation and other industries, as well as of
commercial companies, in order to develop and promote aircraft machines on the world
market.
In October 1999, Kiev will welcome the first Ukraine’s
AviaSvit-XXI international aerospace exhibition. This exhibition is aimed at giving a
worthy display of Ukraine’s aerospace potential, at facilitating further development of
the market for airplanes and aircraft services in Ukraine, and at attracting new foreign
investors.
By consolidating their forces and correctly defining the
priorities, Ukraine’s aviation companies may occupy the leading positions in the world
aircraft construction.