Prospects for the Advanced Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation
Like it or not, but it is necessary to update the fleet of equipment of the armed forces. And it's not just the country's defense. The defense complex requires the efforts of the entire industry and, as a result, increases its competitiveness in the global market.
One of the most mobilizing sectors of the defense industry is aircraft. But, unfortunately, the events that followed the collapse of the Union, affected her far from the best way. As a result - the backlog, if not in product quality, then at least in quantity. But in recent years there has been a tendency towards a gradual recovery from the crisis. For example, the new Su-34 front bomber is already replacing the "old" Su-24. It's no joke, 24 is already in service with 35 for years. Even with all the upgrades, it's a long time.
From far aviation The situation is more interesting. Its basis is the Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 aircraft. Both types were produced until the mid-90s. Aircraft, of course, worthy. They can still serve for at least 15-20 years, but it is time to take care of a replacement for them.
In 1983 and 1997, there were attempts to once again upgrade the Tu-22M to the М4 and М5 variants. But both projects remained on paper due to money problems. Tu-95 is not planned to be further upgraded - the type itself is quite old, and it is no longer advisable to improve it.
Were worked out and options for deep modernization of the Tu-160. But in the end, the designers came to the conclusion that this bomber can be improved, but you should not make a new plane based on it.
It was decided to develop a completely new car, with new equipment, new engines and new weapons. The program was named “Advanced Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation” (PAK DA). In 2009, the Ministry of Defense of Russia and JSC Tupolev signed a contract to conduct research to determine the appearance of the future machine and create a draft design. An advance design of the bomber should be ready next year, and the start of construction of the prototype is scheduled for 2015 year. Accordingly, the first flight of the PAK YA will make in the 2017-18 year, not earlier.
Regarding the appearance of the future missile carrier, we can say the following: almost nothing is known. There is open information about the engines and the approximate mass. That's all.
At the beginning of October, in “Izvestia” information appeared that the same engines would be installed on the PAK DA, as on the already flying fifth-generation fighter T-50. About this newspaper said a source in the defense complex. You understand that an anonymous source of special trust does not cause. But it looks relatively believable. If the AL-41F1 engine really manages to be launched into a series, the plane will be able to get a relatively high range due to low fuel consumption. But there is a reason for doubt. In some sources, the maximum take-off mass of the PAK YA is indicated approximately equal to the same parameter Tu-22М3: 120-130 tons. But the AL-41F1 thrust at the afterburner is “total” 15 tons. The engine NK-25, standing on the Tu-2М3, gives 25 tons. This means that with equal weight, to ensure the same thrust-ratio, the PAK DA should have four 41-x engines. Such a power plant does not look very reasonable.
The exterior of the aircraft is also subject to controversy and speculation. As soon as it appeared news about the development of the PAK DA, the near-avia public immediately extracted from the “bins of the motherland” various schemes and drawings of old unfulfilled projects: early versions of the Tu-160, T-4MS Sukhoi Design Bureau, etc. However, in the light of the current “popularity” of the concept of an inconspicuous aircraft, a bomber looks more likely and plausible, outwardly similar to the Tu-160, but smaller. Such as M-18 KB Myasishchev. In favor of this version, you can also bring the aerodynamics of the integrated circuit and the ability to fly in different modes due to the variable geometry wing.
Aircraft avionics should be completely new. What exactly will be included in its composition, probably, is not precisely known even to the designers of the Tupolev company.
Especially for the arming of the PAK DA, a new long-range cruise missile with the possibility of carrying a nuclear warhead may be developed. It is possible that the promising missile X-90 will be included in the PAK DA complex. In any case, its mass of about 15 tons can fit into the shape of the missile carrier.
Of course, the PAK YA armament nomenclature will have “backward compatibility” with the already existing types of aircraft weapons: free-fall and adjustable bombs, rockets like the X-22, etc. The total mass of the payload should be a little more than the load Tu-22М3 - about 25 tons. Due to more economical engines, it would be more reasonable to use the “saved” tank volumes not for armament, but for increasing the range.
Defensive armament in the light of recent trends will not be present. Protection against interception will be carried out with the help of low visibility for radar, electronic warfare and infrared countermeasures.
But these are only technical fantasies, albeit with a touch of analytics. What exactly will be the PAK YES, it will be clear not earlier than 2012-13 of the year, or even later, when the plane finally rises into the sky.
One of the most mobilizing sectors of the defense industry is aircraft. But, unfortunately, the events that followed the collapse of the Union, affected her far from the best way. As a result - the backlog, if not in product quality, then at least in quantity. But in recent years there has been a tendency towards a gradual recovery from the crisis. For example, the new Su-34 front bomber is already replacing the "old" Su-24. It's no joke, 24 is already in service with 35 for years. Even with all the upgrades, it's a long time.
From far aviation The situation is more interesting. Its basis is the Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 aircraft. Both types were produced until the mid-90s. Aircraft, of course, worthy. They can still serve for at least 15-20 years, but it is time to take care of a replacement for them.
In 1983 and 1997, there were attempts to once again upgrade the Tu-22M to the М4 and М5 variants. But both projects remained on paper due to money problems. Tu-95 is not planned to be further upgraded - the type itself is quite old, and it is no longer advisable to improve it.
Were worked out and options for deep modernization of the Tu-160. But in the end, the designers came to the conclusion that this bomber can be improved, but you should not make a new plane based on it.
It was decided to develop a completely new car, with new equipment, new engines and new weapons. The program was named “Advanced Aviation Complex of Long-Range Aviation” (PAK DA). In 2009, the Ministry of Defense of Russia and JSC Tupolev signed a contract to conduct research to determine the appearance of the future machine and create a draft design. An advance design of the bomber should be ready next year, and the start of construction of the prototype is scheduled for 2015 year. Accordingly, the first flight of the PAK YA will make in the 2017-18 year, not earlier.
Regarding the appearance of the future missile carrier, we can say the following: almost nothing is known. There is open information about the engines and the approximate mass. That's all.
At the beginning of October, in “Izvestia” information appeared that the same engines would be installed on the PAK DA, as on the already flying fifth-generation fighter T-50. About this newspaper said a source in the defense complex. You understand that an anonymous source of special trust does not cause. But it looks relatively believable. If the AL-41F1 engine really manages to be launched into a series, the plane will be able to get a relatively high range due to low fuel consumption. But there is a reason for doubt. In some sources, the maximum take-off mass of the PAK YA is indicated approximately equal to the same parameter Tu-22М3: 120-130 tons. But the AL-41F1 thrust at the afterburner is “total” 15 tons. The engine NK-25, standing on the Tu-2М3, gives 25 tons. This means that with equal weight, to ensure the same thrust-ratio, the PAK DA should have four 41-x engines. Such a power plant does not look very reasonable.
The exterior of the aircraft is also subject to controversy and speculation. As soon as it appeared news about the development of the PAK DA, the near-avia public immediately extracted from the “bins of the motherland” various schemes and drawings of old unfulfilled projects: early versions of the Tu-160, T-4MS Sukhoi Design Bureau, etc. However, in the light of the current “popularity” of the concept of an inconspicuous aircraft, a bomber looks more likely and plausible, outwardly similar to the Tu-160, but smaller. Such as M-18 KB Myasishchev. In favor of this version, you can also bring the aerodynamics of the integrated circuit and the ability to fly in different modes due to the variable geometry wing.
Aircraft avionics should be completely new. What exactly will be included in its composition, probably, is not precisely known even to the designers of the Tupolev company.
Especially for the arming of the PAK DA, a new long-range cruise missile with the possibility of carrying a nuclear warhead may be developed. It is possible that the promising missile X-90 will be included in the PAK DA complex. In any case, its mass of about 15 tons can fit into the shape of the missile carrier.
Of course, the PAK YA armament nomenclature will have “backward compatibility” with the already existing types of aircraft weapons: free-fall and adjustable bombs, rockets like the X-22, etc. The total mass of the payload should be a little more than the load Tu-22М3 - about 25 tons. Due to more economical engines, it would be more reasonable to use the “saved” tank volumes not for armament, but for increasing the range.
Defensive armament in the light of recent trends will not be present. Protection against interception will be carried out with the help of low visibility for radar, electronic warfare and infrared countermeasures.
But these are only technical fantasies, albeit with a touch of analytics. What exactly will be the PAK YES, it will be clear not earlier than 2012-13 of the year, or even later, when the plane finally rises into the sky.
Information