The Russian Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, whose planes are known throughout the world and even are in service with the NATO Air Force, has made a rapid leap forward in the past few years.
About the past achievements of the RAC "MiG", about the present day and the prospects for development, our conversation with the corporation director Sergei Korotkov.
Sergey Sergeevich, tomorrow opening of the largest International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2015. What will show RAC? What will be especially interesting for ordinary viewers and professionals?
Sergey Korotkov: At the air show, our corporation represents the main line of fighters produced by us. At the static parking and in the air, guests of the exhibition will be able to see serial aircraft MiG-29ММТ, MiG-29М / М2, MiG-29К / КUB and MiG-35.
Such modern high-tech combat aviation complexes require serious training of high-class pilots. Therefore, I want to especially note our modern simulator with 3D visualization. This technology provides the development of the most difficult flight modes, such as landing on deck, refueling in the air, flying systems. Until MAKS 2015, we did not show it on a moving platform, which significantly increases the accuracy of flight simulations. The simulator, which accurately repeats the behavior of the machine in the air, is sure to become one of the main innovations of this MAKS.
The crown of the flight program of the air show will be a joint flight of the legendary fighter of the Great Patriotic War MiG-3 and the promising combat aircraft complex MiG-35. We decided to devote this historical project for the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory, which our country celebrates this year.
Military-technical cooperation is one of the important aspects of the corporation’s activities. What results in this respect do you expect from MAKS and in the near future, in general?
Sergei Korotkov: To begin with, according to last year’s results, our activity as a subject of military-technical cooperation was highly appreciated by the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia.
Within the framework of MAKS-2015, we have a serious business program scheduled. In the coming week, we will hold a series of meetings with European delegations, as well as with our colleagues from Southeast Asia.
What developments of RAC "MiG" cause the greatest interest at international exhibitions?
Sergei Korotkov: If we talk about new aircraft, then, of course, this is the MiG-35. I believe that this fighter has good prospects in the global market. The latest solutions in the field of electronics and weapons closely bring this car to the fifth generation.
Serious interest exists in the modernization programs of the MiG-29 fighter, which is in service in the 29 countries of the world. We have a wide range of modernization options from which the customer can choose the best one for himself.
What is the sum of the MGC contracts on MTC last year executed? Which of our partners purchased the most Russian MiGs?
Sergey Korotkov: In 2014, the corporation fulfilled its contractual obligations in the amount of about 800 million dollars. The greatest amount of work we performed on the order of the Ministry of Defense of India. This also applies to the supply of new MiG-29K / KUB fighters, and the upgrading of previously delivered aircraft under the MiG-29UPG program. Today, the corporation’s actual order book is about 4 billion dollars.
As you know, it was in the MiG design bureau that the story of the 5 generation fighters began ...
Sergey Korotkov: It really is. In 1990's, in our design bureau, the 1.44 project was created, which, to my great regret, fell into a transitional period and was not implemented in the series. Then our whole country experienced great difficulties. This project was able to bring to a certain stage, the built fighter even flew into the air. However, it was decided to stop work on this aircraft. A serious backlog, which remained from the implementation of the 1.44 project, is used by us in new projects.
Today RAC "MiG" is working on a promising fifth generation project. We hope that our developments will be in demand and will be translated into a real project in the near future.
Today, the corporation’s actual order book is about 4 billion dollars.
At what stage is the work to create a promising PAK DP interception complex?
Sergey Korotkov: Today it becomes obvious that the nature of the threats from air and aerospace attacks will change over time. There will be a partial integration, which will require the creation of new means of protection. The government understands this. The confirmation is the creation of a new type of Armed Forces - the Air and Space Forces of Russia.
Interceptor fighter - the most effective mobile means of protection of aerospace. I believe that this direction will develop. I note that our designers have unique competencies in this area.
Does the corporation today have the opportunity to bring promising developments to mass production? Are the production resources enough to ensure the fulfillment of all the tasks set by the country's leadership?
Sergei Korotkov: In recent years, the country's leadership has been paying close attention to the development of the defense industry. I gratefully feel the support of the country's top leadership, the Ministry of Defense and the KLA in all the endeavors of our corporation.
In recent years, we have managed to achieve a steady increase in production in both physical and monetary terms. Suffice it to say that the corporation's 2014 revenue exceeded 2013 in 30%. From year to year we are increasing the supply of fighters on state defense orders and for export. There are good prospects for new orders. At the production sites of the corporation is technological modernization. We are optimizing our production facilities, and we do this in semantic and functional cooperation with the Nizhny Novgorod Aviation Plant Sokol, which historically produced MiG fighter aircraft.
The experience of consolidating the efforts of enterprises within a single corporation shows positive results. This makes it possible to optimize production. Are there plans to inject the Sokol plant into the overall structure of the RSK?
Sergey Korotkov: Yes, this decision has already been made. In the coming 2-3, the Nizhniy Novgorod enterprise will be integrated into RSK MiG. This will make it possible to effectively solve several tasks: to centralize administrative and managerial functions, to ensure a uniform load of all enterprises and to eliminate duplicate production with a general optimal rhythm of work of production units. The merger will allow our corporation to reach the level of revenues of more than 2017 billion rubles by the year 80.
The last days there are rumors that you will leave the post of the head of the RAC "MiG" and take some other post. It was mentioned that such rearrangements can occur against the background of the active development of the corporation. Is it so?
Sergey Korotkov: Rumors are not true. I will explain why. For many years, the MiG, however, like our entire defense industry, was in a stage of stagnation. I came to the enterprise to realize the tasks that were set before me by the leadership of the country. This development and the actual implementation of promising projects of the MiG, which in the next decade will fulfill the main task - will become a new generation of military equipment. This is also an expansion of the corporation's order book. Do not forget about the plans to create high-tech production based on the technical re-equipment of enterprises and the formation of an effective quality management system. Victory in the air is forged on the ground - this is the motto of the Russian Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation "MiG". We are one of the leading defense companies that have already become the starting point for the revival of the former power of our state. This is a serious strategic task on a national scale. And I am obliged to perform this work in full.