DUEL OF THE CONTINENTS
RUSSIA And USA FIGHT FOR THE INDIAN MARKET FOR THE COMBAT AVIATION
In the course of the international aerospace exhibition Aero India 2007, which passed of 7-11 February to Bangalore, as a whole were determined basic competitors in the tender to the purchase of 126 lightweight fighters for VVS of India. Them, in all likelihood, will be THE USA and Russia. Firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin presented in Bangalore fighters F -18e/f and F -16c/d, and Russian aircraft-construction corporation "MiG" - its best of the accessible to foreign customers product - MiG-35. As is known, in the tender must participate also Eurofighter Typhoon, French Rafale firms Dassault Aviation, and also Gripen, developed by the Swedish company SAAB.
Besides the companies from Russia and USA, the full-scale version of its fighter in Bangalore represented only SAAB. Gripen actively participated in the demonstration flights, the separate pavilion was expanded for the information of the visitors of exhibition about characteristics and possibilities of this machine. However, in spite of the very active advance of this product, Swedish fighter appears by the explicit outsider of the tender. Indeed in its weight parameters it is very close to the created in India according to program LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) fighter Tejas, which can be named its kind the "sacred cow" for the country, which intensely develops its own aircraft industry.
Judging by the absence of the noticeable activity Eurofighter and Dassault Aviation on the Indian market, it seems that the Europeans no longer expect to win this tender. Although for the sake of fairness it should be noted that in the course of airshow creators Typhoon proposed to India to participate in the cooperation of four European countries to work on the current and promising projects.
"TENDER WILL BE DIFFICULT"
American firms and the RSK "MiG" exchanged in course of Aero India 2007 some number of interesting PR-steps. The Calculation has been opened by MiG-35. The creators of this machine conducted its presentation for the journalists even before the official open of the exhibition, on 6 February. To the gathering at rest journalists MiG-35 it was presented without the nose fairing, i.e., RLS "Beetle- AE" (radar Zhuk-AE) with the impulse phased antenna cascade (AFAR) was for the first time opened for the inspection to the representatives for the foreign MEDIA.
The taken nose fairing did not leave doubts about the fact that on MiG-35 is actually established the radar AFAR.
No one western aspirant to the Indian tender RLS AFAR in Bangalore showed thing like this. The Europeans simply do not have a finished product. Americans, apparently, could not obtain permission to the demonstration abroad of sensitive technologies, thus confirming the reputation of partner, who does not desire to share secrets.
The General director - the design project leader OF RSK "MiG" Aleksey Fedorov also considers that the basic fight for the victory in the Indian tender will unroll between MiG-35, from one side, and by the American F -16 and F/a-18 - with another. "The tender will be difficult, but to attain victory in it ââ¬â will be great honor for us ", noted the leader OF RSK "MiG". In the opinion of Aleksey Fedorov, who has enormous work experience on the Indian market, present tender will be by an order more complex than that competition, on conditions of which in its time Su-30MKI were created. Indeed for the first time the tender of purchase of multifunctional fighters for AF of India is conducted through all international standards. In the opinion of Aleksey Fedorov, the tender is not de jure thus far declared, but de facto has already been carried out. As is known, has already been completed the first stage, which provided for the proposition collection from potential participants (RFI). The second stage now is prepared: participants must obtain demand to proposal (RFP). In the opinion of experts, Indian side will be determined with the selection of new multifunctional fighter precisely before this second stage and demand to the proposal will be oriented on the leader. However, when the second stage starts, is not clear yet. In the course of airshow the Minister of Defense of India Arakkaparambil Antoni stated that this will occur "very soon".
LEADER OF THE FAMILY
MiG-35, for the first time represented abroad, relates to the standardized family of the aircraft of generation 4++, into which they enter also MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2. The airframe of the multifunctional fighters of this family, in comparison with the base MiG-29, underwent the deepest changes. Actually, it was designed anew so that the service life of new machines would compose 6 thousand flying hour or even 40 years of service. In the construction of glider the composite materials are widely used. In the course of presentation MiG-35 into Bangalore the deputy Director-General - the design project leader OF RSK "MiG", director of engineering center "OKB im. A.I. of Mikoyan" Vladimir Barkovsky described, why MiG-29KUB left to the tests by no color. According to him, this machine is not planned to color also sufficiently prolonged time, since it must play the role of the demonstrator of the new technologies, used for the creation of the airframe of the aircraft of family. The portion of composites in them reaches 15% - all gray panels of fuselage and tail assembly of that represented during January MiG-29KUB are made precisely from this material. Large changes touched wing construction. Its nose became double-hinged, with the large angle of deflections. Are developed more powerful trailing edge, double-slot flap. Is for the first time vortex shield delivered in the combat vehicle. As a result of all these measures the aerodynamics of aircraft was noticeably improved.
For the first time in Russia the fighters of this family not will have oxygen cylinders ââ¬â instead of them the oxygen station, which divides air into that enriched by oxygen and enriched by nitrogen, is established. According to Vladimir Barkovsky, all aircraft systems - power supply, hydraulics, etc. - in the machines of family they will be completely new. MiG-35, as other representatives of family, it has an equipment of inflight refueling, and also it can come out as the tanker in its group. Are renovated the systems of the rescuing of crew. On MiG-35 is used the technology of the burning-out of lamp, which makes it possible to make safe for the pilots ejection at the low speeds and the heights.
On MiG-35 are established two engines RD -33MK, which have to 7% high thrust, than its predecessors. In the construction of power plant is inculcated the numerical system of control ( FADEC), its resource is increased up to 4 thousands hours. At will of customers, the engine can be equipped with thrust vectoring. According to Vladimir Barkovsky, OVT makes it possible to increase 1.5-2 times its effectiveness in the close air battle. It's known that the share of close combat in modern air warfare does not exceed 10%, but this is the final and frequently decisive stage of the battle. Furthermore, on the assertion of the engineering center director OF "OKB Mikoyan", the nozzle with OVT makes possible to preserve control for the aircraft under the conditions, when its speed is very small and the plane surface does not work.
It is natural that the new fighters OF RSK "MiG" have "glass" cab with three indicators with the size of 6x8 inches in the forward compartment and four analogous panels - in the rear (in the two-place version), the numerical system of control of aircraft and of engine. It is natural that also MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-29M/M2 and MiG-35 are equipped with the newest onboard radio-electronic equipment. The Main difference of MiG-35 from the remaining planes of the family is its radar. The proposed for the Indian tender multifunctional fighter has acting AFAR "Zhuk- AE". As Vladimir Barkovsky stated, at present two radars of this type are produced, one of which was established on the aircraft, the second - tests on the stand.
According to the first deputy design project leader - the chief designer of the corporation "synchro-cyclotron -NIIR" Yuri gus'kov, the range of "Zhuk- AE" is approximately one and a half times more than usual locator. Yu. gus'kov added that the range now comprises "about 150 km, and it can be considerably more". The radar works in the X-band and ensures the beam deflection in the range + -60 of degrees. Because of the operating speed of radar AFAR is ensured a constant target tracking even with the salient maneuverability characteristics of the MiG-35. Its Electronic scanning makes possible to simultaneously ensure the "air-to-air" and "air-surface" regimes, to work with the group and individual targets, to determine their type and class. "Zhuk- AE" automatically sets on the tracking of any discovered targets, and then ranks them, selecting the most dangerous.
The AFAR will be considerably more reliable than the radars of traditional construction, since the failure to 10% of receiving-transmitting modules (PPM) does not lead to the refusal of entire radar, i.e., to the curtailment of its functions. In the antenna array of that demonstrated in Bangalore "Zhuk- AE" are 680 PPM, grouped by the assembled 4 elements. Subsequently in the series models the diameter of antenna array will be increased and a quantity PPM will grow to 1064.
It is important to note that "the Zhuk -M3" completely consists from the elements of pure Russian origin. As a whole AFAR is made on the "synchro-cyclotron". The PPMs are made by NPF "mikran", and the basic element of the receiving-transmitting module - monolithic integrated circuits - were made in NII - SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE for semiconductor devices. Both these enterprises are located in Tomsk (Siberia). The first model of "Zhuk- AE" is prepared on the base of the radars, created earlier by the serial technology. In particular, it uses computing system that includes the data processor , signal processor, master oscillator with the synchronizer, and receiver. Subsequently it is planned to establish new computing system, and also wide-band and multifunctional master oscillator. This will make possible to decrease the length of radar and to place additional aircraft systems at the freed space.
One additional "mithai" of MiG-35 is its new optico- locating station (OLS), developed in NII - SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE precision instrument manufacture - earlier this scientific and industrial organization worked in essence in the interests of space branch. OLS contains the front and lower stations, which work in the average infrared and the video ranges, and also the carrying out functions of the laser range-finder, which can work, also, for the illumination of purposes during the guidance of weapon. In the forward half sphere the system works in the range +/- 90 degrees on the bearing angle and from -15 to +60 degrees on the height, and lower optical "sphere" attends entire lower hemisphere. The range of detection of purposes by front station is 15 km, by lower station - to 45 km (OLS it will recognize tank at a distance to 20 km, ship ââ¬â up to 40 km).
The radar, OLS and special sensors, mounted on the endings is wing MiG-35, are united into the unique defense complex. All these systems fix the launches of rockets and determine, aimed rocket at the aircraft. Then trajectory and distance of weapon, the type of the missile guidance is determined. The irradiation of aircraft by laser beam is also recovered. The command to the shooting of IR traps or setting of interferences reveals according to the results of collection and information processing, then the vector direction for the deviation from the attack is given to pilot. The complex of defense reveals the launches of rockets "air-to-air" at the distance of 30 km, those of rockets "surface-to-air" - on 50 km, sholder-launched missiles - on 10 km, the detection of dangerous rockets is achieved at a distance not less than 4 km and the laser irradiation "is identified" from the distance of 30 km.
MiG-35 it is proposed for the export with the standard collection of the air facilities of defeat. However, for Aero India 2007 the developers of aircraft saved up novelty - for the "work" on the earth now is proposed the cruise missile of the distant radius of action with the active homing head 3m14- AE, development of Ekaterinburg OKB "novator".
PRELIMINARY SUMS
Between two basic competitors of MiG-35 in the Indian tender only F/a-18 E/F has a radar with the impulse phased cascade. However, according to the behind-the-scene information of Russian delegation on Aero India 2007, the aircraft of this type participated in the salon had usual radar. Then the air attaché of the embassy OF THE USA in India in the interview for newspaper Times of India made the truly American statement: "buying F -16 or F/a-18, you buy America". Such motion is rather curious, although for nevertheless the Indian side worthwhile to remember that THE USA clearly will not go to so complete transfer of the technologies for the license production of aircraft, as Russia proposes. Furthermore, from the side of Washington completely it is possible to expect different kind of unfriendly steps, for example the introduction of economic sanctions in the case of the "unsatisfactory behavior" of the partners. But this can seriously complicate the license release, and then the operation of American aircraft in India in such a case.
Within the framework of advance MiG-35 the corporation "MiG" granted to the pilots of Indian AF to test this aircraft in the matter. The Majors Adj puri and Skvodran prasant, that fly on the fighters MiG-23 and Jaguar respectively, obtained the possibility to rise into the sky on MiG-35 and to carry out a number of the figures of pilotage. As the reciprocal step the Americans "rolled" on F/a-18 and F -16 the owner of the Tata group company 69- year old Ratan tatu. The Impression from the demonstration of American technology in the Yelahanka sky , where the airshow was conducted, was somewhat greased by incidents with the F -16 aircraft - in one of them the brakes were necessary to change, after they were burnt with the landing, and in the second incident something happened for the front steadfast of F-16's chassis, as a result of which this machine was taken from the flights.
The common impression from Aero India 2007 thus , that Russia presented in tender MMRCA not only the best aircraft, but also the best conditions of its delivery. First of all this is connected with deepest transfer of license to its production in enterprises of HAL corporation. In the opinion of the first deputy of general director - the design project leader OF RSK Sergey tsivilev's "MiG", this was explained by the fact that "we have enormous work experience with India on the license contracts for transfer of licensed MiG-21, MiG-27 and Su-30MKI". Furthermore, the signed agreement for licensed production of the "Klimov" RD -33 of series 3 engines, developed in Petersburg, must play its role .
Ilya Kedrov
Bangalor- Moscow
http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2007.173.articles.defence_01
