The managing director of UEC-Kuznetsov, Alexey Sobolev, announced the start in 2021 of bench tests of the power plant for a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA).
“This year the first engine“ in hardware ”has been manufactured, (he -
RT
) is being assembled.
By the end of the year, the engine will be assembled for the start of bench tests.
During 2021, the first promising engine will undergo bench tests in order to work out the parameters specified in the terms of reference of the Ministry of Defense, "Sobolev told RIA Novosti.
The Samara company plans to manufacture several samples of the power unit for the PAK DA.
The work will be carried out in cooperation with other enterprises.
“This broad cooperation allowed us to complete the development of drawings in a fairly short time, the documentation was actually completed this year, and in parallel the product was designed in full digital, which allowed us to quickly launch the production of the first prototype,” Sobolev noted.
In turn, the general designer of "UEC-Kuznetsov" Pavel Chupin told reporters that the tests of the new power plant, most likely, will also take place at the flying laboratory.
“As for the flying laboratory, in fact, the regulatory documentation implies testing the engine both at the flying laboratory and at special stands of the TBC - this is a thermal pressure chamber that reproduces high-altitude conditions,” Chupin said.
Engines Tu-160
© Rostec
"Carry as many weapons as possible"
PAK DA is a promising unobtrusive complex that is being created for the needs of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation.
At present, this formation is armed with strategic missile carriers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and long-range bombers Tu-22M3.
Experts believe that PAK DA will gradually oust Soviet vehicles from the VKS fleet.
It is known that the military plans to replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS in the future.
Supersonic missile carrier Tu-160
RIA News
© Vladimir Astapkovich
The new strategic aircraft will receive more serious combat capabilities than its predecessors, due to the widespread use of radio-absorbing materials, new weapons systems, mechanisms and power units.
For example, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation expects that the PAK DA will have a significant amount of payload, be able to stay in the air for a long time, and will be able to land and take off from almost any airfield.
“He must patrol for as long as possible, be on duty in the air, take off and land from almost any airfield, have a good carrying capacity in order to carry as many weapons as possible, and be invisible.
And the requirements, for example, to the flight speed are no longer so relevant in the presence of new characteristics of aviation weapons, "said in 2016 the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation (now Deputy Prime Minister) Yuri Borisov.
The main developer of the new strategic aircraft is Tupolev PJSC.
In 2019, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense approved the final sketch of the PAK DA.
In addition, all the characteristics of the machine have already been agreed and contracts have been signed, which are necessary to launch the production of prototypes.
The first flight of the newest aviation complex is to take place in 2025-2026.
The start of serial production at the Kazan aircraft plant is scheduled for 2028-2029.
At the same time, the machine can be adopted by the VKS until 2027.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier at a meeting with the military and leaders of the aviation industry, the development of the PAK DA is an expensive, extremely complex, but necessary project.
According to the head of state, Russia cannot "indefinitely" extend the service life of the existing equipment.
"Perspective job"
Experts point out that the key role in the successful implementation of the PAK DA should be played by the development of the engine, which is mentioned in the media under the name "product of the Russian Federation".
To date, information on the characteristics of the new engine is very scanty.
Nevertheless, it is known that the main and redundant electronic systems of the engine unit will allow PAK DA to fly up to 30 hours.
“Such a flight duration will make it possible to carry out combat duty in different regions of the World Ocean.
The longer a strategic bomber is able to stay in the air, the higher its combat stability, "Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the Independent Military Review, said in a commentary on RT.
Thumbnail PAK YES
© YouTube / FILM COMPANY OFFICERS of the VKS and the Russian Navy
According to experts, the creation of a new power plant is a huge challenge for UEC-Kuznetsov.
At the same time, this company has the necessary competencies to make a scientific and technological breakthrough, since for several decades it has been specializing in the modernization of units for domestic strategic aircraft.
“I think that the new engine for PAK DA is a solvable task for UEC-Kuznetsov.
It is a good sign that the Samara enterprise has begun deliveries of NK-32-02 for Tu-160.
These engines are manufactured using new materials and have a new gas generator.
As a result, the fuel efficiency was increased by 10-15%, ”Litovkin noted.
According to the expert, the basis for the "product of the Russian Federation" was the experience of modernizing the NK-32.
Litovkin's assumption is confirmed by Pavel Chupin's statement that the UEC-Kuznetsov team plans to soon complete research work on the development of a promising gas generator for a new generation engine in the 18-24 ton-force thrust class.
The power plant will be used in long-range and military transport aviation.
“The promising work we are currently doing is work on a twin-shaft gas generator for the next generation of engines.
This is a gas generator in the same thrust class as the gas generator for NK-32 ... The project for a promising gas generator is now calculated until the end of 2022, "Chupin said.
Experts believe that the engine, on which the Samara designers are working, will allow the PAK DA to ascend into near space and quickly accelerate.
At the same time, the “RF product” will differ from its predecessor in a number of important characteristics due to the lack of the need to develop supersonic speed.
Also, analysts do not exclude that some elements from the PD-14 engine family, which are created for civil and transport aviation, may be borrowed for PAK DA.
Work on it, as well as on the "product of the Russian Federation", is carried out by the enterprises of the United Engine Corporation (UEC).
Updated engine for long-range aviation NK-32-02
RIA News
© Sergey Mamontov
“Of course, something from other developments can be borrowed, but the basis of the engine for PAK DA is still the NK-32, which is installed on the Tu-160.
Given the concept of this aircraft, the new unit should have a low signature, that is, low visibility in the radar and thermal ranges, "Sergey Denisentsev, an expert at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, explained in an interview with RT.
The analyst believes that the appearance of the PAK DA will allow Moscow to “quickly maneuver its strategic nuclear forces” and deliver strikes without entering the range of enemy air defense and missile defense systems.
“Much attention is paid to the PAK DA project because it will become an important component of Russia's nuclear triad.
A strategic bomber, unlike a ground launcher, can be deployed thousands of kilometers away.
In addition, PAK DA is also an image project that emphasizes the status of Russia as a great military power, ”Denisentsev summed up.