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Sergey Kuznetsov Sergey Kuznetsov Sergey Kuznetsov military aviation | project 38 take-off november 2007 2006). The French programme has gradually evolved into a pan-European one dubbed nEUROn. Sweden, Italy and Spain, which decided to pool their UAV expertise for common good, have joined the programme along with Greece and Switzerland. The UK follows its own way so far, pursuing its Taranis programme stemming from the Raven experimental UAV programme. Both the nEUROn and Taranis are based on the concepts similar to that implemented in the X-45 and X-47, but their takeoff weight is estimated at 6–8 t so far. It has come to public knowledge recently that, following last year’s loss of a prototype, Germany has decided to terminate the Barracuda UCAV programme unveiled at the Berlin air show in May 2006 and is pondering joining a European future combat drone programme (most probably, the nEUROn programme). On the home front What about Russia? Tupolev was among Russian pioneers of combat UAVs, having pursued a programme on a new-generation UAV, designated as ‘300’, or Tu-300 Korshun, since the ‘80s. The programme was based on the concept of Tupolev’s earlier Reis and Strizh recce UAVs, including their takeoff and landing manner, and, with its 3–3.5tonne takeoff weight, was to occupy the niche between them in terms of dimensions. The aircraft was to be used as part of the Stroy- F tactical UAV system in several versions, including the strike one – the payload could be carried both externally under the belly and internally. Six prototypes had been built and subjected to testing by the mid-’90s. During the ‘90s, the Tu-300 was displayed at MAKS shows several times. Then, the Korshun was forgotten, but the media reported in July this year that Tupolev was intent on resuming www.take-off.ru
the programme, enhancing the UAV’s performance and fitting it with sophisticated gear. However, if the programme goes ahead, it looks like it will follow the direction traditional to Tupolev’s Reis and Strizh air recce UAVs, because the Tu-300 is far off the current international UCAV mainstream as far as its concept, including takeoff by launcher and landing by parachute, is concerned. The Yakovlev design bureau’s Proryv (Breakthrough) programme is much more on a par with the spirit of the age. Having a wealth of experience in small UAVs (e.g. several types of Pchela (Bee) drones have been tested, combat proven, produced and operated by the Russian military), Yakovlev went public with its plans of developing a 10t combat UAV several years ago. The Proryv- U UCAV was to be developed as part of a commonised UAV family also comprising the Proryv-R recce UAV and Proryv-RLD airborne early warning UAV. To slash the cost and time of development, systems proven on the Yak-130 combat trainer were to be used, first and foremost, the engine, remote control system, aircraft systems, special airborne equipment, etc. According to the picture at Yakovlev’s Web site, the commonality between the Proryv UAV and Yak-130 may be 40 per cent. Yakovlev’s Chief Designer Yuri Yankevich offered detailed enough information and diagrams of the Proryvfamily drones in a special issue of the Polyot scientific and technical magazine timed to the 100th anniversary of A.S. Yakovlev in March 2006. The strike variant is planned to be a stealthy tailless flying wing with internal payload carriage, a single engine and an air intake placed on top the front fuselage. Its takeoff weight is estimated at 10 t, payload (missions systems and weapons) at 1–3 t, maximum speed at 1,100 km/h, service ceiling at 16,000 m and endurance at six hours. 60 to 70 per cent common with the combat variant, the recce and AEW versions differ in avionics, a higher wing aspect ratio and the design of their tail unit modules. In summer 2005, the Yakovlev design bureau, part of Irkut Corp., became known to have offered its long-time Yak-130 programme partner, Alenia Aermacchi (subsidiary of Finmeccanica), to pool efforts in advanced UAV development, with the Russo-Italian relevant agreement signed during MAKS 2005. At the Le Bourget air show in June this year, Irkut’s President and Yakovlev’s Director General Oleg Demchenko said for the record that the parties were about to launch practical work in this field. “Two years ago, Italian companies Finmeccanica and Alenia and we signed an agreement on deriving an unmanned aerial vehicle www.take-off.ru Tupolev Tu-300 UAV prototype at MAKS airshow in 1990s Skat UCAV and MiG-29 fighter dimensions comparison (drawing by Alexey Mikheyev) military aviation | project Yakovlev Proryv UAV family being designed using Yak-130 combat trainer technologies (drawing by Alexey Mikheyev) take-off november 2007 39 Yevgeny Yerokhin
Page 1 and 2: New mission to the ISS [p. 42] Sukh
Page 3 and 4: November 2007 Editor-in-Chief Andre
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Page 8 and 9: Sergey Sergeyev civil aviation | in
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Page 14 and 15: Andrey Fomin industry | in brief UA
Page 16 and 17: KnAAPO industry | in brief Su-35’
Page 18 and 19: Alexey Mikheyev industry | in brief
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Page 22 and 23: Piotr Butowski contracts and delive
Page 24 and 25: Andrey Fomin contracts and deliveri
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Page 32 and 33: contracts and deliveries | in brief
Page 34: Alexey Mikheyev contracts and deliv
Page 37 and 38: Growing number of upgraded Su-27SMs
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Page 43 and 44: Kh-31P antiradiation air-to-surface
Page 45 and 46: Another Russian spacecraft went to
Page 48 and 49: cosmonautics | in brief FSA Chief o
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