Sukhoi is working on super agile light weight trainer

Published: 2/23/2000

Sukhoi Advanced Technologies division is working on a light-weight “super agile” jet trainer whose designation has not yet been revealed. The division's head, Boris Rakitin, said the project is a company initiative, funded from Sukhoi's own resources. In addition to the jet trainer, Advanced Technologies division is working on a light agricultural aircraft (S-38) and advanced models of highly successful sporting aircraft of the Su-26 family. The jet trainer houses two pilots in tandem layout and has a single A.Lyulka-Saturn Al-55 engine, recently proposed as the powerplant for the MiG-AT and the Yak-130. The first prototypes, however, are likely to be powered by the Ivchenko AI-25. One of the possible configurations is that resembling the S-37 Berkut, with canards (foreplanes), a forward-swept wing of a moderate swept angle (about 15 degrees), large aerodynamic extensions to the wing and the rear part of the fuselage, two outward-canted vertical fins. According to Rakitin, the new jet will be a generation ahead of the Yak-130 and MiG-AT, and will be “several times lighter”. The trainer will be able to perform most of the manoeuvres mastered on the Su-30MKI and Su-37 “super agile” fighters with thrust-vectoring systems. It will have limited weapons training functions, with its primary role being training pilots in use of “super agility”, high g loads and navigation systems. Rakitin confirmed that weapons training will be then performed on either the Yak-130 or twin seat versions of combat fighters. Yuri Chepkin, General Designer of A.Lyulka-Saturn, said that the engine maker is offering a special version of the Al-55 for the Sukhoi trainer. He added that normal takeoff weight for the new aircraft is set at 1,500 kg, while the Al-55 will deliver 2,000 kgf of thrust at military power and 3,000 kgf at full afterburner. The trainer's thrust-to-weight ratio will exceed 1.0, and be close to the respective figures of the most modern air superiority fighters. The Al-55 is being developed by A.Lyulka-Saturn, under an agreement with MMPP Salyut, a large Moscow-based production factory specialising in manufacture of Al-31 series engines for the Su-27 family. It is expected that the first operable engine for ground testing will be assembled and put into test by the end of this year. MMPP Salyut and A.Lyulka-Saturn's own experimental factory is manufacturing parts for five operable engines, including three for flight tests. The first five engines will have a thrust of 2,000 kgf. Future versions will have the same gas generator, but also swivel nozzles in order to allow vectoring. Two models of the later version are being considered: one for a non-reheated version of the engine; the other for the same with an afterburner. The Al-55 has also been proposed to Mikoyan for the MiG-AT and to Yakovlev for the Yak-130. According to Chepkin, the Al-55 has the same location of attachment points as the French Larzac so as to substitute easily the latter's place on the MiG-AT. For the Yak-130 A.Lyulka-Saturn is developing a special version with a higher thrust. Engines for the MiG-AT and Yak-130 will come without an afterburner. Chepkin stated that the Al-55 is suitable for a twin-engine light tactical fighter with a takeoff weight between five and seven tons, but would not specify which aircraft developer is considering this kind of development. The funding requirement for such a programme will be significant, requiring government participation or foreign investment. At this point, given the industry's commitment to the MiG-AT and the Yak-130, it seems unlikely that funds would be forthcoming, although with the Larzac being displaced by the RD-1700 and the DV-2S looking under pressure, perhaps the Russian Air Force will be interested in leaping a generation.

Article ID: 1465