Will it help to get a customer? (488 words)

Published: 4/9/2001

Klimov are to link up with Snecma on the further development of the Larsac engine for the MiG-AT, as part of ongoing French support of the advanced trainer programme that has yet to find a major buyer. The programme to upgrade the new Larzac 04U43 to greater power, comes after considerable criticism about the lack of power for export customers of the earlier Larzac 04-R20 (1,400 kg). The new engine will be rated at 1,700 kg and according to reports, the modernization of the 20 years old engine will take two and three years. The largest potential customers for the aircraft remains the Indian Air Force, still dogged by a very high accident rate attributed to lack of advanced training aircraft. It is unclear however, just how many training aircraft may be ordered from the Russians.It was reported in December 2000 that the contract had gone to the BAE Systems for the Hawk, with the a stop gap of leased Alpha Jets. A contract that until quite recently was reported to be in the last stages of negotiations, despite the Russian assertions of the possibility of their involvement. Recent reports may have supported that optimism, as it appears for the meantime at least, the contract for 66 aircraft may have fallen foul of the bribery scandal that is currently rocking India and has forced the resignation of long standing Defence Minister George Fernandes. According to local officials, added scrutiny of the proposed trainer contract could delay the finalisation of the deal for as much as several months. Whether this improves the Russian's chances of securing the deal to deliver 24 aircraft and licence the production of 42 locally, is unclear. The Russian have however, always held out the possibility of Indian orders and the motivation for much of the engine work around the AT to date, has been in the hope of persuading the Indians of the MiG-AT's viability. The Russian also believe that the aircraft is in the running for the Greek 40 aircraft trainer tender due to be announced in the next few months. In parallel to the Larzac powered and French avionics equipped AT, the Russians are also offering a cheaper Russian RD-1700 powered/Russian avionics version of the MiG-AT (MiG-UTS). The variant originally developed for the Russian Air Force and foreign customers is reported to have been offered to the Indians with local production of the engines. The engine developed by Soyuz, largely at its own expense, was due to fly with in early 2001. The schedule has however, now slipped, and the engine seems unlikely to fly before early 2002. Soyuz are currently reported to have two engines undergoing bench testing, but the aircraft that flies will have one Larzac and one RD-1700. There have also been reports that Lyukla-Saturn has reviewed to possibility of offering the Al-55 engine for the trainer and light attack market.

Article ID: 2473