Cooperation agreement signals firm commitment of UTC and P & W to a large number of aerospace projects (324 words)

Published: 10/19/2001

On 17th October, United Technologies Corporation signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian Aerospace Agency (RAKA) covering all of the corporation's activities in Russia. The agreement, signed by UTC's President Karl Krapek, UTC subsidiary P&W's President Louis Chenevert, Yuri Koptev, Director General of RAKA and his deputy Alexander Kuznetsov, focuses on the continued support by UTC for the large number of projects that it is currently involved in across the aerospace industry. Since 1990, it has made investments of $400m in 25 projects. In the aviation industry, P&W reiterated its commitment to continue development of the PS-90A with Perm and Aviadvigatel and the continued development of the PW-2337 engine on the Il-96T: a curious comment, since these were recently removed. The engine producer was also reported to be participating in the development of the PS-90 derived PS-9 from Perm and Aviadvigatel, that has recently been suggested as a candidate for the power plant for a number of aircraft, including the Be-200, the joint Russian/Indian project, the Il-214 transport aircraft and other proposed regional jets. A reiteration of P&W's commitment will hearten its designer and producer that currently does not have the $170m reportedly required to take the engine from its current virtual state to certification and it has been courting the Perm shareholder's support. The major challenge of a new gas generator remains, however; to meet the engine's planned thrust range of between 9-13 tonnes. The cooperation agreement also covered the St Petersburg based design bureau P&W Rus, currently modifying PWC engines for manufacture in Russia and installation on the Ansat, Mi-38 and the Il-114-100. It also includes the agreement between Hamilton Sundstrand and Moscow-based Nauka, producing heat exchangers for western and Russian aircraft and Sikorsky's cooperation with Mil on design and development projects for the S-76 and S-92.

Article ID: 2840