Our answer to Phantom

Russia is demonstrating in China a model of an aircraft that could become the base aircraft in the domestic air force.

The 6th international aerospace salon and exhibition of airport equipment, Airshow China-2006, began work at the airport in the Chinese city of Zhuhai. This exhibition has been held since 1996 on even years in a special economic zone in the south of China - in Guangdong province. The previous show in November 2004 ended with the signing of contracts and protocols of intent worth $4.5 billion. Much is expected from the current air show.

The beginning of the exhibition was marked by Su aircraft. Firstly, the Russian Knights aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force, headed by Colonel Igor Shpak, performed a new program here on five Su-27 aircraft. By the way, a delegation of the Russian Air Force of 80 people, headed by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, arrived in China. The "Russian Knights" have already demonstrated their aerobatic capabilities in the skies of China - at the "Eagle of Victory" air show, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, where over 100 thousand people gathered in the city of Zhangjiajie. Tens of millions of viewers watched the aerobatics live on television.

Secondly, the Sukhoi company is showing for the first time in the Southeast Asian region, however, so far only a model of the new Su-35 aircraft and a working simulator. Vremya Novostei military observer Nikolai POROSKOV spoke with Deputy General Director of the Sukhoi company Alexander KLEMENTYEV about the new product and the nuances of the exhibition.

— The center of our exhibition was indeed the Su-35 aircraft, to which we hope to attract attention. We are presenting this aircraft only for the second time - after the Farnborough Air Show this year. Representatives of the Chinese Air Force have just “flyed” on a simulator to it and gave it a high rating. We think that work on the Su-35 will soon begin to bear fruit. We regard this aircraft as the basis of the company's exports for the next few years - at least until the appearance of an export version of the fifth generation aircraft. We are supported in this by specialists from Rosoboronexport and the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FS MTC). We plan to begin production of the new product in 2009-2010.

- And again the best plane will go abroad?

— We are promoting this aircraft to many countries, but we hope that we will also supply it to the Russian Air Force. We would like to believe that the Su-35 will be the main, basic one in our Armed Forces. If the Russian Ministry of Defense wishes, we will adapt the Su-35 to a naval aircraft. The Su-35 has already participated in several tenders, and in terms of its combat and technical qualities it was a leader in South Korea and Brazil (the Ministry of Defense of this country submitted the “candidacy” of the Su-35 to parliament for approval). What we offer today is a fusion of the latest achievements in aviation science and very serious marketing research. The new aircraft has a phased array locator, a unified computer system, and engines with increased thrust and controlled thrust vectoring. Moreover, the nozzle will be controlled not by the engine control system, but by the aircraft control system. This comprehensive system will be digital. With this aircraft we return to the aerodynamics of the Su-27. Since its creation there have been many modifications, all of which have led to increased weight, drag, and poor maneuverability. The Su-35 has lighter equipment. In combination with a forced engine, its maneuverability will increase sharply.

- It is known that the Americans have a similar aircraft - F/A-18E/F - the famous Phantom.

- This suggests that we are on the right path. The American car absorbed the best qualities of basic aircraft. It has new avionics installed and has a new rocket. Like us, work on the F/A-18E/F proceeded in parallel with work on the fifth generation aircraft. Its predecessor in Russia is the Su-35. On it we will work out some of the latest technologies. F/A-18E/F and Su-35 will be the best combat systems in the world in the next decade. And - numerous. The Americans are going to install their F/A-18E/F on aircraft carriers. This machine will be the main one in both the Air Force and Naval Aviation. Their procurement program, if I'm not mistaken, amounts to approximately 600 aircraft.

We can say that the Su-35 is our answer to the F/A-18E/F. The ideology of building an onboard complex and combat use of these aircraft is similar. Although the American car is heavier than ours. Previously, the Americans took it with an on-board complex and weapons, but with the Su-35, I hope this will not happen. It has a new weapon, a new engine - a deeply modified version of the AL-31F. The thrust will increase from 12.5 to 14 tons. Acceleration, rate of climb, and maneuverability will improve dramatically. In terms of service life and resource, this engine is at the most modern level.

-- They talk about a flight life of 6 thousand hours, about the service life of the aircraft for 40 years...

-- A modern after-sales service system and logistics support allow us to say that these figures are close to the actual ones.

— At this exhibition, as at others, both heavy Su and light MiG fighters are presented. There is already talk about competition between two Russian schools and two companies. Does the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, whose representatives are present in Zhuhai, somehow regulate the supply of these and other vehicles to the market of China and Southeast Asia in general?

--- It’s better to ask representatives of the Federal Service about this, why these particular exhibitors are here, what types of aircraft licenses have been issued for. We are law-abiding people. However, the fact that China, India, Malaysia, and some other countries take Su aircraft indicates the demand for our aircraft. These countries have long borders and need planes that fly long distances. My opinion is this: we are exhibiting products with good characteristics and good market prospects.

-- How is the market for Su brand aircraft divided between your company and Irkut today?

- The question is not entirely correct. Such conversations arise due to a certain special position of Irkut as a virtually private enterprise. In general, Rosoboronexport “owns” and sells aircraft of the entire range. And the executor of all contracts for the supply of Su aircraft produced by factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Novosibirsk or Irkutsk, de jure and de facto, is the Sukhoi holding company. Another thing is that some enterprises have a larger order, others have a smaller one.

-- The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation believes that Sukhoi is a leader in after-sales service for previously delivered equipment. Have they really managed to turn the situation around in an area that has traditionally been problematic for Russian aircraft manufacturers?

— Over the past three years, we have made significant progress in the supply of spare parts abroad, in the field of repairs, and extending the service life of aircraft. This year, as in the past, these services will exceed $200 million in monetary terms. And we are expanding our geography - about a dozen countries work with us on the basis of direct contracts. This significantly increases the attractiveness of our technology.