Waste recycling with a flight bias

Russian aircraft engine manufacturers are diversifying production

The united aircraft manufacturing company that is being created today, albeit with difficulty, will also contain in its structure the propulsion sector - an aircraft cannot be built without a “heart”, without an engine. One of the key manufacturers of Russian aircraft engines is the Moscow Machine-Building Production Enterprise (MMPP) Salyut. In March of this year, at a meeting of the Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation with Foreign States, President Vladimir Putin noted the high results of this federal state unitary enterprise. The success of Salyut is partly due to the presence of its own design bureau. This allows us to offer modified engines to foreign customers. China is undoubtedly the first item on the list of foreign customers. This was once again confirmed by the recently completed international aviation and space salon “Aeroshow China 2006” in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai. Vremya Novostey columnist Nikolai POROSKOV spoke with MMPP General Director Yuri ELISEEV about the present day and the prospects of Salyut.

--Who is your main partner in China?

-- Limin plant. The USSR began cooperation with him back in the 50s of the last century, and received a second wind in the 90s. Today, this enterprise has completely mastered the overhaul of our AL-31F engine, and we can already plan joint development projects. In the future, these could be engines for military aircraft.

—What does Salyut supply to China today?

-- Engines for the Su-27 and Su-30 aircraft, as well as for the Chinese single-engine fighter J-10 ("Super-10"). There are prospects here related to the improvement of engines. I'm talking about the AL-31FM1 engine, which has a ton more thrust and an increased service life. The engine has passed all stages of state testing in Russia. On October 10 of this year, Air Force Commander General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov approved the act of the state commission for the acceptance of this engine into service. Preliminary negotiations have shown that China is interested in this engine. The engine is installed on Su-27, Su-30, Su-33 aircraft, it is interchangeable with the AL-31F engine. The AL-31F engine with variable thrust vectoring and an all-aspect nozzle is also ready.

-- Are modifications required in the aircraft itself to install improved engines?

-- AL-31FM1 without a controlled thrust vector does not require any modifications to the aircraft, with a controlled vector it does.

- Today, probably, not a single defense enterprise has escaped the diversification of production. How did it go for you?

— We at Salyut have always believed that even with good development of military-technical cooperation, our strategy is to produce civilian products. "Salut" and "Limin" showed interest in joint production, and in the future, in joint development of energy, desalination plants, waste processing plants developed by "Salut". And we intend to move from seller-buyer relationships to partnerships. Knowing the potential of Limin, I can say: our joint products are competitive in terms of efficiency and price. We are now finishing the installation of a 60-kilowatt power plant, which has an efficiency of more than 50% and a fuel utilization rate of about 95%. In the world today these are very high indicators, the upper limit.

— Are your power plants sold in Russia?

-- A contract worth $60 million was signed with Mosenergo for installations with a capacity of 60 megawatts. Starting next year we plan to begin mass production of such installations.

-- Do you sell desalination plants?

-- These products go mainly to the Middle East, where their market is estimated at $5 billion a year. The countries of Southeast Asia have a much larger market.

— As far as I know, Limin was founded with the help of Salyut, and there are still Salyut representatives at its enterprises. Today, Limin carries out major overhauls of AL-31 engines, works to extend service life, increase reliability, and manufactures spare parts. A protocol of intent to create a joint venture was signed in Zhuhai. But such cooperation sometimes develops into competition ...

— It is possible that for some period both Russian and Chinese engines will be supplied. We are unlikely to face competition in the generally accepted sense of the word.

-- What contracts does your company have with China today?

-- Today Salyut fulfills its obligations to supply 100 AL-31F engines within two years. This is a 2005 contract worth more than $300 million. We also supply spare parts for the repair and maintenance of engines for the Su-27SK and Su-30MK2 fighters delivered to China. This is already under a contract worth $100 million. Independent supplies of spare parts for export will increase, without an intermediary, and the volume of maintenance services for aircraft previously delivered abroad will increase. Last year we earned $38 million in this area, and this year, I think, it will be more than $50 million.

--Who do you cooperate with besides China?

-- In modernizing the engines of combat aircraft, creating a medium transport aircraft that China is currently developing, Salyut will take part together with the Ukrainian design bureau Progress, which is developing a promising engine with a thrust of 12 tons.