Su-35 versus Superhornet

Russian companies are trying to conquer Latin American arms markets

At arms exhibitions, not all exhibits brought far away are successful. Plans related to one or another type of weapon do not always come true. The sixth International Exhibition and Conference on Aerospace and Defense Technologies LAAD-2007 in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro was no exception. On the sidelines of the exhibition they say, for example, that the central design bureau of marine technology "Rubin" from St. Petersburg was not successful: why, they say, go beyond the equator and offer their products there if the Brazilians have already concluded an agreement with Germany and the Germans are building their own submarine for them .

At the same time, such a regular participant in exhibitions as the Ural Optical-Mechanical Plant (UOMZ), although it has “rolled out” the traditional range of its products, concludes contracts in this distant region. The reason is simple: UOMZ sells equipment that can be installed on any aircraft, no matter whether it is domestic or foreign. It is a generally accepted fact that Russian arms manufacturers lost a lot when they became fixated on selling the final product. Helicopter technology has traditionally enjoyed success. Chile will soon announce a tender for the purchase of light and heavy helicopters. And if the Russians have problems with the light weight, then the Mi-117 will most likely take part in the competition as the heavy one.

But there are leading exhibits at the exhibition, exhibits that look to the future. Near them there is often a crowd of visitors and official delegations; Russian arms dealers pin their hopes on future contracts with them. Vremya Novostey columnist Nikolai POROSKOV walked around these exhibits and talked with the creators of the unique equipment.

"We determine how large the deviation of Moscow's high-rise buildings is"

Oleg SOKOLOV, head of the marketing department of the Research Institute of Space Instrumentation:

-- This is our first time participating in an exhibition in South America, although, of course, they know about the global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) here. Now we are essentially having a demonstration of the flag. We brought here proposals for all services that GLONASS can provide. Relatively recently, our Research Institute of Space Instrumentation (NII KP) was appointed as the lead organization for the GLONASS system . We had previously developed satellite ground and on-board equipment for this system. These are ground-based receivers for accurately determining coordinates, system control stations that coordinate time, process information about the state of GLONASS, and so on.

However, we are not limited to the system itself - on its basis we create additional systems that use GLONASS services. This is, in particular, a transport monitoring system for tracking cargo. We make traffic monitoring systems. Such systems are already in operation in the Kaluga and Yaroslavl regions. In addition, we have created a federal system for monitoring particularly dangerous objects and cargo. We also do purely practical things. For the Moscow government, we determine the exact position of the capital's high-rise buildings - whether they have a vertical deviation and how large it is. This is a differential correction system based on satellite information.

- But GLONASS gives location determination only up to 1-3 meters. The high-rise can sway a lot ...

-- In the differential correction system, the count is already in centimeters.

-- Visitors are probably wondering when the GLONASS system will be fully operational?

— You probably remember: in the 90s, GLONASS was fully deployed, all 24 satellites. Then the crisis struck, spacecraft, having a limited resource, gradually failed, and there was nothing to replace them. In 2005, a federal target program was adopted to restore the system by 2010-2015, and last year the President of Russia set the task of accelerating the process. And by 2008, the GLONASS system will have 18 satellites. This is enough to cover the entire territory of Russia. But some areas cannot be completely covered for some time - for 100% coverage (at any time and at any point) 24 devices are needed. The new GLONASS-M devices have a service life of 5-7 years. Next year we will launch GLONASS-K with a service life of 10-12 years.

--What kind of customers are you counting on in Brazil?

- Now some countries in the world are producing receivers that will receive signals from both the American GPS system and ours, and in the future also the European Galileo. Here we have something to compete for; we could offer our own good ground-based receiver. Moreover, since last year in Russia it has been required to equip all aircraft, cars, and ships with GLONASS receivers. And we are working in this direction. And tomorrow, quite possibly, such a law will be adopted in Brazil. And the competition will begin to provide it with ground-based receivers. We will certainly participate in this. However, what is more interesting for us is the implementation of the systems that I mentioned at the beginning of our conversation. This is our unique know-how. Brazil, like Russia, is a vast country, and our technologies are in demand here.

"The RD-171 generally has the highest thrust in the world"

Igor FATUEV, Deputy General Designer - Deputy Director of Design Bureau NPO Energomash:

-- Several rocket engines are presented at our exposition: one has been used for many years on the Proton rocket, in addition to it RD-191 for the Angara rocket, RD-180 for the American Atlas rocket and RD-171, which is used in the rocket Zenit in the launch program from an offshore platform near the equator. The last two are in mass production, RD-191 is still in development.

—What allows the management of Roscosmos to talk about these engines, calling them unique, one of a kind, without competitors?

-- Oxygen-kerosene series engines of recent years of development truly have unsurpassed characteristics. The RD-171 generally has the highest thrust in the world and is economical. At one time it was developed in two versions - for the Zenit and Energia missiles. The latter was certified for ten flight uses. This is the first step towards a reusable engine prototype. It has enormous flight statistics and has proven its reliability. An engine for the American program was created on its basis. RD-191 is close to its prototype in its main elements and individual units. All these engines have very high reliability, proven by practice. When manufacturing engines, we implement unique technologies that are not available in the USA; they cannot reproduce our engines.

— How long have you been supplying rocket engines to the Americans?

-- Since 1999, we regularly deliver several engines every year; we have delivered over 30 in total.

— What do you expect from your visit to Rio de Janeiro?

- Brazil is beginning to widely develop its space program, and we want them to know us better, and we to know them. Actually, at LAAD-2007 the first contact took place and areas of mutual interest were established. The Brazilian space agency intends to develop a launch vehicle. Perhaps some of our help will be needed, perhaps cooperation will develop. Today, our company is the world's leading company in the development and production of powerful spare rocket engines. Last year, over 60 rockets were launched into space around the world, more than 40% were equipped with our engines.

“Our task is to surpass all the latest foreign achievements”

Konstantin MAKSAKOV, deputy chief designer of the Sukhoi company:

-- We are exhibiting the Su-35 abroad in Brazil for the third time. Before that there were London and Juhai. This is a 4++ generation aircraft. Its predecessors are aircraft of the “4+” generation: Su-30MKI , Su-30MK2. It took a gap between them and the fifth generation to create a complex of on-board equipment close or similar in capabilities and structure to the fifth generation.

— How did the “4++” generation aircraft come about?

-- Due to a set of new parameters - airframe, avionics, engines, an integrated set of on-board equipment, weapons - this aircraft will be able to work simultaneously on eight air targets, and detect and see 30, can attack four ground targets simultaneously, of which two to hit. Can serve as an air command post - control a battle group.

-- Are any foreign buyers already interested in the new car?

- There is wide interest - Brazil, Venezuela, where there are already four Su-30MK2. At the next stages, the possibility of supplying the Su-35 is envisaged.

—What foreign aircraft can be placed next to the Su-35?

- We have a task: to surpass all the latest foreign achievements - F-18 Superhornet, Rafale, even F-22 - in a number of parameters.

-- The Russian-Indian enterprise Brahmos is demonstrating its intentions to install its missile on a Su type aircraft. On the Su-35 too?

- It's possible.

-- Will the Su-35 be supplied to the Russian Air Force?

-- Certainly. As soon as we advance in development to a decent level, we will implement the project for our Air Force, but at a higher level.

- At what stage of readiness is your new product today?

-- Experimental aircraft in the final stages of construction. The first test flight, I hope, will take place this year.