• Fighter design fully developed
• Russian prototypes undergoing land and flight tests
• Multirole transport aircraft pre-contract documentation to be signed soon

The fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), a project of Russian and Indian governments, is progressing well. The contract to develop a preliminary design project of the perspective multi-functional fighter (PMF-FGFA) has been completed. The fighter design has been fully developed, according to the new President and Chairman of the United Aircraft Corporation, Yuri Slyusar.

Speaking to SP’s on the sidelines of the UAC press conference at Paris International Air Show, he said India is a major partner for UAC in the development of two projects - the FGFA and the multirole transport aircraft (MTA). He said for Sukhoi this is top priority and Indian specialists have been trained with regard to basic data and software to create a single working environment. Both parties, he added, had agreed upon the amount and division of work during the research and development (R&D) stage. The contract for the R&D work will be signed in 2015 itself, he confirmed.

The PMF/FGFA fighter developed by the coproduction will have some differences from the Russian prototype due to specific requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). As regards the Russian version, he said that three more flying prototypes would be joining the test programme which now has five prototypes undergoing various on-land and flight tests.

Compared to the previous generation fighters, the PAK FA (Russian version) combines the functions of a strike aircraft and a fighter, thus offering a number of unique capabilities. The aircraft will have a new thoroughly integrated avionics package providing superior automatic control and intellectual support of the crew. This considerably reduces the workload on the pilot, enabling the pilot to better concentrate on the tactical functions. The onboard equipment o f the new aircraft makes it possible to exchange information in a real time mode with on-land control systems and airborne teams as well as to act on its own.

MTA pre-contract documentation soon

With regard to the multirole transport aircraft (MTA), he said the preliminary design of the aircraft has been completed and that India and Russia are working on pre-contract documentation. The contract would be signed before the end of 2015.

The MTA project is being developed according to an intergovernmental agreement between the Russian Federation and India. The participants on the Russian side are JSC Rosoboronexport and JSC UAC Transport Aircraft, a UAC subsidariy with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on board. The joint venture is registered in Bengaluru. The work to implement the programme is financed on a parity basis.

UAC growth curve

He said UAC revenue for financial year 2014 had touched 285 billion roubles, with over 98,000 workforce. For the last four years, the revenue growth has exceeded 18 per cent per year on average. Deliveries are also growing with two-digit rates in both civil and military segments. In 2014, UAC deliveries to the Russian Ministry of Defence exceeded 90 aircraft.

About 80 per cent of the revenues of UAC was accounted for by military programmes, he said and mentioned that the strategy was being changed and UAC was working towards increasing revenues from civil component, target being equal revenues. Civil and transport aviation programmes, he said, would provide for increased growth in corresponding market segments. In 2014, the SSJ 100 production and delivery rates have been impressive and last year the first Il-76MD-90A large transport aircraft had been delivered. As a result in 2015, revenues from civil and transport aircraft programmes should amount to over 20 per cent in UAC’s total revenues.