Published: 5/22/1998

The management of the Sukhoi design bureau has announced the foundation of MAK, the International Aviation Consortium. MAK was founded on the initiative of the Tatar Government, and personally Tatar President Mentimer Shaimiev, who wants to see the aircraft and engine factories in his country recover from crisis. Members of MAK are said to be Sukhoi design bureau (Moscow), GosNII AS (State Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Systems, Moscow), GosNITs TsAGI (State Scientific Research Center of TsAGI. Moscow), KAPO (Gorbunov's Aircraft Production Association of Kazan), Kazan Engine-building Industrial Association, Kazan Optics-mechanical Plant, Electro-instrument Plant (Kazan), Radiopribor (Moscow), Aircraft Engine Scientific Industrial Complex Soyuz (Moscow), Sokol design bureau (Moscow). According to Sukhoi, the consortium was founded to materialise Sukhoi's civilian projects, mainly the C-80 turboprop STOVL aircraft and S-21 supersonic business jet. Mikhail Simonov, general designer at Sukhoi, says the military market is declining, so civilian projects are becoming ever more important. The first product for the consortium will be the C-80, he said. This aircraft will fly later this year, after the factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur finishes assembly of its first prototype. It will have a take-off weight of 12,500kg, cruise speed of 510km/h, passenger capacity of 26 seats. Its two General Electric/Rybinsk Motors CT-7-9B engines each develop 1870hp. With a 3,500kg payload it can cover 650km. and with 1,950kg 2,890km. The supersonic S-21 with a cabin for eight VIPs and a range of 8000km is at the initial design stage. The three D-21A1 engines (total thrust 22500kgf) will give it a top speed of 2125km/h, and a range of up to 7400km. Noise levels are said to be compliant with FAR 36 Part 3 regulations. In the future, MAK could help Sukhoi fulfil the ambitious KR-860 Wings of Russia wide-body project which resembles the Airbus A3XX. Mikhail Simonov says some $8bn would be needed to build the KR-860. As of today, however, the top priority for MAK are the S-80 and S-21. During a press-briefing in April, Simonov also touched on the joint programmes with the Sukhoi and Mikoyan design bureaux. "We are speaking not about merging, but about the foundation of a joint design bureau", he said. It will be tasked with modernisation of the existing fighter models. According to Simonov, the parties have already signed first agreements pertaining to this. (IN598.7) (VK)

Article ID: 162