Stay of execution for Larzac engine

Published: 3/17/2000

Threats to abandon the relatively expensive and underpowered French Larzac engine, in favour of the Russian RD-1700 for the MiG-AT, seem to have had the desired effect. MiG has announced that the Russian government has given the go ahead for state-backed credits to buy French aircraft engines and avionics. Much of the objection to the French power plant historically has come from the Russian engine industry on the basis of price and power, although the RD-1700 offers little real improvement over the Larzac. The only really modern option available to MiG and one that has been discussed is the Lyulka-Saturn Al-55, which does offer substantial performance improvement. The reason for the change of heart appears to be the renewed access to $60m of funding, originally offered by France in 1998 and closed to the new RSK MiG during its reorganisation, but now resurrected through a combination of two unnamed Russian banks and engine producer, Turbomeca-Snecma, producer of the Larzac. The MiG-AT was originally designed for a South Korean requirement, but abandoned during its development work by the Koreans. Mikoyan then tried to place it with anyone who would potentially buy it including the RusAF and India. The aircraft was expected to be a contender in the competition to meet the Indian advance trainer requirement, but recent reports suggest that it has been possibly eliminated leaving the Alpha jet and the BAe Hawk as the only contenders. Some commentators are of the view however, that Nikitin, the General Director of RSK MiG, would not have accepted the loans without reasonable confidence of a substantial foreign customer.

Article ID: 1700