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Chinese Fighters Caused a Clash of Salut and Saturn
Russia’s two leaders of aircraft construction, Salut and Saturn, have clashed over the engine upgrading contracts for Su-27 and Su-30 fighters that were delivered to China some time ago. The aggregate upgrading may cost up to $2 billion, though the worth of the first consignment won’t exceed $180 million. Rosoboronexport is likely to choose a winner not by technical parameters but rather for political reasons, market players speculate.
Federal-run Salut Moscow Engineering Production Enterprise and Rybinsk Saturn (in tandem with Ufa Motor Construction Production Association) presented their own programs of upgrading Chinese fighters, sources close to contract negotiations said.
Salut came up with AL-31F-M1 engine of its own design, which benefits are the increased thrust and capacity. Saturn’s offer is to supply a new 117S, which is being tested now. This engine is based on AL-31FP that is used at Su-30MKI currently delivered by Irkut Corp. to India.
China has 273 Su fighters. It will have to upgrade 20 Su-27SKs and six Su-27UBKs in 2007 to 2008. Then, the time will come for 16 Su-27SKs and six 27UBKs.
Russia’s proposal to China is “to materially widen capacity of the aircraft” by replacing the engine, installing new system of control and equipping with modern devices, said sources with Rosoboronexport. The contract for replacing engines on the first 26 planes won’t be big in size. It will provide for replacing just 52 engines for a total worth of around $180 million. But all fighters of Beijing will have to be upgraded in the end, extending the overall contract budget up to $2 billion.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 27, 2006
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