Utility/Auxilliary aircrafts in RuAF

Antonov An-148 Prospects Boosted by Russian Military Order

The Russian ministry of defense (MoD) has awarded United Aircraft (UAC) a firm order for 15 Antonov An-148 twinjets, according to UAC president Mikhail Pogosian, speaking at the Paris Air Show. The contract is worth Rouble 18 billion ($550 million). The delivery schedule calls for one aircraft this year, eight in 2014-2015 and six in 2016-2017. The Russian government has previously expressed a need for 130 jetliners for various government agencies. This requirement includes 59 An-148s, according to minister for industry and trade Denis Manturov.

The MoD order is highly profitable for aircraft maker VASO, a UAC factory in Voronezh, with some 25 percent margin over the manufacturing expenses. This contract, along with another for six Il-96-300s for VIP transport, is meant to help the plant establish cost-effective production. VASO lost Rouble 1.2 billion ($36.5 million) in the past year, despite a rise in revenues to Rouble 8.8 billion ($268 million). Last year the factory delivered only one An-148-100EA to the Russian government’s special air detachment (a second is due by year-end) and one An-148-100EM to the Ministry for Emergencies (a second is due this summer), along with three An-148-100Es to Ilyushin Finance (IFC), which subsequently placed them with the airline Angara.

Speaking to AIN at Paris, Alexander Roubtsov, general manager at IFC, said the MoD order “will help gear-up type production at the Voronezh plants, from which commercial buyers will only benefit.” The military order will enable VASO to invest in advanced manufacturing methods and equipment, and to master lean, resource-saving technologies. IFC holds orders for 34 An-148s, and another commercial buyer, Savings Bank, has ordered 10. Thus far, 11 aircraft have been delivered, split between the two.

Eighteen An-148s are currently in service (plus two extended-fuselage An-158s), counting both Russian- and Ukraine-built examples, and to date they have carried two million passengers, according to Antonov. The design house is shaping the An-148-300MP maritime patrol version with 10-hour loitering capability and armed with anti-ship missiles, unguided rockets, depth charges and 23-mm cannon pods. This version is aimed at Russian and Ukrainian MoDs and is also on offer to India. In addition, Antonov is developing the An-178, a ramp-equipped airlifter based on the An-148 and able to carry a 16-metric-ton payload 3,800 km. At the Paris Air Show, Antonov president and general designer Dmytro Kiva said the first prototype is under construction for an anticipated maiden flight next year.

What will be the role of An-148 in Russian Air Force?

I think VIP Transport but some of the An-148 might be converted to ELINT/SIGINT role.

The main competition between the Il-112 and An-148 is to replace the light transports like the An-26, An-32 and An-72 in Russian military service.

These are light transports below the An-12 in weight/range performance.

The Russian/Indian MTA will replace the An-12.

GarryB wrote:The main competition between the Il-112 and An-148 is to replace the light transports like the An-26, An-32 and An-72 in Russian military service.

These are light transports below the An-12 in weight/range performance.

The Russian/Indian MTA will replace the An-12.

Not exactly.

The competition is between Il-112 and An-140 (cargo version) for the 5 Ton payload class.

An-148 ( 12 T payload for a cargo version) is in a different league and should be considered more as a replacement for An-72.

The MTA is even heavier (18 T payload) and is a true replacement for An-12.

Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) signed a contract for delivery of 15 An-148 jets to the Russian air forces, Interfax reports with reference to a source close to the Russian aircraft industry.

According to the source, "the first An-148 will be delivered to the air forces in 2013". "After that four jets will be delivered to the customer in 2014, four more - in 2015, three ones – in 2016 and the rest three jets – in 2017", - he noted.

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2013/7/31/1838/

Austin wrote:Couple of question

Why 51 An-148 ? To support Ukraine Industry ?

I suspect part of carrot to Ukraine to not commit to EU  

An-148 , built in Voronezh (if i`m not mistaken) , have about 70% Russian parts.

Nice   

First light transport aircraft L-410 Russian Air Force put on skis

Russian Ministry of Defense completed the acceptance of the third An-148 aircraft
Russian Aviaton » Tuesday July 8, 2014 18:05 MSK

The acceptance of the third An-148 aircraft assembled by Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) under a contract with Russian Ministry of Defense has been completed by the ministry, IA REGNUM, reports with reference to the enterprise’s press-service.

According to the source, the enterprise completed the state testing of this liner in April.

A total of 15 An-148-100E short-haul aircraft will be delivered to Russian Ministry of Defense by VASO during 2013-2017 period. The first jet of the type was inspected by Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoygu, on November 8th 2013.

VASO continues the flight testing of fourth An-148 jet intended for Russian Ministry of Defense

An-148-100E (MSN 42-10, tail number – 61723) manufactured by Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) performed its first test flight. The jet will be delivered to the Russian Ministry of Defense, press-service of VASO reports. It is the 23rd aircraft of the type manufactured by the enterprise.

According to the head of VASO flight test department, Mikhail Fomin, in the network of six test flights functionality of all the aircraft systems and engines on different flight levels will be checked, go-around tests will be carried out. The aircraft’s stability and sensitivity at different altitudes as well as overall aircraft performance will be evaluated. The functionality of radio equipment, flap system, landing gear and aircraft landing system will be checked. Upon completion of the flight test program a number of acceptance flights will be performed and customer’s representatives will evaluate the aircraft’s performance.

The state contract for delivery of 15 An-148 jets to Russian Ministry of Defense was signed by VASO on May 7th 2013. It is being implemented on schedule. In the network of this contract the flight testing of the first jet was started on September 12th 2013 and it was delivered to the customer on December 6th 2013. The handover ceremony was held in Borisoglebsk. Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Shoygu, took part in the ceremony as well as the president of United Aircraft Corporation, Mikhail Pogosyan, management team of VASO and representatives of Russian air forces.

The factory testing of the second jet of the type was being carried out during the period from December 2013 to January 2014. The flight testing of the third An-148-100E was started in March 2014; the vehicle was delivered to the customer on July 2nd. The jet performed ferry flight from Voronezh to Chkalovski airfield (Moscow Region).

An-148 regional jets manufactured by VASO have been successfully operated by Rossiya – Russian Airlines, Rossiya special aircraft division, Angara Airlines, EMERCOM and Russian Ministry of Defense since 2009. An-148 fleet accumulated almost 85000 flight hours.

Russian Ministry of Defense took delivery of another An-148 aircraft

Representatives of Russian Ministry of Defense completed the acceptance of An-148-100E aircraft manufactured by Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) on July 11th 2014. The same day the jet’s crew performed ferry flight from Pridacha airport to the aircraft’s home base, said in the VASO’s statement.

In the network of six test flights performed by the aircraft (MSN 42-08, tail number – RA-61721) the functionality of the following aircraft systems has been checked: navigation system, APU, engines on different flight levels, etc. The go-around tests have been carried out as well as one-engine landing; the functionality of life support systems (used in case of decompression and other emergencies) has also been evaluated. The acceptance test program comprised a number of ground tests and six more flights. This An-148 has been upgraded in accordance with the customer’s requirements.

The crews for the new jets are trained by specialists of Chkalov State Flight Test Center, who have highly appreciated the capabilities of this regional aircraft.

Besides the RA-61721 airliner, the Ministry of Defense operates An-148 jets with tail numbers RA-61718 and RA-61722. At present VASO is carrying out testing of the fourth An-148 manufactured under the state contract with Russian Ministry of Defense for delivery of 15 jets of the type.

UWCA and Diamond to develop an aircraft for the Russian Ministry of Defense
Russian Aviaton » Thursday October 2, 2014 11:20 MSK

Specialists of the joint venture between Diamond Aircraft and Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA, Sverdlovsk Region) will complete the conceptual design of DA-42T aircraft intended for Russian Ministry of Defense, i-Mash reports.

According to the information policy department of the governor of Sverdlovsk Region, “UWCA won the tender for development of a new aircraft for the Ministry of Defense. Other governmental agencies have also expressed interest in the aircraft, so the state procurement may be expanded in future", - the governor of Sverdlovsk Region, Evgeny Kuivashev, explained.
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Cooperation between the companies will create about 500 new jobs. Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft, said: "I have visited Sverdlovsk Region and UWCA enterprise many times and I think that this region offers ideal conditions for development of production".

The joint venture between Diamond Aircraft and UWCA was established almost two years ago. At present its backlog stands at 3 billion rubles. In June 2013 UWCA was chosen as the only manufacturer of Diamond aircraft in Russia and CIS Region.

UWCA and Diamond to develop an aircraft for the Russian Ministry of Defense

Don't know why they would be cooperating with a Canadian company considering how anti Russian the Canadian government seems to be...

Just looks like an ordinary light twin engine aircraft to me.

The 16-seat Rysachok aircraft to perform its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2015
Russian Aviaton » Thursday October 9, 2014 15:30 MSK

The maiden flight of 16-seat light multi-role Rysachok aircraft is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015, Interfax reports with reference to a source close to the military-industrial sector.

"At present five Rysachok aircraft are under construction: three of them will feature a 16-seat configuration and the rest two ones – 10-seat configuration. The first 16-seat liner will perform its maiden flight in the first quarter of 2015", - the source said.

According to him, at first the aircraft will undergo flight development tests and then the certification testing will be started. "Almost all the results of certification tests passed by the 10-seat version of the aircraft will be recognized for testing of 16-seat version as well", - the source added.

Commenting the information that Russian Ministry of Defense issued a performance specification for the aircraft in spring, he said: "The Ministry did issue the performance specification and now it is being considered by the enterprise, because it will have to use own funds for development of this vehicle. The ministry is not going to finance the project".

It was reported earlier the Rysachok may be operated from unpaved runways with a soil strength of about 5,5 kg/sq.cm. Russian air forces plan to use Rysachok as a reconnaissance and patrol aircraft. The airliner is powered by М601F engines (Н80 for production vehicles) having a power of 750 (770) h.p. It is able to carry up to 10 passengers (production version will be fitted with 16 seats). Its range is 2000 km; cruise speed varies from 250 to 400 km/h.

Another An-148 for the Ministry of Defense of Russia

As the Voronezh plant complete the MoD's An-148 orders, will those be the last Antonov designed aircraft that will be procured by Russia?

As the Voronezh plant complete the MoD's An-148 orders, will those be the last Antonov designed aircraft that will be procured by Russia?

I would expect so... the An-70 is dead for Russia, while the An-72, An-26/32, An-22 are all planned to be replaced in the future... they might upgrade a few AN-124s and might even build some new ones, but the family of new transport aircraft they are funding development of includes an 80, a 120-150, and a 250 ton payload class aircraft which clearly will replace the An-22 and An-70 (80), the An-124(120-150), and An-225 (250) respectively.

the An-22 is useful, the An124 has been very useful and an An-225 will be more and more useful as the Russian space agency starts working with bigger and bigger rockets.

Odds are they might only make 3-5 250 ton payload class aircraft though india and china might want some too... there would certainly be a world market for maybe 10-15 such aircraft.

the 120-150 ton payload aircraft would be very useful for a variety of new roles with their new mobile armour units so they might plan for 80+ aircraft in this class for domestic use only... with world wide demand pretty high too as it is a useful weight capacity.

the 80 ton payload aircraft would be even more popular as a C-17 alternative without the horrendous cost and will likely be bought by the VDV as an An-70 replacement as well as the Russian air force.

In addition to those three related designs, there will be the Il-476 in the 60 ton payload class and a future possible replacement, the MTA developed with India as a replacement for the An-12, and the Il-114 and Il-112 or just two variants of the Il-112 to replace the An-26 and An-32... and finally the Ryachok to replace the venerable An-2.

A jet powered Il-112 or Il-114 would replace the An-72 in the role of 6 ton payload high speed jet if the MTA is deemed too big, but I think something could be worked out.

Ivan the Colorado wrote:As the Voronezh plant complete the MoD's An-148 orders, will those be the last Antonov designed aircraft that will be procured by Russia?

Aviakor makes An-140s...

Here it says that Rysachok utility aircraft production has been suspended

Aerospace Force receives another 4 L-410 UVP's. This makes a total of 15 received so far.
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1424032.html

7th AN-148 for Russian Air Force Passenger transport

Eighth An-148 for Russian Air Force began flight tests

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1580331.html

The Russian Defense Ministry will receive in 2016, 5 AN-148

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1728329.html