The newest Russian strategic bomber Pak da. Technical details of the engine for the Pak da have been revealed. New complex - new filling

Today, only two states on the planet have special air forces, which have received the name of strategic aviation. It is clear that these states are the United States and the Russian Federation. Strategic aviation, as a rule, has nuclear weapons on board and can easily strike at enemies at a distance of several thousand kilometers.

Strategic aviation has always been considered elite in the past. This is how it remains in the eyes of the American and Soviet, and now the Russian military command. Submarine missile carriers and intercontinental missiles ground-based, all of them, together with strategic aviation, are part of the so-called nuclear triad. All this power has been the main agent in global containment for many decades.

Despite the fact that attention to strategic bombers, or rather to their importance, has slightly diminished recently, nevertheless, they still remain an important factor in maintaining parity between Russia and the United States.

Nowadays, the list of tasks for the execution of which strategic aviation can be used has expanded significantly.

Now the strategic aviation has to successfully engage in the development of conventional types of ammunition along with precision weapons. Both the United States and Russia are quite vigorous in using strategic bombers to bombard the Syrian Republic.

Today, Russian and American strategic aviation has in its arsenal aircraft designed and built in the 50-60s of the last century. Not so long ago, the United States began work on the creation of the latest strategic bombers, which are expected to enter service until 2025.

Work on a similar program is underway in Russia. The new strategic bomber has not yet been named. All that is available is the abbreviation PAK DA, which means work on the creation of a Perspective Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation. Developments are being carried out at the Tupolev Design Bureau. The new machine is supposed to be put into service in the same way as in the United States until 2025.

It is emphasized that PAK DA is not a project to modernize the currently available strategic bombers. This is the development of a completely new aircraft using the most modern technologies, which the aircraft industry currently has.

Nevertheless, before proceeding to familiarize yourself with the PAK DA, it would not hurt to familiarize yourself with the combat vehicles that are currently in the arsenal of Russian and American strategic aviation.

The position and prospects of modern strategic aviation of the United States and the Russian Federation

American strategic bombers

Today, American strategic aviation has the B-52 and B-2 Spirit heavy bombers, as well as another aircraft: the B-1B Lancer bomber. It was specially developed in order to deliver nuclear strikes against enemy territory. However, in the mid-90s, the American strategic forces had to say goodbye to him, as he was withdrawn from their composition.

B-1B bombers are considered to be similar to the Russian Tu-160 jet, while inferior to the latter in size. According to available information, which was provided by the American Department of State in January of this year, 12 B-2 bombers, as well as 73 B-52 aircraft with modification N.

Today, the B-52 bombers, developed back in the 50s and 60s, are the backbone of the strategic forces of the United States. These aircraft carry AGM-86B ALCM cruise missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads. The bombers have a range of over 2,750 km.

B-2 Spirit bombers are the most technologically advanced and most expensive aircraft on the planet. Their price is significantly higher than the astronomical $ 2 billion. The first bombers were manufactured back in the 80s. However, a decade later, the program had to be closed. As it turned out, even the United States could not cope with such a high cost.

During this time, they managed to produce twenty-one B-2 vehicles. The bombers are made using stealth technologies, which have the lowest electronic paramagnetic resonance in the world. It is significantly lower than the small stealths of the F-35 and F-22 types. B-2 Spirit bombers have only free-fall bombs, as a result of which they are ineffective against enemies with advanced air defense systems at their disposal. In particular, the Russian S-400 air defense system can easily detect B-2 bombers.

Thus, the B-2 Spirit aircraft are rather "strange" bombers. Despite the astronomical prices, their combat effectiveness in the event of a possible nuclear conflict would be very ambiguous.

B-1B Lancer bombers are also unable to arm themselves with strategic cruise missiles. Although, to be more precise, the arsenal of the American army today does not have such weapons suitable for these aircraft.

Today, these bombers are used primarily for strikes with conventional ammunition. It is possible that they can be armed with free-fall bombs with nuclear warheads. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that these bombers would be able to penetrate into the depths of enemy territory with serious air defense.

What are the prospects for American strategic aviation? In 2015, the aircraft manufacturer Northrop Grumman, which created the B-2 Spirit, won another tender announced by the United States Department of Defense for the construction of a new American strategic bombers, which are slated to be called the B21.

Work on the development of these machines began to be carried out under the LRS-B program. The abbreviation stands for Long-Range Strike Bomber, which in turn can be translated as "Long-Range Strike Bomber". Today it is no secret to anyone what the new bombers will look like.

As well as the B-2 Spirit, the new aircraft will be made according to the "flying wing" scheme. The military department demands that the new aircraft be even less visible to radars, and its cost could overpower the American budget. They intend to start producing the latest bombers in the next decade. The US military is still planning to buy a hundred of the newest B21s, and in the future, they completely replace the B-52 and B-2.

The new bombers, as conceived by their developers, will be able to carry out combat missions, both crew-controlled and unmanned. The total cost of the project is $ 80 billion.

Russian strategic bombers

Today, the Russian Air Force has two heavy bombers: the Tu-95 modification of the MS and the "White Swan" - Tu-160. The most massive strategic bombers in the Russian Air Force were the turboprop T-95 "Bears", the first flight of which was carried out during the time of Stalin in 1952. Although, it should be emphasized that the bombers in use today are related to the "M" modification and they were created back in the 80s.

Thus, it turns out that the main arsenal of the Tu-95 is even younger than the American B-52 bombers. To this we can add the fact that in recent years they have already begun to modernize these aircraft before modifying the MSM. The modernization of 35 aircraft is planned, and this, in turn, will contribute to the adoption on board of the latest cruise missiles X-101/102.

For all that, even those that have not undergone modernization, the "Bears" will be able to take on board the Kh-55SM KR with a range of up to 3,500 km, as well as the potential for installing nuclear warheads on them. Kh-101/102 missiles can cover up to 5500 km. To date, the Russian army has 62 Tu-95 units.

The Tu-160 is considered to be the second aircraft that is currently in operation by the Russian Air Force. In general, these are supersonic bombers with variable wing geometry. The Russian Air Force has sixteen such aircraft. These supersonic bombers can also be armed with Kh-101/102 and Kh-55SM cruise missiles.

To date, the production of modifications of Tu-160M aircraft has already begun. These are the first bombers of this modification, which were transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces in August this year. These bombers are equipped with new complexes with on-board electronics, and in addition, work is underway to create modifications of the Tu-160M2 type. On the latest modifications of vehicles, along with cruise missiles, the use of free-falling aerial bombs can also be used.

Despite the ongoing work on the modernization of the Tu-160, the Tupolev Design Bureau is progressing the project with the new PAK DA bomber. As already mentioned, it is planned to launch their serial production until 2025.

Activities to create the newest strategic bomber were launched in 2009. The design team was given the task of carrying out the first flight of the aircraft already in 2019. It is assumed that in the next decade, or rather closer to its end, PAK DA bombers will completely replace the Tu-95 and Tu-160 and become the main vehicles in Russia's strategic aviation.

In 2012, the Tupolev Design Bureau announced that the PAK DA project had finally started development work. In accordance with the information released to the public, the new bombers will be carried out according to the "flying wing" scheme. It seems that everything is done by analogy with the American strategic bombers of the B-21 and B-2 Spirit types.

The large wingspan prevents the latest strategic bombers from becoming supersonic. However, it can provide significant flight range as well as low visibility to enemy radars. It is assumed that in aircraft structures there will be massive use of composite and radio-absorbing materials.

As conceived by the designers, it is assumed that this approach to business will have an impact on a significant reduction in electron paramagnetic resonance. Moreover, it is planned to significantly reduce the mass of the future heavy bomber. Thus, PAK DA aircraft will be the first domestic bombers to be manufactured using stealth technologies.

In addition, the presence of such a scheme will provide an opportunity for a good combination of flight characteristics and sufficient internal volume of aircraft. And this, in turn, will make it possible to take on board more fuel, which will naturally have an effect on increasing the range of flights of heavy bombers.

It is assumed that the take-off weight of the bombers will exceed 100 tons. Although there is still unconfirmed information about the mass, even 112, or even 200 tons. It was also reported that in terms of combat load, future bombers will at least not be inferior to the Tu-160. This means that they will be able to take on board missiles and bombs weighing more than thirty tons. The military department demands from the designers to increase the flight range with new machines within 12,000 km.

In 2014, it was reported that the tender for the creation of engines for new aircraft with the presumptive name NK-65 was won by the Samara company "Kuznetsov".

Probably, prototypes of new bombers will be manufactured in Kazan, at the KAPO named after Gorbunov plant, where the production of aircraft will be possible. It is also known that the Tikhomirovsk Research Institute of Instrument Engineering is already developing radars for new heavy bombers.

It is not known for certain how many new strategic bombers they intend to build. It is possible that their number will be directly dependent on the economic situation in the state, because such aircraft are very expensive. It is possible that the public will be able to get acquainted with more accurate data on the number somewhere in 2020. Nevertheless, if these aircraft are being built to replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers, then there will be several dozen aircraft in the production batch.

There is very little data on the PAK DA project now. Representatives of the Russian Air Force provide only general information about him, and even those are very laconic.

According to the statements of the Russian military department, the PAK DA will be armed with all the aviation weapons available now, it is possible that also promising hypersonic missiles.

There is no information about the time of production of the first prototypes of new machines, as well as the timing of the launch of the project itself into mass production. It is clear that the originally announced terms are usually very conditional and will constantly change. Everything will depend on how difficult the design work will be, as well as the financing of the project itself.

In addition to everything, the decision to modernize and subsequently produce the Tu-160 may also have an impact on the implementation of the PAK, DA project and the timing of its implementation. Nowadays, American strategic aviation is inferior to Russian. Mainly thanks to the cruise missiles that are in service with the Russian Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers.

And the American B-2 can deliver air strikes only with the help of free-fall bombs, and this significantly reduces their combat effectiveness in the event of global conflicts. Thus, the KR Kh-101/102 is twice as effective in range as its American counterparts, which is why the domestic strategic aviation is in a more advantageous position.

The prospects for new projects in Russia and America are extremely unclear. Both projects are on initial stages and it is not yet clear if they will be fully implemented.

My childhood and youth were spent in a country called the USSR. I was an Octobrist, a pioneer, and a Komsomol member. That is, it has gone through practically all the stages of socialist processing. Our country is the greatest, the most, the most. This whole system of education of views, of course, has not gone anywhere. Yes, now I live in a different world, in a different country. And I myself have become different. But education, hammered into the subcortex, has not gone anywhere. And now, looking at how our armed forces are being revived, I cannot contain even some gloating. Here, bourgeoisie, get it!

Recent advances, especially in the field of weapons, give us all a sense of satisfaction, pride in a country that is finally recovering and is already capable of replacing some presumptuous politicians. And some countries too.

Hypothetical image of a possible version of the subsonic PAK YES

Electronic warfare systems, submarines, multiple launch rocket systems and air defense systems. PAK FA and the latest tanks. Our weapons are becoming an order of magnitude better than those of the world. A large number of promising topics and directions. For a short time, defense complex managed to get out of chaos, establish production and work on promising developments. The lag behind the world's weapons, if not completely eliminated, then, in any case, is close to this. And in some cases (as in air defense systems, for example), it is ahead of foreign equipment.

PAK-YES

In 2009, the RF Ministry of Defense and JSC Tupolev signed a contract for R&D to develop a fundamentally new aircraft for the RF Long-Range Aviation. By 2012, the technical design was completed and development work began.

The aircraft, made according to the "flying wing" scheme, will probably be equipped with domestic engines from the Samara engine-building company "Kuznetsov". The Kuznetsov firm, a member of the UEC, is developing promising gas generator engines for DA and TA aircraft for the next decade. It will be a unified, improved engine of the NK-32 line, which is now used on the Tu-160.

The main parameters of the complex are still unknown. It is clear that the estimated take-off weight will be from 100 to 200 tons. Stealth technology will also be applied. The aircraft must carry all types of aviation weapons, both existing and prospective.

First flight delayed

This July, general manager United Engine Corporation (UEC) Vladimir Maslov, said that the first flight of the PAK-DA complex will be postponed to 2023-2024. This was confirmed by Yuri Borisov, Deputy Defense Minister of the Russian Federation. First of all, the postponement is due to the decision to resume the production of TU-160. According to experts, the Tu-160 aircraft is aerodynamically perfect, which means that it has a backlog of decades ahead for re-release. It is enough to update avionics, navigation equipment, weapon systems, and upgrade engines. Aircraft of these types can still remain in service for a long time.

New complex - new filling

Avionics for PAK-DA is already being developed by the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern KRET. The bomber's astronavigation positioning system will not have a rigid binding to navigation satellites, which means it will be more effective in conditions of tough electronic warfare. The aircraft will also be equipped with a strapdown integrated navigation system (SINS) based on fiber-optic gyroscopes.

The PAK-DA complex will be subsonic, which will be compensated for by a set of stealth measures and long-range hypersonic missiles, which are already being developed by the Tactical Missile Armament Concern.

America also has a similar strategic bomber development program - Long Range Strike Bomber LRS-B. Both the American and our programs go roughly in the same direction. Both there and we have abandoned the hypersonic regime and the supersonic cruising regime, due to the high cost of development. Possible best qualities stealth of the American counterpart, it was decided to compensate for the large radius of action of cruise missiles and their hypersonic speed... Such missiles can be launched from a longer distance, which will minimize interaction with enemy air defenses.

The United Instrument-Making Corporation is developing a unique communication system for advanced aircraft. All Rostec corporations are involved in the creation of the bomber of the future, which means that it will indeed be a promising aviation complex of the future.

PAK YES

a promising long-range aviation complex.

As the main long-range aviation aircraft for the period after 2025, a project of a subsonic bomber according to the "flying wing" scheme, based on the developments of the Tupolev Design Bureau of the nineties, is being considered.

The power plant is assembled from four modernized NK-32 + engines without the afterburner. Maximum thrust 14000 - 16000 kgf. The thrust-to-weight ratio of such an aircraft is in the region of 0.25, which limits the maximum take-off weight of the PAK DA to a limit of 240,000 kg.

One compartment with dimensions of 8.75x2.5x2.5 meters allows you to place a standard multi-position ejection mount for six Kh-101/102 cruise missiles or six Kh-555 missiles.

Fuel weight 104000 kg, specific fuel consumption 0.535 kg / kgf * h, cruising thrust 4 x 2900 kgf = 11400 kgf, fuel consumption 6099 kg / h, flight time 17 hours, flight range 809 km / h * 17 h = 13750 km. The radius of action is 7000 km. Thus, the range of the complex with X-101 missiles will be at least 12,500 km, possibly due to the higher aerodynamic quality of the "flying wing" scheme (20-25 instead of 17), one can count on a ferry range of at least 16,500 km.

Characteristics PAK YES

Maximum payload weight
two MKU 2 x 16600 kg = 33200 kg., 12 KRBD Kh-101/102.
4 RVV-SD + 4 UVKU-50U, 4 x 190 kg + 4 x 117 kg = 1228 kg.
2 RVV-MD 2 x 110 kg = 220 kg.
Total 33200 kg + 1228 kg + 220 kg = 34648 kg.

Side view 67 sq. M
top view 564 sq.m
front view 80 sq.m.
volume 290 cubic meters

fuel system
side view of 27.15 cu.m
top view 263.8 sq.m.
front view 41.56 sq.m.
volume 133.5 cubic meters
fuel weight 104826 kg (785 kg / m3)

Compartment dimensions 2 mx 2 mx 8.9 m
glazing volume 71.2 cubic meters
relative volume 0.25

Glider density 780 kg / m3

Maximum weight 226000 kg
normal weight 209400
empty weight 87000 kg (density 300 kg / m3)
fuel weight 104000 kg
load weight max. 34648 kg
load weight norms. 18048 kg
service weight 352 kg

Wing area 557 sqm

Characteristics of PAK DA ZRK

Maximum weight 226000 kg
empty weight 87000 kg
fuel weight 104000 kg
combat load weight 12772 kg

16 RVV-BD = 16 * 600 kg = 9600 kg
16 UVKU-50U = 16 * 117 kg = 1872 kg
4 RVV-SD = 4 * 190 kg = 760 kg
4 UVKU-50L = 4 * 80 kg = 320 kg
2 RVV-MD = 2 * 110 kg = 220 kg

Complex weight 20,000 kg
service weight 2228 kg

4 antennas 4.0 x 0.8 meters (area 4 x 3.2 sq. M)

The engine for PAK DA will be based on the Tu-160 engine

The engine for the promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA) will be created on the basis of the second stage engine gas generator installed on the Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber, a representative of the United Engine Corporation (UEC) said.
“The Tu-160 has an NK-32 engine, it will have a number of technical changes and improvements, and this engine will go to PAK DA. It will be a new engine based on the NK-32 unified gas generator of the second stage, "- explained the representatives of the UEC at the" Oboronexpo-2014 "exhibition, RIA Novosti reports.
“For its creation should be allocated 8 billion rubles of budget money and plus own resources", - added to the UEC.
As reported in the official publication of the international exhibition "Oboronexpo-2014" with reference to the general director of the UEC Vladislav Maslov, the contract on the engine for the PAK DA has not yet been signed, but there are already general parameters of the power plant and a preliminary schedule of work, the terms and conditions of execution are being discussed.
Earlier, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, reported that the PAK DA will make its first factory flight in 2019, and its production will be launched in series in 2021–2022.
In May, the Air Force Commander announced that the PAK DA would begin to enter the troops in 2023.
In December last year, the commander of the long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force, Anatoly Zhikharev, announced that the PAK DA should go to tests in 2019, and from 2025 it should begin to enter the troops.
At the end of November last year, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation Mikhail Pogosyan reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the start of full-scale work on the PAK DA will take place in 2014.

In August 2009, the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Tupolev company signed a contract for R&D on the creation of PAK DA for a period of 3 years. According to the commander of long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force Anatoly Zhikharev, the aircraft project will be approved in 2013.

According to Igor Shevchuk, the general designer of the Tupolev company, “the forthcoming research work should be considered as the creation of a certain scientific and technical groundwork on this topic. This is not only and not so much a military topic as the study of issues of aerodynamics, strength, new materials and technologies. "
According to Deputy Defense Minister Popovkin, the technical design of the new bomber should be fully completed by 2015.

The Russian Air Force will receive a new strategic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons by 2030. Air Force Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Alexander Zelin told Interfax on Monday.
"At the present time, already at the stage of the preliminary design competition, we are creating a promising long-range aviation complex (the so-called PAK-DA - IF). I think that in February of this year we will report to the Chief of the General Staff, developed, and somewhere in the 2030s should appear in the composition of the new, qualitatively updated Air Force, "- said the colonel-general.
According to him, the most close attention is paid to the development of a new carrier of strategic nuclear weapons (SNF). "We are substantively, in detail dealing with this problem. Everything related to strategic aviation is a priority area for the development of the Air Force and is not subject to any revision," the Air Force Commander-in-Chief emphasized.
Zelin noted that along with the development of a new bomber, the domestic aviation industry is also modernizing the existing long-range aviation complexes. The Tu-160 supersonic bomber is being converted into the Tu-160M version, and the "regular" Tu-95MS - into the Tu-95MSM. "These aircraft, in the course of deep modernization, will receive a higher efficiency in the use of those weapons that are on board," Zelin explained.
Note that at the end of last year (2011), the Air Force leadership called other terms for the adoption of the PAK-DA into service. On December 20, the commander of the Long-Range Aviation, Major General Anatoly Zhikharev, announced that the new bomber, being developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau, would be ready by 2025. "The first flight model of such an aircraft will appear in 2020. Such an aircraft may enter service with Long-Range Aviation in 2025," Zhikharev said at the time.
Note that the development of a new strategic bomber is now being carried out by the United States, whose fleet of such aircraft is also seriously outdated. In the middle of the last decade, it was expected that the next carrier of atomic weapons would enter service in 2018, however economic crisis and lack of funding have called this deadline into question. It is expected that the new generation bomber will be able to carry out missions without the participation of pilots. In this case, the car will be able to stay in the air for up to four days.

June 15, 2012
A decision has been made, about which it will be possible to argue very broadly and tensely for a long time. It's about creating a new generation bomber for long-range aviation. This put an end to the dispute between Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov, a supporter of the creation of the aircraft, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who doubted the need for its creation.
During his visit to the Korenovsk airbase in the Krasnodar Territory, Vladimir Putin announced the need to:
- to develop a program for the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles (for the creation of which until 2020 it is planned to spend at least 400 billion rubles)
- create a new strategic long-range bomber (PAK DA)
As for the drones, the statement went like this:
“We need a program for unmanned systems... According to all experts, this is the most important direction in the development of aviation. Here we need the whole line, including automated strike, reconnaissance and other complexes "
With the new bomber, the more controversial issue is:
“We have to start work on a new promising long-range aviation complex PAK DA. I know how expensive it is, how difficult it is. We have spoken repeatedly with both the minister and the chief of the General Staff. The task is not easy from a scientific and technical point of view, but this work needs to be started. "
The first flight of the new bomber is scheduled for 2017, and production samples are to enter service in the period 2025-2030.

Research and development work on the formation of the requirements of the Air Force and preliminary studies of the appearance of the PAK DA in design bureaus began in 1999. Preparations for the participation of various design bureaus in the competition for the creation of a fifth-generation bomber began in April 2007. In December 2007, it was announced that the Russian Air Force had formulated tactical and technical requirements for the PAK DA program (interview with the Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Alexander Zelin to the Interfax agency, December 2007).

Quote:
A.P. Bobryshev: In 2009, we started research work to create a promising long-range aviation complex. And in 2009 we finished the first stage with an analysis of the current state and with consideration of options for a promising medium from all points of view. From the point of view of combining tasks that are today distributed or dispersed across three carriers, on three sides.
We drew a line out of 47 options at the first stage and left it for further consideration and analysis. 4. According to the deadlines for 2012, the research work should be completed.
In general, we plan to finish it, if not in 2011, then at the beginning of 2012, in order to smoothly move to ROC (development work). Naturally, R&D should end with preparation for serial production.

Vladimir Putin: By 2017?

A.P. Bobryshev: Yes, by 2017. In this regard, today we are reconsidering and considering, with the help of the State Research Institute of Aviation Systems, the issue of cooperation between capable developers and enterprises that will ensure the advancement at the modern level.
And by 2017 we need to create, in fact, a carrier with a 2020-2025 board in terms of its functionality. Therefore, this is a rather serious and difficult task, but given what both scientists and engineers possess today, I think we will be able to do it. (December 2009)

Quote:
It is assumed that in the first half of 2012 a preliminary project should be completed promising aircraft YES, based on the results of the defense of which a decision will be made on the further course of work.

Quote:
The Russian Long-Range Aviation Command issued a tactical and technical assignment to the military-industrial complex for the development of a promising new generation strategic bomber, code-named PAK DA. This was stated by the commander of the Long-Range Aviation, Major General Anatoly Zhikharev. (December 2011)

Quote:
“We have already carried out research and development work and are now at the stage of a preliminary project competition for the creation of PAK DA. I think this month we will report to the Chief of the General Staff and the Minister of Defense about the appearance of the PAK DA, which should appear in the updated Air Force by the 2030s, ”Zelin. (February 2012).

In parallel with the work on the aircraft, R&D and on the engine for it are being carried out.

One of the most interesting reports at the Scientific and Technical Congress within the framework of the "Engines-2012" show was the speech of Dmitry Fedorchenko, General Designer of the Samara OJSC "Kuznetsov" for 30 tons of thrust)
The company is currently on its own initiative conducting prospecting and selection of the design of such an engine, which can be installed on promising passenger and transport aircraft created under the Aircraft 2020 program, as well as on the modernized An-124-300 Ruslan.
So far, the most powerful turbojet engine in the post-Soviet space is the Zaporozhye D-18T with a thrust of 23.4 tons. There is no more engine in Russia now, although there is a need for it for a long time.
It is worth remembering that back in the 90s. SNTK them. N. D. Kuznetsova designed the NK-44 turbojet engine with a thrust of about 40 tons. Then the difficult economic situation did not allow to bring this project to end. Several years ago, it was reported about the "second approach" to the topic - the beginning of work on the NK-65 engine with a thrust of 18-30 tons.
It was recognized that the creation of a new engine "with blank slate"Will take a lot of time and huge investments. Therefore, the stake was placed on the use of the existing reserves - the modernized gas generator TRDDF NK-32 and the experience of work on the long-suffering NK-93, but with the use of new technologies, materials and digital design systems.

In total, within the framework of the Tu-160 program, 38 NK-32 engines of the second stage of state tests were manufactured. Currently, tests of the upgraded gas generator are carried out in the TsIAM thermal vacuum chamber. Work on its creation is being carried out jointly with the Samara Aerospace University. When modifying the basic gas generator of the engine to ensure the declared parameters, it is envisaged to significantly increase the gas-dynamic characteristics of the blade assemblies due to their aerodynamic improvement. The modified gas generator from NK-32 will have a sufficiently high temperature of gases in front of the turbine - 1750K (at the first stage of state tests of NK-32, the temperature was 1635K).

The second scientific and technical groundwork used in the work on the creation of PD-30 is a high-power gearbox. Here, work is being carried out jointly with CIAM, where a 33 thousand hp gearbox is located. with sleeve bearings, and which has an efficiency of approximately 99.4%. For PD-30, a gearbox of higher power is required. The reducer scheme is applicable on PD-30 for only one reason - to use a modified base gas generator from the NK-32 engine. In addition, the question during the elaboration was: which is better: a six-stage turbine or a gearbox? The enterprise has experience in creating high-power gearboxes for NK-12 and NK-93 engines, so it was decided that it would be most expedient to design the PD-30 engine according to the gearbox scheme. The gearbox will have a capacity of about 50 thousand hp.
For PD-30, a low-pressure turbine, a low-pressure compressor, a reducer, a single-row fan, and a control, monitoring and diagnostic system are being designed. Power from the low pressure turbine is transmitted to the low pressure compressor drive, and through the reducer to the fan drive. The use of a reducer allows for optimal speed of the fan and low-pressure turbine and ensures the transmission of power to the fan by the low-pressure turbine shaft inside the medium-pressure turbine shaft. Fulfillment of prospective noise standards can be ensured at the peripheral fan speed not exceeding the level of 340-350 m / s.
The next scientific and technical groundwork is a wide-chord hollow fan blade. For the first time, such a blade was manufactured back in 1985 according to the NK-56 engine project, and the remaining project. In 1999, work was carried out together with American company on the development of blades for the General Electric GE90 engine. The blades of an experimental batch were also made, but further work was suspended. However, all the developed technologies remained in the NTZ of OAO Kuznetsov. Today in Russia there are technologies and production facilities for the serial production of hollow rotor blades - at present, a plant for the precision production of hollow blades is being created in Ufa.

Thus, at PD-30, wide-chord hollow fan blades, a low-emission combustion chamber (all issues of low-emission combustion chambers have been sufficiently worked out on the combustion chambers of gas engines), a gearbox of the engine, a modified gas generator based on the gas generator of the NK-32 engine are being introduced.

For today, according to the PD-30 engine project:
design documentation released.
strength calculations were performed for a wide-chord hollow rotor blade with a honeycomb filler;
studies of vibration strength and damping ability of samples simulating elements of a hollow blade with a honeycomb filler on a vibration stand were carried out;
the technology of manufacturing hollow blades with a filler was worked out and 10 samples of blades were manufactured according to the developed technology. Samples have passed endurance tests;
studies of endurance and damping capacity of full-size hollow blades have been carried out;
the design of an alternative version of a hollow rotor blade with a stiffener has been worked out;
a technology for manufacturing a composite hollow rotor blade with a stiffener has been developed.

According to Dmitry Fedorchenko, the proposed PD-30 project is a development of the previous NK-65. During its creation, no over-ambitious tasks are set: PD-30 should receive only "modern" characteristics, at the level of foreign analogues - such as Rolls-Royce Trent, General Electric GEnx and CF6-80E1, GP7270, PW4460, etc.
In order to reduce risks, reduce the cost of R&D and reduce terms of development, as well as optimization of the serial production process, it is planned to use the existing scientific and technical groundwork of OJSC Kuznetsov on the gearbox and low-emission combustion chamber, to take as a basis the modified gas generator of the serial NK-32 engine. The government has set the task of restoring serial production of the NK-32 (installed on the Tu-160) in the interests of the Ministry of Defense, but the planned production volumes are small, and therefore the use of its gas generator for other projects, in particular PD-30, will only benefit.
“The PD-30 engine will have a two-circuit design with a gearbox and separate exhaust in the circuits,” said Dmitry Fedorchenko. - Modification of the gas generator should go in the direction of ensuring the declared parameters with a significant increase in the gas-dynamic characteristics of the blade assemblies. At the same time, the turbine and low-pressure compressor, reducer, single-row fan, control, monitoring and diagnostics system are redesigned. The use of a reducer will make it possible to have the optimal speed of the fan and low-pressure turbine and ensure the transmission of power to the fan by the low-pressure turbine shaft inside the medium-pressure turbine shaft ”.
According to the calculated data presented in the report, the PD-30 will have a takeoff thrust of 29,500 kgf with a bypass ratio of 8.7, an air flow rate of 1138 kg / s and a gas temperature in front of the turbine of 1570K. (according to other data, the temperature of the gases in front of the turbine is 1391K, at takeoff - 1635K)., the thrust at takeoff of the aircraft is 22,200 kgf; thrust in cruising mode 5700 kgf., In cruising mode (H = 11 km, M = 0.76 / 809.3 km / h), the specific fuel consumption will be 0.535 kg / kgf h. terms of reference the diameter of the PD-14 fan is 2950 mm, and the mass of the engine without a reversing device is no more than 5140 kg.

Unfortunately, PD-30 is a rather distant prospect, and its future is not yet fully determined. Dmitry Fedorchenko suggested that such an engine, using the existing groundwork and the necessary funding, could be created in 4–5 years. In the meantime, work is going on in search mode, but OJSC Kuznetsov hopes for interest from the state to start a full-scale design and create a demonstration model of the engine.
During the development of PD-30, it is planned to use the experience gained when creating another promising domestic engine - PD-14. For the manufacture of the demonstrator engine and the subsequent production of PD-30, it is proposed to attract, within the framework of cooperation, other domestic enterprises - UMPO, NPTs of gas turbine building Salyut, NPO Saturn, Aviadvigatel, Reductor-PM, Temp im. F. Korotkov "and others.

Strategic bombers of the 21st century

Independent Military Review

What should be the promising aviation complex of the Long-Range Aviation of Russia.

Recently, on the pages of special and periodicals, the problems associated with the creation of developed countries the world of aviation technology of the 5th generation, promising means of aerospace attack (SVKN) and the fight against them. At the same time, the topics of the discussed problems of creating in Russia a promising aviation complex of front-line aviation (PAK FA), concerning mainly ways of achieving tactical and technical characteristics and indicators of the combat capabilities of this complex, leads to sad thoughts that the complex is being created mainly for solving a very important, but far from the only task of front-line (operational-tactical) aviation in future wars. In order to achieve success in any war, in addition to defensive weapons of warfare, it is necessary to have effective strike weapons.

That is why long-range and strategic aviation complexes of Long-Range Aviation, which celebrated its 90th anniversary on December 23, 2004, will be one of the most important weapon systems of the RF Air Force. Until recently, it was only the aviation component of the country's strategic nuclear forces - the aviation strategic nuclear forces (ASNF). Only the United States has similar ASYaF in the world. However, with the decrease in the threat of a general or large-scale nuclear war in both states, there has been a tendency to expand the list of tasks solved by strategic (long-range) bombers in a conventional war. This tendency is realized through the programs of modernization of the complexes in service and should be taken into account when substantiating the requirements for promising aviation complexes of strategic (long-range) aviation.

US STRATEGIC AVIATION

To determine the operational and tactical requirements for the promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA) of the Russian Air Force, which undoubtedly should be developed and in 20-25 years to replace the existing aviation complexes, it is first of all advisable to analyze the use of US strategic aviation in the wars of the latter decades and views of the US Air Force command on its use in the wars of the first half of the XXI century.

The main directions of development of the US strategic bomber aviation in the forecast period are: modernization of the B-52H and B-1B aircraft; deployment of new B-2A bombers, manufactured using Stealth technology; equipping bombers of all types with high-precision non-nuclear weapons.

According to the announced long-term plan for the development of strategic aviation, starting from 2004, 76 (according to other reports - 71) modernized aircraft В-52Н and 21 В-2А will remain in the ASNF. The number of В-2А is planned to be increased to 42 units. 95 B-1B aircraft have been withdrawn from the US Nuclear Forces, although some experts believe that returning them to the US Nuclear Forces is not technically difficult.

The dominant trend in the improvement of US strategic bombers, which still remain the basis of the ANSNF, is the expansion of their capabilities for the use of high-precision weapons (WTO) in conventional weapons and giving them the status of a "dual-use" weapon.

B-52N bombers are assigned a special role, since in the future they will be the only means of delivering air-launched strategic cruise missiles (ALCMs) with nuclear and conventional warheads, medium-range air-to-ground missiles (UR) and anti-ship missiles in the Air Force. Harpoon". In addition, the B-52Ns were upgraded to use new WTO systems, including guided aerial bombs (UAB) of the JDAM family, WCMD cassettes, JSOW and JASSM missiles. The B-52N aircraft are expected to remain in service until 2025-2030.

To increase the combat capabilities of B-1B aircraft, programs are being carried out to equip them with UABs of the JDAM family, WCMD cassettes, JSOW and JASSM missiles, unguided cassettes with homing anti-tank submunitions. It is planned to modernize navigation and communication facilities, install an improved automated system for planning a combat mission, as well as modernize an electronic warfare (EW) complex, which should ensure overcoming the enemy's air defense system at medium and high altitudes.

Some results of the use of high-precision weapons in conventional equipment by the aircraft of the United States and its allies in several operations of the last decade of the last century and the beginning of the 21st century, based on the materials of the media, are given in the table.

As you can see, the share of high-precision aircraft weapons used in the course of hostilities has grown over these years by more than 7 times, but their total number and the average number of their applications per day have decreased. Although the intensity of their use in the first air offensive operations (UPO) has increased significantly. For example, in 73 hours of Operation Desert Fox (1998), cruise missiles were fired at Iraqi targets almost 1.5 times more than in 43 days of Operation Desert Storm (1991). According to Pentagon officials, of all bombs and missiles used in Afghanistan, about 60% were equipped with laser or satellite guidance systems.

Important role In the Afghan operation, high-precision aviation ammunition of the new generation JDAM, equipped with a guidance system using a space-based radio navigation system and GPS positioning, played. In total, more than 6,600 of these munitions have been dropped, and the US Air Force is reportedly planning to purchase another 236,000 of these munitions in the coming years.

WHAT SHOULD THE PAK BE YES

To determine the operational and tactical requirements for the PAK DA, it is advisable to clarify its role in future wars, as well as its place in the armament system of the RF Armed Forces. It seems that the main purpose of the PAK DA is: first, strategic (nuclear) deterrence and the conduct of hostilities as part of the strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation; secondly, deterrence (not strategic, not nuclear) and the conduct of hostilities in conflicts, local and regional wars with the use of conventional weapons as part of groupings of troops (forces) in continental and naval (oceanic) theaters of operations (TMD).

The task of strategic deterrence is associated with the threat of destruction in the event of the outbreak of hostilities with the use of nuclear weapons of destruction of important administrative and political centers, economic and military facilities of those countries that determine the strategic balance in the world.

Based on the solution of this problem, the main requirements for PAK DA, in our opinion, may be as follows. This is the intercontinental reach of the aircraft-missile system; high guaranteed probability of using weapons against strategic targets, which is ensured primarily by the high survivability of the "aircraft-missile weapon" system when overcoming the enemy's air defense system and using high-precision long-range weapons; high combat readiness and survivability of the complex on the ground.

The intercontinental reach of the RF strategic aviation complexes is achieved by the "bomber - air-launched strategic cruise missile (ALCM)" system. Considering that when the DA aviation regiments are based in central Russia, the removal of 75-80% of its possible objects, for example, on the North American continent, is about 12,000 km, the requirement for the tactical radius of a promising long-range bomber will be determined by the launch range capabilities of a promising ALCM.

A high probability of using weapons against strategic targets by increasing the survival rate of the aircraft-ALCM system in flight can be achieved by launching missiles without the carrier aircraft entering the zone of fire of the enemy's ground-based air defense systems.

The requirement for a high survivability of the PAK DA on the ground is due to the possibility of the enemy delivering a preemptive nuclear strike. In modern conditions and in the foreseeable future, a sudden general nuclear war in the absence of an acute international crisis is unlikely.

In the context of a relatively long-developing acute international crisis, the survival of the PAK DA on the ground can be ensured by their dispersal over a large number of airfields (including civilian ones, on which there are many heavy aircraft for various purposes). To implement this requirement, a promising heavy bomber must be capable of basing and autonomous watch at a dispersal airfield no higher than class 1. Perhaps this is the main reason for the need to increase the number of permanently operating unified aerodromes in the country (i.e., aerodromes capable of simultaneously basing aircraft of any type). At the same time, the PAK DA should have a reduced visibility for the enemy's space reconnaissance means or not have distinctive features in comparison with the surrounding civilian aircraft.

When the enemy achieves strategic surprise, a long-range bomber is the only strategic weapon system that, in the mode of duty on the ground, potentially has the ability to survive by getting out of the attack with a timely warning by the missile attack warning system (EWS). It is quite obvious that this can be done only with a high level of combat training of the crew and the combat readiness of the aviation complex as a whole, a relatively short time required for an emergency takeoff, sufficient resistance of the aircraft and its systems to the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. That is why ensuring a high level of combat (flight) training for long-range aviation bombers' crews should be one of the most important tasks of the RF Air Force High Command today.

When long-range aviation units are based in coastal areas, the main threat to bombers is enemy submarine ballistic missiles (SLBMs), especially when firing along flat trajectories. The flight time of the missiles can be up to 10 minutes, so the airfields for the basing and dispersal of bombers must be beyond the reach of enemy SLBMs when firing along flat trajectories.

The solution of tasks in conflicts, local and regional wars in the continental theater of operations may be associated with the infliction of the first missile and air strikes with high-precision conventional (non-nuclear) weapons on the most important targets to the entire depth of the enemy's territory or CTVD in conditions of a strong air defense system and non-strategic anti-missile defense (ABM ); and also with the infliction of air strikes in the course of hostilities with relatively cheap and effective conventional high-precision weapons against the most important targets throughout the depth of the enemy's territory (theater of operations) in conditions of a weak, focal or suppressed air defense system.

The possibility (potential threat) of inflicting effective missile and air strikes with high-precision conventional (non-nuclear) weapons against the most important targets throughout the entire depth of the enemy's territory (theater of operations) in the event of the outbreak of hostilities is one of the main military factors of non-nuclear deterrence of the enemy from unleashing aggression against Russia.

During combat operations in conditions of a weak, focal or suppressed enemy air defense system (fighter aircraft, long and medium-range air defense systems), when the aircraft's high survivability is ensured when operating from high altitudes, the PAK DA is an optimal weapon system in terms of the efficiency-cost criterion for applying air strikes. This is due to the high combat load, the large range of the complex and the high accuracy of the delivery of ammunition to the targets (including high-precision aerial bombs and short-range guided missiles); the comparative cheapness of promising guided (homing) aerial bombs; the ability to solve a number of versatile fire missions in one flight; high reliability PAK DA as a system.

The geopolitical position of Russia is such that the solution of tasks by Long-Range Aviation in a conventional war is limited to the Eurasian continent. The North American continent as a war zone strategic systems in conventional equipment, it is hardly advisable to consider because of the threat of a retaliatory nuclear strike. Therefore, if the PAK DA is armed with high-precision non-nuclear ALCMs of medium and long range, then its use in a conventional war does not impose high requirements on it in terms of reach. When long-range missiles are used against targets on the Eurasian continent in an unsuppressed air defense system, their reach will be ensured when launched from Russian territory. And the use of "cheap" high-precision weapons of the type of guided aerial bombs of the JDAM family will be ensured by a tactical bomber radius of 6000-7000 km when based outside the zone of destruction of conventional high-precision weapons of our potential adversaries.

APPLICATION OF PAK YES IN WAR

However, the use of PAK DA in armed conflicts, local and regional wars may be associated with another class of WTO - promising high-precision ballistic operational-tactical air-launched missiles as part of the operational-strategic reconnaissance and strike complex (OS RUK). The basis of the OS RUK can be an aviation complex for reconnaissance of ground targets and target designation and a PAK DA with a striking element, for example, based on a missile and a control system for a promising missile complex Ground forces Iskander modified for air launch. Based in the depths of its territory, the mobile air elements of the RUK OS will be minimally vulnerable to enemy strikes with high-precision long-range weapons.

It is necessary to note one fundamental difference between the aviation OS of the RUK and the complex with the same ground launch strike facilities. Aviation OS RUK, and these are two aircraft: reconnaissance (target designation) and an OTR air launch aircraft (PAK DA), if necessary, you can move to any area at a speed of 850-900 km / h, including over water areas. And in the conditions, for example, of the Far Eastern strategic direction (SN), which has three separate peninsular and island operational directions (Sakhalin, Kamchatka and Chukotka), or the Southern SN - such an aviation OS of the RUK is simply vital in the future.

In addition, the adoption of a similar OS RUK, which in its performance characteristics does not contradict the treaty on the reduction of medium and shorter-range missiles (respectively 1000-5500, 500-1000 km), will actually bring this strike missile system out of the validity of this agreement. And just in this range of ranges from State border Russia and the most important for it in the operational-strategic respect are regions and districts. It is in them that conflict situations can arise, the emergence of a real threat military security Russia. A relatively cheap, fully autonomous, airborne defense system (including air-to-radar and air-to-air missiles) aviation OS RUK based on PAK DA will be an effective means of deterring some countries with long-range precision weapons from aggression against Russia. The actions of this OS RUK with ballistic OTPs, under certain conditions, acquire for them strategic importance... In addition, with a considerable distance from the territory of Russia, they will have to create a missile defense system from the OTR with a short flight time and flat trajectories.

And during special operations, this complex can become a means of delivering effective surprise preventive high-precision missile strikes in any area within the reach.

And the last in the order of listing, but not the last in importance, is the field of application of such an aviation OS of the RUK. In future wars, it can become an effective means of supporting PAK DA combat operations equipped with air-launched strategic cruise missiles, especially over the vastness of the Central Asian and East Asian strategic continental regions, where the use of front-line (operational-tactical) aviation (even of the 5th generation) is extremely difficult. After all, Russian air bases abroad, from which front-line aviation could solve their tasks, are extremely small in number, and they themselves are vulnerable to enemy attacks from the ground and air.

Thus, the use of PAK DA in a conventional war dictates requirements for it, mainly related to the complex of onboard electronic equipment, which ensures the use of promising non-nuclear cruise missiles of various launch ranges, UAB and other promising aviation weapons, ballistic OTR air launch, as well as an airborne complex defense.

The solution by Long-Range Aviation of tasks in the maritime (ocean) theater of operations can be associated: in peacetime - with the creation of security zones along the maritime borders of Russia and the presence in the sea (ocean) zones of our national interests; in wartime - with the destruction during hostilities of naval strike, aircraft carrier and other groups, large amphibious assault forces of the enemy in the concentration areas, during the passage by sea and in the landing areas, the destruction of naval bases, ports, blocking strait zones and, if necessary, ensuring the landing operational amphibious assault.

The most difficult task of long-range aviation in combat operations at sea or ocean theaters has always been the task of hitting surface targets from an aircraft carrier multipurpose group (AMG). This is due to the presence of a powerful zonal-object air defense system, the depth of which currently reaches 800 km from the center of the AMG. In addition, the use of aircraft anti-ship weapons is associated with two main stages: target detection, target designation, and the aircraft entering the missile launch zone or the use of other weapons. The range of detection and target designation using onboard means of attack aircraft is limited by their tactical and technical characteristics and the range of the radio horizon, the value of which depends on the flight altitude. Simple calculations show that target designation using the onboard means of a missile-carrier aircraft is associated with its entry into the AMG air defense zone, and this puts forward exceptional requirements for the aircraft's survival in flight.

A promising direction for solving this problem may be the use of a reconnaissance and target designation system for space-based sea objects, which can provide continuous reconnaissance, detection of sea targets and their classification in conditions of electronic countermeasures by the enemy; formation and delivery of information to consumers about targets, including attacking anti-ship missiles. Receiving information from space reconnaissance systems, PAK DA will be able to use long-range anti-ship missiles (including over-the-horizon launch) without entering the enemy's AMG air defense zone.

Russia's maritime security zones and national interests are mainly limited to the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean Strategic Region; Mediterranean (waters of the Azov, Mediterranean and Black Seas), northern (waters of the Barents, Greenland, Norwegian and North Seas) and Baltic (waters of the Baltic Sea) sea zones of the Atlantic Ocean Strategic Region (Atlantic OSR); The Northwestern oceanic zone, the North (water area of the Bering Sea) and the Far East (water areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan) sea zones of the Pacific OSR. The removal of the distant boundaries of all the listed oceanic and sea zones (except for the Northwestern Ocean Zone of the Pacific OSR) does not exceed 3 thousand km from the regions of Russia that are operatively equipped in aviation terms. Removal of the distant boundaries of the Northwestern Ocean Zone of the Pacific OSR from the Amur-Sakhalin and Kamchatka-Chukotka regions - up to 5 thousand km. Thus, the use of PAK DA in the near sea (ocean) zones dictates a reach requirement for it - about 5000 km.

However, PAK DA formations and units can conduct combat operations in fleet operations and in the distant ocean (sea) zones: the Northwestern and Northeastern oceanic zones of the Atlantic OSR; The Northwestern and Northeastern oceanic zones of the Indian OSR; Northeastern Ocean Zone and South Asian maritime zone Pacific OSR. The removal of the centers of these zones from the coastal regions of Russia is from 6,000 to 9,000 km. Apparently, the range requirement for PAK DA when operating in distant sea (ocean) zones is also advisable to limit these ranges.

Thus, the use of PAK DA in sea (oceanic) theaters of theater dictates requirements for it, mainly related to weapons systems that allow them to hit enemy surface ships (including aircraft carriers) without entering the zone of destruction of their air defense systems, including during over-the-horizon launch Long-range (global) anti-ship missiles in the listed near and distant sea (ocean) zones, and an airborne defense complex.

Alexander Georgievich Tsymbalov - Major General of the Reserve,

candidate of military sciences, professor.

Work on the project of a new bomber began in 2009, when the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Tupolev company to carry out research and development work, which could become the largest under the State Arms Program until 2025.

At the same time chief designer Igor Shevchuk of the Tupolev Design Bureau said that research work should be considered as the creation of a certain scientific and technical groundwork on this topic. This is not only and not so much a military topic as the study of issues of aerodynamics, strength, new materials and technologies.

A promising airliner complex implies the creation of a completely new aircraft, which will be subsonic and made according to the "flying wing" scheme. The “flying wing” layout, which was first announced on August 6, 2013, will provide the aircraft with low radar signature in the long wavelength range, and the subsonic speed assumes the presence of a high aspect ratio wing. In the terms of reference of the Russian Air Force for the PAK DA, the developers indicated a flight range of 12,500 kilometers, a payload mass of 30 tons.

At the end of May 2013, the first stage of testing the model of the “flying wing” scheme at cruising speeds up to М = 0.88 and high Reynolds numbers * (М = 0.2) was completed in the department of aerodynamics of aircraft and missiles of TsAGI. The studies were carried out in the T-106 transonic tube of TsAGI and were aimed at clarifying the aerodynamic characteristics of a promising aircraft. A special thematic model "flying wing" with different engine locations and tail geometry was designed and manufactured at TsAGI in 2011. In 2012, the model was tested in subsonic wind tunnel T-102 and T-107. And although these studies were carried out as part of the work on the formation of the appearance of a long-range passenger aircraft, it is obvious that their results are directly projected onto the PAK DA.

The design of the aircraft will widely use technologies for reducing radar signature, composite materials and radio-absorbing coatings, it should be expected that in order to reduce the RCS, the geometry of the airframe will differ from what can now be found in various figures and even from the model that was blown in TsAGI wind tunnel. Most possible appearance the aircraft is shown in the photo in the header of the article.

The main armament of the bomber will be long-range hypersonic missiles. In July 2015, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov confirmed in an interview that work on the development of a new missile is underway: "It will not be one, there will be several types - both in range and in capabilities. Several are being developed."

According to the commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, the main missile in the complex will be a missile with a range of up to seven thousand kilometers. She herself will decide when, where, at what speed and at what altitude to fly. The aircraft will only become a delivery vehicle to the launch area. In addition to strategic missiles, the aircraft will have other precision weapons in its arsenal.

The development of engines for the PAK DA was entrusted to the Samara company "Kuznetsov"; the base engine was the NK-32, which is installed on the Tu-160 strategic bomber.

The enterprises of the Concern of Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) are already developing avionics for PAK DA. There is a general agreement between KRET and the United Aircraft Corporation, according to which the Concern creates a unified aircraft. Together with the Tupolev company, KRET also participates in development work. The aircraft will use not only new, but also already tested technologies. Some of the systems and devices will be borrowed from the latest developments that are on other new machines and have shown high reliability and efficiency. It is assumed that the PAK DA aircraft will be equipped with a completely new sighting and navigation system, communications, reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

One of key elements for a promising aircraft - a radar system - is being developed at the N.I. Tikhomirov. The development of this radar uses the experience gained in work on airborne radar stations with an active phased antenna array (AFAR) for the fifth generation PAK FA fighter.

By 2012, the technical design of the complex was completed and development work began. By March 2013, the aircraft design was approved, and in 2014, the Tupolev Design Bureau completed the PAK DA pre-design stage.

The new Russian bomber should make its first flight in 2021, complete tests scheduled for 2023, and start production in 2025. At the same time, the Russian Aerospace Forces are planning to purchase at least 50 such machines.

In May 2015, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided to resume production of Tu-160 bombers in a modernized version of Tu-160M2, and, taking into account the economic realities, in which the task of performing State program Arms-2025 is significantly complicated, to postpone the completion of the development of the new generation PAK DA bomber to a later date.

The postponement looks quite natural and necessary in connection with the decision to resume production of the Tu-160. "White Swan" is perfect from the point of view of aerodynamics, which means it has a constructive groundwork for many years ahead for modernization and re-release. According to the General Director of RAC MiG and General Designer of the United Aircraft Building Corporation Sergei Korotkov, the modernized Tu-160M2 bombers are being created on the basis of a good platform and will be in operation for 40-50 years.

Along with the PAK DA and Tu-160M2 (from 2023), the Russian Aerospace Forces will begin serial modernization of 30 Tu-22M3 long-range bombers into the Tu-22M3M version, and production of serial samples of the PAK FA T-50 fighter will begin in 2017. In the future, the new bomber should replace Tu-22M3 bombers, Tu-95MS and Tu-160 missile carriers. It is likely that in the future it could be produced in parallel with the new strategic bomber Tu-160M2.

Meanwhile, if the Tu-160 modernization program raises no questions, then there are doubts about the need to create a PAK DA in the "expert community".

For example, PIR Center consultant Maxim Starchak believes that Russia is not on the verge of a nuclear war with the United States, and that America is not yet creating some kind of ultra-modern weapon that could provoke Moscow to such an expensive project. The modernized strategic bombers Tu-160 and Tu-95 are doing an excellent job and will cope with their tasks for more than a decade.

Another expert, Viktor Murakhovsky, notes that the project of a new bomber is being developed in a situation where the concept of using aviation in the world is changing quite rapidly.

“If you look at the PAK DA concept, its implementation will begin in the best case scenario in 10 years. Well, who among the aviation military specialists can say what the main trend in the development of aviation will be in 10 years? conducts an air battle, and is a carrier of long-range weapons, "he said.

However, the "expert community" may be wrong, if only for the simple reason that it does not own the entirety of the information. In January 2016, Viktor Bondarev, commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces, confirmed that the development of a promising airline complex is proceeding in accordance with plans. The prototype should take off in 2021. In April, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov confirmed that the development of the PAK DA will continue, despite the resumption of production of the modernized Tu-160M2 aircraft.

“We will certainly not stop work on the development of a promising long-range aviation complex,” the deputy minister said and added that the decision to resume production of the modernized strategic missile carrier Tu-160M2 is final and not subject to revision.

Thus, work on two large projects - the launch of the Tu-160M2 into the series and the development of the PAK DA are going in parallel, and the postponement of the development of the PAK DA is no longer announced.

The fuss raised recently by Russian and foreign media around "details about the PAK DA engine" has a very real basis - our country is developing a promising aircraft engine for a new strategic bomber, which will replace the Tu-95MS in the 2030 region. What is this engine and what is hidden under the code "PAK DA"?

Of course, so far there is very little official information about developments, and it can be collected bit by bit through specialized aviation forums and websites. A promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA) has been in the process of development since 2009, but the project has actually been frozen for the past several years - the priority in the industry has been shifted in favor of the decision to launch the Tu-160M2 into production. This supersonic missile carrier should become a striking force for Russian long-range aviation in 5-7 years. Work on the Tu-160M2 spurred aircraft manufacturers, made it possible to restore technologies lost during the years of rampant Yeltsin's, US-controlled anarchy. At the same time, the production of NK-32 engines in the new version of NK-32-02 was revived at the modern technological level (see our material - ).

Now about another promising engine, which until 2016 appeared in specialized media and was called NK-65. This same NK-65 was originally sounded in conjunction with the PAK DA project. It was even reported about the start of engine tests around 2015-2016. There was information that the creation of the NK-65 was supposed to lead to the creation of a new line of aircraft engines with a thrust of 18 to 30 tons. In parallel with the termination of the publication of messages on the development of the NK-65 in 2016, information was announced about the development of "a new PD-30 engine, which is a modernization of the NK-65." According to unofficial data, the new power unit was supposed to have a takeoff thrust of 22-29 tons and a cruising thrust of about 6 tons with a fuel consumption of 0.535 kg / kgf h. km / h. Such an aircraft can be developed by PAK DA. However, in 2018, the development of the engine for the future Russian strategic bomber received another designation "Product 80" ...

What will happen in the end? As is already known, the appearance of a promising long-range "bomber" (PAK DA) is now defined as an unobtrusive subsonic aircraft capable of staying in the air for a long time and being ready to strike with new long-range missiles. This is a replacement for the Tu-95MS, the production of which ended in 1992 with the beginning of the "liberal reforms" in Russia. Tu-95MS is now being modernized in Russia, and the updated machines of this type will last another 10-15 years. Unique characteristics provide the "ninety-fifth" opportunity is on alert up to 42 hours. But this plane, sooner or later, will go down in history, no matter how wonderful it would be. PAK YES, coming to replace him, is just at the beginning of its journey.

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