Russian plant to modernise engine for Chinese fighter planes
13.11.2006, 22.29
ST. PETERSBURG, November 13 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia’s St. Petersburg aircraft engine plant will modernise the RD-93 turbojet engine for the light Chinese FC-1 fighter plane Super-7.
This will increase the plane’s thrust by almost 10 percent. A thrust vectoring nozzle will add manoeuvrability to the plane.
A relevant contract is expected to be signed in November or December 2006, plant director general Alexander Vatagin told a press conference on Monday.
The plant is currently fulfilling orders under a contract signed in 2005 by Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport and China for the supply of 100 RD-93 engines for the FC-1 Super 7 fighter planes, as well space parts for them for total sum of 267 million U.S. dollars.
The plant has already supplied six engines and plans to supply nine more before the end of the year. The rest will be supplied by another plant.
Over the almost 50-year-lond history of cooperation with China, the plant has supplied different types of engines for MiG-15 planes and Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mka-28 helicopters. More than 500 engines are currently in operation on these and other aircraft, including 30 new-generation BK-2500 helicopter engines, designed and created by the plant’s specialists, to a tune of 20 million U.S. dollars.
Is this true that the JF-17 will have TVC capability? Because if it does, won't the aircraft have to go major structural upgrades?