Kubinka (Moscow region). 21 August. INTERFAX-AVN - The work on creating a vertical takeoff plane began in Russia in 2017, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov told reporters.
"This work is really included in the State Arms Program, it is being conducted on behalf of the Supreme Commander." Work is now under way to develop conceptual models and prototypes, "Yuri Borisov said at the Army 2018 forum.
"Conceptually, such work has already been carried out in the Defense Ministry since last year, the timing is determined by the technological cycle of creation, as a rule, this is 7-10 years, if we go into series." This is a new aircraft, "the Deputy Prime Minister said.
He called such a technique the future of carrier aviation. "A new fleet of aircraft will be needed for all aircraft carriers, which is why various technologies are used that make it possible to provide shortened takeoffs and landings or simply vertical take-off," Borisov said.
In December 2017, Sergey Korotkov, General Designer and Vice President for Innovation of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), told Interfax that the corporation has a scientific and technological basis for equipping prospective aircraft carriers with vertical take-off aircraft.
"Indeed, such conversations are underway (about plans for the creation of vertical take-off aircraft - IF) .We still had good groundwork in Soviet times, I believe that these developments of Yakovlev's OKB are even now quite advanced. the corresponding order from the side of the Ministry of Defense, "- said S. Korotkov.
He recalled that the design bureau them. Yakovlev developed prototypes of such aircraft and began their flight tests, but these works were suspended in the 1990s.
"But these technologies for vertical takeoff are unique and are still of interest from the point of view of their application," the general designer believes.
At the same time, he stressed that if the RF Defense Ministry orders to develop vertical take-off aircraft to equip prospective aircraft carriers, it will be necessary to conduct these works taking into account today's realities, since "something done in the past becomes mediocre today, eventually loses its relevance".
"But everything depends on the doctrine of the Defense Ministry: if they see the need and need for this (the development of new aircraft for aircraft carriers - IF), then such a task will be put," said S. Korotkov.
In August, during the forum "Army-2017" Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov announced plans of the department in the region of 2025 to begin construction of a new aircraft carrier and the creation of an aircraft for him, possibly with a short take-off or vertical take-off.
At the end of November, he confirmed that the new state armament program (SPP) for 2018-2027 involves the development and laying of modern aircraft carriers.
"Speaking specifically about aircraft-carrying cruisers, this is the end of the program, we plan to develop and lay down modern aircraft carriers," Borisov told journalists.
He said that the project of the GPO laid down the work on creating a vertical takeoff aircraft to equip the new aircraft carriers.
"It would be logical to assume that during that time those models, meaning the MiG-29 and Su-33, will morally become obsolete, and in 10 years, of course, the creation of a new aircraft will be required. or from a vertical take-off, "said Yury Borisov, answering the question whether work is being done to create a vertical takeoff aircraft for aircraft carriers.
The Yakovlev Design Bureau is the only Russian aircraft designer who has experience in developing vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Since the mid-1970s, the design bureau has been developing a multi-purpose supersonic all-weather decked aircraft for vertical / short takeoff and landing Yak-141. He made the first flight in 1987, and in 1991 for the first time landed on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Yak-141 was designed to provide cover for carrier-based communications from enemy aircraft, to gain and retain air supremacy, to conduct near maneuver and ranged combat, and to strike ground and surface targets.
On the official website of the OKB im. Yakovlev noted that the aircraft Yak-141 "far ahead of its time." It also reports that "the government's decision to stop the development program for this aircraft in 1992 was taken at the height of its flight tests." After the termination of tests the Yak-141 was first demonstrated at the Farnborough air show in 1992.
