Aero India 2017: Nothing wrong with Sukhoi engines, says Russian director
Bengaluru: Mr.Vladimir Drohzhov, deputy director, Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), who is leading the Russian delegation at Aero India 2017 insisted on Wednesday that there was nothing wrong with the Saturn AL-31F engine that powers the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI.
“There is nothing wrong with Russian manufactured equipment as our quality controls are strong. After all Russia was the first country to recognise India's Independence in 1947. Our relations and cooperation are time tested," he added.
The Al-31F engines were recently in the news as the Indian Air Force had some concerns about the engines. Assuaging its fears, Mr. Drohzhov said that IAF's inventory of Russian legacy aircraft coupled with the Air Force's continued use of them was testimony to the fact that the equipment was good.
Mr. Drohzhov recalled that Russia was supporting India in operation, maintenance and reliability in many areas and claimed it was doing its bit in helping the 'Make in India' campaign.
"Brahmos is the best example of Russia supporting the Make in India initiative," he said. Su-30MKI, especially the licence produced version, the deal for Kamov 226T, the small multipurpose helicopter and joint production of Frigate 11356 (Talwar class) ships for the Indian Navy were some of the examples given by the deputy director to underline the cooperation between the two countries.
The director of United Engine Corporation, Alexander Artyukov revealed it had developed a better successor to the AL-31 engine based on a new design. "The AL-41F-1S is a brand new engine which produces 18 per cent more thrust than its predecessor," he explained.
UEC is set to display 'BARK-88,' its latest engine digital control system for mordernising the RD-33 family of engines, which power the MiG-29UPG that India uses.
