MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax-AVN) - The AI-222-25 engine, developed by the Zaporizhzhya-based Progress engine design bureau of Ukraine is being constantly upgraded and adjusted for new versions of Yak-130, bureau's deputy Designer General Ihor Kravchenko told Interfax-AVN.
"We are thinking over thrust increase to 2,800 at the first phase of upgrade, with possible expansion to three tones without afterburning at later phases," he told Interfax-AVN at the Dvigateli (Engines) 2008 international show in Moscow.
The AI-222-25 for Yak-130 adopted for service with the Russian Air Force has been mass-produced by Moscow-based Salyut in cooperation with Zaporizhzhya Motor Sych.
Kravchenko said, there are plans to continue efforts to upgrade the engine and adjust it to new modifications of Yak-130, which are planned to be developed.
"Provided that there are plenty of orders for Yak-130 from the Russian Air Force and other countries, the AI-222-25 engine is our number one priority now," he said, noting that the engine was tested in Russia, showing 300 hours of time between overhaul, with the 600 hours of guaranteed life.
"In future, the service life of the engine, maintained based on its condition, will be 6,000 hours," he said.