KYIV. April 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The Motor Sich enterprise based in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia has shipped the first AI-222 aircraft engine to Russia for subsequent installation in the prototype of the YAK-130 combat trainer, Motor Sich Director General Vyacheslav Boguslayev said on Thursday.
Under a Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental agreement, the engine designed by the Zaporizhzhia-based Progress design bureau will be produced by two plants, Motor Sich and Moscow-based Salyut, Boguslayev told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Salyut will supply engines for Russian military programs, and engines for Ukrainian planes will be assembled in Zaporizhzhia," he said.
According to the director general, "AI-222 is a new generation engine, it is not modernized or adjusted, but designed from scratch in line with military customers' requirements." The engine "allows the YAK-130 plane to perform flights at various altitudes and accomplish combat missions in extremely adverse conditions," he said.
The Yakovlev company is planning to manufacture four mass- produced YAK-130 planes this year. The first mass-produced YAK- 130 is to perform its maiden flight before the end of the year.
The prototype powered by Ukrainian engines will be exhibited at the Le Bourget air show in France in June.
According to experts, the demand of the Russian Air Force for the YAK-130 is estimated at 200 items. The worldwide demand for trainers of this class is estimated at over 1,200 items.
Nations of Southeastern Asia and Oceania display certain interest in the trainer and the AI-222 engine. The price of a YAK- 130 amounts to USD12m-12m depending on the complete set.
Turbojet bypass engines of the AI-222 family are intended for powering up-to-date trainers and combat trainers such as YAK/AEM-130, L-159, etc. They guarantee maximum safety of flights, high combat efficiency, long service life and low maintenance costs.
The engine has a modular design, which makes it possible to replace time-expired or damaged modules quickly without withdrawing the engine from operation. An FADEC-type automatic control system provides for maximum use of the engine's capabilities, their comprehensive tests and diagnostics.
At the customer's requests, the engines may be rendered thrust vector control capability or adjusted for installing an afterburner.