MOSCOW. June 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The MIG aircraft corporation will build the third prototype of the MIG-AT trainer before the end of the year, a competent source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Saturday.
"Production plans of the corporation provided for building two prototypes this year, however limited availability of MIG's financial resources in the current year that is mostly related to the implementation of the TU-334 plane development project will make it possible to build only one MIG-AT, the third one, before the end of 2003," the source said.
Construction of the third prototype is funded out of the company's own assets. The previous trainer was built as far back as 1997, the source stressed.
According to him, "certification of the MIG-AT is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year."
The third prototype is expected to take part in the plane's joint state tests in the interests of the Defense Ministry. The two MIG-AT aircraft that are already available have performed over 920 flights, and the flight intensity has grown considerably as of late. "The main volume of tests is being performed by the prototype with domestic on-board equipment," the source said.
"All organizational matters are to be cleared and all decisions concerning the MIG-AT program are to be made before September 2003," the source stressed.
Asked whether the plane can be equipped with an Oka or Kopyo onboard radar, he said, "Installation of such radars is envisaged by designers, but potential customers of the plane have not made such orders so far."
Installation of such a radar requires considerable expenses, which is also a containing factor for demonstrating the radars on board the MIG-AT, the source noted.
MIG is designing the MIG-AT in cooperation with the Snecma and Thales companies of France. According to unofficial data, France's share in the project amounts to about 40 percent. Snecma is providing Larzaq engines, while Thales is providing avionics.
The MIG-AT is a new-generation trainer. Its maximum take-off weight is 5,210kg, maximum speed is 850kmph, practical ceiling is 14,000mm, ferry range is up to 3,000km, and maximum operating overload is +8/-3.