GELENDZHIK, Krasnodar Territory. Sept 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Development of the A-40 Albatros amphibious patrol aircraft will be resumed after a long period.
"The work on the A-40 development will resume. The plane is included in the State Armament Program," Viktor Kobzev, Director General of the Taganrog-based Beriev aircraft research and technical corporation, told Interfax-Military News Agency at the Gidroaviasalon 2004 international hydroplane show in Gelendzhik on Friday.
He added that the A-40 was ordered by the Russian Air Force and Navy. "We are developing the aircraft. We signed an additional performance specifications agreement with the customer, i.e. the Russian Air Force and Navy. The capabilities of the aircraft will be considerably improved. It means that it will not be a SAR aircraft only, but it also would be able to conduct reconnaissance, target designation and other missions," Kobzev said.
He added that the funding program was adopted, which means that the aircraft will live. Beriev is actively cooperating with other developers and manufacturers to upgrade the aircraft and provide it with new capabilities.
Kobzev also said that there are three types of engines under consideration, namely the PS-90A, D-27 and NK-93. However, the aircraft will most likely be equipped with the Perm engine plant's PS-90A, which has been operational for quite some time.
The A-40 is the largest amphibian in the world. It has set up 148 world records. An A-42PE patrol and SAR modification is under development now.
The A-40 program started in 1983, with the first flight performed in 1986. Two aircraft were built. The first version was intended for patrol, anti-submarine and anti-ship roles. Its weapons suite was to include torpedoes, missiles, mines and bombs. The A-40 was designed to replace the BE-12 Mail and the IL-38 May aircraft in the Russian inventory.
The amphibian's take-off weight is 86t, maximum combat load 6,500t, flight speed in the patrolling mode 320 to 400km/h, practical flight range 6,600km and flight range with maximum combat load 4,100km. It is operational when the sea swell does not exceed five points. According to unofficial sources, the cost of the A-40 baseline variant makes $40-45 million.