In the near future, the operation of a new training aircraft may begin. The creation of this machine is carried out by one of the domestic private companies, which intends to start construction in the interests of the Ministry of Defense. For a number of objective reasons, the exact prospects for the new project are still unknown. The new project did not manage to win the competition of the military department, however, the development organization continued the work and hopes for their successful completion.
The project of a promising trainer aircraft (TCB) was designated SR-10. This machine is being developed by the private Moscow design bureau "Modern Aviation Technologies" (KB "SAT"). The project started at the initiative of the developer company, and later had a chance to interest the military department and get its support. Nevertheless, unfortunately for the developers, the military chose another project that participated in that competition.
Work on the SR-10 project started on an initiative basis in 2007. During the first few years, the employees of KB "SAT" were engaged in the study of various basic issues, and by 2009 they formed the general appearance of a promising TCB, which made it possible to present its layout at the MAKS exhibition in Zhukovsky. Further design work continued. At the same time, the design bureau made an attempt to offer its development to the Ministry of Defense.
Three-dimensional model SR-10
It is reported that within the framework of a promising project, the design bureau carried out a number of necessary studies in various fields and successfully solved several important tasks. The issues related to the aerodynamics of the aircraft, the strength of the units and the materials used in the construction were successfully resolved. In addition, several non-standard ideas were proposed that had not previously found widespread use in aviation.
In early 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense held an open competition for the best aircraft design for the initial training of flight personnel. Two projects were presented for this competition: SR-10 from KB SAT and Yak-152 from Yakovlev. Defense department experts analyzed the two proposed projects and chose the most successful one. The Yak-152 project was considered the best version of the aircraft for training pilots. Later, this project received support from the military. According to previously announced plans, the development of the Yak-152 project and the necessary checks of prototypes should be completed within several years. In 2017, it is planned to launch mass production of new machines.
Having failed to win the competition of the Ministry of Defense, the SR-10 project did not stop. KB "SAT" found partners for its further implementation, and also took certain measures aimed at promoting its development. The Aviaagregat plant (Makhachkala) became a partner of the design bureau. Among other things, such a partnership allowed the project developers to enlist the support of the leadership of the Republic of Dagestan. At the end of autumn 2014, the first reports of the results of cooperation appeared.
Model at MAKS-2009
It turned out that in the spring and summer of 14th, the Aviaagregat enterprise and the Dagestan leadership took a number of measures aimed at promoting the SR-10 project. In particular, it was proposed to finalize the terms of reference for the competition. The result of the negotiations, consultations and consideration of the documentation was the permission of the Ministry of Defense concerning the construction of experimental aircraft. It was reported that four prototype aircraft of the new model should have been built in 2015.
In connection with the appearance of such messages among specialists and the interested public, the question arose about the reasons for the change in the opinion of the Ministry of Defense regarding the new project. So, the assumption arose that, as a result of the negotiations, it was decided to change the planned system of training flight personnel. In this case, the CP-10 can join the Yak-152 and Yak-130 aircraft, on which it is planned to conduct initial and combat training, respectively. This aircraft can become a transitional link between the Yak-152 and Yak-130. How much this assumption corresponded to reality is unknown.
Having received the necessary permission from the Ministry of Defense, the organizations participating in the project began to prepare the construction of experimental aircraft. The construction site was the Aviaagregat plant in Makhachkala. It is also planned to launch serial production of equipment there. Despite earlier information, only one prototype aircraft of the new type was released for testing by the end of 2015. The roll-out of this machine took place at the end of August last year. Over the past time, he passed part of the checks, and also managed to take off.
Before the first flight
In the last days of December 2015, there were reports of the progress of the tests. According to official data, on December 25, the first prototype of the CP-10 TCB took to the air for the first time. For testing, the aircraft was delivered to the Oreshkovo airfield (Vorotynsk, Kaluga region), previously owned by DOSAAF, and now under the jurisdiction of the Albatros Aero aeroclub. After a series of ground checks, the plane made its maiden flight. In its first flight, the SR-10 was flown by pilots Yu. M. Kabanov and M. Mironov.
According to the Design Bureau "Modern Aviation Technologies", the task of the first flight was to check some of the aircraft's features, in particular, a number of flight characteristics, stability and controllability, the operation of systems, etc. According to the results of the flight, the test pilot noted that the aircraft proved to be dynamic and pleasant to fly. The flight performance was in line with its calculated values.
For some time, the organizations participating in the project must conduct full tests of the new aircraft, the results of which will determine its further fate. Official reports on the progress of the project so far look optimistic and give hope for a safe completion of the work. Nevertheless, the real prospects of the SR-10 project still look vague and uncertain. For various reasons, a new trainer aircraft with equal probability can reach the troops or NOT leave the test stage.
Tail section of the aircraft
According to the official data of KB "SAT", the goal of the project is to create a new jet trainer aircraft for personnel training and use in competitions in aerobatic sports. The technical task implies the performance of aerobatics with overloads from +8 to -6. Also, the aircraft must have aerodynamics and super-maneuverability, which will allow it to show characteristics at the level of fighters of generations 4 and 4+.
From the point of view of design, the CP-10 aircraft is a single-engine jet midwing with an integral aerodynamic layout. Requirements to reduce the size and weight, as well as the need for a number of specific tasks led to the formation of a characteristic appearance of the aircraft. Because of this, in particular, the SR-10 is outwardly similar to other modern domestic trainers: Yak-130 or MiG-AT. At the same time, the new aircraft has a number of characteristic differences, due to which it should have different characteristics.
The SR-10 received a relatively compact fuselage of varying cross-section, combined with on-board units containing air intakes, landing gear compartments, etc. A relatively large two-seater cockpit is provided in the forward fuselage. The pilots are accommodated in two workplaces located in tandem. The developer declared the use of ejection seats of the "0-0" class, which ensure the rescue of the crew in all flight modes, as well as in the parking lot, including at zero speed and zero altitude. Both pilots are located under a large common canopy.
Takeoff
At the level of the cockpit, on the sides of the fuselage, developed root flares of the wing begin. These elements of the bearing surface pass into the center section, and their main task is to optimize the flow around the wing and other elements of the aircraft. Under the influx, with a significant shift from their front built-up point, there are two rectangular air intakes. It appears that curved ducts are provided behind them, diverting air from two intakes to the compressor of a single engine. The aft fuselage has a characteristic shape formed by a streamlined central block of variable circular cross-section and side tapering beads. On the sides of the latter there is an all-moving horizontal tail. A keel with a rudder is provided on the fuselage of the aircraft.
The most important feature of the CP-10 TCS project is the applied wing design. Unlike other training and combat aircraft operated and operated by the Russian Air Force, the SR-10 receives a forward-swept wing. The leading edge has a moderate backward sweep of the order of 10 °. The trailing edge with ailerons and flaps has an increased value for this parameter. It is argued that the use of a forward-swept wing can significantly increase the flight performance and maneuverability of a training aircraft, as well as reduce the risks when performing aerobatics. Among other things, the likelihood of the machine accidentally stalling into a spin is reduced.
As follows from the available data, different materials are used in the construction of the CP-10 aircraft. Thus, the airframe skin consists of metal and composite parts. The exact composition of the structure and the types of materials used, however, have not been reported. The available photographs of the first flight prototype suggest that at least the control surfaces and some of the fuselage skin elements are made of composites.
The power plant of the SR-10 aircraft consists of one turbojet engine installed in the rear fuselage. Previously published data, according to which the aircraft can receive engines such as AL-55 or AI-25TL. In both cases, the machine must have high flight characteristics that provide a full-fledged solution to the assigned tasks.
According to some sources, the first prototype of the SR-10 aircraft received an AI-25TL bypass turbojet engine with a thrust of up to 1720 kgf. According to some reports, the prototype was not equipped with a new engine: this unit was operated for some time as part of the power plant of some other aircraft. The details of this are unknown, however, judging by the reports on the first flight, the existing engine coped well with the tasks and made it possible to start flight tests of the new aircraft.
The composition of the avionics has not yet been reported. At the same time, it is argued that, among other avionics, the aircraft should receive a special system that will be responsible for diagnosing other equipment. Such a system should increase the reliability of the onboard equipment and thereby simplify the operation of equipment.
According to the developer, the cockpit should provide the most comfortable working conditions. In addition, the composition of its equipment should provide full training for pilots. Previously, photos of the pilots' workplaces were published, which allow you to get an idea of / u200b / u200bthe composition of the equipment. The main controls of the SR-10 are "traditional" aircraft and engine control sticks. Additional controls are located on the dashboard and side panels. All instruments necessary for piloting are mounted on the frontal board and are mainly represented by conventional dial gauges. In addition, the board is equipped with one monitor with a push-button frame.
Due to its low weight, a promising aircraft is equipped with a traditional tricycle landing gear with a front support. All struts have one wheel, while the wheels of the main struts have a larger diameter in comparison with the nose. There is a depreciation system. In flight, the struts are retracted into the fuselage: the nose turns forward into the compartment in the fuselage fairing, and the main ones rotate to the axis of the vehicle and fit into the side compartments of the fuselage, under the center section.
Some of the calculated characteristics of the aircraft have been published. The maximum take-off weight is determined at the level of 3.1 tons. The engine with a thrust of the order of 1750 kgf will allow the car to reach speeds of up to 800 km / h and rise to an altitude of 11 km. The practical range is declared at 1200 km. Thanks to the special wing design, the landing speed was reduced to 180 km / h, which should ensure greater operational safety and training.
Front cockpit interior
Apparently, already at the development stage, the SR-10 project includes certain opportunities for updating and modernization. So, it is assumed that in the future, various modifications of the basic trainer aircraft will be developed and built, modified in accordance with the wishes of customers. At the same time, it is planned to build both relatively simple aircraft in a basic configuration, which has a relatively small range of tasks to be solved, and complex multifunctional machines with special equipment.
In the "maximum configuration", the modified SR-10 will be able to become a full-fledged training or combat training aircraft, capable of solving tasks related not only to training flight personnel, but also to attacking various ground or air targets. In this case, a potential customer will have the opportunity not only to purchase a ready-made aircraft offered by the manufacturer, but to choose one of several modifications that most fully meets his requirements.
Also in the plans of the Design Bureau "Modern Aviation Systems" there is an expansion of the aircraft's basing capabilities. At present, the SR-10 can only take off from land airfields. In the future, the creation of a new modification, adapted for operation on aircraft carriers, is not ruled out. In this case, carrier-based aviation will be able to obtain a training or combat training aircraft suitable for training pilots and conducting combat.
CP-10 in flight. The unusual design of the wing is clearly visible
According to the current plans of the companies participating in the project, the CP-10 aircraft and its modifications for various purposes should win their place in the market of training and combat training aircraft and keep it for themselves for 15-20 years. The air forces of Russia, as well as other states, are considered as potential customers for the new aircraft. At the same time, the possibility of purchasing aircraft by both state and private customers is assumed.
At present, various checks and tests of the first prototype CP-10 aircraft are underway. This machine first took to the air at the end of last year and for some time will have to undergo a set of necessary tests, according to the results of which its further fate will be decided. The companies involved in the project are optimistic about the future and are counting on contracts with Russian and foreign customers. Nevertheless, the CP-10 project is still a topic of active controversy, and its real prospects have not yet been determined.
Like many other projects, CP-10 TCB has advantages and disadvantages. The first include a number of features of the project of a technical and other nature. So, the SR-10 is just the second domestic aircraft with a forward-swept wing, which has come to the test, which in itself can be considered an achievement. In addition, the project was proactively developed by a relatively young private company, which is still a rarity for the domestic aviation industry. Finally, it can be assumed that the SR-10 project can really be the basis for technology of various modifications, which is able to find its place at domestic and foreign airfields.
However, there are also obvious shortcomings or problems. So, due to the loss in the competition in 2014, the CP-10 aircraft could not receive government funding. For this reason, KB "SAT" and the plant "Aviaagregat" have to continue the implementation of a fairly costly project at their own expense. This negatively affects the pace of work, and can also lead to their freezing or complete stop. Thus, without the full support of the military department, the project may have ambiguous prospects.
A separate topic of controversy and discussion is the technical appearance of the proposed aircraft. It has a generally familiar look, which is reminiscent of some existing fourth-generation fighters or training aircraft. Nevertheless, it is proposed to equip the CP-10 with a forward-swept wing, which has long attracted the attention of designers, but has not yet been able to reach full-fledged practical use. This is hampered by some specific requirements for the design of such a wing, as well as an ambiguous composition of advantages and disadvantages. As a consequence, such a wing has so far only been used in experimental projects.
Currently, the SR-10 prototype aircraft is undergoing tests, according to the results of which it can go into production and then replenish the fleet of training equipment of the Russian Air Force. Due to a number of different factors, such completion of the project cannot yet be guaranteed. In addition, the very need for such a "transitional link" machine may be a subject of controversy. Thus, the new aircraft will not only have to withstand the tests, but also overcome a number of difficulties that are not directly related to technology.
The further future of the CP-10 TCB, developed by the Design Bureau "Modern Aviation Systems", has not yet been determined and is still the subject of controversy. At the same time, the project attracts attention by its origin and other development features. Thus, regardless of the success that will be achieved during the tests or during the progress of the project, the CP-10 aircraft will be able to take its place in the history of Russian aviation. But whether it can find application in the Air Force or interest other customers - time will tell.
