Tu-330
The certified and serially produced TU-204 mid-haul passenger airliner has originated an entire family of new Russian transport aircraft. Leading Russian civil and military research centres analysing customers' demands in cargo transportation have concluded that nowadays the major problem of cargo air transportation is a lack of up-to-date multi-purpose medium transport aircraft that can replace a widely used aircraft AN-12.
The current fleet of native cargo aircraft composed of Ans and Ils was defined in co-operation with aircraft manufacturers of Ukraine and Uzbekistan. For the time being these companies are on the territory of foreign states and in view of military and strategic conditions - it seemed not very reasonable to rely upon their participation in building aircraft of double use (civil and military-transport).
The only solution to solve this problem in contemporary Russia is a manufacturing and timed launch into service of TU-204-330 (TU-330) medium transport aircraft being a cargo version of the TU-214 aircraft that are actually ready for production at FSUE KAPO named after S.P.Gorbunov. TU-330 aircraft is 75% unified with TU-214 aircraft. Its extended transportation and operating capacities make it multi-purpose. TU-330 aircraft can be powered by various Russian and foreign engines (PS-90A, RB-211-535FS, PW2240) as well as by NK-93 - new advanced high-efficient prop-fan engines with the highest bypass ratio. TU-330 a/c will be built very quickly since this aircraft is 70% completely similar to TU-214 and TU-204 that are already in operation. All these aircraft are provided with unified cockpit, engines, fuel tanks and many other things. They will differ by cargo compartment only”,
The TU-204-330 (TU-330) transport a/c building is incorporated into Federal purpose oriented Program “Development of Civil Aircraft in Russia for 2002-2010 and for the period up to the year 2015” – Resolution of RF Government of 15 October, 2001 ? 728:”item 13. Building of TU-330 – with lifting capacity of 35 t – 2002-2012,”Tupolev’ PSC”, KAPO. Certification in 2002.”
The TU-330 a/c is provided with government support by way of Government Resolution of the RF No.369 of 23 April, 1994 “On building of mid-class transport aircraft TU-330”. Russian Government showed comprehensive understanding of the situation in the field of air cargo transportation. According to GosNIIGA 2/3 of mid-range aircraft total cargo turnover falls in flight range of 1000 to 4000 km. From the other hand exactly this area is the most critical since main mid-range aircraft An-12 being currently in operation is now intensively written off because its service life is served out.
For Military and transport aviation TU-330VT (TU-330VTS) version of baseline cargo a/c is proposed provided with advanced communication integrated system currently used in Air Force and with set of equipment designed for loading. unloading and arrangement of standard wheel, caterpillar combat machinery and staff with possibility of dropping the staff and machinery;
One variant is the TU-330SE ambulance and evacuation a/c, while another is the TU-330TZ tanker with “buddy” type and “telescope” type refueling. Additional versions would feature specialized administrative a/c (compartment + two cars); repeater a/c; long-range radar detection; jammer a/c; reconnaissance and target indication; or patrol a/c.
According to “Tupolev” PSC if TU-204-330 a/c is taken as native mid-class transport baseline a/c it is necessary to take into account following pre-conditions of organizational, technological and economical nature:
Task for aircraft production during special period and for reconditioning of loss Ministry of Defense loss should be given to aircraft manufacturing companies regarding fully native aircraft only. Both the aircraft itself and vendor items should be independent of foreign supplies (especially concerning avionics since state- of- the- art radio –electronics is capable to “insert” in to any very small element a command device that can cause failure of a system or entire aircraft any time necessary to a potential enemy).
TU-330 a/c is the most compliable with Air Force and Civil Aviation requirements by parameter “transported cargo – range”: according to Air Force 72% of transportation are made with cargo of 20-25 tones for the range of 3000 km; according to Gos NIIGA IL-76 is currently carrying not more than 25 tones (up to 90% of all transportation);
According to Russian Military Transport Aviation Command combat training takes not more than 10% of annual flight hours, while 90% are taken by transportation in the interest of Ministry of Defense. In this case demand of different types of Armed Forces and , Air Forces are mostly satisfied by mid-class military transport aircraft. Today it is obsolete An-12, which could be replaced by TU-330 a/c according to their demanded lift capacity and flight range;
They often compare TU-330 a/c with Ukrainian An-70 a/c. However such comparison is not very rightful since these are machines of different classes. But if still to fix a choice upon An-70 a/c than we should realize that Russia could come across the problems:
Even if An-70s will be supplied from Ukraine to Russia and put into operation these two aircraft are of different classes (An-7- could be related to heavy military transport a/c and TU-330 – to mid-weight military transport a/c); Ministry of Defense thinks it is necessary for Russia to have “combined” An-70 and TU-330 a/c fleet (approximately 25-30% and 80-70% of each type of the machines respectively);
The cost of the last version of transport AN-70 a/c (max weight of carried cargo is equal to 47 tones) is estimated within the range of 62-64 mln. USD, cost of TU-330VT a/c is about 25-27 mln USD. An-70 a/c program recoupment is scheduled after production of 60 machines (Russian share of purchases is 165 aircraft for Air Force which is quite hardly probable since departments of Russian Ministry of Defense are saturated by Il-76 and An-124 up to the year 2015, Ministry of Transport is not going to buy the aircraft); for information – TU-330 a/c program will recoup itself at the 12-th a/c production;
The export potential of An-70 transport a/c is quite trifling since in Europe demands in Mid-class Transport Aircraft is currently meeting under FLA program – with A-400M a/c ( Western Military Agencies have ordered 193 machines for the amount of 18 mlrd USD). Heavy Transport Aircraft is not in great demand in Europe for the time being;
Having many positive characteristics An-70 a/c is rigidly associated with turboprop engine (D-27 of Ukrainian production) while power plant of TU-330 a/c is more uniform the following engines can be provided: PS-90A, NK-93A, NK-94 operating LNG, foreign RB211-535FS and PW2240;
According to TsAGI conclusion (basing on analysis of Omsk incident and on 22 similar preconditions) AN-70 a/c in case of partial or entire failure of one engine or during take-off will require wing blow with turboprop engine flow; two engines failure will cause catastrophic effect (such situations are quite realistic for military aircraft operating under enemy’s fire ). It can not be eliminated since it was laid downs into An-70 a/c concept. Problems of D-27 aerodynamic instability could be added. The D-27 engines development will require large additional investment and time;
