Tu-330 vs AN-70
The possibility of "peaceful co-existence" of An-70 PTS and TU-330, with each type had its own field of application in VTA mixed fleet BTA was ccalculated to have an optimal TU-330 to an-70 ration as 4 : 1. The analysis revealed that for mass air transportation preferable TU-330, with higher spefication, the best efficiency and performance, as well as greater adaptability to the ATC system (a high cruising speed and pitch than the An-70).
The 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).
If Russia chose the An-70 aircraft, Russia could come across problems: Even if An-70s will be supplied from Ukraine to Russia and put into operation these two aircraft are of different classes. The Ministry of Defense thinks it is necessary for Russia to have "combined" An-70 and TU-330 aircraft fleet (approximately 25-30% and 80-70% of each type of the machines respectively).
The cost of the last version of transport AN-70 aircraft (max weight of carried cargo is equal to 47 tones) is estimated within the range of 62-64 mln. USD, cost of TU-330VT aircraft is about 25-27 mln USD. An-70 aircraft 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 aircraft program will recoup itself at the 12-th aircraft production.
The export potential of An-70 transport aircraft is quite trifling since in Europe demands in Mid-class Transport Aircraft is currently meeting under FLA program - with A-400M aircraft ( 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 aircraft is rigidly associated with turboprop engine (D-27 of Ukrainian production) while power plant of TU-330 aircraft 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 aircraft 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 aircraft concept. Problems of D-27 aerodynamic instability could be added. The D-27 engines development will require large additional investment and time.
Unlike the An-70, the TU-330 took into account almost all possible features of military aircraft operating in Russia and the main criteria for evaluation are reliability, simplicity and low cost of operation. Research has shown that the operating costs of the an-70 will be in the 3-3, 5 times higher than that of the TU-330.
But commercial transport requirements for commercial goods are quite different than for the military. The merchant cares only for centering the cargo and the strength of the floor. The load is evenly distributed. But the first requirement for tactical aircraft, being able to transport medium-sized tank, and it is more than 40 tons of concentrated load. In addition, the military transport needs lifting devices. The plane must fly in the VTA system, have the function of landing and transport of people and goods, to sit on unprepared airfields, etc. The Tupolev 330, according to some experts at the Defense Ministry, simply does not comply with such requirements. Under the military tasks, it needs to be redone completely. It will be a different machine and cost much more money. According to the Defense Ministry, for the TU-330 to fundamentally change it mus develop ground support equipment and retrain maintenance professionals.
But the An-70 program was put on verge of collapse with the election of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko. A sharp worsening of bilateral relations during his rule from 2005 to 2006 affected the fate of the plane. Within a few years it became one of the main topics of mutual accusations on a variety of levels. In May 2006, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the project. However, three years later, at the air show Maks-2009 there was reconciliation (because it was obvious that Yushchenko would not have a second term) and the two countries signed a Protocol on resumption of work on the design and manufacture of an-70. When Viktor Yanukovych became the President of Ukraine , in the wake of the dramatic improvement of Russian-Ukrainian an-70 program relations began to grow.
The direct replacement for the 20-tonne Antonov An-12 is undoubtedly the Russian-Indian average transportnik AIT (Multirole Transport Aircraft) on the basis of the IL-214. Hope remained that the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will change their "short-sighted" attitude towards the medium transport TU-330 (Tu-204-330) with a payload of 35 tons from the year 1994.
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