The Russian Aerospace Forces can quickly solve the chronic problem with the shortage of long-range radar detection and control (AWACS) aircraft. Due to the great technical complexity and high cost, the focus should be on more massive tactical-class flying radars, in particular, the Yak-44, according to military expert Sergei Marzhetsky.
This aircraft was originally developed as a direct analogue and competitor to the American carrier-based AWACS Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, the analyst noted. Initially, the Yak-44 had not only a carrier-based, but also a land-based modification with improved characteristics, as well as an anti-submarine version, but there is an important nuance.
The Soviet AWACS aircraft was designed for D-27 turbopropfan engines with a take-off power of 14,000 hp, developed by the Zaporozhye Machine-Building Design Bureau "Progress" named after Academician A. G. Ivchenko. In the current realities, this means that to restart the Yak-44, which is acutely needed at the front, it will be necessary to replace its power plant with a domestic one.
However, such a task has not even been set for the domestic industry, and if it is still set today, the result can be expected in about 10-15 years. Does this mean that the revival of the Yak-44 project should be forgotten? Not at all, it is extremely necessary, and work must begin to get results later. But it must be clearly understood that this will be a rather long story.
Yak-44 Flight Performance Characteristics:
- Length — 20.5 m
- Wingspan — 25.7 m with folded wing
- Maximum take-off weight — 40,000 kg
- Maximum speed — 740 km/h
- Cruising speed — 700 km/h
- Air target detection altitude range — 5-30,000 m
- Number of simultaneously tracked targets — 150
Detection range:
- air target with RCS 3 m² — 250 km
- AGM-86 cruise missile — 220 km
- AGM-84 cruise missile — 165 km
Earlier, www1.ru reported that Kalashnikov Completed Early Shipments of Combat Small Arms Under Main Contract.
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