India instalará motores nacionales en sus Su-30MKI

India plans to install Kaveri engines for modernized Su-30MKI fighters

Bmpd

According to the resource "Indian Defense Update" in the material "India plans to use new Kaveri engine to Power its Sukhoi-30MKI fleet?", The development project of the Indian engine development Kaveri can be revised and adapted for use in fighter aircraft. Therefore, India asked its French partners to study the possibility of further increasing the thrust of the engine for installation on Su-30MKI fighters.

The Kaveri engine project was frozen in 2014 due to the fact that the engine could not reach the Air Force requirements for power. But now he is back again with the help of French companies, and he plans to install it on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and shock UAV.

Work with French companies to refine the Indian engine is carried out within the offset obligations of the latter under the contract for the purchase of the Indian Air Force fighter Dassault Rafale. French developer and engine manufacturer Safran should invest almost $ 1 billion in India due to its obligations under the contract for the supply of Rafale.


Su-30mki

The Su-30MKI fighter at the assembly of the Indian state association Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Nasik (c) topyaps.com

The Indian side now admits that the thrust of the Kaveri engine can be increased to 125 kN, which makes it possible to install it on the Su-30MKI fighter. In the Indian Air Force there are almost 300 Su-30MKI fighters, which require modernization. The idea is to create a more powerful engine that can be used in the 'Super Sukhoi' project. And such a project fits well into the "Make in India" program.

GTRE (Gas Turbine Research Establishment) and French Safran are already working together to resolve technical issues with the Kaveri engine. The French party undertook to resolve all technical difficulties and prepare the engine for mass production by the end of 2018.

Sources of the publication report that at present OCD is being conducted regarding the installation of the modernized Kaveri for Su-30MKI fighters. Although consultations with Russia are required as an aircraft developer, Indian officials do not see any difficulties, given the fact that French engines are being actively used now, including Ka-226 helicopters, which are to be produced in India for army aviation.

Under the "Super-30" program, the Russian company offers India the installation of a more powerful engine AL-41F1S (117C) with a thrust of 142kN, which is installed on the Su-35 fighter, as a replacement for the AL-31F engines because of the difficulties with it, but India rejected this proposal.

A more powerful modification of the Kaveri engine with a thrust of 123 kN is being developed, which is likely to be used on the fifth-generation AMCA fighter, which requires an engine with a thrust of 110 kN.