First Five T-84 Oplot-M / BM Main Battle Tanks From Ukraine Ready For Thailand

The Malyshev Plant in the Ukraine has finished the first five Oplot-M / BM Main Battle Tanks (MBT) for Thailand. A total of 49 tanks were ordered in 2011 for about 7.2 billion Thai baht or $230 million.

The T-84 is a derivative of the T-80 developed during Soviet times, which replaces Russian components with Ukrainian versions and several other upgrades such as a welded turret, Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor and a Shtora-1 countermeasures suite.

The Oplot version features a host of changes such as a western style turret with compartments for both the crew and ammunition to improve crew survivability. This version retains the 125 mm KBA-3 smoothbore gun, but it has a bustle-mounted autoloader. A 120 mm gun compatible with NATO rounds is available an an option.

The latest version of the Oplot is the Oplot-M or Oplot BM which features even more improved armor and various upgraded electronics. The Oplot-M MBT will replace the M41 tanks in Thai service and up to 200 Oplot tanks may eventually be acquired.

Antonov An-70 transport aircraft again suffering delays

Mykola Azarov, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, has said that Ukraine will continue development of the Antonov An-70 aircraft even in Russia were to withdraw from the project.

The An-70 is a transport aircraft being developed by the Ukraine and Russia. Russia is reportedly again dragging its feet with regards to the An-70 and has already withdrawn from the project before, only for it to rejoin after some time.

The An-70 project dates back to the former Soviet Union and has suffered numerous delays over the years. These delays have really hurt the progress of the An-70 aircraft. Crashes involving test aircraft didn't help matters.

At one point during the nineties, the An-70 was considered to have great prospects. It was well ahead of the competition in terms of development. Since then, that lead has pretty much been squandered away to the point that the future of the An-70 is now increasingly in doubt.

The delays have allowed other aircraft to catch up and even surpass the An-70:

• Russia itself favors its own upgraded Ilyushin IL-476 and has never really shown to completely support the An-70 project, but only halfheartedly.
• China was once thought to be a prime customer for the An-70. But since then, the Y-9 and Y-20 projects have reached fruition. Both are backed by China and it's unlikely there is room left for another aircraft like the An-70.
• The An-70 was once marketed to European customers. However, the homegrown Airbus A400M, which is the aircraft most similar to the An-70, is guaranteed to have the market in Western Europe.

All these aircraft are potential competitors the An-70 may have to face against. They have strong backing from their respective countries, while the only country to consistently back the An-70 is the Ukraine itself.

However, the Ukraine is a country with very limited resources. The An-70 project will almost certainly need at least one other customer to make the project worthwhile. Otherwise, it is doubtful the An-70 will be able to compete against other aircraft.

The An-70 aircraft is designed for short takeoff and landing. It can also takeoff and land on unpaved airfields. The An-70 specifications are:

• a length of 40.7 m
• a wingspan of 44.06 m
• a height of 16.38 m
• a maximum payload of 47000 kg
• an empty weight of 66230 kg
• a maximum takeoff weight of 145000 kg
• a maximum speed of 780 km/hr
• a ceiling of 12000 m
• a range of 3000 km with 47000 kg payload
• a range of 5100 km with 35000 kg payload
• a range of 6600 km with 20000 kg payload

The An-70 is powered by 4 Progress D-27 propfans with 14000 hp each.

The An-70 is notable for its unique counter-rotating propfans. In theory, these would offer performance approaching those of turbofans, while maintaining the benefits of a turboprop engine.

For example, they can generate much more power than traditional turboprops allowing higher aircraft speed and increased payload. At the same time, they use much less fuel compared to normal turbofans.

In practice, the D-27 propfans have so far proved troublesome. It's possible that the engine could be refined and the problems solved. However, it doesn't look like the resources will be available to make that happen.


http://en.rian.ru/world/20130412/180611737/Ukraine-Ready-to-Go-Ahead-With-An-70-Project-on-Its-Own---PM.html

By Marianivka [CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Modernized Antonov An-124 transport aircraft to start trials

A modernized version of the Antonov An-124-100 heavy transport aircraft will soon start trails according to Russia’s Aviastar aircraft plant. Designed by the Antonov design bureau, the An-124 is currently the largest transport aircraft with the exception of the Antonov An-225, of which only one exists.

The modernized An-124-100M-150 features several improvements, including:

• payload increased from 120 tons to 150 tons
• maximum take-off weight increased from 392 tons to 402 tons
• range increased to 5400 km with 120 tons payload
• service life of the aircraft increased to 24000 flight hours
• crew reduced from 6 to 4
• various other improvements

Even more upgraded An-124-200 and An-124-300 are now under proposal.

Plans also exist to restart production of the An-124 Ruslan. The aircraft has been very useful and in demand in many parts of the world, including the United States, other members of NATO and China.

Last december, NATO decided to continue chartering Antonov An-124 Ruslan planes for at least 2 more years. The Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) program began in 2006 and makes up to 6 An-124 aircraft available.


Specifications An-124-100
Crew: 6
Length: 68.96 m
Wingspan: 73.3 m
Height: 20.78 m
Max. Payload: 120000 kg
Max. Takeoff Weight: 392000 kg
Cruise Speed: 800 to 850 km/h
Cruise Altitude: 11.6 km
Range: 7500 km (Payload 80 tons), 4800 km (Payload 120 tons)
Powerplant: 4 Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofans, 229 kN (23430 Kgf) each


http://en.rian.ru/business/20130207/179283281/Upgraded-Ruslan-Heavy-Lifter-to-Start-Testing-Soon.html

By Staci Miller, U.S. Air Force [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Malyszkz [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Xian Y-20 Transport Aircraft Has First Flight on Chinese Media

The Y-20 had its first public test flight on Chinese state media for the first time. Developed by the the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, part of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the Y-20 transport aircraft is to replace the Russian Ilyushin IL-76MD currently in service with the Chinese Air Force.

China originally bought 14 new and 6 used IL-76 starting in the early nineties, of which 14 are still used in the transport role. Four have been converted into KJ-2000 AEW&C aircraft and the remaining serve as test aircraft.

Further attempts to increase the number of available IL-76 airframes failed when a 2005 contract with Russia for the delivery of 34 IL-76 and 4 IL-78 refuelling aircraft could not be executed.

Only in 2010 has China been able to purchase another 10 used IL-76 airframes from Russia and Belarus, which are now in the process of being overhauled, with the first delivered this month.

To help speed up development of the Y-20, the Chinese sought assistance from the Ukrainian Antonov aircraft design bureau, with which has an extensive working relationship and which has extensive experience designing transport aircraft, including the An-124 and An-225.

Both the Y-7 and Y-8 transport aircraft currently used by the Chinese military trace their roots to aircraft originally designed by Antonov, which also helped in improving both aircraft for China.

According to Ukrainian claims, 3 design candidates were submitted to the Chinese to address their requirements for the Y-20.

• the turboprop An-70
• the An-77, a version of the An-70 with turbofans
• the An-170, a heavily modified and larger version of the An-70

The Y-20 design will address some of the shortcomings of the IL-76 design. The IL-76 fuselage and cargo hold is relatively narrow, which is a significant drawback in the transport role.

In general, most cargo tends to bulk out before they hit their weight limit. The Y-20 fuselage and cargo hold has thus been made wider and more efficient than the IL-76, allowing better cargo dimensions.

The Y-20 is also more aerodynamically efficient than the IL-76, which is a relatively outdated design. Modern composites and advanced avionics will also be incorporated into the Y-20. A supercritical wing may also be used.

The original design of the Y-20 also had to be changed to account for the increase in the weight of China's latest tank designs, which it must carry, such as the ZTZ-99A2, which comes in at around 60 tons.

The Y-20 will initially use the Russian Soloviev D-30KP2 engine, the same engine used in the IL-76MD. Three engines are in development for the Y-20:

• the WS-18 based on the D-30KP2
• the WS-20 based on the WS-10A engine
• the CJ-1000A and derivatives, which is best suited but may not be available as quickly as the previous two

Until an engine with more thrust than the D-30KP2 is available, the Y-20 will not be able to carry its maximum payload of up to 66 tons.

In the meantime, China has ordered 239 D-30 engines from Russia, 55 in 2009 and 184 in 2011. They will be used on the IL-76 and Y-20 aircraft, but also in the upgraded H-6K bomber aircraft.


http://news.cntv.cn/2013/01/26/VIDE1359192961355745.shtml

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90786/8099537.html

Credit original poster, via Chinese Internet