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Saturn AL-51

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AL-51
The AL-51F1 on an LTS Checkmate mock-up at MAKS 2021.
Type Turbofan
National origin Russia
Manufacturer NPO Saturn, UMPO
First run 2016
Major applications Sukhoi Su-57M (planned)
Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate

The Saturn AL-51,[N 1] internal development designation izdeliye 30,[N 2] is an afterburning low-bypass turbofan engine being developed by NPO Saturn to succeed the Saturn AL-41F-1 for improved variants of the Sukhoi Su-57, as well as new potential tactical fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate.

Development

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In the 1990s, the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the disruption of funding and lengthy delays of the Mikoyan Project 1.44 for the MFI (Mnogofunksionalni Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Multifunctional Frontline Fighter") fifth-generation fighter program along with its engines, the variable cycle 18–tonne (177 kN, 40,000 lbf) class NPO Lyulka-Saturn AL-41F, internally designated izdeliye 20.[1] In 1999, as the MFI and LFI programs were gradually being abandoned, the Russian Defence Ministry initiated the more affordable PAK FA next-generation fighter program to replace the MiG-29 and Su-27. The competition was announced in April 2001, and Sukhoi submitted its T-50 proposal with a pair of 14.5-tonne (142 kN, 32,000 lbf) class Lyulka-Saturn AL-41F1, internally designated izdeliye 117, for the PAK FA.[2][3] Sukhoi was selected as the winner of the competition in April 2002 and in April 2004, it signed a contract with Lyulka-Saturn, now NPO Saturn, to develop the AL-41F1.[4] Despite its name, the engine is actually a highly uprated and improved variant of the earlier-generation Lyulka AL-31, originally designed for the Su-27. While the AL-41F1 used the same basic architecture as the AL-31, it had 80% new parts and applied technology from Lyulka-Saturn's original AL-41F, which was too large for the T-50.[5][6]

Although Sukhoi specified the AL-41F1 in the contract, the bureau anticipates that its T-50 design, eventually designated the Su-57, would be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft, with future variants employing more powerful engines. Following a competition between NPO Saturn and MMPP Salyut, the former was selected to develop the new engine, a clean-sheet design designated the izdeliye 30, that would equip the improved Su-57M variant in the mid-2020s.[7][8][9] Compared to the AL-41F1, the new powerplant will have increased thrust, lower costs, better fuel efficiency, and fewer moving parts; the engine also has glass-fibre plastic inlet guide-vanes (IGV) and a new nozzle with serrated flaps to reduce the aircraft's radar signature. Those features, along with subsequently improved reliability and lower maintenance costs will improve the aircraft performance and reliability.[10][11] The izdeliye 30 is designed to have fewer stages than the AL-41F1 and be up to 18% more effective.[12] Full scale development began in 2011 and the engine's compressor began bench testing in December 2014.[12] The first test engines were completed in 2016.[13] The new powerplant is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the AL-41F1 with minimal changes to the airframe.[14]

First flight of the engine on an Su-57 prototype occurred on 5 December 2017 with the second prototype (T-50-2, bort no. 052).[15][16] However, the engine’s development has seen a sluggish flight test pace; originally planned to enter service in the early 2020s, the izdeliye 30’s planned introduction has been delayed to the mid-2020s.[17][18] In 2023, the engine was given the designation AL-51, with the base variant as the AL-51F-1.[19] In early December 2024, the first known testing of AL-51F-1 with a new 2D thrust vectoring nozzle was done using the second prototype of T-50. The 17-minute test flight saw Sukhoi chief test pilot Sergei Bogdan flying the T-50-2 prototype from the M.M. Gromov flight test center, in Zhukovsky.[20]

Design

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The AL-51F-1 is a two-shaft low-bypass afterburning turbofan engine. The architecture is a three-stage fan driven by a single-stage low pressure turbine and five-stage high pressure compressor driven by single-stage high pressure turbine.[10] Unlike its AL-41F1 predecessor, the engine has glass-fiber plastic IGVs and convergent-divergent nozzles that use serrated flaps to reduce its radar signature as well as 19% higher thrust-to-weight ratio, 6.4% better specific thrust, and 9% lower specific fuel consumption; estimated thrust is 107.9 kN (24,300 lbf) dry and 166.8 kN (37,500 lbf) in afterburner.[21] The AL-51F1 has full authority digital engine control (FADEC) to ensure its reliability in various operating conditions.[22]

Applications

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Specifications (AL-51F1)

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Data from Key Aero,[22] Aviation Week,[10] NPO Saturn and UMPO[21]

General characteristics

  • Type: Two-shaft turbofan engine
  • Length: ~4.9 m (190 in) (comparable to AL-41F1)
  • Diameter: ~1.28 m (50 in) (comparable to AL-41F1)
  • Dry weight: 1,450 kilograms (3,200 lb)

Components

  • Compressor: 3-stage low pressure, 5-stage high pressure
  • Combustors: Annular
  • Turbine: Single stage low pressure, single stage high pressure

Performance

See also

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Comparable engines

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Russian: АЛ-51 or fully the АЛ-51Ф-1 for the AL-51F-1 [1]
  2. ^ The Russian term изделие, translit. izdeliye literally means "manufactured article" or "product".

References

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  1. ^ Velovich, Alexander (1 August 1995). "AL-41 engine problems are over, says Lyulka Saturn". Flight International.
  2. ^ "New AL-41 Unveiled at MAKS 2001". Flight International. 27 August 2001.
  3. ^ "Виктор ЧЕПКИН (Victor CHEPKIN interview), "Сатурн" выходит из-за туч". Russia Today. June 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  4. ^ Butowski 2021, p. 27
  5. ^ "Плазменный мотор". nplus1.ru. 6 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Подробнее". Kommersant. 10 December 2007.
  7. ^ Cheberko, Ivan (8 April 2010). "Creating an engine for the fifth generation fighter". Marker(JSC)(RU). Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Новый двигатель с плазменной системой зажигания для Су-57. "Изделие 30" и искусство компромиссов". naukatehnika.com. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Russian Su-57 With Fifth-gen Engine Expected Beyond 2025". defenseworld.net. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  10. ^ a b c Butowski, Piotr (6 January 2020). "Future Of Su-57 Next-Generation Engine Uncertain". Aviation Week.
  11. ^ "Russian Air Force to Receive the First Production Su-57 in 2018 - Defense Update". Defense-update.com. 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  12. ^ a b "The testing of a new engine intended for PAK FA will be started in 2014". - Russian Aviation Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, RuAviation.com, 15 November 2012. Retrieved: 19 November 2012.
  13. ^ "Стали известны сроки первого полета Су-57 с новыми двигателями". Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017.
  14. ^ Kozlov, Dmitry. Press conference of "Saturn" Archived 20 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine (RU). AviaPort.ru (RU), 16 July 2013. Retrieved: 21 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Russia's Su-57 fifth-generation fighter makes first flight with new engine". Tass.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  16. ^ "VIDEO: Russia flies first Su-57 fitted with new Product 30 engine". Flightglobal.com. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Russia's Su-57 fifth-generation fighter performs 16 test flights with new 2nd stage engine". TASS. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  18. ^ Butowski, Piotr (6 January 2020). "Future Of Su-57 Next-Generation Engine Uncertain". Aviation Week.
  19. ^ Butowski, Piotr (24 July 2023). "Russia's Fighter Engine Development Is Slow Going". Aviation Week.
  20. ^ https://theaviationist.com/2024/12/11/russian-su-57-spotted-with-flat-2d-thrust-vectoring-nozzle/
  21. ^ a b "AIRCRAFT GAS TURBINE ENGINE - THE CROWN OF ENGINEERING THOUGHT". NPO Saturn, UMPO. 10 November 2021. p. 8.
  22. ^ a b Butowski 2021, p. 89

Bibliography

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