Yak-44 AEW aircraft

[overscan]

I've posted a translation of a good Russian website article over at the keymags forum, along with 3 view and a cutaway. Would make a nice scratchbuild

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthrea...ead.php?t=39136

[nev]

Those are some wicked looking engines!    

[Hobbes]

One of the first posts in that thread said those engines were ~15,000 shp each (which would mean they used NK-12 engines from the Bear). I was going to say something about those being ridiculously overpowered for an aircraft this size, but a later post listed more believable spces (4700 shp each). Still, if I can get my hands on some NK-12s and, say, a Fokker F-27 or Hawkeye...

[lancer]

What an interesting looking little machine. And, no I didn't read the article, too bloody long. Is it a new airframe or a based on airframe?

[overscan]

It was a new design airframe initially purely for naval AEW/AWACS, but was also expected to be adapted to all kinds of naval tasks.

The first version had small turboprops sized for cruise and lift jet engines for short takeoff. It also had Nimrod AEW style fore and aft radar antennas.

The definitive version as shown in the pictures used 2 D-27 propfans, which give about 14,000hp each or 24,690 lb thrust on the An-70 depending if you view it as a turboprop or a jet. This gave very short takeoff performance (skijump takeoff, catapult landings from the Russian carriers) without carrying the dead weight penalty and high burn rate of the lift jets.

Engine is here: http://www.motorsich.com/pdf/151.pdf

[lancer]

Cheers Paul.

[Joe C-P]

How about some of the other ideas - an AEW Su-27/33 or Su-25? I think the latter might work better than the former, with an Erieye along the spine. And how about an EW Su-27 ala the EF-18G?
You'll also note the close resemblance between the YaK-44 and the E-2 - form following function.
Also the reference to India possible choosing the Rafale over the MiG-29K. Not likely, but we what-iffers don't bother with things like "likely" or "probable" or "reality", now do we?  

JoeP

[Captain Canada]

Hawkeyski !

Cool.....looks like I can grab a six pack of Trumpeter Hawkeyes, and just call them Yak-44s !

 

[Jschmus]

Such an aircraft would have to have major short-field capability, as the carrier in question is a converted Kiev-class cruiser.  There's a plan view of the Admiral Gorshkov in the November '04 issue of Combat Aircraft, and it doesn't look like there's much there.  Under the circumstances, I think the Ka-31 or similar helo-based AEW would be much more practical/practicable.

Admiral Gorshkov

[overscan]

India already has the Ka-31 AEW and they are reportedly quite impressed with its performance.

The Yak-44 was designed to takeoff from the 1143.5 Kuznetsov and Tbilisi without a catapult. Not sure how much longer the takeoff run is on that than the converted Gorshkov.

I rather like the idea of an Su-27KUB AEW (twin seats, side by side) with Nimrod AEW style fore and aft radar antennas in big bulges.

[Geoff_B]

The Indian Rafale order was being oushed by france for the new Indian carriers that should be being built, the ADS or Air Defence Ships.

Indian ADS

However with the Mig-29K for the rebuilt Gorshkox i imagine that they will go with another batch of Migs instead as probably much cheaper than Rafale.

Admiral Gorshkov.

India is also reported to be considering bidding for Invincible next year along with the Sea Harrier FA-2 as this would be the cheapest option of replaceing Hermes and upgrade their Sea harriers until the ADS are finally in service.

Cheers

Geoff B B)