Russia Plans to Supply Heavy-Duty Engines for Chinese Aircraft
Recently, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov told journalists that Russia is prepared to supply components for China's wide-body aircraft, including composite wings and heavy-duty engines. In the future, it also plans to provide the PD-26 engine currently under development to China.
On September 18 local time, Russian President Putin stated that the development of the heavy-duty PD-26 engine is "in full swing."
According to reports from RIA Novosti and TASS, Manturov made these statements during a press conference on September 5.
Manturov said that China is developing a new wide-body aircraft, "the plane does not exist yet, but once it becomes available, we will deliver it. We are already ready to deliver," he said.
He revealed that the parts that Russia is preparing to supply are mainly based on the Russian MC-21 project, involving composite wings and heavy-duty engines.
The MC-21 is a medium-range mainline passenger aircraft developed by the Irkut Corporation, with the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) leading its development. The MC-21-300 model first flew in May 2017 and was the first Russian civil aircraft designed entirely according to Western standards. It is equipped with the Pratt & Whitney PW1400G-JM or the domestically produced PD-14 engine. The PD-14 engine completed initial testing in 2018.
Manturov further stated that Russia may provide the heavy-duty PD-26 engine, based on the PD-35 engine, to China in the future. This engine has a thrust of 26 tons and will be used for the Il-100 transport aircraft and may also be used for the MC-21-500 and 600 models.
Manturov also emphasized that supply options are available, but the decision-making power will rest with the Chinese partners.
Manturov also told journalists that Russia has become the only country in the world capable of independently producing all aircraft components. Manturov pointed out that no other country can now completely produce all components independently.
On the same day, Putin visited a factory of the United Engine Corporation and urged the rapid advancement of the development of the PD-26 engine. According to the introduction, the PD-26 engine is expected to be a derivative of the PD-35 engine and will be applied to a series of large aircraft projects.
Putin told officials and enterprise representatives present: "This (PD-26 engine) will be the first high-thrust aviation engine independently developed by Russia, with new performance in terms of power and thrust, and it will be economically efficient. This project not only enables us to modernize our military transport aviation, but also opens the way for us to build a new generation of wide-body civilian aircraft."
On September 18, during a meeting with leaders of various parties of the State Duma, Putin mentioned that the performance of Russia's new PD-14 engine exceeds international standards. "Only four countries can manufacture engines like the PD-14, and Russia is one of them," he said.
Putin also said, "We also need engines for wide-body, long-range passenger aircraft — that is the PD-35 engine, with the PD-26 as its derivative. Relevant work is being carried out in full swing."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843755977765895/
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