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NEXT-GENERATION AIRCRAFT ENGINE TO BE BUILT IN RUSSIA

Russia is capable of building an advanced aircraft engine for aircraft of the 5th generation, according to the builders of aircraft engines who take part in the 8th International show ?Engines-2004? held in Moscow. 140 companies from 8 countries arrive to the show.

According to Yuri Alexeev, director general of Moscow?s Salyut company, the new engine ?can be built within 5 to 6 years?. However, at least 20 new technologies, designs and materials will have to be developed, tested and certified for the project. Some of the above are ?still missing? in Russia. Alexeev is confident that Russia can catch up in R&D in the next 2 years while modernizing the basic engine of Russian military aircraft AL-31F.

Specialists at a Russian company Saturn have already started working on the new engine. Viktor Chuiko, president of the Union of Russian aviation engine builders, believes that ?the golden mean will be found? in the development of a 5th generation engine. Vladimir Skibin, director general of the Central institute of aviation mechanical engineering, is also optimistic about the prospects of developing a high-tech product. ?Russia is capable of producing a competitive engine for advanced combat aircraft within the next few years,? said he. He believes that designers should take into account the market potential of foreign countries when carrying out the new project. New equipment shouldn?t be built only with Russia and CIS countries in mind, as reported by ITAR-TASS News Agency.