The Yak-152 initial training aircraft for initial training and professional selection of military pilots at an early stage of training requires the replacement of an imported engine with a Russian engine. PJSC Yakovlev is looking for partners for import substitution, UAC Deputy Director General for Civil Aviation, PJSC Yakovlev Director General Andrei Boginsky said, RIA Novosti reported.
The Yak-152 trainer is part of the Yak-130 combat training complex and includes a simulator, a computer training room and objective control equipment. The aircraft has a fully unified with Yak-130 information and control field of the cockpit, and the integrated use of two UTS: piston at the initial stage of training and jet combat trainer to improve skills is an optimal combination in the system of training cadets of the Air Force.
It is known about three produced prototype aircraft equipped with 500-horsepower piston 12-cylinder diesel engine V12 RED A03T produced in Germany. Another airplane is in TsAGI for resource testing. It is the imported engine that prevents Yak-152 certification and serial production, although the need for such a machine by training institutions of the Russian Defense Ministry and DOSAAF is estimated at about 400 airplanes.
“We are looking for opportunities: partners for import substitution of the German engine, who could engage in the production of the engine. There are several Russian companies that are ready to undertake this work,” said Andrei Boginsky.
He noted that now aircraft manufacturers are “in dialog” with these companies, all the necessary initial data are provided. “I can’t name the terms, but the work is going on, no one is giving up,” Boginsky added.
Earlier during the HeliRussia-2023 helicopter industry exhibition HeliRussia-2023, Yevgeny Prodanov, director of the VK-650 program at ODK-Klimov, said that ODK is considering the possibility of using the adapted VK-650V engine for installation on the Yak-152 UTS.
“Its design allows with minimal modifications to be used as part of various drones, as well as for use as part of a hybrid propulsion system. In addition, the issue of using the engine on the Yak-152 airplane is currently being worked out. We plan to obtain a type certificate for this engine in 2024,” said Evgeny Prodanov.
