military aviation | interview

PHAZOTRON-NIIR RADARS
Interview with Phazotron-NIIR Director General Alexey Edakin

for fighters, helicopters and UAVs

The Phazotron-NIIR corporation is known world-wide for its fire control radars designed to fit MiG fighters. Now, its radars equip MiG-29 aircraft in service with the air forces of about 30 countries. The corporation is the manufacturer of Zhuk-ME radar versions fitting the advanced MiG-29SMT, MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2 fighters and the MiG-29UPG fighter being upgraded for the Indian Air Force. Phazotron-NIIR has developed and tested Russias first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, designated as Zhuk-AE (FGA-35), to fit the MiG-35. Recently, the development of helicopter radars has been climbing higher on the priority list of PhazotronNIIRs production programme. The corporation has completed the trials and launched production and deliveries of the FH01 radar to equip the Russian Armys Ka-52 combat helicopters. In addition, the tests of the advanced FHA radar designed to furnish the Russian Navys Ka-27 helicopters have been nearing their end. In the run-up to the Le Bourget air show, we have met with Phazotron-NIIR Director General Alexey Edakin and asked him for a rundown on the companys status and ongoing airborne radar programmes.
What events mattered most to the corporation in 2012 and early 2013? I believe the key result of another year of Phazotron-NIIRs work is the corporations improving its financial and economic standing, showing a high growth rate in all fields it operates in, and boosting its scientific, technical, production and commercial capabilities. The corporations return under the governmental stock-holding control was an important event in 2012 and a milestone in the corporations history. The Rostec state corporation exercises stockholder corporate governance and strategic control via its subsidiary the Radioelectronic Technologies holding. The government is pursuing a purposeful policy of bringing all defence contractors under control of the Rostec state corporation. Status of companies being Rostecs subsidiaries becomes higher on the market and, as a result, position of such companies while participating in tenders for governmental funding of their programs becomes stronger. This allows working out and fulfilling a common long-term subcontractor, supplier and customer development strategy and using the resources available both under federal and in-house programmes in the most efficient manner. Speaking of Phazotron-NIIR radars as such, the key event last year was the development of a drastically sophisticated transmit-receive (T-R) module, based on 3D technologies, under a programme bankrolled by the Education and Science Ministry. We made a prototype of the module, which may well be regarded as the first step towards a next-generation AESA. Phazotron-NIIR is known to have been the first Russian company that designed and tested an AESA radar, and now we are launching the development of a nextgeneration radar. What are Phazotron-NIIRs financial and economic dynamics? Did the company manage to get a profit? What about the corporations orderbook and its structure? As of early 2013, the orderbook exceeded 17 billion rubles (about $550 million), which allows enough workload for both PhazotronNIIR itself and other Radioelectronic Technologies holding subsidiaries for several years to come. For the first time since its inception, Phazotron-NIIR achieved an annual sales volume of 3.6 billion rubles ($120 million). The product mix has traditionally comprises contracts under the governmental defence acquisition programme (36%) and contracts with foreign states as part military technical cooperation (64%). The output and sales dynamics (an 88%-plus growth over 2011) proves that our corporation is a most dynamically growing one in Russian industry. Following several lean years, Phazotron-NIIR finally made a profit
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military aviation | interview

two years ago, with its net profit in 2012 totalling as many as 140 million rubles (almost $5million). This happened owing to a number of our development programmes of previous years, including those we paid for out of pocket, having resulted in the launch of production (Phazotron-NIIR is both the developer and manufacturer of its products). Therefore, we are reaping the results of the investment made in the past. Today, we enjoy the good payback stemming from a right advanced radar development policy. Has the structure of your orderbook changed? While previously our orderbook was dominated by orders awarded by foreign customers (mostly orders for radars to fit various MiG29 versions), the latest trend is the growing number of orders as part of the governmental defence acquisition programme. First, they included orders for our helicopter radars: we have recently launched full-rate production of the radar intended to equip the Ka-52 helicopter fleet in service with the Army Aviation. Now, we are completing the tests of a radar designed for upgrading the Russian Navys Ka-27 helicopter fleet. Add to these the orders for our traditional products radars designed to fit MiG fighters. As you know, a contract is being fulfilled for a batch of MiG-29K/KUB carrier-borne fighters fitted with our Zhuk-family radars and designed for the air arm of the Russian Navy. A contract is being finalised with the Russian Air Force for MiG-35S fighters to be furnished with radars of the type too. We hope that further down the road there will be orders for the cutting-edge AESA radar we are developing now. The plan for this year provides for the domestic orders to number about half of our aggregate deliveries, with the number persist in the future. Given the Zhuk radar orderbook (about 200 units), a decision has been taken to have the Ryazan State Instrument-Making Plant launch the Zhuks production within the framework of the Radioelectronic Technologies holding (until now, the Zhuk has been in production by Phazotron-NIIR alone). This will allow a more efficient use of the manufacturing facilities of the corporations subsidiaries, a prompter fulfilment of contracts and Phazotron-NIIRs addition facilities to be freed up on development of advanced radars. The first Zhuk radars made in Ryazan are due as soon as this summer. The Russian Army Aviation Ka-52 combat helicopter fitted with the Phazotron-NIIR Arbalet radar is being displayed at the current Le Bourget air show. What is the status of the Arbalet development programme? In line with its strategy, Phazotron-NIIR has successfully productionised the Arbalet radar for Kamov Ka-52 helicopter at its facility in the city of Ryazan the Rassvet research institute. The development of the facility has enabled us to meet our commitments under the 2012 governmental defence acquisition programme in terms of radar deliveries to the Russian Defence Ministry. This is owing to the smooth selfless efforts of the whole personnel of the corporation, which has proven the top-notch capabilities of the company yet again. There are more than 40 Arbalet-equipped Ka-52s in RusAF units now. As is known, Russian Army Aviation helicopters used to lack radars. Now, military pilots are much satisfied with the Ka-52s expanded tactical performance owing to the introduction of the radar for navigational, mapping, target acquisition, sighting and other purposes. Exploring the helicopter sphere, we are completing the official trials of a command tactical radar system intended for the upgraded Ka-27M helicopter. Deliveries are slated for next year. Another participant in the Le Bourget flight programme is the Yak-130 combat trainer. Its developer, Irkut Corp., has repeatedly said that it was looking into development of new versions of the plane. Has Phazotron-NIIR got anything to offer in this respect? Indeed, Phazotron-NIIR, which has a wealth of experience in small-size airborne radar development, is working on a detailed design of the advanced FK130 light compact radar that we are ready to offer for fitting future Yak-130 derivatives that may include a light attack aircraft, a light subsonic tactical fighter, etc. Equipped with a small but effective radar, the tactical performance of such aircraft will get a considerable shot in the arm. We hope for our proposal to kindle the interest of the planes developer. What other promising airborne radar development efforts are planned by your company? A new line of work we are pursuing in conjunction with the Moscow Aviation Institute is the development of a family of small radars for application, say, in unmanned aerial vehicles. Developers of future Russian UAVs have displayed their interest in our work in this field. I would also like to emphasise that we pin our hopes on the new-generation AESA radar based on 3D T-R modules, which we are developing now. I believe the hightech radar, which is at the cutting edge of technology, will be able to re-emphasise Phazotron-NIIRs leadership in airborne radar development.

Arbalet (FH01) radar on Ka-52 helicopter

Zhuk-ME (FGM-29) radar on MiG-29SMT fighter

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