The AL-41 is a designation for two different Russian military turbofan engine variants by NPO Lyulka-Saturn. The original AL-41F, development designation izdeliye20, was a variable-bypass ratio turbofan engine, designed for supercruise flight for the MFI (Mnogofunktsionalni Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Multifunctional Frontline Fighter") program, which resulted in the Mikoyan Project 1.44. It is considered by Jane's as the Russian counterpart to the General Electric YF120 engine which lost to the more conventional fixed-bypass YF119 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter engine program.
Since the cancellation of the MFI program, the AL-41F1S (izdeliye 117S) and AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117) designations were assigned to engines developed by Lyulka-Saturn, now NPO Saturn, that respectively power the Sukhoi Su-35S and Sukhoi Su-57, but these are heavily upgraded variants of the AL-31F, rather than variants of the izdeliye 20 design.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Soviet Defence Ministry identified the need for a 1990s fighter, or I-90, that would eventually succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27, resulting in the MFI fifth-generation multirole fighter program. The AL-41F, with development project designation izdeliye 20, was launched in 1982, and was intended to power the MFI, which was to be developed by Mikoyan under its 1.44/1.42 project.[1] The first prototype engine flew in a MiG-25 Foxbat testbed. An 18–tonne (177 kN, 40,000 lbf) class engine, the AL-41F used a variable bypass architecture to facilitate the aircraft in supercruise, or fly at speeds of Mach 1.5 without afterburner. It had the ambitious goal of increasing the turbine inlet temperature by 250 °C over its AL-31F predecessor, and was expected to incorporate thrust vectoring to enhance the fighter's maneuverability.[2] After the collapse of the Soviet Union, both the MFI and the AL-41F suffered from severe funding disruptions and lengthy delays; production plans for the MFI was halted in 1997 due to high costs. Eventually, 28 AL-41Fs were built and the engine was first flown on the MiG 1.44 in 2000, but it did not advance beyond prototype stage when all further work on the MFI ceased later that year.[3]
With the abandonment of the MFI, the Russian Defence Ministry embarked on the more affordable PAK FA fifth-generation fighter program, with the competitive tender announced in April 2001. As the aircraft from this program would be smaller than the MFI, the AL-41F was too large to fit into the competing proposals.[4] The AL-41 designation was then reused for heavily upgraded variants of the Saturn AL-31 that would power Sukhoi's T-50 design for the PAK FA; these include the AL-41F1 (izdeliye 117) developed for the T-50, eventually named Su-57, as well as the slightly simpler AL-41F1S (izdeliye 117S) derivative for a highly upgraded Su-27 variant called the T-10BM, eventually designated Su-35.[5] Some of the technology of the original AL-41F were applied in the izdeliye 117S and 117 engines, but it is important to note that these engines are not considered a part of the same AL-41F line (izdeliye 20) as was planned for the Mikoyan Project 1.44 because their cores are based on the AL-31F's, whereas the AL-41F utilizes an entirely different approach. The designation is present because the engine approaches some of the projected specifications of the AL-41F. As Sukhoi anticipates that the Su-57 will be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft, future improved variants are expected to incorporate a new design from Saturn designated the AL-51F-1, or izdeliye 30, that would eventually replace the AL-41F1.[6]
Specifications (AL-41F)edit
Data from Kommersant,[7] Leteckemotory,[8] Flight International[2]
Butowski, Piotr (2021). Su-57 Felon. Stamford, UK: Key Books. ISBN978-1-913870-44-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saturn AL-41.
AL-41F/F1A (117S) on LeteckeMotory.cz
December 15, 2023
saturn, designation, different, russian, military, turbofan, engine, variants, lyulka, saturn, original, development, designation, izdeliye, variable, bypass, ratio, turbofan, engine, designed, supercruise, flight, mnogofunktsionalni, frontovoy, istrebitel, mu. The AL 41 is a designation for two different Russian military turbofan engine variants by NPO Lyulka Saturn The original AL 41F development designation izdeliye 20 was a variable bypass ratio turbofan engine designed for supercruise flight for the MFI Mnogofunktsionalni Frontovoy Istrebitel Multifunctional Frontline Fighter program which resulted in the Mikoyan Project 1 44 It is considered by Jane s as the Russian counterpart to the General Electric YF120 engine which lost to the more conventional fixed bypass YF119 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter engine program AL 41FType Variable cycle turbofanNational origin RussiaManufacturer NPO SaturnMajor applications Mikoyan Project 1 44Since the cancellation of the MFI program the AL 41F1S izdeliye 117S and AL 41F1 izdeliye 117 designations were assigned to engines developed by Lyulka Saturn now NPO Saturn that respectively power the Sukhoi Su 35S and Sukhoi Su 57 but these are heavily upgraded variants of the AL 31F rather than variants of the izdeliye 20 design Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications AL 41F 2 1 General characteristics 2 2 Components 2 3 Performance 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksDesign and development editIn the late 1970s and early 1980s the Soviet Defence Ministry identified the need for a 1990s fighter or I 90 that would eventually succeed the MiG 29 and Su 27 resulting in the MFI fifth generation multirole fighter program The AL 41F with development project designation izdeliye 20 was launched in 1982 and was intended to power the MFI which was to be developed by Mikoyan under its 1 44 1 42 project 1 The first prototype engine flew in a MiG 25 Foxbat testbed An 18 tonne 177 kN 40 000 lbf class engine the AL 41F used a variable bypass architecture to facilitate the aircraft in supercruise or fly at speeds of Mach 1 5 without afterburner It had the ambitious goal of increasing the turbine inlet temperature by 250 C over its AL 31F predecessor and was expected to incorporate thrust vectoring to enhance the fighter s maneuverability 2 After the collapse of the Soviet Union both the MFI and the AL 41F suffered from severe funding disruptions and lengthy delays production plans for the MFI was halted in 1997 due to high costs Eventually 28 AL 41Fs were built and the engine was first flown on the MiG 1 44 in 2000 but it did not advance beyond prototype stage when all further work on the MFI ceased later that year 3 With the abandonment of the MFI the Russian Defence Ministry embarked on the more affordable PAK FA fifth generation fighter program with the competitive tender announced in April 2001 As the aircraft from this program would be smaller than the MFI the AL 41F was too large to fit into the competing proposals 4 The AL 41 designation was then reused for heavily upgraded variants of the Saturn AL 31 that would power Sukhoi s T 50 design for the PAK FA these include the AL 41F1 izdeliye 117 developed for the T 50 eventually named Su 57 as well as the slightly simpler AL 41F1S izdeliye 117S derivative for a highly upgraded Su 27 variant called the T 10BM eventually designated Su 35 5 Some of the technology of the original AL 41F were applied in the izdeliye 117S and 117 engines but it is important to note that these engines are not considered a part of the same AL 41F line izdeliye 20 as was planned for the Mikoyan Project 1 44 because their cores are based on the AL 31F s whereas the AL 41F utilizes an entirely different approach The designation is present because the engine approaches some of the projected specifications of the AL 41F As Sukhoi anticipates that the Su 57 will be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft future improved variants are expected to incorporate a new design from Saturn designated the AL 51F 1 or izdeliye 30 that would eventually replace the AL 41F1 6 Specifications AL 41F editData from Kommersant 7 Leteckemotory 8 Flight International 2 General characteristics Type Turbofan Length Diameter Dry weight 1 500 kilogramComponents Compressor axialPerformance Maximum thrust 40 000 lbf 176 kN Turbine inlet temperature 1 642 C 1 915 K 2 988 F Thrust to weight ratio 10 5 11 1See also editRelated development Saturn AL 41F1 highly improved AL 31 variant with AL 41F technology appliedComparable engines General Electric YF120 Pratt amp Whitney F119 Xian WS 15 IHI Corporation XF9Related lists List of aircraft enginesReferences edit Butowski 2021 p 6 a b Velovich Alexander 1 August 1995 AL 41 engine problems are over says Lyulka Saturn Flight International Viktor ChEPKIN Victor CHEPKIN interview Saturn vyhodit iz za tuch Russia Today June 2008 Archived from the original on 2010 06 16 Retrieved 2012 09 21 New AL 41 Unveiled at MAKS 2001 Flight International 27 August 2001 Plazmennyj motor nplus1 ru 6 March 2019 Butowski 2021 p 89 Podrobnee Kommersant 10 December 2007 AL 41F Leteckemotory Sources editButowski Piotr 2021 Su 57 Felon Stamford UK Key Books ISBN 978 1 913870 44 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saturn AL 41 AL 41F F1A 117S on LeteckeMotory cz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saturn AL 41 amp oldid 1182474144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
