Posted on 08/10/2006 7:31:22 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Albatros: hunting subs and quenching fires
16:17 | 09/ 08/ 2006
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti defense commentator Viktor Litovkin) - Russia has some unique models of combat hardware that were developed in the Soviet years. One of these is the A-40 amphibian, or the Albatros (the Mermaid, in NATO classification), a product of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Research and Engineering Complex.
This is the world's only turbojet that can take off and land both on water and at a conventional airport. It can perform numerous tasks: search for SSBNs (ballistic missile submarines), rescue merchant vessels and warships in distress, and even quench forest fires. I'll describe its capabilities later. Let's first talk about the A-40 amphibian itself.
Gennady Panatov, one of its designers, told me that the Albatross, at 86 metric tons, is also the world's biggest amphibious airplane. It was tested in 1990, and was nearly adopted, but was not produced en masse for reasons we'll discuss later.
The A-40 amphibian has set 126 performance records: in climbing rate (it can lift a 10-metric-ton cargo to an altitude of 3,000 meters in three minutes), cruising speed (745 km per hour with a 10-metric-ton cargo), and altitude of horizontal flight (13,000 meters with the same cargo), to name but a few. Its hydro- and aerodynamic features, as well as its design (an 11-meter-high keel, and a 42-meter span of T-shaped wings), have remained unmatched in modern amphibious aviation.
Many foreign experts share this opinion. Russia has displayed the Albatross at major international air shows: in Paris, Singapore, Santiago, Jakarta, Australia and New Zealand. U.S. Professor Daniel Savitsky, an authority on hydrodynamics, was one of the first foreigners to visit the plant in Taganrog, Russia's secret-aircraft hub, where the A-40 was produced. He described it as "hydrodynamic perfection."
Apart from its smart, appealing design, the Albatros has unique combat capabilities. It is primarily a military aircraft, a kind of submarine hunter, which was once part of the national anti-submarine defense. It can fly 2,000 km out to sea (this is its range; as the crow flies it can cover a distance of 5,500 km); barrage a suspected nuclear submarine deployment area for five to eight hours (up to 12 hours with refueling); descend on water like its living namesake, the world's biggest bird; turn off the engines and listen to traffic noise; and conduct other "search operations," to use a military term. It can track a submarine, pinpoint its location with indicator buoys (or surround it with red flags, as if it were a wolf), follow it all the way, take off without losing touch with it, and then land again if it stays deep for a long time or lies on the seabed.
If need be, the Albatros can sink a submarine. It has hydro-phonic and hydro-acoustic equipment, radio electronic and computer systems, and even electronic countermeasure devices, air-to-water missiles, torpedoes, mines, depth bombs, and many other things which allow it to engage in combat missions either independently or together with surface warships, submarines, and AWACS-type aircraft (like the A-50 airborne warning and control system aircraft, another product of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Research and Engineering Complex). The Albatross is also capable of defending itself against fighters.
Panatov said that the Albatros amphibian has many advantages over aircraft based on the ground or even on aircraft carriers. First, they take off and land on water rather than runways, which may be destroyed during hostilities. Second, if the enemy is likely to attack, they can simply disperse over the ocean without using any coastal infrastructure. Finally, amphibians can be deployed on sand cays, and are easier to service. Also, this greatly reduces corrosion caused by seawater. The amphibians have many other strong points as well.
At one time, NATO was very interested in amphibious aircraft. The British Royal Air Force even conducted talks with the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Research and Engineering Complex on the purchase of several amphibians to replace its maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Nimrod submarine hunters. The British even visited the Taganrog plant, which manufactured the A-40. The Americans also wanted to buy it. In the late 1950s, the U.S. tried to develop a similar flying boat, code-named SeaMaster, but gave up on it after two prototypes crashed when passing the hydrodynamic barrier.
Panatov even went to Brussels to show NATO experts a videotape of the Albatros's performance and describe its characteristics. But Western countries did not want to buy it. Apparently, they did not want to support the Russian defense industry. The Russian navy did not go for it, either. There were no funds to produce it in the early 1990s, and it was somewhat inappropriate to track down the submarines of the no-longer-probable enemy at that time.
The A-40 Albatros exists only as an exhibition model, but it is not gone for good. The main thing is that it can be more than just an anti-submarine aircraft. Its Be-42 version has been optimized for search-and-rescue operations at sea. It can land on a 2-meter-high wave, deliver rafts and boats, provide urgent medical care, and turn into a flying ambulance. It is easy to load it with equipment for resuscitation and surgery.
The Be-44 modification of the A-40 can be used to patrol Russia's territorial waters. With a crew of three to five people, it can transport about 100 passengers and about 10 tons of cargo. It weighs 86 metric tons, the thrust of its twin turbojet engine is 15 tons, its water run is 1,000-1,200 meters, and its take-off run is 700-900 meters.
The Albatros can also act as a fire brigade. A 36-metric-ton Be-200, derived from the A-40, is capable of extinguishing forest, tundra, and other fires. It pumps in water after landing close to the fire site. Panatov said that its water-carrying capacity is double that of the Canadian CL-215 fire fighter. The Be-200 can help Russia protect its taiga against disasters and careless people. It can be helpful in other countries, too. In fact, a Be-200 aircraft took part in quenching fires in Corsica, Spain, South America and on other continents.
The question is, how many aircraft of this type should be produced, and who will purchase them?
There are some answers to this question. The Russian Ministry of Emergencies has ordered six Be-200s from the Irkutsk-based Irkut Aircraft Corporation, which has set up a joint venture with the Taganrog Aviation Research and Engineering Complex. The fire fighter has a D-436 jet engine, allowing it to fly at a speed of 600 km per hour. It can carry six metric tons a distance of 1,500 km. A tentative price tag is about $22 million, which is not very expensive considering how destructive forest or taiga fires are. The Taganrog Aviation Research and Engineering Complex and the Irkut Corporation will continue getting more orders for the aircraft.
Many will have an opportunity to see the unique features of the Albatros. A regular sea aviation show will open in early September in Gelendzhik, in southern Russia. The A-40 and the Be-200 are always the most interesting models there. Those who cannot visit are welcome to watch it on TV. The two aircraft will certainly be shown.
Ruskies do come up with some interesting stuff.
What's the service ceiling on this beast? I understand that the Russians have several 'aircraft' that basically fly in ground-effect. Is this one of them?
Nope, but you're right, they did make some "Wing-in-ground effect" aircraft years ago. Not sure if any of them are anything more than museum pieces today.
Thanks! Not sure of the utility of being able to land in open ocean as far as ASW goes. Amphibs during WW2 risked a lot when attempting to put down in unsheltered water. This plane, chocked with MAD & Sonar gear is not going to be cheap, and I don't think they'll risk putting one down a thousand miles from land.
Caspian Sea Monster
That's crazy looking. I like it!
Certainly looks like if flowed out of ground effect research.
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