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The “heart” of the aircraft
Another important difference of the Su-35 from predecessors from the Su-27
family is the use, in its power plant, of new engines with an increased thrust. Those
engines, known as 117S, have been developed by NPO Saturn Research and
Production Association.
In terms of engineering, the engines are substantially modified AL-31F
production engines employing fifth-generation technologies. They use a new fan,
new high and low pressure turbines, and a new digital control system. A provision is
made for using a vectored thrust nozzle. The modernization has increased the engine
special mode thrust by 16%, up to 14,500 kgf. In the maximum burner-free mode it
reaches 8,800 kgf. Compared to today’s AL-31F engines, their capabilities will grow
substantially, by 2 to 2.7 times. For instance, the between-repair period will grow
from 500 to 1,000 hours (the operating period before the first overhaul is 1,500
hours). The designed period will vary between 1,500 and 4,000 hours.
The 117S engines will be co-produced by Ufa-based Motor Building
Association and Rybinsk-based NPO Saturn Research and Production Association.
The first production 117S engines were delivered to KnAAPO in early 2007 for
testing on the first experimental Su-35 aircraft.
New onboard systems
The distinctive feature of Su-35 is the employment of a new suite of onboard
instruments. Its core is the information management system (IMS), which integrates
functional, logical, informational and software subsystems into a single complex that
ensures the interaction between the crew and equipment. The IMS includes two
central digital computers, commutation and information devices and an indication
system built on the “all-glass cockpit” concept.
The core of the Su-35 cockpit instrumentation suite are two full-color multi-
function liquid crystal displays of MFI type, a multi-function panel with a built-in
display processor, a wide angle collimatory display on the windshield and a control
and indication panel.
MFI multi-function displays with a built-in processor measure 9 x 12 inches
(diagonal 15 inches) and have a resolution of 1400x1050 pixels. They are intended
for reception, processing and production, in a multiple window mode, of graphic,
numeric, alphabetic and symbolic information. They also present televised
information received from onboard TV sensors and impose on it synthesized
numeric, alphabetic and symbolic information. Besides, they produce and send video
signals in a digital format to the video record unit. The multi-function panel with a
built-in display processor presents the required information and issues commands by
pushing the buttons on the button array at any time in flight. The airborne collimatory
display with a built-in processor monitors the space beyond the cockpit. The
information is processed by control signals.
The collimator angle of view is 20x30о.
The onboard systems and armament in the new cockpit of Su-35 are controlled
by buttons and switches on the aircraft control joystick and engine control levers as
