Ravil Zaripov: ‘Constructors will already be on the site of Kazan Aviation Factory in April’

Kick-off

The Minister of Defence of Russia Sergey Shoigu stated about the necessity of the renewal of production of Tu-160M2 in Kazan Aviation Factory in last year's spring. Have federal documents on the start of the production been signed or are there just bombshells about intentions?

Undoubtedly, it is not on paper only. There are directive documents at federal level that permit to expend money on necessary preparatory works for the start of the construction of Tu-160M2. A decree of the President of the Russian Federation is being prepared at the same time. The document will define concrete goals and tasks of the production of the strategic heavy bomber, which will be a part of the armament of the Russian Air Force and will significantly augment its combat capabilities.

Strategic Long Range Aviation will remain a serious factor for nuclear deterrence, the main stabilizing force in the future. For this reason, its importance is growing. The Ministry of Defence of Russia annually invests money in the modernization of the acting bombers like Tu-95MC, Tu-160 и Tu-22M3. They are technically modernized and intellectualized due to a new on-board equipment set and expansion of the nomenclature of armaments. As the latest events demonstrate, only strong countries are respected in the world. A doctrine on the renewal of the military hardware and armament of the Russian Army was adopted when the State Armament Programme 2020 was adopted. It is a more modern decision designed to provide the sovereignty and the safety of the country. The defence industry of the country is actively working in this sphere. It does not only repair and restore but also creates a new generation of military hardware. In this sense, Tu-160M2 is to become a culmination of scientific and technical ideas. The new strategic bomber of the next generation will substitute the winged vehicles built in the 80s.

'Tu-160M2 is to become a culmination of scientific and technical ideas. The new strategic bomber of the next generation will substitute the winged vehicles built in the 80s.' Photo: russianplanes.net

A systematic work on the elaboration of the technical task of formation of the appearance of Tu-160M2 has being carried out since last year, selection of the executors of the programme – participants of the production cooperation – is in the process too. In the Soviet era, aviation factories were built for execution of the full cycle of works, where everything was produced – from the production of details to flight testings. In today's conditions, it is economically inefficient. This is why a big programme of the cooperation is being created to give a part of the works to joint factories. The largest aviation corporations in the world have been using this model for a long time. Transfer to new production methods is a big job that doesn't require big investments.

All programme of the future construction is being coordinated by the administration of Tupolev OJSC and its branch – Kazan Aviation Factory. They elaborated primary documents, which were considered in the specialized ministries and United Aircraft Corporation.

Tatarstan defence recovers its wings

Which Tatarstan enterprises of the defence industry will participate in the cooperation of Tu-160M2?

Undoubtedly, many enterprises are trying to join the production cooperation. 17 out of 20 Tatarstan enterprises of the defence industry participated in the competitive selection. Now the engineers-constructors of these enterprises offer their technical solutions for the production of new details and units. It will allow to reach a significant budgetary economy. It is not necessary to create everything in one place. I think the list of participants will be filling in. Moreover, a part of the units and details will be produced inside UAC and aircraft factories in Ulyanovsk and Irkutsk.

17 out of 20 is a good indicator. Does it mean that they managed to preserve their production potential?

Yes, many enterprises of the defence industry preserved their technical equipment in spite of the reform in the 90s, which led to the reduction of production volumes of the defence industry manyfold, it was possible to lose everything at once. The defence industry did not lose its role in the economy thanks to the efforts of the administration of the republic. Today the total annual revenue of the enterprises of the defence industry of the republic is equal to 98bn rubles, which is a good addition to the GRP.

The administration of the republic has never forgotten about the 'defence', left it alone with its problems and divided the enterprises into 'ours' and 'not ours'. Because our people are working there

No one would argue that the defence industry is a priority of the federal government and the Ministry of Defence of Russia. But, on the other hand, the administration of the republic has never forgotten about the 'defence', left it alone with its problems and divided the enterprises into 'ours' and 'not ours'. Because our people are working there (they number over 50,000 people), so their problems also worry us. We took and will take decisive actions despite any difficulty of the problems arising.

Kazan Aviation Factory will be brand new by 2019

How could you describe today's technical equipment of Kazan Aviation Factory?

Unfortunately, there were not any big programmes in the last 20 years, which would allow to increase production volumes. It is natural that it had in impact on production capacities, especially procurement production suffered. So, the 20 years of despair is behind. A huge work will be done on the transformation into a modern and high-tech factory in the nearest 5 years within the scope of federal special-purpose programmes.

What is an aviation factory? First of all, it is an aerodrome used for flight testings of an assembled aircraft. This is why a big work on modernization of the aerodrome began last year. The modernization corresponds to all modern standards of flight safety. The aerodrome will be ready to accommodate heavy military aircraft this year.

Secondly, it is necessary to modernize the energy infrastructure of the enterprise completely. Huge territories of the factory consume a big volume of electricity and heating. For this reason, it is necessary to lay the most energy efficient solution into the foundation of the future activity. Thirdly, we will have to execute a complete overhaul of production shops – hangars whose height is almost 15 metres. We already have a ready project of the works that will be done during 2-3 years. It includes the construction of new building too. Constructors will enter the production site of KAF in April. So, new long-range aviation complexes, which will provide a national safety of the country, will be assembled on the platforms of the renewed factory.

'We will have to execute a complete overhaul of production shops – hangars whose height is almost 15 metres. We already have a ready project of the works that will be done during 2-3 years.' Photo: tatar-inform.ru

What part of the production sites will be reconstructed?

According to rough estimations, about 70-75% of the sites of KAF will be completely repaired within the scope of the programme till 2018 inclusive. Roofing, engineering systems and equipment in some parts will be changed, somewhere floor will be laid. A huge volume of construction and installation works is to be done. The work will take three years – from 2016 to 2018. And it will be divided into stages. A creation of an engineering centre connected with the main assembly shops is under discussion.

What is the sum invested in the modernization?

The defence industry is financed by means of federal special-purpose programmes, which will be used for projecting, construction and equipment supply. These sums are quite big – several billions of rubles. Contractors for execution of these works will be attracted on tender terms.

Russian Stankoprom, German DMGMORI or… Whose machine tools will KAF choose?

Now you are defining the nomenclature of machine tools. What suppliers are you oriented to, Russian of foreign?

I would like to stress that the purchases will be executed on tender basis. But the federal legislation obliges to pay attention to the products made in Russia, first of all. Speaking about all problems of the Russian machine tool industry, it cannot be said that we lost and missed everything. Today Stankoprom holding was created in Rostekh. To start with, we will orient to the Russian machine tools and only then to unique tools of foreign producers. I don't think we 100% need some special machine tools. UAC and KAF are working on the preparation of the comparison tables of the suppliers.

But some foreign companies have already localized their production. For instance, there is a factory of German DMGMORI in Ulyanovsk, which was built from scratch. Will their products be supposed Russian?

Assembly points with the participation of foreign capital situated on the territory of Russia and working according to the laws of the Russian Federation are supposed to be Russian. This is why if they participate in tenders for supply of machine tools, they will be included in the shortlist as a priority.

Take-off for students graduated from Kazan Aviation Institute and Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Creation of new capacities is accompanied by science. It is a real job for our students and postgraduates and a possibility to upgrade skills for engineers. The cooperation with Kazan Aviation Institute and Bauman Moscow State Technical University is reaching a new level of relationships.

Are you waiting for Moscow students?

I think that we will attract them because many young people from the republic are studying there. Every engineer wants to show himself or herself in a real project – especially in aviation. With the help of KAF, Kazan Aviation Institute had some orders to digitize new products. Our students participate in this work with pleasure. There will be created a competency centre for preparation of workers and specialists for aviation based on the professional lyceum sponsored by KAF. And KAI remains a basic higher education institution for the preparation of engineers for aircraft and helicopter building. In a word, prospects of the development of KAF are quite good.