Saturn AL-31

AL-31
Saturn AL-31 FN turbofan engine
Type	Turbofan
National origin	Russia
Manufacturer	NPO Saturn
Major applications	Sukhoi Su-27 Chengdu J-10

The Saturn AL-31 is a family of military turbofan engines. It was developed by Lyulka, now NPO Saturn, of Russia (former Soviet Union), originally for the Sukhoi Su-27 air superiority fighter. It produces a total thrust of 123 kN (27,600 lb) with afterburning in the AL-31F, 137 kN (30,800 lb) in the AL-31FM (AL-35F) and 142 kN (32,000 lb) in the AL-37FU variants. Currently it powers all Su-27 derivatives and the Chengdu J-10 multirole jet fighter which has been developed in China.

Variants

Summary

Name	Description	Builder	Year	Thrust	Thrust vectoring	Aircraft	Status
Al-31F[1][2][3]	The basic engine developed to power the Su-27 fighter	Salyut, UMPO	1981	123 kN (27,700 lbf)	No	Su-27, Shenyang J-11, Sukhoi Su-30MKK, Sukhoi Su-30(Salyut)	In service/production
Al-31FP	Improved variant for the Indian Su-30MKI with thrust vectoring	Salyut, HAL	2000	123 kN (27,700 lbf)	Yes	Su-30 MKI, Sukhoi Su-30MKM	In service/production
Al-31FN[4]	Improved variant for the Chengdu J-10	Salyut	2002	125 kN (28,100 lbf)	No	Chengdu J-10	In service/production
Al-31FM1[5]	Improved version for the Russian Air Force	Salyut	2007	132 kN (29,700 lbf)	Yes	Su-27SM, Su-30, Su-34	In service/production
Al-41F-1S (117S)[6]	Advanced derivative for the Su-35	UMPO	2010	142 kN (31,900 lbf)	Yes	Su-35	In service/early production
Al-41F-1 (117)	Advanced derivative for the Sukhoi PAK FA	UMPO	2010	147 kN (33,000 lbf)	Yes	PAK FA prototype	In service/early production

The AL-31FP and AL-37FU variants have thrust vectoring. The former is used in the Su-30MKI export version of the Su-27 for India & Sukhoi Su-30MKM for Malaysia . The AL-37FU can deflect its nozzle to a maximum of ±15° at a rate of 30°/sec. The vectoring nozzle is utilized primarily in the pitch plane.

The Al-31FP is built in India by HAL at the Koraput facility under a deep technology transfer agreement.

It has a reputation for having a tremendous tolerance to severely disturbed air flow. In the twin-engined Su-27, the engines are interchangeable between left and right. The Mean Time Between Overhaul (MTBO) for the AL-31F is given at 1000 hours with a full-life span of 3000 hours. Some reports suggested that Russia was offering AL-31F to Iran to re-engine its F-14 Tomcat air fleet in the late 1990s.

117S

The 117S (AL-41F1A) is an upgrade of the AL-31F based on the AL-41F intended to power the Su-35BM, producing 142 kN (32,000 lb) of thrust in afterburner and 86.3 kN (19,400 lb) dry.^[7] It features a fan 3% larger in diameter (932 millimetres (36.7 in) versus 905 millimetres (35.6 in)), advanced high- and low-pressure turbines, an all-new digital control system, and provisions for thrust-vectoring nozzles similar to the AL-31FP. This engine will have an assigned life of 4,000 hours and an MTBO of 1,000 hours.^[8] The first flight of this engine was completed in an Su-35BM on 20 February 2008.^[9] On 9 August 2010, Ufa-based company UMPO started supplying 117S engines (AL-41F1S) intended for Su-35S fighters.^[10]

117

The 117 (AL-41F1) is a new 5th generation engine custom built for Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet PAK-FA according to Sukhoi General Director Mikhail Pogosyan. Mikhail Pogosyan has clarified that claims that fifth-generation fighter allegedly has an old engine are wrong. Such claims are made by people with limited knowledge,he said. Though most parameters of the new 5th Gen Engine remains classified General Director Mikhail Pogosyan provided some information on the new engine, The engine thrust was enlarged by 2.5 tonnes when compared with the AL-31 engine, while the engine weight was cut by 150 kilograms. That allowed the new jet to supercruise i.e. move at a supersonic cruise speed without the use of after burner. ^[11]

The Saturn Research and Production center made digitally controlled system (FADEC) of Project 117 Engine.The new engine produces 33,000 lbs (147 kN) of thrust in afterburner has a Dry weight of 1420 kilogram and T:W ratio of 10.5:1^[12]

Mikhail Pogosyan further mentioned that this engine (117) meets the client’s (Russian AirForce) requirements. This is not an intermediate product made particularly for test flights. The engine will be installed in production PAK-FA fighter which will be supplied to the Russian Air Force and prospective foreign clients.^[13]

Specifications (AL-31F)

Data from ^[14]

General characteristics

• Type: Two-shaft afterburning turbofan
• Length: 4,990 millimetres (196 in)
• Diameter: 905 millimetres (35.6 in) inlet; 1,280 millimetres (50 in) maximum external
• Dry weight: 1,570 kilograms (3,500 lb)^[15]

Components

• Compressor: 4 fan and 9 compressor stages
• Combustors: annular
• Turbine: 2 single-staged turbines

Performance

• Maximum thrust:
  74.5 kilonewtons (16,700 lb_f) military thrust
  122.58 kilonewtons (27,560 lb_f) with afterburner
• Bypass ratio: 0.59:1
• Turbine inlet temperature: 1685 K (1,412 °C (2,574 °F))
• Fuel consumption: 2.0 Kg/daN·h
• Specific fuel consumption:
  

  Military thrust: 0.67 lb/(lbf·h)
  

  Full afterburner: 1.92 lb/(lbf·h)
• Thrust-to-weight ratio: 7.14

See also

Comparable engines

• General Electric F110
• Shenyang WS-10
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft engines
  

References

Notes

1. ^ UMPO page on AL-31F
2. ^ Salyut page on AL-31F
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ Salyut page on AL-31FN
5. ^ Salyut page on AL-31FM1
6. ^ UMPO press release
7. ^ Sukhoi Su-35 (Su-27BM) "4++ Generation Flanker"
8. ^ NPO Saturn finishes endurance tests for S-117 Engine meant for Su-35
9. ^ Новый истребитель Су-35 полностью выполнил программу первого полета
10. ^ УМПО начало поставку двигателей 117С для истребителя Су-35С
11. ^ PAK-FA is flying with new engine already installed
12. ^ PAK-FA is flying with new engine already installed
13. ^ PAK-FA is flying with new engine already installed
14. ^ AL=31F specification. china-defense-mashup.com
15. ^ specification

External links

• Russian Military Analysis - AL-31 F aircraft turbofan engine
• AL-31F on LeteckeMotory.cz (cs,en)
• AL-41F1A (117S) on LeteckeMotory.cz (cs,en)