Aymovski Ay-07 (Pardes)
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| Ay-07 | |
|---|---|
| File:Ay-07.png | |
| Ay-07 | |
| Role | multirole fighter |
| National origin |  Anikatia
|
| Manufacturer | Aymovski |
| First flight | 4 November 2003 |
| Status | Canceled |
| Number built | 4 |
The Aymovski Ay-07 (CDI reporting name: Feedlot) is a lightweight single-engine technology demonstrator developed by the Aymovski Aircraft Corporation. Development of the aircraft effectively began in 1989 with start of a new lightweight fighter program, which later evolved into the Aymovski Ay-105. The design’s development was a protracted one, characterized by repeated and lengthy postponements due to a chronic lack of funds; the Ay-07 made its maiden flight in November 2003, nine years behind schedule. Due to disagreements over design authority, operational requirements and lack of funds lead to the cancellation of the program. It was the an advanced technology demonstrator of the DSRA, incorporating many fifth-generation jet fighter aspects such as advanced avionics, DSI, stealth technology, supermaneuverability and features a delta wing and canard configuration. Aymovski tried seek a partner in the international market, but no export partners were forthcoming. So the development for the program was abandoned in 2004 after four prototypes had been built and a fifth partially completed.
History
By the late 1980s, DSRA began research into a next generation light aircraft to respond to growing development of new advanced fighter designs by Free Pardes. The air force required an affordable Mach 2 aircraft with good short-field performance for a defensive dispersed basing plan in the event of invasion. Producing a design that could meet the challenging and changing design brief proved very difficult and the initial proposals that were put forward became more expensive as features and further a number of design studies and experimentation with existing fighters were conducted.
However, as the research and development phase for the program progressed, costs escalated due to the complexity normally associated with advanced aircraft projects. As a result, the DSRA government created the special task force in 1986 with the aim of maximising efficiency and developing technologies to be used for all classes of aircraft. Aymovski was chosen as the primary contractor, the importance of which was illustrated with its inclusion into the five-year economic plan. The design bureau soon formulated initial specifications for the new fighters.
Aymovski proceeded with the preliminary designs along with theoretical studies and wind tunnel testing and come up with a new design. Along with the mechanical and aerodynamic aspects of the design, engineers investigated hundreds of issues to refine the layout and specifications. A DSI was developed and for the engine themselves, research was conducted on thrust-vectoring, allowing for markedly improved manoeuvrability and short take-off and landing performance. The chosen design included canards, which would offers great agility and lift which was combined with a delta wings configuration design.
The technology demonstrator, bearing the designation X-07A, would be used to verify the aerodynamic layout and flight control system of the design. Construction of it was halfway when the collapse of the DSRA brought a halt to further funding. Inevitably the scheduled first flight of the almost-complete aircraft slipped indefinitely. However, full-scale mock-ups and sections of the X-07 were built in support of static tests, while factories were gearing up for the construction of prototypes. Aymovski lobbied the government to declassify the project so it could display the aircraft at international air shows so the design could be exported. However the government refused and in 2004, Aymovski shut down the program.
Design
The Ay-07 is a lightweight single-engine, highly maneuverable, supersonic, delta wing and canard configuration design, which gave the aircraft remarkable manoeuvrability. It had a tricycle landing gear system, with a single, dual-wheel landing gear in the front, and two single wheels in the rear. To save cost for the program the Ay-07 used a number of parts derived from the Ay-05 fighter, particularly cockpit and avionics components. The airframe made use of weight-saving materials in the construction of the aircraft, with aluminium-lithium alloys making up 35% of the empty weight, steel and titanium alloys (30%), composites (30%) and others (5%). It uses advanced aerodynamics and avionics, including the one of first use of a fly-by-wire flight control system, to achieve enhanced maneuver performance, without which the aircraft was almost impossible to fly because of the statically unstable nature of the design.
Variants
- X-07A ("Feedlot-A")
- Initial experimental ground tests prototype. 1 was built, it was destroyed in following the fall of the DSRA.
- Ay-07 ("Feedlot-B")
- Demonstrator prototype with failed upgrades; will remain a demonstrator. 4 have been built.
Specifications (Ay-07)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 14.76 m (48.42 ft) ()
- Wingspan: 10.07 m (33.03 ft) ()
- Height: 5.49 m (18.01 ft) ()
- Empty weight: 5,816 kg (12,822 lb) ()
- Max. takeoff weight: 17,175 kg (37,864 lb) ()
- Powerplant: 1 × Bulgakov K57-117IXS afterburning turbofan, Wet:137 kN (13,970 kgf, 30,799 lbf) ()Dry: 88 kN (8,981 kgf, 19,800 lbf)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,450 km/h, 1,522 mph)
- Supercruise:Mach 1.1 (1,470 km/h, 913 mph)
- Range: 1,482 km (800 nmi) ()
- Ferry range: 4,000 km (2,159 nmi) with external fuel ()
- Service ceiling: 18,000 m (60,000 ft) ()
- Thrust/weight: 1.16
Armament
- 1 x 20 mm Esk-20k cannon with 150 rounds
- 9 total (6× under-wing, 2x wing-tip 1× under-fuselage; pylon stations number 3, 4 and 5 are wet-plumb capable) with a capacity of 3,700 kg of weapons and fuel tanks, including:
- 70-100 Km range beyond visual range active missiles
- Imaging infrared short range missiles
- Air-to-surface missiles
- Air to sea missiles
- Anti radiation missiles
- Laser guided weapons
- Runway penetration bombs
- General purpose bombs
- Training bombs
- Countermeasures (Flares, Chaff)
- Up to 3 external drop tanks (2× under-wing 1,500 litres, 1× under-fuselage 1,700 litres for extended range/loitering time)
Avionics
- AKI/RAL K05-7R-NGX all-weather multimode active electronically scanned array (AESA) Radar system
- Tagirbekov General Industries Tgk-88 sophisticated multi-channel Infrared search and track (ISRT) sighting system
- Rykovatia Weapon Systems Rtk-6-07QMP Datalink communications system
- Dietrich Osterhagen Electrics Limited ODEL-16QP electronic warfare suite
- RAL-05KPG Rakovski RWR
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era