인도 DRDO/GTRE Kaveri 엔진, 초도비행 실시...

 

인도가 LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas 에 장착할 목적으로 개발한 Kaveri 엔진에 대한 FTB (Flying Test Bed) 를

성공적으로 실시하였다는 소식 입니다.

 

Kaveri 엔진에 대한 FTB 시험비행은, 러시아 Moscow 인근 Zhukovsky (Ramenskoe) 공군기지에서 GFRI (Gromov

Flight Research Institute) 주관으로 IL-76 수송기 2번 엔진에 Kaveri 엔진을 장착하여 실시되었다고 합니다.

 

참고로 Zhukovsky 공군기지는 러시아 최대 국제항공우주박람회, MAKS 가 개최되는 곳 입니다.

 

Kaveri 엔진은 인도 DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation) 산하 GTRE (Gas Turbine Research

Establishment) 가 개발한 전투기 엔진으로써, 당초 Tejas 경전투기에 장착하고자 하였으나, 출력부족과 중량초과로

인해 취소된 바 있습니다.

 

GTRE 는 Kaveri 엔진에 대한 추가 시험비행을 50~60회 실시한 후, 20여년에 걸친 개발을 완료할 계획이라 합니다.

 

한편 인도 DRDO 와 HAL 社가 공동으로 개발한 LCA Tejas 에는, 앞서 얘기한 바와 같이 Kaveri 엔진 장착은 무산되고,

Tejas Mk I 과 Tejas Mk II 에는 美 GE (General Electric) 社의 F404 와 F414 엔진이 각각 장착 및 장착될 예정 입니다.

 

향후 Kaveri 엔진이 예정대로 개발이 성공적으로 마무리 될 경우, Tejas 의 인도 해군 함재기용 모델 Naval Tejas 에는

장착될 가능성이 남아 있으며, 인도 해군과 DRDO 역시 Naval Tejas 에 장착을 적극 추진할 것으로 보입니다.

 

끝으로 아래 태그를 이용하면 앞서 소개한 바 있는 Tejas 와 Kaveri 엔진 관련 자료들을 파악하실 수 있습니다.

 

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DATE : 10/11/10

SOURCE : Flight International

India's long-delayed Kaveri engine makes flight debut

By Greg Waldron

 

India has successfully flight tested its Kaveri jet engine using an Ilyushin Il-76 transport as a testbed.

 

"The engine was tested from take-off to landing and flew for a period of over 1h up to at an altitude of 6,000m [19,700ft] at a speed of Mach 0.6 in its maiden flight," says India's defence ministry. "The engine control, performance and health during the flight were found to be excellent."

 

The test took place at Russia's Gromov Flight Research Institute near Moscow.

 

As of last year, India's state-owned Gas Turbine Research Establishment had spent 20 billion rupees ($455 million) over the 20-year programme, but produced a powerplant that was overweight and that failed to provide the 21,000-22,500lb (93-100kN) of thrust required for the Indian air force's Tejas light combat aircraft. Details of the engine's thrust output during the Moscow test have not been disclosed.

 

"With this test, the Kaveri engine has completed a major milestone of the development programme," says the Indian defence ministry. "During the coming months a further 50-60 test flights will be carried out to mature the engine in terms of reliability, safety and airworthiness. These would pave the way for further flight trials of Kaveri with a fighter aircraft."

 

Modifications to the Il-76 included the instrumentation required for trials, as well as the integration of mechanical, electrical and fuel systems. The pilot controlled the engine from the cockpit, and a number of taxi trials were also carried out before the maiden flight. Engine data was recorded in the aircraft, and also transmitted to ground station by telemetry.

 

In early October GE Aviation defeated the Eurojet consortium in a contest to provide the engine for a new MkII version of the Tejas. Under the deal the US manufacturer will supply 99 F414-INS6 turbofans, following a selection decision by India's Aeronautical Development Agency.

 

New Delhi has previously ordered 41 less-powerful GE F404 engines to power early examples of the Tejas, owing to delays with the Kaveri programme.

 

 

  ⓒ GTRE

 

  ⓒ GTRE