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Russia Works on Deck-Based AWACS Aircraft

Rubric: Russia, Industry, Future

Designers of the Beriev Aircraft Scientific Center (Taganrog, Russia) have patented a deck/land-based low-signature jet equipped with round-scanning antennas and capable to ski-jump off a carrier, reports the website of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property.

Although the patent became effective since March 18, 2014, it was published only in January 2016.

A deck/land-based low-signature aircraft equipped with round-scanning antennas

The airplane is based on the V-tailed low-wing design. The wing’s central part has radar-transparent front and back edges and is narrower than wingtips.

"The wing’s central part is narrow so that antennas mounted in its front and back edges ensure round scanning", state the patent docs.
According to developers, the jet’s design expands the round monitoring zone limited only by antennas’ characteristics, reduces radar signature, gives the unobstructed crew ejection capability and easy access to antennas.
Moreover, the airplane’s configuration allows for a UAV designing. Jet engines can be equipped with afterburners for STOL or ski-jump capability.

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The scientific center’s officials refused to comment the patent information, a corresponding request has been already sent to the organization.

Low-signature can be obtained by special coating or reducing of reflection surface, Vladimir Chmyrev, head designer at Belorussian’s 558-th aircraft repair plant told Mil.Today.
"Speaking of electronics, low signature is a result of new, namely, broadband signals. Radiating low power, an airplane becomes low-visible, while capable to lock-on very distant targets", the expert said.
Chmyrev explained that the patent registration itself does not mean active works on a new airplane: "It can be a simple intention of designers to register a scientific achievement. It will not necessarily result in anything", he concluded.

None of Soviet/Russian projects of a ship-based early warning aircraft happened to realize. The closest to that goal were Yakovlev designers who had been developing Yak-44 since 1970’s. They managed only to build an airplane model and test it on Tbilisi aircraft carrier (presently, Admiral Kuznetsov) . The project was frozen in 1993.