Posted 4-19-2005 at 09:52 PM

The Moscow Salyut Machine Building Production Enterprise is delivering AL-31F engines to a plant in Shenyang for J-11 multirole fighters – the Chinese designation of the Su-27SK fighters. In 1996, a contract was signed for the licensed assembly of 200 aircraft with two AL-31F each. So far, 110 have been assembled.

This year the signing of a contract for the assembly of the remaining Su-27SK or their improved Su-30MK2 version is expected. A contract is being studied for the delivery of engines for the overhaul of the previously assembled J-11. According to the general director of MMPP Salyut, Yuriy Eliseev, “The Chinese side has expressed interest in the purchase of upgraded AL-31F aircraft engines of Salyut production for a total of 1.2 – 1.4 billion dollars for the Su family of fighters. The forthcoming cooperation is being looked at for a period of six years.”

Moreover, Beijing intends to purchase from Salyut through the mediation of Rosoboronehksport nearly 250 AL-31FN engines for a total of 900 million dollars for the lightweight J-10 fighter – the Chinese variant of the Israeli Lavi fighter. Signing of the contract is expected in the summer of 2005.

Source: 19.04.05, Kommersant, Correspondent: Konstantin Lantratov