Saturn AL-31

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 'Flanker' air superiority fighter. Currently it powers all Flanker derivatives and the Chengdu J-10 multirole jet fighter which has been developed in China. It produces a total thrust of 123 kN with afterburning in the AL-31F, 137 kN in the AL-31FM (AL-35F) and 142 kN in the AL-37FU variants respectively. AL-31FP and AL-37FU variants have thrust vectoring. The first is used in the Su-30MKI export version of the Flanker for India and the second, in the Su-37 and Su-47 Berkut prototypes. 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. It has a reputation for having a tremendous tolerance to severely disturbed air flow. In the twin-engined Flanker, 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.

[edit] AL-31F Specifications

General characteristics

Type: Two-shaft afterburning turbofan
Length: 4990 mm
Diameter: 905 mm inlet; 1280 mm maximum external
Dry weight: 1570 kg

Components

Compressor: 4 fan and 9 compressor stages
Bypass ratio: 0.59:1
Turbine: 2 single-staged turbines

Performance

Thrust:
- 16,754 lbf (74.5 kN) military thrust
- 27,557 lbf (122.6 kN) with afterburner
Specific fuel consumption:
- Military thrust: 0.67 lb/(lbf·h)
- Full afterburner: 1.92 lb/(lbf·h)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 8:1