MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN ONE VOLUME

Independent Military Review. September 27 - October 3, 2002. By Sergei Sokut

The authors of fourth volume of the Encyclopedia "Russia's Arms and Technologies" faced a serious problem. Many various reference books about planes and helicopters, describing native aircraft with various extent of detail and accuracy, have been published during last years. While there is nothing to be compared with previous volumes of the Encyclopedia (for example, "Naval Weapons"), there is a serious competition in the "aviation field". The publishing House "Arms and Technologies" has solved the problem. They succeeded due to several methods applied.

First of all, the authors divided all aviation subject by two volumes: the volume about military aircraft themselves, and the volume "Aircraft Weapons and Equipment", which is being prepared now. This solution provided with detailed and completed description of existing models and prospective projects.

The second, it is the first time in our country when aircraft and their engines are described in one book. Earlier serious reference books on these subjects were published separately, and this caused inconvenience during information search and analysis.

The third, the Encyclopedia authors increased the number of sections compared to existing reference books. The main part of existing aircraft is described in the sections "Planes" and "Helicopters". At the same time aircraft modernization programs are described in a separate section. Such approach is not always reasonable, but in this case it allowed clear separation of existing equipment from proposals to improve it. This is not done in all reference books, and could confuse some readers.

The systematic approach is visible in the section "Planes" itself. Besides traditional subsections ("Bombers", "Fighters", etc.) it includes two new ones: "Experimental and Prospective Planes" and "Projects". The authors' goal is clear: they try to demonstrate not only the existing Russian aviation product line, but also the ability of the Russian industry to create aircraft of the highest technical level. In particular, this is related to the fighters MFI and Yak-141, the bomber T-4, the anti-submarine aircraft A-40.

In the subdivision "Projects" there can be found even more exotic projects, previously mentioned only in special publications: the high-flying aircraft for long-distance detection M-67, the military cargo plane "model 52" and others. At the same time it should not be said that only exotics is described in this subsection. Good understanding of the existing situation encouraged the authors to include information about Tu-330, which will probably move into the subsection "Military Cargo Planes" in subsequent editions of the volume. It should be noted that the projects include all main candidates for the new light cargo plain, the contest for which is being held by the Russian Air Force.

The subsection "Helicopters" should be also marked high. By today it is the most complete among Russian reference books description of existing models (including Ka-50-2, Ka-50SH, all range of Mi-8/Mi-17 versions and others), special-purpose helicopters and prospective designs (Mi-38, tilt-rotor aircraft, ultra-light portable helicopter "Yula").

The Encyclopedia systematically describes in detail unmanned aircraft both traditional ("Pchela-1", models designed by Tupolev Design Bureau) and completely new (projects of the high-altitude plane M-62 "Oryol", the helicopter Ka-137, and like).

It should be noted the creative approach of the authors who included many double-purpose planes and helicopters into the publication called "Military Aircraft". This corresponds to the global tendency to use commercial aircraft by military institutions.

The fourth volume's peculiarity is the section describing 59 enterprises of aviation industry. It is the combination of various types of information: existing models, projects and programs, science and industry, - which converts a reference book into an encyclopedia. Moreover, while early works of authors' group (seven-volume project "Russia's Weapons") were based on information from one source - military or industrial, now all information streams are combined.

By today there are four volumes of the Encyclopedia accessible for readers: "Strategic Nuclear Forces", "Rocket and Artillery Armament of Ground Forces", "Naval Weapons", and "Military Aircraft". The fifth book - "Space Weapons", - has been printed.

The authors succeed in following their own plans, according to those at least 9 next volumes of the Encyclopedia should be issued. The nearest plans include the publication of a volume dedicated to armored vehicles. The expansion into a new sphere related to information security is being considered.

Leaders of the Publishing Home said that they do not doubt that the project will be completed. And even now first volumes of the Encyclopedia established standards for description of Russian weapons by three main criteria: completeness, trustworthiness and openness.