Without disassembly: the troops received equipment for field engine repairs
Complex repairs of combat helicopters can now be carried out at field airfields. Russian engineers have developed special equipment that allows aircraft engines with combat damage to be returned to service without dismantling them. Experts note that the new technology will not only save money, but also directly affect the level of combat readiness of the fleet — this is a key indicator of the combat capability of the Aerospace Forces.
Repair of aircraft engines without dismantling
New equipment for the diagnosis and repair of engine blades is already being used in military aviation. It allows, in conditions of intensive aircraft operation, to carry out repair work directly at field airfields. It is fundamentally important that when using it, it is not necessary to disassemble or remove the engine from a combat vehicle, as it was before, a representative of the development company SIC Industrial Optics told Izvestia.
— Now everything is being done on the spot, — the interlocutor emphasized.
The repair unit combines two devices — a video endoscope and a blendoscope. The first one allows you to look inside the engine for diagnostics, and the second one allows you to carry out the necessary work. For this purpose, the latter is equipped with a replaceable grinding tool rotating at a frequency of up to 20 thousand revolutions per minute.
The algorithm of operation is quite simple. A video endoscope is inserted through a standard inspection hatch or technological port into the flow part of the engine. With its help, the internal elements of the power plant are examined and defects are identified — first of all, nicks on the blades, which pose the greatest danger to the further operation of the engine.
— After that, the specialists eliminate the identified damage and treat the damaged areas of the surface, — explained the representative of the Scientific and Technical Center.
The repair is completed with endoscopic monitoring and measurements of the recovery area, which confirm that there is no risk of further spread of the defect.
How much time does the new technology save?
The creation of a modern aircraft engine is more complex than the construction of a helicopter or aircraft itself. For this reason, any device that allows you to quickly solve problems in the field becomes the "technology of the future," said Vladimir Popov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Honored Military pilot, Major General, told Izvestia.
— Until recently, the engine had to be dismantled to repair such damage. Even in favorable conditions, it took at least 6-8 hours. At remote airfields, such work could take much longer," he explained. — The new technique makes it possible to detect and eliminate defects directly at the location of the equipment, which significantly accelerates its return to service.
According to the expert, damage to compressor blades remains one of the most common problems of aircraft engines, especially when operating equipment at unpaved airfields and temporary bases.
"Even small nicks and micro—damages on the moving elements of the engine are a serious problem,— Vladimir Popov added. — The kinetic energy of the detached blade is comparable to the energy of a howitzer shell at the exit of the barrel.
According to him, a collapsed element can damage the aircraft's skin, fuel system or other important components.
— Modeling shows: this is an emergency or catastrophic situation," Vladimir Popov explained. — For this reason, monitoring the condition of the shoulder blades is a very important point.
The new equipment allows you to start diagnostics and repairs almost immediately after the equipment returns from the task.
"This gives our pilots an advantage in the speed of returning equipment to service, and this is a key indicator of the combat capability of all air forces in the world," military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
According to him, the introduction of such solutions corresponds to the general trend of shifting maintenance as close as possible to the place of use of the equipment.
"There are some such innovations abroad, but there is a different approach," the expert noted. — If something is wrong with the engine, it is immediately removed and taken to the deep rear for routine maintenance, repair and restoration.
How the army accelerates the restoration of equipment
The Russian Armed Forces are now trying to move repair shops as close to the front line as possible, which makes it possible to quickly return equipment to service.
Izvestia wrote that specialized companies have been formed in the Russian Airborne Forces that repair all types of drones and ground-based robotic systems. These units are already actively working in the area of the special military operation, ensuring the prompt recovery of damaged equipment near the line of contact.
The employees in these companies are highly qualified specialists who have technical education or have been trained in special centers of the Russian Ministry of Defense or in factories producing unmanned vehicles. Their qualifications allow them to repair even seriously damaged equipment in two or three days.
After the repair is completed, the devices are tested and returned to combat units. In the conditions of modern warfare, where both sides actively use drones, the combat capability of units largely depends on the effectiveness of the use of UAVs and ground vehicles.
This approach makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required for the return of drones and robots to service, which is critically important in modern combat operations.
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