I.

Specifications

AL-31F

The Saturn AL-31 is a family of military turbofan engines, developed by

the Lyulka, now NPO Saturn, in the Soviet Union/Russia, originally for the Sukhoi

Su-27 air superiority fighter. It produces a thrust of 28,000 lbf (123 kN) with

afterburning in the AL-31F, 31,000 lbf (137 kN) in the AL-31FM (AL-35F) and

33,000 lbf (145 kN) in the AL-37FU variants. Currently it powers all Su-27 derivatives

and the Chengdu J-10 multirole jet fighter which has been developed under a

Russian license by China.

General characteristics

 Type: Two-shaft afterburning turbofan

 Length: 4,945 mm (194.7 in)

 Diameter:

o 905 mm (35.6 in) inlet;

o 1,280 mm (50 in) maximum external

 Dry weight: 1,520 kg (3,350 lb)

Components

 Compressor: 4 fan and 9 HP compressor stages

 Combustors: Annular

 Turbine: 2 single-staged turbines

Performance

 Maximum thrust:
 o 74.6 kN (16,800 lbf) dry thrust

o 122.6 kN (27,600 lbf) with afterburner

 Overall pressure ratio: 23:1

 Bypass ratio: 0.56:1

 Air mass flow: 112 kg/s (250 lb/s)

 Turbine inlet temperature: 1,665 K (2,537 °F; 1,392 °C)

 Specific fuel consumption:

o Dry thrust: 22.1 g/kN/s (0.78 lb/lbf/h)

o With afterburner: 55.5 g/kN/s (1.96 lb/lbf/h)

 Thrust-to-weight ratio: 4.93 (dry), 8.22 (afterburning)

AL-41F1S (117S)

Intended to power the Su-35BM, the izdeliye 117S, or AL-41F1S, is derived

from the AL-41F1 of the Su-57, with the key difference being the separate engine

control system of the AL-41F1S. The engine produces 86.3 kN (19,400 lbf) of thrust

dry, 137.3 kN (30,900 lbf) in afterburner, and 142.2 kN (32,000 lbf) in an

emergency. The AL-41F1S fan diameter of 932 mm (36.7 in) is 3% greater than the

AL-31's 905 mm (35.6 in). This engine has an assigned life of 4,000 hours and an

MTBO of 1,000 hours. The first flight of this engine was completed in a Su-35BM on

20 February 2008. On 9 August 2010, Ufa-based company UMPO started supplying

117S engines (AL-41F1S) intended for Su-35S fighters.

General characteristics

 Type: Two-shaft afterburning turbofan

 Length: 194.6 in (494.2 cm)
  Diameter: 36.7 in (93.2 cm) inlet

 Dry weight: 3,536 lb (1,604 kg)

Components

 Compressor: Axial, 4 stage fan, 9 stage compressor

 Combustors: Annular

 Turbine: 2 single stage turbines

Performance

 Maximum thrust:

o 19,400 lbf (86.3 kN) dry

o 30,900 lbf (137.3 kN) with afterburner

o 32,000 lbf (142.2 kN) emergency thrust

 Turbine inlet temperature: 2,681 °F; 1,472 °C (1,745 K),

 Fuel consumption:

o 15,020 lb/h (6,813 kg/h) dry

o 55,050 lb/h (24,969 kg/h) with afterburner

 Specific fuel consumption:

o 0.790 lb/lbf/h (22.37 g/kN/s) dry

o 1.819 lb/lbf/h (51.53 g/kN/s) with afterburner

 Thrust-to-weight ratio: 5.49 (dry), 8.75 with afterburner, 9.04 with

emergency thrust
AL-41F1 (117)

Intended to power the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter, the izdeliye 117,

or AL-41F1, is a highly improved AL-31F derivative, with some application of

technology from the Saturn AL-41F. Its development began in 2004 and has

increased fan diameter, new high- and low-pressure turbines, provisions for thrust-

vectoring nozzles similar to the AL-31FP, and a digital control system (FADEC)

integrated into the aircraft's flight controls. According to Sukhoi director Mikhail

Pogosyan, the AL-41F1 is a new fifth-generation engine built specifically for the Su-

57. Though the specifics remain classified, the engine's thrust was increased by

24.5 kN (5,500 lbf) over the AL-31 while the engine weight growth was reduced by

150 kg (330 lb). The AL-41F1 produces 147 kN (33,000 lbf) of thrust in afterburner

and has a dry weight of approximately 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) and thrust-to-weight ratio

of 9.3:1. Like the AL-31F, the AL-41F1 has 4 low-pressure compressor (fan) and 9

high-pressure compressor stages. Mikhail Pogosyan further mentioned that the AL-

41F1 meets the Russian Air Force requirements and will be installed in production

Su-57 fighter which will be supplied to the Russian Air Force and prospective foreign

clients.

The AL-41F1 is an interim engine meant for prototype and initial production

batches of the Su-57. The definitive second stage for the aircraft is

designated izdeliye 30 and will eventually replace the AL-41F1 after the mid-2020.

The izdeliye 30 engine will have increased thrust and fuel efficiency as well as
improved reliability and lower costs. Bench testing of the new engine will start in

2014 according to the general designer-director of the NPO Saturn Eugeny

Marchuk. Serial production began in April 2019.

II. History and Development

The Saturn AL-31 and AL-41 started in the year 1981 which is a series of

turbofan engines that serves the Russian military. It was made by the company

formerly known as Lyulka, and has been renamed to Saturn. These engines

originated from the country of Russia. These engines are originally made for the

Sukhoi Su-27 which is a Russian fighter jet that is known to be a direct competitor of

the United States’ fighter jets. The AL-41 series is a highly improved version of the

AL-31 Series increasing the fan’s diameter, turbines are developed, and also

incorporated the use of FADEC.

III. Design

The AL-31F aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan engine consisting

of the following main parts: a gas generator (comprising low- and high-pressure

compressors and turbines), an annular combustor, an afterburner and a nozzle, an

accessory gear box and a control system. The compressor portion includes a 4-

stage low-pressure module (with adjustable air flow) and a 9-stage high-pressure

module. (Rosoboronexport, n.d)

Easy operation and replacement of damaged components was made possible

by its modular design. This engine can also operate on a very wide range of

conditions, from low to high speeds and low to high altitudes.

 The AL-41F is a designation for two different Russian military turbofan

engine variants. The NPO Saturn AL-41F is a Russian variable-bypass ratio

turbofan engine, designed for super cruise flight for the MFI program, which

resulted in the Mikoyan Project 1.44. It is considered by Jane's as the Russian

counterpart to the General Electric YF120 engine which lost to the more

conventional fixed-bypass YF-119 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter engine

program. Since the cancellation of the MFI program, the AL-41F1S and AL-41F1

designation was assigned to heavily upgraded AL-31F variants that powers the

Sukhoi Su-35S and initial serial production Sukhoi Su-57 stealth aircraft. (Google,

n.d.)

The AL-41F-1S (article 117S) aircraft engine is a modular two-shaft turbofan

engine with thrust vector control and integrated digital control. The engine is installed

on Su-35-type aircraft. As for geometry and attachment points on the aircraft, the

117S engine conforms to its predecessors, the AL-31F and AL-31FP engines. This

makes it possible to use the 117S engine for upgrading the entire fleet of previously

built Su-27-/Su-30-type aircraft, with minor engine nacelle and equipment

modifications. Engine performance enhancement has been achieved through the

use of a new low-pressure compressor with increased air flow and efficiency and a

new turbine with an improved blade cooling system. (Rosoboronexport, n.d)

IV. Operational History

The engine AL-31F has been developed to power the Su-27 fighter jet by

Salyut Machine Building Association in 1981. Aside from Su-27, AL-31F can be seen

in Shenyang J11, Sukhoi Su-30MKK and Su-30.

 Engine AL-41F1S was the advanced derivative for the Su-35 and started

operating in 2010 and only visible in Sukhoi Su-35 while engine AL-41F1 was only a

prototype to Sukhoi Su-57, created in 2010 and have higher thrust than AL-41F1S

V. Variants

Name Description Builder Year Thrust Thrust Aircraft

vectoring

AL-31F The basic Salyut, 1981 27,600 lbf No Sukhoi Su-

engine UMPO (122.6 kN) 27, Shenyang J-
developed to 11, Sukhoi Su-
power the Su- 30MKK, Sukhoi
27 fighter Su-30 (Salyut)

AL- Improved Saturn 28,200 lbf No Sukhoi Su-33

31F3 variant for the Lyul'ka (125.57 kN)
naval version
Su-33

AL- Improved Salyut, HAL 2000 27,600 lbf Yes Sukhoi Su-30

31FP variant for the (122.6 kN) MKI, Sukhoi Su-
Indian Su- 30MKM
30MKI with
thrust
vectoring

AL- Improved Salyut 2002 28,000 lbf No Chengdu J-10

31FN variant for the (124.5 kN)
Chengdu J-10

AL- Improved Salyut 2013 30,200 lbf No Chengdu J-10

31FN variant for the (134.3 kN)
Series Chengdu J-
3 10B

AL-31F Improved Salyut 2007 30,300 lbf Yes Sukhoi Su-

M1 version for the (135 kN) 27SM, Sukhoi Su-
Russian Air 30, Sukhoi Su-34
Force

AL-31F Improved Salyut 2012 32,600 lbf No Sukhoi Su-

M2 version for the (145 kN) 34, Chengdu J-20
Su-34 and
Chengdu J-20
 AL- Advanced UMPO 32,600 lbf Yes Sukhoi Su-37
37FU derivative for (145 kN)
the Su-37

AL- Advanced UMPO 2010 31,900 lbf Yes Sukhoi Su-35

41F-1S derivative for (142 kN)
(117S) the Su-35

AL- Advanced UMPO 2010 33,000 lbf Yes Sukhoi Su-

41F1 derivative for (147 kN) 57 prototype
(117) the Sukhoi
Su-57

VI. References

Saturn AL-31. (2021, March 13). Retrieved April 29, 2021, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_AL-31

Рособоронэкспорт. (n.d.). Aircraft engine and its modifications AL-31F: Catalog

Rosoboronexport. http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/aerospace-systems/engines/al-31f/.

Google. (n.d.). Saturn AL-41 - Google Arts & Culture. Google.

https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/saturn-al-41/m0h48fv?hl=en.

Рособоронэкспорт. (n.d.). Turbofan aircraft engine AL-41F-1S: Catalog Rosoboronexport.

http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/aerospace-systems/engines/al-41f-1s/.