В
начале At the early 1980s the Soviet Union launched projects on accumulating
a scientific-technical base (STB) for creation of future aircraft engines,
with a goal to accumulate experience for perspective industrial programs.
Because of insufficient funding from the Defence Ministry, however, the
work on a basic fifth-generation engine has slowed down, while that on
a perspective six- generation en-gine has nearly stopped. As a rule, technologies
worked out during creation of a new engine for military aircraft then go
into civil sphere, facilitating development of engines for civil aircraft
and power units for industrial applications (this practice is widely known
as "double technologies" principle). In the past few years, however, the
situation has changed, chiefly because of the insuffi-cient experience
in the area of military engines and ever- rising specific requirements
to civil en-gines. Now the focus is moved on special scientific research,
development and experimental (SRDE) projects in the interests of civil
aviation, so as to build up a STB in selected areas. Today, SRDE projects
in the sphere of civil engines are conducted only under the banner of the
"Program for development of civil aircraft in the period up to the year
2000" and, in part, in frame of plans and projects of the Ministry for
Science.