I've gotten a lot of comments on this thread here and via DM. I'm going to share one from a Cold War gray beard on the engine that powers the FP-5.
"FP-5 is around 4 x Tomahawk in mass.
FP-5 Engine🧵
"FP-5 is around 4 x Tomahawk in mass.
FP-5 Engine🧵
https://twitter.com/TrentTelenko/status/1957500041385636085
...With a similar configuration, drag will not be dominated by lift induced wing drag but will form drag which is typical for 500 knots air speed jets and missiles with low aspect ratio wings.
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...So a rule of thumb estimate is that you will need around 4 x the thrust of a Tomahawk F107-WR-402 700 lbf (3.1 kN) engine for an FP-5 Flamingo GLCM.
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So you need an engine in the 3,000 lbf class or better engine if you want good terrain following performance.
My guess is the AI-25 as it is volume built Ukrainian engine used in L-39 trainers."
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My guess is the AI-25 as it is volume built Ukrainian engine used in L-39 trainers."
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Please note the article writers over at the Ukrainian Defence Express have come to similar a conclusion.
Ukraine was set up to mass produce the AI-25 engine at Motorsich and it made thousands to fit into the Warsaw Pact L-39C trainer fleet.
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Ukraine was set up to mass produce the AI-25 engine at Motorsich and it made thousands to fit into the Warsaw Pact L-39C trainer fleet.
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So, Ukraine refitting low thousands of off the shelf 1970s technology engines for FP-5 GLCMs is no challenge and likely very cheap as well.
New production of the Al-25 might be hairy, but the AI-25TLK was also licensed built in the PRC as the WS-11.
COTS purchases anyone?
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New production of the Al-25 might be hairy, but the AI-25TLK was also licensed built in the PRC as the WS-11.
COTS purchases anyone?
6/6
@threadreaderapp unroll please
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