NPO Saturn AL-55

The NPO Saturn AL-55 is a high performance turbofan engine manufactured by NPO Saturn Russia, for powering advanced trainers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and light attack aircraft. A variant of the AL-55I powers the HAL HJT-36 Sitara Indian jet trainer.

Design
The design comprises five main features. It has a three-stage low pressure compressor, five stage high pressure chamber, an annular combustion chamber and a single stage high and low pressure turbines.

In August 2005, the Russian export organization known as Rosoboronexport and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement for the licensed production of up to 1,000 AL-55I engines. The agreement includes a firm order for 250 engines to be manufactured at HAL facilities in India, to power both HAL HJT-36 trainer and HAL HJT 39 combat trainer aircraft.

Variants

 * AL-55:
 * AL-55/I: A variant designed for licensed production in India.

Applications

 * HAL HJT-36 Sitara
 * HAL HJT 39
 * Mikoyan MiG-AT
 * KB SAT SR-10