MOSCOW, December 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian army increases financing of stealth technology-related development efforts. This refers so far to millions of rubles. However, the Tver-based air defense research center (ADRC), at which in the 1980-1990s researchers figured out how to render Tu-160 and Su-27 less observable by radars, has already concluded contracts for the renovation of the test area to study stealth technologies for a future fifth-generation bomber and for T-50 fighter plane, Alexander Travkin, ADRC Deputy Director for Science, told the newspaper Izvestia.
The facility for measuring the reflection of radio waves from airframes will be repaired before yearend, and the obsolete components of three installations for the testing of rockets will be replaced at the test area, Travkin said.
"We study the radio signature of any flying objects. It this field, we are the lead institute. We now seek to secure that our laboratory facilities develop. There is responsiveness on the part of the State on that score," Travkin said. "We are now busy refining laboratory facilities, repairing components and purchasing equipment," Travkin added.
According to Colonel Dmitry Akhmerov, a staff member of the Institute, until recently the ADRC had received money chiefly for the payment of salaries to the staff.
"However, we did not discontinue research work," Akhmerov emphasized.
ADRC officials say that at this test ground it is cheaper and more effective to study the radar signature of domestic armaments than is done in actual conditions — during the flights of aircraft and rockets. Besides, the facility enables researchers to deal with equipment which is only in the development phase, and test the ability of individual components or materials to reflect waves.