Vocabulary:

1. frontline - линия фронта, передовая;

2. to regard – рассматривать, принимать во внимание;

3. maiden flight - первый полёт (самолёта);

4. backbone - главная опора, основа, суть;

5. priority - первенство, преимущество, приоритет, старшинство;

6. currently - в настоящее время;

7. combat – боевой, предназначенный для сражения;

8. to enhance - увеличивать, усиливать, улучшать;

9. approach – подход, метод;

10. kit - набор, комплект;

11. sighting device – визир;

12. in-flight refueling - дозаправка в воздухе;

13. IRST (infrared search and track)- ИК-система поиска и сопровождения;

14. shifting - перемещение, переключение, смещение;

15. cockpit – кабина;

16. to execute - осуществлять, выполнять, делать, реализовать;

17. aerobatics - высший пилотаж, фигурные полёты;

18. updatable database - обновляемые данные;

19. trainee – проходящий боевую подготовку, практикант, стажёр;

I. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is MiG considered to be the backbone of the Air Forces of Russia?

2. What is the upgrading philosophy of the MiG-29 mostly focused to?

3. What does the developed modular approach for the MiG-29 include? What are these modules?

4. What does the simulator allow to do?

5. What is the simulator’s main feature?

II. A) Find the English equivalents of the following phrases in the text:

• боевые качества (способности)

• для дальнейшего развития

• расширяя существующие функции

• главное преимущество

• набор дополнительных возможностей

• топливный бак

• иностранного происхождения

• эффективная совместная работа

• потенциальные клиенты

• полная иллюзия ощущения полёта

• значительно сниженная стоимость

• многофункциональный истребитель

• имитировать все стадии полёта

• разрабатывать модульный подход (метод)

• усовершенствование различных версий

b) Make up a sentence with any of the phrases listed above.

III. Match the words with their definitions:

1. weapon a) the people employed in an organization or for a service;

2. combat b) potential, talent, ability;

3. personnel c) the act or process of growing, progressing;

4. equipment d) able to be bent easily without breaking, adaptable;

5. capability e) an object or instrument used in fighting;

6. development f) a set of tools, devices assembled for a specific purpose

7. flexible g) claim, order or request;

8. demand h) a fight, conflict, or struggle;

IV. Find the odd word:

1. a) weapon b) combat c) fight d) equipment

2. a) upgrading b) moving c) refining d) improving

3. a) to find b) to struggle c) to combat d) to fight

4. a) approach b) trial c) method d) conception

5. a) training b) navigation c) specification d) visualization

6. a) capability b) disability c) ability d) potentiality

7. a) customer b) employer c) consumer d) client

8. a) trainee b) training c) to train d) trainer

International Cooperation

Russia is engaged in inter-government co-operation. A major focus of these efforts is Energia’s proposed Kliper six-crew reusable space vehicle, which could stay in orbit for 15 days. It could also remain attached to the ISS (International Space Station) as an escape vehicle for a year. There are two versions, one with wings and one without, but there has been no decision yet on which will be developed. The target date for an unmanned maiden flight is 2011 and 2012 for a manned flight.

Now that Kliper is an official part of the space programme, the European Space Agency is expected to agree to join Russia in an initial two-year study project. Kliper could even launch from ESA’s French Guiana spaceport.

But Kliper would only be one part of the co-operation between the FSA (Federal Space Agency) and ESA (European Space Agency), which have signed wide-ranging exploration and framework agreements. The European Union and the Russian government have also signed a major co-operation agreement on space including technology development, use of the ISS and future transportation systems.

Since the end of the Soviet Union, Russia has also had to deal with Kazakhstan through normal diplomatic channels. The Russian parliament ratified an agreement with the country for the continued use of Baikonur, and construction of the Baiterek launch complex for the new Angara launch vehicle.

Other countries Russia has space deals with include Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, but perhaps the most profitable co-operation the Russians could have is with the USA. NASA’s continuing problems with the Space Shuttle mean that Russia is the only country that can reliably provide supplies and crew to the ISS.

Space tourism is another potential revenue stream: the world’s third space tourist, US businessman Greg Olsen, will fly to the ISS on a 10-day trip. Such services will help Russia’s plans beyond the space station. But it is not clear whether Russia has the resources to do everything it wants to.

Whatever the choices made, there is a great deal of pride within Russia regarding the achievements of its space programme. With a low cost base, a well-educated and well-trained workforce and proven technology, the Russian industry is poised to make substantial gains.

Kliper

For many years, Russian engineers pondered over possible configurations of a new spacecraft, which could replace the venerable but small Soyuz. In the course of its history, RKK Energia, the Soyuz developer, attempted to tackle the issue several times, however the financial problems of the Russian space program kept preventing these efforts from coming to fruition.

On February 17, 2004 Yuri Koptev revealed that RKK Energia, had been working on a brand-new vehicle called Kliper (Clipper) since 2000. In the following days, a flurry of reports in the Russian press provided the first details on the project.

At the time of Koptev’s announcement, the project apparently had already evolved through several reincarnations, however from the outset it was a partially reusable ”lifting-body” vehicle launched by a medium class rocket. As of 2004, RKK Energia had submitted technical proposals for the new spacecraft to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, Rosaviacosmos. The agency has apparently provided limited funding for further preliminary studies.

In April 2004, Nokolai Moiseev, First Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Space Agency, FKA, (formely Rosaviacosmos) told Russian news agency that the Kliper project would be included in the federal space plan for 2005-2015.

On November 30, 2004, RKK Energia invited the press into its Checkout and Testing Station, KIS, to inspect a full-scale mockup of the Kliper spacecraft. The company also released revised technical information on the project, including details on a winged version of the spacecraft, developed in parallel with the work on the ”lifting-body”.

During 2004, RKK Energia apparently contacted its European partners on the feasibility of cooperative development of the Kliper. In 2005, RKK Energia displayed the spacecraft at EXPO-2005 in Japan and in France. In the fall of 2005, Russian space agency officials and leadership of RKK Energia visited Japan for talks on possible Japanese contribution into the Kliper program. However, the funding for the project was not forthcoming. In April 2005, in the interview with the Russian Novosti News Agency, Valery Ryumin, Deputy designer General at RKK Energia said that the Russian federal budget did not earmarked any money for the program. However, at the end of 2005, the Russian government did include the Kliper project into the decade-long Federal Space program. As a result, federal funding for the Kliper was expected to start flowing in 2006.

In the meantime, in April 2004, the Director of Manned Space Programs of the European Space Agency, ESA, visiting RKK Energia said that Council of Ministers of the ESA members decided to consider the issue of funding of the Kliper spacecraft during its meeting in December of 2005.

On June 10, 2005, the head of manned space program of the ESA, who conducted talks with Russian space officials in Moscow, said that his agency would support the Kliper project. Nikolai Moiseev was quoted as saying that the Kliper system would be adapted for launchers from Russian facilities, as well as from the European space port in Kourou, French Guiana. According to Russian space officials, with the European support, the Kliper could fly ”no later than” 2011 rather than ”after 2012” launch data quoted previously.