Russian scientist Anatoly Gubanov was arrested by notorious internal agents of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for allegedly leaking state secrets of the country’s aviation industry to foreign countries.
Since 1979, this scientist has been working at the Central Aeronautical Hydrodynamics Research Institute (TsAGI) and is known for studying supersonic aircraft and high-speed aircraft power plants. Gubanov’s father-in-law was an outstanding scientist and one of the leaders of the Soviet aviation industry. His three children also work in the Russian aviation industry.
Just a few months ago, Russia announced that it would fund the development of a new type of supersonic commercial aircraft. 37 years ago, Russia stopped production of the world's first commercial aircraft with a speed exceeding Mach 2.
In 1983, the Soviet Union abandoned the development of the Tupolev TU-144 supersonic aircraft because of two crashes on the aircraft. The TU-114 made its maiden flight two months earlier than the Concorde and became the first commercial aircraft to exceed Mach 2.
The Russian Federation has allocated at least US$205 million for the development of this new aircraft, led by the same institute where Gubanov worked. Scientists have been researching new technologies to reduce the sonic boom caused by aircraft breaking through the sound barrier.
After the Concorde retired in 2003, several companies started a new race to revive supersonic air travel. The front runner is the Colorado-based Boom Supersonic Corporation, which has developed a jet aircraft called Overture. Boom has built a demonstration aircraft, the final design of which looks similar to the delta wing design of the Concorde, and will be commercially available in 2025 at the earliest. The
"serial number" plans to carry 65 to 88 passengers at speeds exceeding Mach 2.2, and Nevada-based Aerion is developing its AS2 supersonic business aircraft, which can only carry 8 to 12 passengers.
NASA is also developing its own supersonic jet X-59, which, like jets developed by Russia, will reduce or completely eliminate the terrible supersonic detonation. NASA's first test aircraft will take off in 2022.
AS2 supersonic business jet
"According to the investigation, Gubanov has handed over the secret aviation development data to foreign countries," a source close to the investigation told TASS about the arrest of Gubanov. The source did not say what information he was accused of leaking, nor did he say which countries obtained the secrets. The initial trial of
was conducted in secret, and the trial will also be conducted in secret. If found guilty, Gubanov will face up to 20 years in prison.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-