New 5th Gen Sukhoi Maiden Flight

[rattler]

THe new Sukhoi T-50, the Russian 5th Generation fighter, made it´s maiden flight on Friday, JAN 29.



Experts are not sure whether it can cope with the Raptor (that is probably, why they are experts: CYA!), but according to the Russians, it does already now, and mor so, when they reallstart building it in 2015:

MOSCOW, January 29 (RIA Novosti)

* The T-50 is the domestic name of Russia's fifth-generation fighter plane which has been developed as the Advanced Front-Line Aviation Complex (PAK FA) for Russia's Air Force.

* The project started its development by the Sukhoi design bureau since it won the tender in April 2002.

* The Tikhomirov Institute of Instrument Design, which developed the Irbis radar for the Su-35BM Flanker, has been working on the T-50 radar. The new fighter's radar and fire-control system will be designed on the basis of the Su-35BM's systems.

* The new fighter's exterior design was approved on December 10, 2004.

* Last summer, the fighter's design was approved, and the prototype blueprints were delivered to the KNAAPO aircraft building company based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where three experimental fighters will be built for testing.

* In February 2009, the first prototype was constructed. After the plane was successfully tested on the runway, a decision was made to stage the maiden flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, rather than in Moscow.

* The prototype fifth-generation fighter made a 47-minute maiden flight on January 29, 2010, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

* Although T-50 specifications remain classified, fragmentary data on its engines imply that this heavy-duty fighter will have a take-off weight of more than 30 metric tons and will be close in dimension to the well-known Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker.

* The new fighter's exterior was designed using Stealth technology, also known as LO technology (low observable technology).

* The combat aircraft is fitted with 117S (upgraded AL-31) turbofan engines from the Russian aircraft engine manufacturer Saturn.

* The PAK FA can carry either eight next-generation air-to-air R-77 missiles, or two large controllable anti-ship bombs weighing 1,500 kg each.

* The new jet can also carry two long-range missiles developed by the Novator Bureau which can hit targets within a 400 kilometer range.

* The jet can use a take-off strip of just 300-400 meters, and perform sustained supersonic flight at speeds over 2,000 km/h, including repeated in-flight refueling. The highly-maneuverable plane has a range of about 5,500 kilometers.

* The fifth-generation fighter is equipped with advanced avionics to combine an automatic flight control system and a radar locator with a phased array antenna.

* The newest combat aircraft are planned to be mass produced in Komsomolsk-on-Amur from 2015.

As far asi I undertand it (my Russian is just basic), the prototype did not yet employ the new planned for engines, nor did it have internal weapon bays, but, the pilot praised it after the flight (what else).

Rattler

[flyboy2548m]

That was a pretty fast-paced development program. Just over five years from design approval to first flight. Not bad for supposedly destitute Russians.

[Princess Leia]

Yep, pretty fast considering they also just finished the development of the SU-34, are testing the new SU-35 and MiG-35, plus developed the Mig-29K (carrier version) for India. Oh, and AN-70 is back in development, and the new Yak-130 trainer is going into production...

The JSF guys should take a page from this.

[rattler]

...and Sukhoi is getting hammered for being 1.5 yrs behind schedule with the maiden flight.

Rattler

[Marc 1]

That was a pretty fast-paced development program. Just over five years from design approval to first flight. Not bad for supposedly destitute Russians.

Five years may have been from the final version sign off, but this program has been around since 2002.

In early 2002 Sukhoi was chosen as prime contractor for the planned Russian fifth-generation fighter is called the PAK FA [ Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi - Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces]. This intermediate class twin-engined fighter will be larger than a MiG-29 and smaller than a Su-27. The new fighter is intended to be about the same size as the US F-35 JSF, with a primary air superiority mission and ground attack and reconnaissance being secondary missions. The aircraft will feature a long combat radius, supersonic cruise speed, low radar cross section, supermaneuverability, and the ability to make short takeoffs and landings. In accordance with the technical requirements, the PAK FA will have a normal takeoff weight of 20 tons, which is close to the average normal takeoff weight of the two American airplanes, the F-35 JSF (17.2 tons) and the F-22 (24 tons). The new fighter (a medium version) will have a traditional wing form, though the experience gathered as a result of Berkut's test flights will be taken in consideration when designing the fighter. It is supposed that it will be created using the Stealth technology, and equipped with two AL-41F engines by the Saturn scientific and industrial enterprise, a radar system with an active phased array (to all appearances, it will be produced by the Fazatron-NIIR corporation), and high-precision weapons.

I don't have a link as to where that was from.

Right up until a year ago, the JSF was still having quite large changes made, and the very first test aircraft is a very different beast internally and structurally from the later test aircraft. One change is that they have gone from a single nosewheel door to twin doors - the single door was causing control difficulties in crosswind landing conditions.

The other interesting comments I have read relate to the degree of radar cross section reductions. Early analysis by others that know more than this little black duck seems to suggest that the most impressive aspect is from front on - other aspects are nowhere near as impressive. In that respect the early analysis is suggesting a LO rating that is better than the gen 4.5 machines (F16, F15, F/A-18, Eurofighter etc) but inferior to the F35. Funnily enough similar to the F15SE proposal - good head on, not so flash in other aspects. And I reckon Boeing could do the F15SE proposal in a much shorter timeframe that 5 years. So not really that impressive.

[B77W-QOTS]

Marc, do you think the RAAF should have gone for this fighter over the JSF as it is clearly better than the JSF and closer to the F-111 it replaces?

[Marc 1]

Marc, do you think the RAAF should have gone for this fighter over the JSF as it is clearly better than the JSF and closer to the F-111 it replaces?

According to whom? Initial 'expert' commentary (take all of that with a grain, no make that a large box of salt) suggests that in terms of LO technology the Sukhoi will be quite inferior to the F-35 - the rounded profile of the engine casings apparently mean the Radar Cross Section (RCS) will be quite poor from anything other than directly in front. Kinematics - its probably a match for the F-22, but in overall terms it's not that important - more important will be the degree the aircraft fits into the electronic battlespace - being able to link aircraft into the big picture. Soviet designs have always been impressive airshow performers, no doubting that - but in terms of the sophistication of the electronics are a generation behind.

Other users of Sukhoi's (and most soviet equipment) have found issues with reliability and servicability - things like engines have much lower TBO (time between overhauls) for example. The Malays have decided to sell their Mig 29's as the cost of maintaining them (and subsequent issues with keeping them airworthy) was proving to be far more than the FA/-18D's they also use. The more airframes you have 'down' getting an engine swapped out the less you have in the sky.

Also, there may be issues wth parts availability and supply if we end up on the wrong side of Russia in any dispute (even a UN resolution brouha).

The final nail in the coffin is that we'd also have to replace the entire armoury of weapons with russian equivalents, or spend buckets of dollars getting our existing US and european weaponry integrated and cleared for carriage and release. That last issue is not to be underestimated on an airframe where the ordinance is carried internally.

I'd also wager that the T50 will take longer to become operational - a problem for us as our 'Model T' Hornets are already using walking frames to get around the sky.

Tell you what though - it'll make the local arms race a tad interesting though if any of our Northern neighbours decides to buy some. I think we've made the correct decision with the F-35 - there will be a massive pool of users so interoperability will be improved, and we can piggyback on programs to improve or develop the platform (so we won't be taking the entire risk as we did with the Seasprite $1.2Bn fiasco).

[B77W-QOTS]

Cool thanks for that Marc and it seems Ive already got my answer on an F-111 for Point cook, it anit going to happen seems its doing its final show at the Singapore Airshow Guess I will just have to happy with the F-111G 'boneyard wrangler' on static display. BAe Hawks and Sabre and Vampire from Temora more than make up for it though