Sukhoi Su-57

The PAK FA (or PAK-FA), also known as the Sukhoi Su-50 is a fifth-generation fighter jet which is being developed by Russia. The PAK FA is being developed by a consortium of companies spearheaded by Sukhoi OKB. It stands for Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi (Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации in Russian) which means Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces. Sukhoi's internal project codename is T-50. The PAK FA is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian Air Force. It is scheduled to have its first flight in 2008, and enter service with the Russian Air Force subsequently. It will face direct competition from the F-22 Raptor.

Development

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union outlined a need for a next-generation aircraft to replace its MiG-29 and Su-27 in frontline service. Two projects were proposed to meet this need, the Sukhoi Su-47 and the Mikoyan Project 1.44. In 2002, Sukhoi was chosen to lead the design for the new combat aircraft. The PAK FA (or Sukhoi T-50) will incorporate technology from the Su-47 and the MiG 1.44.

The Tekhnokompleks Scientific and Production Center, Ramenskoye Instrument Building Design Bureau, the Instrument Building Scientific Research Institute (Zhukovskiy), the Ural’sk Optical and Mechanical Plant (Yekaterinburg), the Polet firm (Nizhniy Novgorod) and the Central Scientific Research Radio Engineering Institute (Moscow) were pronounced winners in the competition held in the beginning of 2003 for the development of the avionics suite for the fifth-generation airplane. NPO Saturn has been determined the lead executor for work on the engines for this airplane.

The Novosibirsk Chkalov Aviation Production Association (NAPO) has begun construction of the fifth-generation multirole fighter. This work is being performed at Komsomol’sk-on-Amur together with the aircraft plant at Komsomol’sk-on-Amur; the enterprise’s general director, Fedor Zhdanov, reported today (2007-03-06) during a visit to NAPO by Novosibirsk Oblast’s governor Viktor Tolokonskiy.

"Final assembly will take place at Komsomol’sk-on-Amur, and we will be carrying out assembly of the fore body of this airplane," Zhdanov specified. The fifth-generation fighter, which will replace the MiG-29 and Su-27 airplanes of the previous generation, was developed by the Sukhoi design bureau.

NAPO Chkalov also has been realizing serial production of the newest Su-34 Fullback multirole bomber since last year. According to the governor, the oblast’s government will adopt a complex of measures for supplemental governmental support to NAPO in the very near future. As of today, the most severe problem at the enterprise is personnel. "In the 1990s, many highly-qualified workers were let go under the conditions of a slump, and now time is needed for training new ones. Our assistance will be in the resolution of personnel questions, and also in the provision of lodging for the enterprise’s specialists," governor Tolokonskiy said in this connection.

NAPO Chkalov is one of the country’s largest airplane building enterprises and is included in the Sukhoi Holding Company, ITAR-TASS notes.

Development completion announcement

On 2007-08-08, Russian Air Force Commander Alexander Zelin was quoted by Russian news agencies that the development stage of the PAK FA program is now complete and construction of the first aircraft for flight testing will now begin.

Maiden flight

It was announced on 2007-05-22 by Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov that the first flight of the new aircraft is expected in late 2008, almost a year later than originally expected.

Partnership and export possibilities

According to reports in the Indian media, Russia and India had agreed in early 2007 to study a joint 5th-generation fighter project..However, the involvement of India in the PAK FA project has not been confirmed by the governments of both countries. Also, it remains unclear whether the joint project will be PAK FA or a new project.

Design

Sukhoi Su-47 experimental aircraft (PAK FA Technology demonstrator)

Although there is no reliable information about the PAK FA's specifications yet, it is known from interviews with people in the Russian Air Force that it will be stealthy, have the ability to supercruise without using afterburners, be outfitted with the next generation of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and incorporate an AESA radar. The PAK FA will use on her first flights 2 Saturn 117S engines (about 14.5-ton thrust each). The 117S is an advanced version of the AL-31F, but built with the experience gained in the AL-41F program. The AL-41F powered the Mikoyan MFI fighter (Project/Article 1.44). Later versions of the PAK FA will use a completely new engine (16⁺-tn thrust), developed by NPO Saturn or FGUP MMPP Salyut. Clearly, the use of such powerful engines demonstrates that the PAK FA will be a heavy-class fighter, comparable to F-22 Raptor.

There is now certainty for which United States aircraft will be the competitor of the PAK FA. Initially some believed it will be the F-35 Lightning II, the information so far seems to indicate it will be the F-22. However, analysts will still have to wait until the specifications of the aircraft come out; these will most likely be defined some time in 2007 or 2008. Analysts are predicting a maximum speed close to Mach 2.1 (2,200 km/h); they will see how this will come up. The Russian Federation has approved the final PAK FA design; this will remain secret, but analysts will have to wait till late 2007 for official disclosure of the design. It has also been known recently that the company has studied the specification of the F-22 Raptor and aims to meet the same capabilities and performance of the F-22 or even surpass it.

Capabilities and performance

The performance of the PAK FA has been a subject of great speculation and debate in defense analyst circles. Initially some analysts expected that the PAK FA will have performance comparable to the F-35. However others point out that since the PAK FA will be of a heavier class with superior avionics and radar, it will be comparable to the F-22 Raptor. The PAK FA will be designed as an air superiority fighter with excellent BVR capabilities and will be an agile dogfighter which can even match the F-22 Raptor.

Stealth

It is uncertain how small the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the PAK FA will be. All latest production variants of Mikoyan, Sukhoi and Tupolev military aircraft use Radar Absorbent Materials (RAM) that lower RCS to that of less than 1 m² objects. And it is natural to assume, the stealthier the aircraft, the higher its development costs and selling price will be.

External links and references

• Sukhoi Company — Primary contrator
• Genealogy of Fifth Generation Fighters - Article from Mosnews.com
• Article From Flight International
• Recent news story Template:Ru icon
• PAK FA - Global Security.org
• PAK FA - Russian Military Analysis
• An "official" artistic image of PAK FA from NPO Saturn
• Article on Flight International website with artistic image of PAK FA from NPO Saturn (April 04 2007)
• PAK FA news on Russian TV (Vesti)
• PAK FA info & pictures - Paralay.com Template:Ru icon
• PAK-FA - Sukhoi T-50 Template:Cs icon

Related content

Related development

• Sukhoi Su-47
• Mikoyan Project 1.44

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• F-22 Raptor
• F-35 Lightning II