Sukhoi Su-57
Template:Future aircraft Template:Infobox Aircraft
The PAK FA (or PAK-FA) is a fifth-generation fighter jet which is being developed by Russia. India, a late entrant, is said to be partnering Russia in the PAK-FA project. The PAK FA is being developed a consortium of companies spearheaded by Sukhoi. It stands for Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi (Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации in Russian) which means Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces. It 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.
The details of India's partnership in the PAK FA project are not known. Defence analysts expect that the aircraft will also be inducted into the Indian Airforce and is intended to replace the Sepecat Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and Mig-29.
History
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 complex for the fifth generation airplane. NPO Saturn has been determined the lead executor for work on the engines for this airplane.
Specifications
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, be outfitted with the next generation of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and incorporate an AESA radar. It will be powered by the Saturn AL-41F, but in the first flights it will use the Saturn 117S engines (15 tn thrust). Reports indicate that it will be similar in size to the F-22.
There is no certainty for now what United States aircraft will be the competitor for the PAK FA. While some believe it will be the F-35, the information so far seems to indicate it will be the F-22. Without further official information, it is not viable to reach a final conclusion in this matter. Therefore, analysts will be waiting until the specifications of the aircraft come out; these will most likely be defined in 2007. Analysts are predicting a maximum speed close to Mach 2.83 (3,255 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.
Capability & Performance
The performance of the PAK FA has been a subject of great speculation and debate in defence analyst circles. While some expect that the PAK FA will have performance comparable to the F-35 JSF, 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. It is also of intense speculation if the PAK FA will be designed as an air superiority fighter with excellent BVR capabilities or if it will be an agile dogfighter.
Stealth
It is uncertain how low the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the PAK FA will be. This will be Russia's first attempt at making a "stealth" aircraft, though 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 purchase price will be.
It is also unclear whether the PAK FA will use conventional stealth, which is used by the USA and demonstrated in Mikoyan Project 1.42 / 1.44, or plasma stealth reported by developers to have been successfully developed and used.
Latest news
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 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 series construction of the newest Su-34 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 ‘90s, 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,” Tolokonskiy said in this connection.
NAPO Chkalov is one of the country’s largest airplane building enterprises and is included in the Sukhoy Holding Company, ITAR-TASS notes.[1]
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 earlier than originally expected.[2]
References
External links and references
- Sukhoi Company — Primary contrator
- Genealogy of Fifth Generation Fighters - Article from Mosnews.com
- Article From Flight International
- Recent news story (in Russian)
- 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 (russian language) & pictures - Paralay.com
- PAK-FA - Sukhoi T-50 czech