Tupolev PAK-DA
When PAK-DA program ( Russian Перспективный авиационный комплекс дальней авиации , P erspektiwny A wiazionny K ompleks D alnei A wiazii, German Perspective flight complex of the Long Range Aviation ) is a project of the Russian Air Force to develop a new strategic long-range bomber . The project is under the direction of Tupolev .
The PAK-DA program is not to be confused with the PAK-FA program from which the Sukhoi Su-57 emerged .
development
The first reports on the PAK-DA program appeared in 2008 when it became known that the Russian Air Force had defined tactical and technical requirements for a new generation of strategic bombers. The existence of the PAK-DA program was officially confirmed a year later by the then Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin . His statements made in a television interview were interpreted to the effect that the appearance of the bomber was based on the American B-2 "Spirit" . This representation was later denied and it was pointed out that the new bomber would be based on the design of the Tu-160 . Russian Major General Anatoly Shikharev said the new bomber will replace both the Tu-95MS and Tu-160. Contrary to other statements, he did not name the Tu-22M 3.
In summer 2012 it became known that the PAK-DA project was about to be canceled. No reasons were given for this; several officers said there were fundamental doubts about the necessity of the program. The chief of the General Staff, General Nikolai Makarov , countered that the final design decisions had not yet been made and that the new bomber should be superior to the current US models. On June 9, 2012, Dmitry Medvedev confirmed that the PAK-DA program would continue as planned and not be canceled and announced the completion of a first prototype for 2017.
With the construction of the modernized Tu-160 launched in 2015, there were two ongoing bomber projects in Russia at the same time.
Relatively little is known of the previous performance data. With a take-off weight of 100 to 120 tons, the required operating radius is 3,500 km. A two-jet design and the use of maintenance-intensive swivel blades can be seen on published concept graphics . The latter is unusual in that the advantageous flight characteristics could also be achieved with other constructive means and swiveling wings are unfavorable for cloaking measures . At best, they fit the statement that the PAK-DA project would be based on the Tu-160. Exactly this statement was also indirectly denied in March 2013, when it became known that the Russian air force favored a subsonic flying wing concept , which would retrospectively confirm the statements made by Vladimir Putin in 2009. There were also contradictions initially with regard to the fact that the engines and avionics of the Su-57 should be used in order to save development costs. Nevertheless, in the summer of 2014 , Kuznetsov received the official development contract for the PAK-DA engines.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Russia is developing two long-range bombers at the same time , Sputnik, October 14, 2016
- ↑ Russia to replace current bombers with subsonic flying wing. Flightglobal, March 11, 2013, accessed June 7, 2014 .
- ^ Russia selects engine supplier for new bomber. Flightglobal, June 6, 2014, accessed June 7, 2014 .