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Sunday, August 1, 2010

SUKHOI PAKFA

The Sukhoi PAK FA (Russian: Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации, Perspektivny aviatsionny kompleks frontovoy aviatsii, literally "Future Frontline Aircraft System"), is a fifth-generation jet fighter being developed by Sukhoi OKB for the Russian Air Force.

The current prototype is Sukhoi's T-50.[12] The PAK FA when fully developed is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian inventory and serve as the basis of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA project being developed with India.[13][14] A fifth generation jet fighter, it is designed to directly compete with Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The T-50 performed its first flight January 29, 2010.[3][15] Its second flight was on February 6 and its third on February 12. As of June 17th, it has made 16 flights in total.[16]

Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan has projected a market for 1,000 aircraft over the next four decades, which will be produced in a joint venture with India, two hundred each for Russia and India and six hundred for other countries.[17]. He has also said that the Indian contribution would be in the form of joint work under the current agreement rather than as a joint venture.[18]

The Indian Air Force will "acquire 50 single-seater fighters of the Russian version" before the two seat FGFA is developed.[19]

The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase the first ten aircraft after 2012 and then 60 after 2016.[20][21] The first batch of fighters will be delivered without the "Fifth generation" engines.[22]

PAK FA
PAK FA T-50 prototype on the day of its first flight
Role Stealth multirole fighter
National origin Russia
Manufacturer Sukhoi
First flight January 29, 2010 [1][2][3]
Introduction 2015 (planned)[4][5][6]
Status Test flight / Pre-production
Primary user Russian Air Force
Number built 3 [7]
Program cost US$8-10 billion (est.)[8][9][10]
Unit cost US$100 million (est.)[11]
Variants Sukhoi/HAL FGFA

Development

Radar with APAA for the PAK FA is provided by NIIP. MAKS-2009
APAA in slat. MAKS-2009

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, and in the summer of 2009 the design was approved.[23] The PAK FA will incorporate technology from both the Su-47 and the MiG 1.44.[citation needed]

The Tekhnokompleks Scientific and Production Center, Ramenskoye Instrument Building Design Bureau, the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design, the Ural 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 Chkalov) has begun construction of the fifth-generation multirole fighter. This work is being performed at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur together with Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association; the enterprise's general director, Fedor Zhdanov reported during a visit to NAPO by Novosibirsk Oblast's governor Viktor Tolokonskiy on 6 March 2007. "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.

On 8 August 2007, 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.[24] Alexander Zelin also said that by 2009 there will be three fifth-generation aircraft ready. "All of them are currently undergoing tests and are more or less ready", he said.[25]

[edit] Maiden flight

The T-50 taxiing on the day of its maiden flight.
Optical detection pod for the Su PAK FA. MAKS-2009

On 28 of February 2009 Mikhail Pogosyan announced that the airframe for the aircraft was almost finished and that the first prototype should be ready by August 2009.[26] On 20 August 2009, Sukhoi General Director Mikhail Pogosyan said that the first flight would be by year end. Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies said that "even with delays", the plane would likely make its first flight by January or February, adding that there it would take 5 to 10 years for commercial production.[27]

The maiden flight had been repeatedly postponed since early 2007 as the T-50 encountered unspecified technical problems. Air Force chief Alexander Zelin admitted as recently as August 2009 that problems with the engine and in technical research remained unsolved.[28]

The Weekly Standard reported that Russian sources had indicated that the T-50 prototype would fly in 2010 or early 2011 with current technology radar and avionics as the advanced systems for the completed PAK FA will require help from a foreign partner.[29]

On December 8, 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced that the first trials with the fifth-generation aircraft would begin in 2010.[30] The testing, however, has commenced earlier than stated, with the first successful taxiing test taking place on December 24, 2009.[31][32][33]

The aircraft's maiden flight took place on 29 January 2010 at KnAAPO's Komsomolsk-on-Amur Dzemgi Airport; the aircraft was piloted by Sergey Bogdan (Сергей Богдан) and the flight lasted for 47 minutes.[3][34][35] [36]

A second airframe is planned to join the flight testing later in fourth quarter of 2010. These first two aircraft will lack radar and weapon control systems, while the third and fourth aircraft, to be added in 2011, will be fully functional test aircraft.[37]

[edit] Naval Version

Navalized Sukhoi T-50 PAK FAs will be deployed on the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and future Russian aircraft carriers.[38]

[edit] Design

Although most of information about the PAK FA is classified, it is believed from interviews with people in the Russian Air Force and Defense Ministry that it will be stealthy,[9] have the ability to supercruise, be outfitted with the next generation of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, incorporate a fix-mounted AESA radar with a 1,500-element array[39] and have an "artificial intellect".[40]

Sukhoi says that the new radar will reduce pilot load and that the aircraft will have a new data link to share information between aircraft.[41]

Composites are used extensively on the T-50 and comprise 25% of its weight and almost 70% of the outer surface.[42] It is estimated that titanium alloy content of the fuselage is 75%. Further reductions in structural weight, drag and radar signature are achieved by the use of three-dimensional thrust vectoring engines. Sukhoi's concern for minimizing RCS (and drag) is also shown by the provision of two tandem main weapons bays in the centre fuselage, between the engine nacelles. Each is estimated to be between 4.9-5.1m long. The main bays are augmented by bulged, triangular-section bays at the wing root.[43]

The Moskovsky Komsomolets reported that the T-50 has been designed to be more maneuverable than the F-22 Raptor at the cost of making it less stealthy than the F-22.[44]

[edit] Avionics

The PAK-FA SH121 radar complex includes three X-Band AESA radars located on the front and sides of the aircraft. These will be accompanied by L-Band radars on the wing leading edges.[45][46] L-Band radars are proven to have increased effectiveness against VLO targets which are optimized only against X-Band frequencies, but their longer wavelengths reduce their resolution.

The PAK-FA will feature an IRST optical/IR search and tracking system.

Sukhoi recently demonstrated cockpit mock-ups, which may relate to both Su-35 or PAK-FA, suggest two very large MFDs and a very wide HUD[citation needed].

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will reportedly provide the navigation system and the mission computer.[44]

[edit] Engines

The PAK FA was expected to use a pair of Saturn 117S engines on its first flights. The 117S (AL-41F1A) is a major upgrade of the AL-31F based on the AL-41F intended to power the Su-35BM, producing 142 kN (32,000 lb) of thrust in afterburner and 86.3 kN (19,400 lb) dry. In fact, PAK FA already used a completely new engine in its first flight, as stated by NPO Saturn.[47] The engine is not based on the Saturn 117S. The engine generates a larger thrust and has a complex automation system, to facilitate flight modes such as maneuverability. Exact specifications of the new engine are still secret. Each engine can independently vector its thrust upwards, downward or side to side. Vectoring one engine up with the other one down can produce a twisting force. Therefore the PAK FA will be the first fifth generation fighter with full 3-D thrust vectoring along all three aircraft axes: pitch, yaw and roll.

[48]

[edit] Operational history

[edit] Testing

The first flight video shows that PAK-FA has no conventional rudders, its vertical tails are fully movable.[49] This special tail fin design is mechanically similar to V-tails used by the Northrop YF-23 in 1990s,[50] but is supplemented by dedicated horizontal stabilators (as on the F-22). The T-50 has wing leading-edge devices above the jet engine intakes that have been called a challenge for signature control.[51]

[edit] Specifications

Diagram

Because the aircraft is in development, these specifications are preliminary and are taken as estimates from the available images.

Data from [52][53]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 19.8 m (65.9 ft)
  • Wingspan: 14 m (46.6 ft)
  • Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft)
  • Wing area: 78.8 m2 (848.1 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,785 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)
  • Useful load: 7,500 kg (combat load) (16,534 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 37,000 kg (81,570 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× New unnamed engine by NPO Saturn and FNPTS MMPP Salyut of 175 kN each. Prototype with AL-41F1 of 147 kN each,[54] definitive version with new engine >157 kN[54]
  • Maximum Fuel weight: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb)[52]

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: None on prototype. Apparent provision for a cannon (most likely GSh-301).Possible two 30mm cannons[56]
  • Hardpoints: Two internal bays estimated at 4.6-4.7 metres by 1-1.1 metres.[57] . Other sources suggest two auxiliary internal bays for short range AAMS and 6 external hardpoints

Avionics
N050(?)BRLS AFAR/AESA built by Tikhomirov NIIP and based on Tikhomirov NIIP N035 Irbis-E . It will be the second aircraft based AESA Radar to be built by Russia, the first being the Phazotron NIIR ZHUK-A Radar in the MIG-35.[58]

[edit] Designed armament

Two Izdeliye 810 Extended beyond visual range missiles per weapons bay. Multiple Izdeliye 180 / K77M beyond visual range missiles. K74 and K30 within visual range missiles can also be carried.[57]
Two KH38M or KH58 USHK air-to-ground missiles per weapons bay. Multiple 250–500 kg precision guided bombs per weapons bay[57], with a maximum of ten bombs in internal bays[59]
Other possible loads include one 1500 kg bomb per weapons bay or two 400 km+ range anti-AWACS weapons on external hard-points.[55] A maximum weapons load of 7500 kg is reported.[59]

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Russia to start flight tests of fifth-generation in 2009" (April 3, 2008). RIA Novosti.
  2. ^ ""Русский Raptor" впервые взлетит через три дня". LIFE NEWS. http://www.lifenews.ru/news/10424. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  3. ^ a b c ""Российский истребитель пятого поколения поднялся в воздух". Lenta.ru. http://www.lenta.ru/news/2010/01/29/fighter/. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  4. ^ "Russia draws back veil of secrecy with peek at future fighter". RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100129/157715872.html. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  5. ^ The 'Raptorski' creates its ripples of envy
  6. ^ PAK-FA Will Be Operational In 2015: Executive
  7. ^ As of February 2010, although a total of 3 or 4 PAK FA prototypes have been constructed, only one of them (known as T-50-1) has flown; the others are designated for static and ground tests. See:
  8. ^ Pandit, Rajat (October 10, 2009). "India, Russia to ink new military pact". Times of India.
  9. ^ a b Shukla, Ajai (January 5, 2010). "India, Russia close to PACT on next generation fighter". Business Standard.
  10. ^ Shukla, Ajai (January 6, 2010). "India to develop 25% of fifth generation fighter ". Business Standard.
  11. ^ The T-50 fifth-generation fighter
  12. ^ Daly, Kieran (August 11, 2009). "Russia's United Aircraft reaches maturity". Flight International.
  13. ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (September 29, 2008). "India, Russia to have different versions of same fighter plane". India Today.
  14. ^ Cohen, Ariel (January 16, 2009). "Russia bets on new Sukhoi fighter to match F-35". United Press International (UPI).
  15. ^ "Russia to test fifth-generation fighter in 2009". (December 6, 2007). RIA Novosti.
  16. ^ http://www.sukhoi.org/news/company/?id=3165
  17. ^ Russia to make 1,000 stealth jets, eyes India deal
  18. ^ Russian-Indian work on 5G fighter to go ahead without extra deal
  19. ^ No JV with India on fifth-gen fighter: Sukhoi chief
  20. ^ Russian military to buy 60 fifth-generation fighters after 2016
  21. ^ Russia to almost double arms spending
  22. ^ Russian Air Force to buy over 60 fifth-generation fighters
  23. ^ Premier Putin satisfied with Russian fifth-generation fighter tests
  24. ^ "Russia to build fifth-generation fighter prototype soon". (August 8, 2007). RIA Novosti.
  25. ^ "Russia's next-generation warplane to make maiden flight in 2009". (January 21, 2009). RIA Novosti.
  26. ^ "Sukhoi PAK FA Updates: First Prototype by August 2009, Special Software for Indian Versions". (February 28, 2009). India Defence.
  27. ^ Solovyov, Dmitry (August 20, 2009). "INTERVIEW - Russia's new fighter to fly by yr-end - Sukhoi". Reuters.
  28. ^ Halpin, Tony (January 30, 2010). "Russia unveils its first stealth fighter jet - the Sukhoi T-50". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7007913.ece. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  29. ^ Johnson, Reuben F. (January 8, 2009). "Just Like US(AF)? Russia's fifth generation fighter". The Weekly Standard.
  30. ^ "Russia to start 5th generation fighter tests in 2010 - deputy PM". (December 8, 2009). RIA Novosti.
  31. ^ "Начались испытания российского истребителя пятого поколения" ["Russian fifth-generation fighter tests have begun"] (in Russian) (December 24, 2009). Lenta.ru.
  32. ^ "Сухой" пятого поколения совершил пробежку ["Sukhoi fifth-generation fighter taxiing"] (in Russian) (December 24, 2009). BBC Russian Service.
  33. ^ Vogelaar, Rob (December 29, 2009). "Sukhoi's PAK-FA or T-50 started taxi trials, first flight early in January". Aviation-News.
  34. ^ [1]
  35. ^ Sukhoi Company launches flight tests of PAK FA advanced tactical frontline fighter Sukhoi Company (JSC), 2010-01-29
  36. ^ 1st test of 5-Gen fighter in Russia
  37. ^ More Sukhoi T-50s To Fly In Next 12 Months>
  38. ^ Moscow set to upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier
  39. ^ Barrie, Douglas & Komarov, Alexey (August 26, 2009). "Fighter Order Rekindles Russian Air Force". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  40. ^ "Russia to commence flight tests of FGFA". (December 23, 2009.) Zeenews.com.
  41. ^ Sukhoi Company launches flight tests of PAK FA advanced tactical frontline fighter
  42. ^ More Sukhoi T-50s To Fly In Next 12 Months
  43. ^ Jon Lake. April 2010. "Sukhoi T-50 - Russia's Raptor?". Combat Aircraft. Vol.11, No.4, p.26-33.
  44. ^ a b Russia's T-50 PAK FA Not Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Yet
  45. ^ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0x2EDghbE PAK FA: T-50 - Technologies of take off (English and Greek subs)
  46. ^ T-50 completes early flight and bench tests
  47. ^ NPO Saturn Press Release 29/01/2010
  48. ^ RIA Novosti
  49. ^ Maiden Flight of T-50 (PAK-FA) Youtube, 2010-01-29
  50. ^ YF-23 Black Widow II GlobalSecurity.org
  51. ^ Major Work Ahead On T-50 Stealth Fighter
  52. ^ a b c PAK-FA Sukhoi T-50 warfare.ru
  53. ^ Russia's Fifth Generation Jet Tested Successfully pravda.ru, 2010-01-29
  54. ^ a b Butowski 2010, p.35.
  55. ^ a b T-50 / Project 701 / PAK FA GlobalSecurity.org
  56. ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100713/159797767.html
  57. ^ a b c Butowski 2010, p.34.
  58. ^ T-50 Radar FlightGlobal.com
  59. ^ a b (Accessed April 2010)
  60. ^ The new fighter's control systems, avionics and cockpit will be designed on the basis of the Su-35BM's systems
  • Butowski, Piotr. "Raptorski's Maiden Flight". Air International, March 2010, Vol 78 No 3. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. pp. 30–37.
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