LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Posted (12 years 1 month 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2713 times:
The Russian press reported that several Russian a/c manufacturers, headed by Sukhoi, are going to develop a 5th generation fighter. The technology demonstrator is supposed to fly in 2006, and the a/c should become operational in 2010. The new fighter is supposed to be the "Russian answer" to the JSF.
It doesn't sound like it is going to be an upgrade of an existing platform, so I am extremely sceptical about the chances of the a/c to fly and become operational in such a short time. When the F-22 becomes operational, it will be over 20 years after its initial development began, with the current condition of the Russian economy, I don't think it is possible to produce a 5th generation fighter in such a short period of time. It looks like the Russians are giving up the S-37, MiG 1.42 and other projects. From the other hand, it is about time Russia creates a new fighter that is not an upgrade to an older platform, that can be somewhat of a match to the JSF and the F-22, maybe its about time Russian manufacturers come together and make an a/c that will actually become operational, even if it will not happen in 2010, I don't think setting unrealistic time limits will do any good to this kind of project.
Any other info on the new project? What do you think about the chances of the a/c to fly and become operational in the time limit specified? What do you think about other similar projects in Russia today? Any thoughts are welcome.
Kolobokman From Russia, joined Oct 2000, 1180 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (12 years 1 month 4 days ago) and read 1831 times:
S-37 is a 5th generation fighter (It is going to be when It's finished in 2005), as far as I know it is not an upgrade of an existing airplane.
----> http://airwar.ru/photo/s37-1.html
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 2, posted (12 years 1 month 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1815 times:
S-37 is a proof-of-concept demonstrator.
It is not stealthy, carries no weapons, etc..
Same for the MiG i.42.
Officially, the Ruskies don't have the funds to finance such a project. If they do pull it of, more proof that the entire monetary and military crisis is a big maskirovka to pull the west off guard and get us to disarm. That would of course mean the USSR is still there (which is actually a scenario that seems to have been suggested as early as Stalin).
Not sure what to believe there, the USSR was sure smart enough to pull of big things, but if they could do something this big???
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (12 years 1 month 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1817 times:
The S-37 and MiG-1.42 are technology demonstrators that were supposed to be developed into operational fighters, but the Russian AF said recently that it is not interested in those two a/c. So, I guess its the end for the S-37 and MiG-1.42. Both the S-37 and MiG-1.42 may be 5th generation fighters, but as Russian experts say, their cockpit design is the same as 3rd generation fighters. Cockpit design is probably something the Russian a/c industry will have to work hard on if they want to create a real 5th generation fighter.
SU508 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (12 years 1 month 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1800 times:
Hey guys, here's a bit of info about the plane and its future from a reliable source.
The 35-ton fighter features a single
under-fuselage air intake with two AL41F engines of 20 tons thrust each, and a top speed of over 2,500 km/h. The twin-tail
"duck" planform features an all-moving canard-type foreplane with a wingspan of about 15 meters and a length of about 20
meters.
The MAPO-MiG enterprise claims the new fighter would be able to outperform the F-22 Raptor, the most advanced US
air-superiority fighter. Although the primary mission of the MFI is air-superiority, unlike the F-22 the MFI is also capable of
performing strike mission, and thus in both conception and configuration is more directly comparable to the similar multi-role
EFA2000 Eurofighter. Like the American F-22, the MFI has a thrust vectoring system that allows it to make sharp turns. It
also has similar stealth capabilities, with the canard, wing and fuselage structures incorporating carbon-fiber and polymer
composite materials. Other stealth features include radar-absorbing covering, screening of radar-visible structure elements, and
reduced heat signature. The fifth-generation pulse-doppler radar has a phased-array andtenna with electronic scanning to
simultaneously attack over 20 targets. The aircraft can carry long-range air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles, and it is
armed with a 30-mm cannon.
In March 1997, military officials scrapped plans to manufacture the MFI because it was too expensive. The Defense Ministry
supports the MFI development program, and will decide on production following flight tests that could take up to seven years.
The Russian air force will not gain one new, state-of-the-art warplane before the year 2005 because of insufficient financing.
No new warplanes have been acquired since 1996.
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (12 years 1 month 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1789 times:
Hi, Su508! Sounds like you are talking about the MiG-1.42! I don't think MAPO-MiG is even part of the project I was talking about, I know that Sukhoi deffinetely has a key part in that project.
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (12 years 1 month 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1773 times:
Thanks for the pics, SU508!
Its supposed to be a brand new design, since the Russian AF is not satisfied with neither the S-37 nor the MiG-1.42. But, I think it is quite likely that it will be some sort of modification to existing fighters or technology demonstrators because of the tight schedule proposed. From the other hand, the new fighter is supposed to be an answer to the JSF, and I can't see how the S-37 or the SU-27 family can be modified to do so. Both the S-37 and the MiG-1.42 were designed to match the F-22, a bigger, more sophisticated, and much more expensive fighter than the proposed JSF.
Here is a link to an article about the new project (Russian only): http://www.lenta.ru/russia/2001/05/20/sukhoi/
Freesz From Brazil, joined Dec 2008, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (12 years 1 month 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1766 times:
Hello guys,
About Stefano's ideia, I think the Su-32FN may be a sucess, just because it's the only pure atack aircraft being develop, as far as we know... This may boost Sukhoi's bank account...
LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (12 years 1 month 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1759 times:
Yes, I hope the SU-34 (SU-32FN) will be a sucess, the Russian AF should start replacing some of its SU-24's. I think the SU-34 has a good export potential.
Steman From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 1279 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (12 years 1 month 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1761 times:
All the Su-27 family aircrafts have a high export potential as demonstrated by sells to China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The Su-30MK is a high capable multirole fighter, the Su-34 or -32FN is the only contender of the F-15E Strike Eagle and, in some respects, it is more capable and advanced; the Su-35/37 single seater can be developed into a highly capable air superiority fighter.
The only negative points in the Russian design are avionics and engine reliability but in recent years they demonstrated a huge improvements and foreign customers can choose to fit Western Avionics into their Russian fighters.
I think Moscow should avoid to throw money into hopeless projects and they should concentrate their scarce resources in their strong point: the Flanker family.
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 13, posted (12 years 1 month 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1762 times:
I think they want to show the world that they too can develop a new fighter still. If they have nothing to compare the Typhoon or F-22, they will loose the export market quickly, as national prestige looses out.
The only reason they are now exporting their top-products is a severe lack of resources.
In the old days, such aircraft were reserved for their own forces and maybe a few trusted servants. All the others got less advanced equipment to make sure they could be easily beaten if they ever showed their fangs.
With the slow reversal in policy in Moscow, Stavka is likely looking to aqcuire an aircraft that can take on the Su-30 and win with acceptable losses.
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 15, posted (12 years 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1711 times:
You want the USSR back?, 'cause that's what is happening...
Another 70 years of having to sleep in fear of a soviet invasion. I know in the USA there was not a real threat (Soviet amphib forces are not large enough) but in Europe the threat was quite real.
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