News 1st Russian stealth fighter's maiden flight

[SiberianTiger]

Today, on January 29, 2010 at 1:19 a.m. UTC (11:19 local) a new fighter by Sukhoy design bureau performed its maiden flight at KnAAPO test airfield (Dzemgi airbase), not far from Komsomolsk-na-Amure. The first flight ended with a safe landing 45 minutes later.

It's now expected to be declassified enough to make it possible to publish official pictures and videos of the plane (which are much awaited for).

The aircraft has following designations: PAK-FA (ПАК-ФА, "Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации" meaning Advanced Tactical Aircraft), T-50, item 701, or I-21.

The advertised flight performances are:

Parameter|Value
Max takeoff weight|37 000 kg
Top speed at cruise alt|2 600 km/h (M 2.45)
Cruise speed|1 300 - 1 800 km/h
Ferry Range|4 000 - 5 500 km
Mission Duration|3.3 hours
Service ceiling|20 000 m
Climb rate|350 m/s
Takeoff/landing distance|350 m
Max wing load|470 kg/m²
Nominal wing load|330 kg/m²
Thrust/weight ratio at max t-off weight|1.08
Combat thrust/weight ratio|1.4

The engines are thrust vectored to improve dogfighting performance.

It's believed to implement stealth technology allowing to keep it's radar cross section at less than 1 m². Radar absorbents and composite parts help to achieve that.

It has advanced combat avionics and multi-directional active phased array radar comprised of 5 antennas (effectively allowing to see behind too), auxiliary radar and optical tracking & targeting station.

Weapons include two 30-mm cannons and variety of combat loads in internal bays and optional external hardpoints. The primary armament is expected to be the RVV-AE (AA-12) air-to-air missile; it can carry strike payloads as large as H-58USHKE (an Anti-radar version of AS-11 missile).

It's said to come into production status by 2015.

 

[Ark]

A stealth fighter with twin 30mm cannons. Awesome.

 

[JamesG]

The Su Me two.

 

[SiberianTiger]

A stealth fighter with twin 30mm cannons. Awesome.

Just imagine that two adversaries can't lock each other on...

---------- Post added at 10:46 ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 ----------

The first official images of the PAK-FA at Dzengi airfield (from http://sukhoi.org):

---------- Post added at 10:53 ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 ----------

Video of landing:

 

[Ark]

That's a good point. In the worst-case scenario of coming up against an enemy fighter whose stealth can successfully evade air to air missiles, you'd want a gun with a wicked punch to deal with them.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Test pilot:

Colonel Sergey Bogdan

 

[tl8]

That looks cool

And still looks like a russian fighter

 

[Ark]

That looks cool

And still looks like a russian fighter

I expected a line-for-line copy of the F-22.

Which, it still looks a lot like it.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Is there any vacant F-word for it?

 

[PeterRoss]

Mmmm... Fighter, maybe?

 

[SiberianTiger]

3504px × 2336px picture

They say they still have to gradually replace engines, canopy and nose cone until it gets a final look.

---------- Post added at 11:32 ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 ----------

BTW, should performing a maiden flight of a warplane on the day of opposition of Mars be considered a good omen?..

 

[PeterRoss]

3504px × 2336px picture
They say they still have to gradually replace engines, canopy and nose cone until it gets a final look.

Then it's 'Frankenstein' definitely.

They'll be using short 'Franky'. Hey, I like it.

 

[Turbinator]

I was thinking it would be some sexy new design, however I can't say I like to looks.

SO far no one can beat the sexiest fighter planes on Earth: Sukhoi Su-30/32/34

 

[n72.75]

If a Mig-35 and an F-22 got together and had a baby, that's what it would it look like.

 

[Urwumpe]

I think it doesn't look much more stealthy as F-35, Eurofighter or Rafale (which have just stealth features, but no complete stealth). There are still too many corners that have not 60° angle in it, suggesting it is still optimizing more on aerodynamics than stealth alone. But sure an improvement over the current Russian fighters, who have the RCS of a barn door.

 

[SiberianTiger]

A video which displays the bird from different angles in flight:
http://rutube.ru/tracks/2877526.html

 

[Urwumpe]

The video makes it look like the plane has 2 DOF thrust vector control, or at least plans to have it included. Very large room around the nozzles, and big engine compartment.

 

[SiberianTiger]

A spotter picture of a Su-27 testbed plane with its engines replaced by Saturn 117S engines intended for use on the 1st versions of the PAK-FA:

There are plans for some more advanced engines as well.

---------- Post added at 23:01 ---------- Previous post was at 14:33 ----------

Reading the BBC comment:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8486812.stm

I've found the following statement to be wrong:

The new jet has been developed in partnership with India.

It's true that partnership between Sukhoy and Indian government exists, but it's about the export modifications of Su-33/35 family. Also, a possibility of devloping a new two-seater fighter jet designated as FGFA is being discussed between representatives of Russian and Indian aircraft builders. That one is going to be 'for sale' from the very beginning. It's expected to be a derivative of T-50's design.

The following pic I've found is priceless:

"Hurray! It's flying!" :lol:

 

[T.Neo]

A stealth fighter with twin 30mm cannons. Awesome.

Double 30mm guns? Wow.

Somewhat overkill for a modern fighter, if you ask me.

I think it doesn't look much more stealthy

It doesn't look as stealthy, right... :lol:

"Hurray! It's flying!" :lol:

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

That made my day.

 

[Star Voyager]

Is it just me, or does this design resemble the F-22:

T-50:

F-22: