PAK-FA SUKHOI T-50 PROJECT

Description of the project:

The Sukhoi PAK FA is a fifth generation jet fighter. It’s being developed by Sukhoi Aviation Corporation Company for the Russian AirForce. The current prototype is Sukhoi’s T-50.

The PAK FA when fully developed is intended to replace Su-27 Flanker and MiG-29 Fulcrum in the Russian inventory, and serve as the basis of theSukhoi-HA FGFA project being developed with India. It’s a fifth generation jet fighter designed to compete the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, and be in the market within 2015 foreventual commands.

The T-50 performed its first flight last January, and as of August it has made 17 flights in total. The PAK-FA is characterized by a single-seat twin-engine stealth (design,composite materials, armaments bunker, detection and target tracking using passive optronics frontal area,etc). The avionics and on-board equipment of the PAK-FA are not yet known. We only know that thelatest computer equipment, an « artificial intelligence » and a data link were discussed to reduce the workload of the pilot.

The total development cost of the PAK-FA is estimated at US $ 12billion. The unit cost is US $ 100 million.

The India fund 50% and would participate in the development of up to 30%. The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase the first ten aircraft after 2012 andthen 60 after 2016.

The PAK-FA is expected to have a service life of about 30-35 years.

Information about the project:

Role: Stealth multirole fighter;

National origin: Russia;Manufacturor: Sukhoi;

First flight: January, 29th 2010;

Introduction: 2015 (planned);

Status: pre-production/ TEST FLIGHT;

Primary user: Russian Air Force;

Programm cost: US $ 12 Billions;Unit cost: US $ 100 Million;

Variants: Sukhoi/ HAL FG FA;

Synthesis:

Developing PAK FA is limited by time. The Russian government started the project in 2002 to achieve it in 2007,…