Requirements for 5th generation aircraft. Fifth generation fighter. Aircraft from other countries

The T-50 is not just a modern combat aircraft. Its appearance speaks of two very important events: it is the first production combat vehicle completely developed in the post-Soviet period; It is also the first Russian fifth-generation fighter.

Background

In the mid-70s, the military-industrial complex of the USSR and the USA entered into another race - to develop a fifth-generation fighter. For the uninitiated, all this looked somewhat strange, since the fourth generation fighters - Su-27, MiG-29, F-14 and F-15 were just taking their wings. Nevertheless, the best forces in the form of leading design bureaus and research centers were thrown into the “battle” on both sides.

They were given a difficult task - in a short time to create a new fighter with unique characteristics: reduced visibility, combat effectiveness of a new level, the presence of a circular information system, the ability to achieve supersonic speed without afterburner, super maneuverability.

A fifth-generation fighter must feel confident in close and long-range combat, have on-board automated control systems and jamming systems, have increased autonomy, and improved aerodynamics, which will provide it with higher maneuverability. He must also be able, if necessary, to correct pilot errors made by the pilot and solve some tactical problems.

Intermediate finish

It was quite predictable that the Americans were the first to cross the finish line. Their 5th generation production fighter, the F-22 Raptor, entered service with the Air Force in 2005. Russia could not boast of anything like that at that time, since its military-industrial complex, destroyed in the dashing 90s, was just beginning to come to its senses.

In fact, the Sukhoi Design Bureau began work on the new aircraft only in 1998. Three years later, the concept was finally formulated and received the code name PAK FA - a promising aviation complex for front-line aviation. Its other name is T-50.

PAK FA T-50

The T-50 incorporates almost the entire set of the above characteristics. The machine is multifunctional and “omnivorous”. It can handle both air and ground targets. T-50 is hardly noticeable in any spectrum - visual, thermal and electromagnetic. Thanks to the controlled thrust vector, it shows miracles of maneuverability, has an extended range of flight modes and supersonic speed, which it reaches without resorting to afterburner.

The first three Russian 5th generation fighters were assembled in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at the KnAAZ enterprise named after. Yu. A. Gagarin in 2009, after which their tests began almost immediately. The first flight took place on January 29, 2010. The T-50 was piloted by Honored Test Pilot, Hero of Russia S. L. Bogdan.

Some features of the PAK FA

Stealth

About a quarter of all materials used in the construction are carbon fiber composites. They are most used on external surfaces, which has significantly reduced radar signature.

For the same purpose, the fighter’s weapons are located in internal closed compartments; the air intakes have a specific configuration, and the airframe is partially made of radio-absorbing coatings.

Engines

As for engines, the T-50 currently flies with two improved AL-41F1s, which it “inherited” from the Su-35. In the future, he will receive his own personal engines with controlled thrust vectoring, which will provide him with a speed of 2100 to 2600 km/h without afterburner.

On-board electronics

The “eyes” of the first domestic 5th generation fighter are a phased array antenna (PAA) locator with a detection range of up to 400 km. At the same time, it “sees” almost everything that flies and moves on the ground, and performs the functions of navigation, identification, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

Armament

The missile arsenal (in two internal compartments) of the T-50 contains 10 missiles, of which 2 are close-range and 8 are medium-range. It is complemented by a dual modernized 30 mm cannon with 100 rounds of ammunition. If necessary, an additional 14 missiles are placed on external slings.

Cabin

The cockpit of the new fighter “borrowed” a lot from the cockpit of the Su-35. All flight characteristics are concentrated on two 15-inch displays. At the same time, the pilot has the opportunity to compose information in the most convenient format. Flight information and targeting are displayed on the widescreen windshield display.

T-50 vs F-22 "Raptor"

With the start of testing of the T-50, serious debate is raging in the Internet community about who will win in a possible aerial duel of fifth-generation fighters - he or his main counterpart, the F-22 Raptor. At the same time, each side puts forward its own “more weighty” arguments, the value of which without a real fight is very doubtful.

There is no need to diminish the merits of the American vehicle, created by Lockheed Martin and which has been in service with the US Air Force for 12 years. However, according to many experts, the aircraft turned out to be extremely expensive - over $150 million each. A total of 187 aircraft were produced, of which 5 were lost as a result of accidents.

In this regard, the opinion of test pilot Sergei Bogdan, the first to fly the T-50 into the sky, is of interest. In his opinion, having lost on deadlines, Russian developers gained an advantage in implementing more modern technologies and developments. Repeated delays in the acceptance of the aircraft into service only indicate that the customer, represented by the Russian Aerospace Forces, is interested in a completely finished aircraft.

Assessing the Raptor aerobatics he saw at Farnborough, Sergei Bogdan frankly admitted that the Russian Su-30 showed a more advanced program 10 years ago. He is deeply convinced that even in a possible air battle, our T-50 will not yield in any way.

An addition is expected to the family of “fifths”

American F-35

It can already be safely stated that the process of creating fifth-generation fighters will not stop with the F-22 and T-50. So the Americans have a lighter single-engine F-35 (manufactured by Lockheed Martin), oriented for export, next in line.

Chinese J-20

Testing is underway in China. Russian and Indian designers are ready to begin creating an FGFA fighter based on the T-50. The Japanese don’t want to lag behind either. Their promising aircraft may be called ATD-X Shinshin.

What will the sixth generation be like?

However, design thought is already “cruising the expanses” of the future, shaping the appearance of the next, sixth generation aircraft. According to Northrop Grumman, the vehicle will be equipped with a laser cannon and new stealth technologies will be added. The Boeing concern offers a “mixed wing” design - a type of “flying wing”.

The development of the Russian 6th generation fighter has been going on for at least 5 years. Two participants in the project are known - Concern Radioelectronic Technologies (KRET) and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). According to KRET representative Vladimir Mikheev, two versions of the aircraft will be created - unmanned and manned, flying at speeds from 2 to 5 Mach and armed with electromagnetic guns. The first flight is expected no earlier than 2023-25; the new aircraft should enter production by 2030.

The air force has long become the basis of the armed forces of any army. Airplanes are becoming more than just a means of delivering bombs and missiles to the enemy; modern aviation is multifunctional combat systems with wings. The newest F-22 and F-35 fighters, as well as their modifications, have already been put into service with the US Army, and here we mean the “army” as ground forces. This means that infantry is now on a par with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles and includes fighters. This highlights the role of air power in modern warfare. Such a shift towards multifunctionality was made possible by new developments in the field of aircraft construction and changes in the principles of war. A modern fighter can fight without approaching the target closer than 400 km, launch missiles at 30 targets and at the same second turn around and fly to the base. The case is of course a special one, but it more than describes the picture. Not quite what we are used to seeing in Hollywood blockbusters in which, no matter how far you look into the future, fighters in the air and in space are engaged in classic “dog fights” from the times of the Great Patriotic War. Some time ago, a couple of news sites were full of news that in a simulation of the battle between the “drying” and the F-22, the domestic machine emerged victorious due to its superior maneuverability; of course, we were talking about superiority in close combat. All articles noted that in long-range combat the Raptor is superior to the Su-35 due to more advanced weapons and guidance systems. This is what distinguishes 4++ and 5th generations.

At the moment, the Russian Air Force is armed with combat aircraft of the so-called 4++ generation, the same Su-35. This is the product of a deep modernization of the Su-27 and Mig-29, which have been available since the 80s; it is planned to begin a similar modernization of the Tu-160 soon. 4++ means as close as possible to the fifth generation; in general, the modern “drying” differs from the PAK FA in the absence of “stealth” and AFAR. Nevertheless, the possibilities for modernizing this design have basically been exhausted, so the issue of creating a new generation of fighters has been around for a long time.

Fifth generation

Fifth generation of fighters. We often hear this term in the news about modern weapons and at aviation shows. What is it? “Generation” is, in general terms, a list of requirements that modern military doctrine places on a combat vehicle. The 5th generation vehicle should be stealthy, have supersonic cruising speed, advanced target detection systems and electronic warfare systems, but the most important thing is versatility. It’s not for nothing that projects have the word “complex” in their names. The ability to fight equally well in the air and hit ground targets largely determines the appearance of the fifth generation. These are the tasks that were set for the future designers of the new symbol of domestic aviation.

The development of a new generation began in the USSR and the USA almost simultaneously, back in the 80s, and in the States they already selected a prototype in the 90s. Due to world-famous events, the Soviet program found itself in stagnation for many years, which is the reason for the lag in our days. As you know, the 5th generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning are already in service with the United States and a number of other countries. What is noteworthy is that “Raptors” are not yet supplied even to allies, having noticeable advantages over “Lightnings”, the exclusive presence of “Raptors” in the US Army makes their Air Force the most advanced in the world.

Our response to the “Raptors” is still being prepared, the dates have been repeatedly postponed, from 2016 to 2017 2019, now it’s 2020, but experts say that another postponement is possible, although they note that the new Russian fighter is increasingly taking the form of a product ready for serial production.

Su-47 "Berkut"

In Russia, the fifth generation has a rather long-suffering history. As you know, the PAK FA, also known as the T-50, and more recently the Su-57, is not the first attempt to get an ultra-modern multi-role fighter into service. One of these attempts was the Su-47, also known as Berkut. Testing of a new aircraft with a forward-swept wing took place back in the 90s. The car is very memorable and has been in sight and hearing for a long time. The “reverse” wings partly played a cruel joke on him. Such a design brought the aircraft to a new level of maneuverability, however, to solve all the problems of such a design, the forces were never found, either in Russia or in the States, where in the 80s there was a project for the X-29, a fighter with a similar swept wing. Also, this prototype did not meet all the requirements of the fifth generation, for example, it could only overcome supersonic power with afterburner.

Only one fighter was built and it is now used only as a prototype. Perhaps the Su-47 will be the last attempt to create an aircraft with a forward-swept wing.

Su-57 (PAK FA)

PAK FA (Advanced Aviation Complex of Frontline Aviation) is a new Russian aircraft. It became the first successful attempt to bring to life the fifth generation of aircraft. At the moment, there is little information in the public domain about its characteristics. From the obvious, it has all the characteristics of the fifth generation, namely supersonic cruising speed, stealth technologies, active phased array antennas (AFAR), and so on. Externally, it is similar to the F-22 Raptor. And now everyone who is not too lazy is already starting to compare these machines, no wonder, because the Su-57 will become the main “protagonist” in the fight against the Raptors and Lightnings. It is worth noting that in the new realities, the improvement of missiles will also occupy a special place. As has already been said, entering into battle takes place over gigantic distances, so how maneuverable a fighter will be and how well it feels in close combat is a matter of minor importance.

In Russia, the “arrows” for the latest aviation technology are the R-73 rocket and its modifications, which rightfully bear the fame of a formidable weapon. But the designers, in accordance with the good Russian tradition, “just in case”, provided for the installation of a 30-mm air cannon on the Su-57.

In developing

Another transition to the “five” is planned for another 4++ aircraft - the Mig-35. Sketches of the “face” of the future interceptor have already been shown, but it is not yet clear whether there will be a need for it or whether the Su-57 will cope with its functions. Not only would a light fighter meet all the requirements of the new generation, it would be necessary to develop a fundamentally new engine and solve the problem of installing stealth. Which is impossible for cars of this class in modern realities. As mentioned earlier, the fifth generation assumes the multifunctionality that the Su-57 should theoretically have, so what tasks will be assigned to the Mig is still not clear.

Another promising vehicle for the Russian aviation forces is the PAK DA, being developed within the walls of the Tupolev design bureau. From the abbreviation it is clear that we are talking about long-range aviation. According to the plan, the first flight is in 2025, but given the tendency to postpone the release of anything, you can immediately throw in a couple of three, or even five years. Therefore, most likely we will not soon see the new Tupolev take off into the sky; obviously, long-range aviation will make do with the Tu-160 and its modification in the near future.

Sixth generation

On the Internet, no, no, yes, there is a yellow article about the sixth generation of fighters. That development is already in full swing somewhere. This is of course not true, because let us remind you that the newest fifth generation is in service only with the United States. Therefore, it is too early to talk about “development at full speed.” I should finish with the fifth one here. As for speculation about what the weapons of the future will look like, there is room for discussion. What will the new generation of aircraft be like?

From the sixth generation we can expect that all standard characteristics will increase. Speed, maneuverability. Most likely, the weight will decrease, thanks to new materials of the future, electronics will reach a new level. In the coming decades, we may expect breakthroughs in the creation of quantum computers; this will allow us to move to an unprecedented level of computing speed, which in turn will make it possible to seriously modernize the modern AI of the aircraft, which in the future may rightfully bear the name “co-pilot.” Presumably, there will be a complete abandonment of the vertical tail, which is absolutely useless in modern realities, since fighters operate mainly at extreme and extreme angles of attack. This could lead to interesting airframe shapes, perhaps again an attempt to change the wing sweep.

The most important question that future designers will decide is whether a pilot is needed at all? That is, will the fighter be controlled by AI or by a pilot, and if by a pilot, will the pilot control the plane remotely or the old-fashioned way from the cockpit. Imagine a plane without a pilot. This is a huge “relief” for the car, because in addition to the weight of the pilot himself and his equipment, a decent load is created by the pilot’s seat, which is supposed to save lives, which makes it a complex machine, stuffed with electronics and mechanisms for ejecting the pilot. Not to mention changing the design of the airframe, in which there is no need to allocate a huge amount of space for a person and rack your brains over the ergonomic design of the cockpit to make it easier to control the machine in the air. The absence of a pilot means that you no longer need to worry about overloads, which means the car can be accelerated to any speed that the structure can handle, the same goes for maneuvers in the sky. This will also make pilot training easier. And we are talking not only about reducing the requirements for the pilot’s health. Now the pilot is the most valuable thing in a fighter aircraft. Enormous amounts of time and resources are spent on preparation; the loss of a pilot is irreparable. If a pilot controls a fighter from the comfort of a chair deep in a bunker on a military base, then this will change the face of war no less than the “transfer” from horses to tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The prospect of completely eliminating the pilot still looks like a task for the more distant future. Scientists are warning about the consequences of using AI, and the very philosophical and ethical component of replacing a person with a robot in war is still being studied. We still do not have the computing power to create a full-fledged replacement for the pilot, but in the coming decades a technological revolution in this area is possible. On the other hand, the pilot's flair and military ingenuity cannot be recreated by zeros and ones. For now, these are all hypotheses, so the appearance of modern aviation and the air force of the near future will still have a human face.

Today, the fifth generation fighter is considered the most advanced “air fighter” in military science.
Let's talk about them...

There is an important thing in modern warfare - air supremacy. It is, of course, not a panacea (as can be seen from the examples of Libya 2011 or Yugoslavia 99), i.e. does not guarantee victory in the war... but we can definitely say that without it it is extremely problematic to successfully conduct military operations.

The concept of gaining air superiority changed along with the capabilities of technology and changing concepts of war.
Today, the fifth generation fighter is considered the most advanced “air fighter” in military science.
Let's talk about them.

What is the fifth generation and “what do they eat it with”?

The concept of the fifth generation is somewhat different in different countries and aircraft manufacturers. This is understandable - everyone wants their aircraft to be “enlisted” in the prestigious fifth generation. To summarize, the following main criteria can be identified:
- stealth in the radar and infrared range (including internal weapon suspension);
- cruising supersonic flight speed;
- improved avionics (onboard radio-electronic equipment) with increased control automation and radar (radar) with AFAR;
- availability of a circular information system;
- all-aspect shelling of targets in close air combat (close air combat).

The Russian military added one more criterion to this (implemented, however, already on 4++ generation fighters):
- super maneuverability.
Plus, the Russian military has repeatedly said that the cost of a fifth-generation aircraft should be lower than that of the previous generation aircraft.
In the West, this demand initially seemed to be visible, but was later hushed up. There, the cost of a flight hour when switching to the 5th generation, on the contrary, increases.

In fact, if you look carefully, not a single one of the presented aircraft meets all the criteria at the same time.
The distribution of various aircraft by generation can be assessed from this picture:

Contenders

By 2011, the only 5th generation fighter adopted for service was the F-22 Raptor (2001), created under the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program.
In a relatively high degree of readiness are: the Russian T-50 (PAK FA program - Advanced Aviation Complex of Frontline Aviation), the American F-35 Lightning II (JSF - Joint Strike Fighter program) and the Chinese J-20.
The Japanese ATD-X Shinshin has already been implemented “in hardware”, but is at the beginning of the journey (and in general is just a technology demonstrator).

Some are inclined to classify the European Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon and the French Dassault Rafale as fifth-generation fighters (as they supposedly meet the criteria)... but these are very big optimists. Because there are questions ranging from “symbolic” supersonic cruising (without suspended weapons) to stealth.

Trinity from NATO. From top to bottom: EF2000 Typhoon, F-22 Raptor, Rafal

By the way, about stealth.
A small digression that will be useful to us later.
A quantitative measure of stealth is considered to be the ESR (Effective Scattering Surface), which shows how well radio waves are reflected from the aircraft. The value can vary significantly even with a slight turn of the aircraft. The frontal EPR of 4th generation fighters (such as F-15, Su-27, MiG-29, etc.) is usually within 10-15 m².
By the way, when reading the characteristics of a radar, pay attention to the purpose with which ESR the detection range is indicated. Otherwise, some manufacturers like to write fantastic numbers (without stipulating that such a range is achievable only against targets with a huge RCS, like a passenger airliner or an ancient heavy bomber).

So - the manufacturers of the Eurofighter and Rafale claim an EPR of less than 1 m², which is comparable to the EPR of our PAK FA / T-50 (the average EPR of which is 0.3-0.5 m²). This is quite surprising, considering the titanium PGO (front horizontal tail) and the external suspension of the weapons of both Europeans... and the Rafale, in general, has a fuel refueling rod sticking out in front.
Serial Eurofighters, by the way, still have not received the CAESAR AFAR radars promised in 2013 (as part of the Tranche 3 batch).

In addition to the above aircraft, there are several other contenders for the title of fifth generation aircraft that are in development or demonstration concepts: the Chinese J-31, the Indian FGFA (based on the Russian PAK FA program) and AMCA (program suspended in 2014), the Turkish TF -X, Korean-Indonesian KF-X/IF-X and Iranian Qaher F-313.
We will not consider them (as well as the Japanese) in this material (because they are still green). I have dedicated a separate post to the Japanese. :)
Japanese ATD-X

“Not a pound on the ground” - Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (USA)

This was the motto that guided the developers from Lockheed Martin when finalizing the YF/A-22 prototype, which won the YF-23 prototype from Northrop/McDonnell Douglas within the ATF - Advanced Tactical Fighter program.
The original TTZ (tactical and technical assignment) of 1981 for the ATF program provided for the aircraft to operate as a striker, but already in 1984 the Pentagon updated the requirements for the ATF program, practically eliminating operation in the air-to-surface mode.

The F-22 was created mainly to combat the Soviet Su-27 and Mig-29 fighters and was supposed to gradually replace the F-15 fighters.
The Air Force initially requested 1,000 units. But in 1991, a more modest figure was announced - 750 cars. In January 1993, the program was again “cut down” to 648 aircraft, and a year later - to 442 units. Finally, in 1997, the Air Force reduced its purchase plans to 339 fighters... They eventually built 187 production ones. The last aircraft rolled off the assembly line at the Marietta (Georgia) plant in December 2011.

Of the criteria for a 5th generation aircraft, the Raptor fails in two positions: all-aspect fire and the presence of a 360-degree information system.
Its aerodynamics certainly suffered for the sake of stealth, but was not sacrificed to it, like the F-117 Nighthawk or B-2 Spirit. In addition, the aircraft received a controlled thrust vector (though only in the vertical plane), expanding its capabilities.

There are many stories about the Raptor's stealth. The information fighters “praises of American weapons” are very fond of repeating on military forums and everywhere where they can and where they can’t, about the Raptor’s ESR equal to 0.0001 m².
But the general designer of the T-50 aircraft, Alexander Davidenko, says: “The F-22 aircraft has 0.3-0.4 m². We have similar visibility requirements.”
What is the salt here and why is there such a huge difference? Is someone lying?
The funny thing is that maybe everyone is telling the truth. It’s just that Americans like to write maximum values ​​without even indicating them in small print and under an asterisk... and, apparently, they write not the average value of the aircraft’s RCS, as we do, but the minimum, from an ideal angle.

The F-22 with a powerful radar with AFAR was positioned as a mini-AWACS. But then there was a problem.
The fact is that the aircraft’s communication system only provided for the exchange of data within the F-22 group, among themselves and with a special repeater drone. The Raptor could only receive information from other aircraft. Therefore, the F-22 pilot would have to practice the role of AWACS, directing other fighters to targets, either by voice or through a special repeater drone (of which 6 were built).
In addition, when the radar is on, it will unmask the aircraft, reducing its stealth to nothing.

The Raptor's layout with S-shaped air intake channels and a weapons compartment between them determined the modest dimensions of the weapons compartments ("tailored" for Air-to-Air missiles) and a small set of weapons for destroying ground targets: two 450-kg GBU-32 JDAM bombs or eight GBU-39 bombs, weighing 113 kg.

Among the air-to-air missiles, the F-22 can carry 6 AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range missiles in the ventral weapons bays and one AIM-9 infrared homing missile in two side compartments. Total: 8 missiles.

In addition to the 8 internal ones, the F-22 also has 4 external hardpoints, but the suspension on the external nodes negates its advantages - it deprives the aircraft of low radar signature and affects aerodynamics and maneuverability.

New Air-to-Air missiles (AIM-9X and AIM-120D) were planned to be integrated when upgrading aircraft to the Block-35 level (Increment 3.2. program - Addendum 3.2). Modernization under this program was supposed to begin in 2016 and provided for the renewal of only 87 aircraft (less than half of the fleet).
By the way, the synthetic aperture mapping mode (SAR), promised from the first day of production (as well as some other capabilities), was received by the Raptor radar only in Increment 3.1..

Despite the fact that the aircraft has been in service for more than 10 years and is constantly being modernized, it has still not reached the level of technical specifications of 1984 (which provided for the use of the entire range of F-15 weapons, operation from a 600-meter strip, reducing the time between repairs and simplifying the system maintenance from 3-level to 2-level), and the original TTZ of 1981 generally provided for dense work on the ground.

In addition, after being put into service, the aircraft presented many surprises.
These are the sensational problems with the on-board oxygen regeneration system. And the problem with the ejection seats. And the discovery in 2009 of unstable operation of the aircraft’s electronic systems and cooling of computing components in conditions of high humidity (it is unknown whether this defect was corrected; they say that since then the F-22 has no longer been used in humid climates). And an unreliable coating made of RPM (radio-absorbing materials), which has to be renewed almost before every flight. And curious errors with the software: in February 2007, the US Air Force decided to take these fighters outside the country for the first time, transporting several machines to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. A flight of six F-22s that took off from Hawaii, after crossing the 180th meridian - the international date line - completely lost navigation and partially lost communications. The fighter jets returned to the Hawaii Air Force base, visually following the tanker aircraft. The cause of the problem was a software error that caused the computer to malfunction when the time changed.
Just since 2005, when the Raptor was officially put into service with the US Air Force, dozens of accidents of varying complexity have occurred with fighters, including five major ones (5 aircraft were lost), as well as two plane crashes that claimed the lives of two pilots.

Currently, the F-22 is the most expensive fighter in the world.
One Raptor cost the US budget more than $400 million (production cost + R&D cost + modernization cost).
Someone believed that if you cast it from gold and calculate the cost... the gold one will come out cheaper. :)

Gorynych baking pancakes - Sukhoi Design Bureau T-50 (Russia)

While some people are arguing about what index the production aircraft will receive in the Russian Air Force (the letter “T” is the name of the prototypes of the Sukhoi Design Bureau): Su-50, Su-57, or something even cooler... Others are breaking their spears about its names in the NATO classification - the funniest option was born from “PolarFox” (Arctic fox), when they remembered that NATO fighters are named with “F” and increased it to “FullPolarFox” (Full Arctic fox). :)
Meanwhile, the plane has already acquired a playful nickname “Gorynych” - after a spectacular jet of flame from an engine that caught a surge at MAKS-2011. This is better than, for example, the “Penguin,” as aviation fans dubbed the F-35.

When developing the T-50 as part of the PAK FA program, KnAAPO designers took a different path from their American colleagues. A compromise was found between stealth geometry and aerodynamics (in favor of the latter).
The main complaints about the stealth of the T-50 are the straight channels of the air intakes (in which the compressor blades are visible, which are a very good reflector of radio waves) and round nozzles.
Although there is still a big question - what should you choose: an S-shaped air intake (not showing the engine blades to the enemy) with a drop in engine power and small weapons bays... or a normal straight air intake, covered by a radar blocker with normal engine power and large weapons bays? Looking at the final result, we can conclude that the second option (with priority to flight characteristics and large weapons bays) was justified.
In many ways, this is probably why, even with less powerful engines of the first stage, the PAK FA surpasses its opponent in flight characteristics.

Even according to foreign data:
Maximum speed: 2440 km/h for the T-50 versus 2410 km/h for the Raptor.
Flight range: 3500 km for the T-50 versus 2960 km for the Raptor.
Although we will not know the exact numbers very soon.
Are these numbers realistic?
Considering the reduction in the midsection and take-off weight of the aircraft (compared to the same Su-35S) with increased engine thrust - quite. Moreover, during the tests in 2013, information was leaked (unconfirmed, of course - no fools) that: “with a full load of fuel and weight-and-size weapon models, the 4th side (054) took off from 310 meters and reached a cruising speed of 2135 km/h and maximum - 2610 km/h, while there was still potential for acceleration, and also climbed to 24,300 meters - they were not allowed further.”

What will happen when instead of Product 117 with a maximum afterburner thrust of 14,500 kg, a second-stage engine with an afterburner thrust of 18,000 kg is installed?

Plus, our fighter, due to its all-angle thrust vector (controllable thrust vector), has super maneuverability and can do the most incredible things in the air, like the Su-35. Including baking “pancakes”. :)

Source:

“Pancakes” performed on the Su-35 amazed the air show audience.

The second serious advantage of the T-50 over the F-22 is its avionics.
The Russian fighter is much closer to meeting the penultimate criterion (the presence of a circular information system), because unlike the Raptor, which was left with only one radar... Sukhoi carries several of them!
The N036 radar includes five AFARs:
1) N036-01-1 - frontal (main) AFAR, 900 mm wide and 700 mm high, 1522 transceiver modules.
2) N036B - two side-view AFARs.
3) N036L - two L-band AFARs in the wing tips.

But, in addition to radars, the T-50 also has an optical-electronic locator "OLS-50M" (such a ball on the nose in front of the cockpit), which allows you to detect targets and use weapons against them, without turning on the radar at all. These are just simpler - they were installed on the Su-27 and MiG-29, giving our aircraft a significant advantage in air combat.

The third advantage is that the T-50 is better armed than its competitor.
In addition to the traditional 30mm cannon, the aircraft can carry missiles and bombs on 6 internal and 6 external hardpoints.
Missile weapons are represented by a much wider range.

Air-to-Air missiles (URVV).
Short range:
RVV-MD (K-74M2) - modernized R-73.
K-MD (“product 300”) is a new short-range missile for close-in highly maneuverable air combat and missile defense.

Medium range:
RVV-SD (“product 180”) - modernization of the R-77 missile.
RVV-PD (“product 180-PD”)

Long range:
RVV-BD (“product 810”) is a further development of the R-37 missile.

In addition to Air-to-Air weapons, the T-50 can carry a wide range of Air-to-Surface weapons.
These include adjustable aerial bombs KAB-250 and KAB-500 of various modifications.
And a new multi-purpose missile for ground work, the X-38M (with various types of seeker and warhead).
And anti-radar missiles Kh-58USHK and Kh-31P/Kh-31PD (on external sling).
And anti-ship X-35U, X-31AD (in the future, an aviation version of Onyx/Brahmos).
And much more. Our gunsmiths promised the PAK FA 12 new types of weapons developed specifically for it.

Information about the cost of the aircraft, like many other data, is kept secret by the Russian Ministry of Defense. In foreign sources there is a figure of $54 million (at the current exchange rate - divide by two) per plane. The cost of FGFA for India was announced at around $100 million. Therefore, the figure for the internal cost of the aircraft is similar to the truth.

Production of serial fighters for the Air Force should begin this year. So we will soon find out, at least, the official “proper name” of the aircraft and stop calling it “T-50”. We wait!

“Budget” thunder without lightning - Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (USA)

If the F-22 was created to gain air superiority and mainly fight against Soviet modern fighters, then the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program, born as a cheap answer to all questions, provided for the creation of a universal “workhorse” - a strike fighter for American combat aviation and their allies.

The F-35 “Lightning II”, paired with the F-22, was supposed to replace all other combat aircraft of the US Air Force - from the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters to the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft (I still have a hard time imagining the F-35 as the latter) . Plus, the cunning Americans decided to get three aircraft for the price of one: for the army, for the Marine Corps and for aircraft carriers.
Remember the saying about a universal tool that can do everything, but equally poorly?
This is exactly the case. The result is probably the most scandalous fighter of the 5th generation.

CTOL is a ground-based fighter for the needs of the US Air Force, STOVL is a short take-off and vertical landing fighter for the US Marine Corps and the British Navy, and CV is a carrier-based fighter for the needs of the US Navy.

We can talk a lot and for a long time about the long-suffering F-35... but the volume of the article is limited, and so is our time. Therefore, we will leave long detailed disassemblies for later, especially since we will later return to each of the listed aircraft separately. Therefore - briefly.

The winners of the “Unified Strike Fighter” program were eager to produce “4,500 aircraft or more” until 2027... But their appetites had to be curbed. There were much fewer orders. At first there was a figure of 2852 aircraft. By 2009, it was reduced to 2,456 units, and in 2010, the “sturgeon” was reduced to 2,443 units. Remembering the F-22 program... this is far from the limit. Especially considering the ever-increasing cost of the project.

By the way, the initial cost of R&D for the project was estimated at $7 billion. By the beginning of the program in 2001, the cost of development was called 34 and a few kopecks billion dollars, but today it has exceeded 56 billion dollars and continues to “get fat”.

The plane made its first flight in 2000. Small-scale production began in 2006. 11 years have passed, and the plane is still not ready.

The most interesting thing is that the US Marine Corps is waiting most of all for its F-35 (because, unlike the Air Force and Navy, they do not have an alternative candidate)... But not only was the Marine F-35B cut off in terms of bomb load (it can be carried in compartments weapons are only bombs with a caliber of 450 kg, in contrast to the 900 kg bombs in the other two modifications). He constantly has some problems. It even got to the point that in 2012 the F-35B program was going to be closed.
The latest scandal happened recently. It turned out that, contrary to the developers’ statements, it still has not reached combat readiness.
This is despite the fact that the first flight of the F-35B took place in 2008, and they planned to put it into service back in 2012!

Out of desperation, the US Marines have already extended the service life of their AV-8Bs (vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which were supposed to be replaced by the F-35B) until 2030, purchasing 72 decommissioned Harriers from the British for gutting them for spare parts.

The F-35 was originally supposed to replace even... the A-10 attack aircraft!
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In general, at the moment, 154 production (!) F-35s and 174 aircraft in total have already been produced. And adoption keeps getting pushed back and pushed back.
That super-helmet, which allows the pilot to see the situation through the plane at all 360 degrees, does not work (I think the third contractor has already been replaced).
There's a problem with the software.
That’s 8 consecutive “flights” - unsuccessful attempts to land the prototype of the deck-based F-35S on a simulator of an aircraft carrier deck. The aircraft's hook, located too close to the main landing gear, could not engage the arresting gear cables.
They found Chinese spare parts.
The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seats are of the wrong system (and they take two years to refine!).
It's a problem with the fuel tanks.
Something else.
Only on the problems of the F-35 can a separate series of articles be written. :)

The main disadvantage of the F-35 is its low flight performance: insufficient thrust-to-weight ratio and maneuverability, and low maximum speed.
It’s not for nothing that Australians from the Air Power Australia think tank make claims against the F-35, saying that it “does not meet a large number of requirements for a fifth-generation fighter and is a 4+ generation fighter due to the impossibility of flying at supersonic speeds without using afterburner, low thrust-to-weight ratio, relatively high ESR, as well as low survivability and maneuverability.”

But in addition to the disadvantages, the Lightning-2 also has an advantage over the Raptor: the F-35 received an analogue of our optical-electronic locator (OLS). The electro-optical system (EOS) AN/AAQ-37, unlike our OLS, has a 360° constant view and is located at the bottom of the fuselage, “sharpened” mainly for work on the ground.

The AN/APG-81 AFAR radar, according to the developers, allows you to detect air targets at a range of 150 km.
Here it must be said that the radar developers are lying. Because we are talking about a target with an ESR of 3 m² and a detection probability of 0.5 when scanning in a sector of 0.1 of the total radar sector for 2 seconds.

The F-35's weapons are located on 4 hardpoints in two intra-fuselage compartments. The aircraft also has 6 more external hardpoints.
To operate against air targets, the F-35 can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air attack missile, as well as short-range missiles: AIM-9M Sidewinder, AIM-9X, or the British AIM-132 ASRAAM.
For ground work F-35 - JDAM, SDB and AGM-154 JSOW CABs.
On an external sling, it will carry missiles from the already time-tested HARM and Maverick, to the relatively new AGM-158 JASSM or SLAM-ER; Brimstone ATGMs and disposable bomb clusters CBU-103/104/105.

At the same time, it is reported that the F-35 has not yet been taught how to use all this splendor.

The cost of the aircraft, by the way, also differs from the initially planned average of $69 million per unit.
In 2014, for an aircraft without an engine they asked: F-35A - $94.8 million, F-35B - $102 million and F-35C - $115.7 million.
True, in the report of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the F-35B actually cost the state $251 million in 2014.
Well, okay, let's believe in the cost declared by the manufacturer. And we’ll chalk up the doubling in price of the aircraft to yet another fair division between Lockheed Martin and the US KPM officials. ;)
It’s time, by the way, to remember the price of the Russian T-50, announced above.

“Peking Duck” - Chengdu J-20 (China)

The Chinese aircraft J-20 (aka “Project 718”) was developed as part of the “2-03” program at the “611th Institute” (better known as CADI - Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute) in Chengdu. This one of the most secretive and mysterious Chinese aircraft construction projects has already changed its name several times: first it was XXJ, then J-X and J-XX, and now J-20.

The aircraft, made according to the “canard” aerodynamic design, unusual for the 5th generation, when viewed from above, resembles the failed 5th generation MiG MFI fighter (the prototype of which we know under the name “MiG 1.42”). Apparently, cooperation with the Russian TsAGI Institute and ANPK MiG in the early 90s was not in vain.
But don’t even think about hinting to the Chinese about Russian or anyone else’s help in the development of the J-20 or the light J-10 (similar to some of the MiG’s developments under the LFI - Light Front Fighter program)... They will eat you alive. We did everything ourselves! :)

The plane is like a hodgepodge - it is both similar... and unlike other 5th generation aircraft.
So, if you look from the front, we will see the “brother of the F-22”. The shape of the air intakes, the unbound canopy of the cockpit, a similar silhouette... although it is quickly given away when viewed from the front by the PGO and lower aerodynamic ridges.
The shape of the air intakes with the so-called external boundary layer turn is reminiscent of the F-35.
The PGO and the overall silhouette when viewed from above are reminiscent of the MiG MFI prototype.
In this case, the aircraft has an S-shaped bend in the air intakes, like on the F-22.

Although the Chinese plane is blamed for the weak parallelism of the front and rear edges of the horizontal tail, as well as the aerodynamic ridges protruding from the rear... the plane can still be classified as inconspicuous.
Some have expressed doubts about China's possession of radio-absorbent coating technology. But RAMs (radio absorbent materials) are not a sacred cow. After the destruction of the American F-117 in Yugoslavia, pieces of the skin probably went to all interested parties - both Russia and China. In addition, many probably remember how in 2011, the American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel drone, made using stealth technology, was “landed” in Iran. There was great indignation in the United States at the time. In this case, the Iranians probably shared a piece with China. :)

The most vulnerable elements of the J-20 program are the power plant and avionics.

The aircraft should receive a Chinese WS-15 engine with a thrust of up to 18,000 kg, developed at the 624th Institute, now known by the abbreviation CGTE (China Gas Turbine Establishment). But there are still problems with the engine. And this is traditional in China.
One can recall the problems of the Chinese WS-10 Taihan, installed on Chinese “clones” of the Su-27 family... and the subsequent purchase from Russia of a large batch of AL-31F engines.
Similar problems are experienced with the WS-13 engine for the FC-1 light export fighter. The engine has been in development for more than 10 years, and production fighters fly on Russian RD-93 (a modification of the RD-33 engine).

According to experts, the normal take-off weight of the J-20 is about 35 tons. If this is so, then two AL-31Fs are clearly not enough for the aircraft. There will be neither cruising supersonic nor achieving a maximum speed of 2M.

The second important issue is avionics and radar.
The creation of a radar station for a new generation fighter was probably carried out on a competitive basis by two institutes - LETRI (Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute) and NRIET (National Research Institute of Electronic Technology). According to available data, preference was ultimately given to Nanjing NRIET, which proposed a type 1475 radar project, the AFAR of which is expected to have about 2000 transceiver modules.
True, the situation here is even more interesting than with engines. Since the maximum level for China until now has been at the level of our 001 “Sword” radars from the 80s. Where does AFAR suddenly come from? The Chinese should be able to copy, ugh! - complete the type 1473 radar, developed on the basis of our “Pearl” (which they buy from us for their J-10 fighters).

The J-20's armament will likely include the PL-10 Air-to-Air missile (similar to the AIM-9X) and PL-12C (a modification of the PL-12 missile with a folded wing). The PL-12 is an analogue of the American AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Russian RVV-AE with a launch range of more than 70 km. Perhaps the aircraft will receive the new PL-21 long-range air attack missile system.

It is still difficult to say that there is a Chinese J-20. Either this is really a machine planned for production, or it is a 5th generation prototype, or even a technology demonstrator (like our S-37 Berkut).

One thing is for sure - the Chinese J-20 clearly does not reach the fifth generation. Due to the lack of a clear avionics and radar with AFAR, issues with stealth, as well as clearly insufficient engine thrust (most likely not providing cruising supersonic sound), it can be called a Demo version of the Chinese 5th generation. :)
The Chinese produced a heavy, large, stealthy aircraft with low maneuverability and thrust-to-weight ratio.
What could be his role on the battlefield?
A fighter is not suitable for gaining air superiority due to low maneuverability and low thrust-to-weight ratio. For an interceptor - not enough speed. Fighter-bomber? How large are the weapons compartments (the possible volume of which is reduced by the S-shaped air intake channels) and the combat load?
These are all estimates, of course, because there is still too little reliable information.

Results

It is too early to say anything definite about the many capabilities of most of the presented aircraft. Firstly, due to the secrecy of the characteristics, and secondly, prototypes can differ very seriously from production vehicles, as we can remember, for example, from the history with the same T-10 (prototype of the Su-27 fighter). It is unknown how much the same PAK FA will change, having received a second stage engine, etc.
But what can be said definitely?

To sum up, we can definitely conclude that the creators of the F-35 made a mistake when trying to combine three different aircraft with different performance requirements in one. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the end the Japanese ATD-X surpasses it in a number of characteristics (but I seriously doubt the superiority promised by the Japanese over the F-22).

It can also be said unequivocally that the competition for air supremacy among the fives in the next decade should unfold between the two strongest competitors - the T-50 and F-22. The others are seriously inferior to them in terms of air combat.

Moreover, in this battle, the Russian fighter has a clear advantage. This is not surprising, given that the T-50 appeared almost 20 years later than its rival. And our approach to design is different.
In general, we “traditionally” lag behind the Americans in the arms race by half a step (this is related to the question of who on the planet is increasing militarization, by the way), which allows us to avoid the mistakes of our competitors and raise the bar set by them. It was a similar story with the appearance of a pair of Su-27 and MiG-29 in response to the F-15 and F-16.

With better aerodynamics (and, accordingly, better flight characteristics), the T-50 surpasses the F-22 in several other ways:
- larger weapons compartments;
- a more diverse range of weapons (has long-range air-to-air missiles and a wide selection of air-to-surface ammunition);
- OLS, which allows you to search and attack the enemy without turning on the radar (in addition, the optical-electronic locator does not care about low radar signature);
- all-aspect UHT (super maneuverability);
- the aircraft can be used from unpaved runways (runways).
At the same time, it seems to be somewhat inferior to the Raptor in stealth. Which, by the way, is not yet a fact, because the Behemoth X-32 from Boeing (the prototype competitor of the X-35, which lost in the JSF program) met the requirements for stealth, not having an S-shaped channel from the air intake to the engine, but covering its radar -blocker, and the keels, for example, are much smaller. Therefore, in the forward hemisphere of the EPR, it and the F-22 may not differ much.
From behind, the T-50 will definitely “glow” better than its competitor (due to the “unsteeled” round nozzles), but a final assessment of its stealth can only be given after the appearance of the second stage engine.

Stealth (the notorious stealth technology) at one time suggested to the Americans the idea of ​​qualitative, rather than quantitative, superiority over everyone else.
Today it is clear that this bet did not justify itself. Because, firstly, the main rivals of the United States in the “great game” (Russia and China) are also already acquiring their own 5th generation aircraft. And secondly, the “efficiency/cost” criterion; in relation to the super-expensive American “five” is still waiting for its impartial assessment.
Are they so superior to previous generation aircraft that they cost so much more? Will the many times higher price be compensated by the corresponding many times greater efficiency? Is it deserved? For example, there is a strong opinion that in a duel situation the “5th generation” F-35 fighter will lose to the 4th generation Su-35S fighter.

Despite all this, the creation of a 5th generation fighter is a big step forward for any state.
In addition to the development of technology, this is a serious military argument for gaining air supremacy and, in addition, obtaining a certain status for the country. You could say joining the select club.

See here:

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http://judgesuhov.livejournal.com/144148.html

Here is the post in a more readable form (with all hyperlinks and normally formatted text) and with additional pictures.
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As a bonus, you will find photos of the Chinese J-31, Indian FGFA and AMCA, Turkish TF-X, Korean-Indonesian KF-X/IF-X and Iranian Qaher F-313.

The rapid development of jet aviation in the post-war years allowed designers to create four generations of fighters one after another in a fairly short time, but there was a hitch with the fifth. Both in the USA and in the USSR, the military expected to receive such combat vehicles back in the first half of the 90s of the last century, however, this did not happen. Only at the end of 2005, the US Air Force began to receive F-22 Raptor aircraft, which became the world's first serial fifth-generation fighters. Five years after this, the Russian “answer” to the overseas challenge took off for the first time - the T 50, which later received the designation Su-57, but serial production of this vehicle was only able to begin in 2019.

History of the development of the fifth generation fighter T-50 PAK FA (Su-57)

In the 80s of the last century, two aircraft were created in the United States that stood out noticeably against the background of all other military aviation. These were the F-117 and B-2 - very different combat vehicles both in their purpose and in appearance, which were united by only one thing - they were built using technology known as stealth. This word can be translated as “sneaky” or “secretly,” but more often “stealth” aircraft are simply called invisible, since, according to their creators, they are invisible on the screens of radars and heat direction finders. It is clear that this quality can enhance the capabilities of both fighter and attack aircraft.

F-19 is a mythological, never-existing stealth fighter, information about which was actively promoted in the 80s for propaganda or provocative purposes

In those years, the USSR had already begun mass production of the Su-27 and MiG-29, and the next step was to create the so-called MFI - a multifunctional fighter. Stealth in the radar and infrared ranges was one of the main requirements for the new aircraft, at the same time it had to have some other characteristics:

1. Capable of long-term flight at supersonic cruising speed;
2. Shortened takeoff and mileage;
3. Super maneuverability;
4. The ability to equally successfully destroy both air, ground and sea targets.

Special requirements were also imposed on the on-board equipment: the radar was supposed to be made much more powerful than that of fourth-generation fighters, and the software system was supposed to have “artificial intelligence,” making the pilot’s work as easy as possible.

The goal was not to build something like the F-117: the customers were more focused on the F-22, which was already being developed then.

When the USSR collapsed in 1991, the “new Russia” inherited two projects for a promising fifth-generation fighter. The first of them is the MiG-1.44 - an aircraft that makes a strong impression even today. The second was a heavier fighter with a forward-swept wing, later known as the S-37 or Su 47 Berkut. At first it seemed that the MiG should become the “Russian stealth” aircraft, since the S-37 was more of an experimental aircraft. Fate, however, decreed otherwise: although Berkut was indeed destined to shine exclusively at air shows, the “1.44 project” completely froze, since its progress was hampered by a chronic lack of funding.

In the meantime, specialists from the Sukhoi Design Bureau were able to organize serial production of the commercially successful Su-30 aircraft, the proceeds from the sale of which made it possible to develop new aircraft models, despite even the deplorable situation in which the Russian aircraft manufacturing complex was located.

The creation of the prototype of the fifth-generation T-50 fighter officially began in 1999. Two years later, the Russian Air Force once again compiled a list of characteristics that the new aircraft should have. Now it has received the preliminary name PAK FA - a promising aviation complex for front-line aviation. Previously, it was planned to build simultaneously a heavy MFI fighter and a cheaper LFS (light front-line aircraft). Now both of these projects were united. It is possible that this decision was influenced by the experience of the United States, where the F-35, which was originally developed as a “cheap addition” to the more powerful F-22, eventually became, on the contrary, prohibitively expensive.

It is also worth noting that a fundamental decision was made to abandon the creation of a special version of the PAK FA with a vertical landing and short take-off - apparently also under the impression of the difficulties faced by American designers.

The Sukhoi JSC company received an official order for the development of a promising fifth-generation fighter in 2002. In 2004, India began to be involved in this project, having previously purchased Su-30 aircraft and interested in strengthening its air force. It was assumed that mass production of the new machines could begin in 2015, and the total cost of the work would be about five billion dollars.

It is noteworthy that Sukhoi JSC was simultaneously engaged in the project of the RRJ passenger aircraft, now known as the Superjet. Nevertheless, priority was still given to military programs, half of which in one way or another related to the future T-50. Flight prototypes of these machines were built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and the first run of the promising fighter took place there at the end of 2009.

Flights began in January 2010. First, the T-10M-10 flying laboratory took off, and at the end of the month the T 50 plane took off from the airfield, and after 47 minutes made a successful landing. From this moment on, the “biography” of the Su-57 entered a fundamentally new stage.

Flight tests

The first flaws in the design of the T-50 were identified even before the flights began - during technical runs along the runway. In particular, it was necessary to correct the ground braking system and steering. Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult.

The first stage of the test program included seven flights in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, however, only five were completed - one in January and two each in February and March. In April, two T-50 fighters were loaded onto an An-124 and sent to Zhukovsky, the air force base. At the end of the same month, another test flight took place.

Supersonic speed was achieved for the first time on March 14, 2011. The total number of flights by the end of October 2013 exceeded 450. Moreover, at least one of the experienced fighters was already equipped with a radar station. The state testing program for the aircraft has not been fully completed (completion is scheduled for this year), but back in 2018, the Su-57 was tested in combat conditions in Syria. As is known, aircraft such as the F-35 and F-22 may be in the airspace of this country and in its vicinity, which makes it possible to compare the capabilities of the on-board equipment of the T-50 and American fifth-generation fighters.

The main purpose of the Su-57

The T 50 is a fifth-generation fighter, developed primarily as a “successor” to the Su-27 heavy fighter. However, the range of the new aircraft is much wider - it is a multi-role aircraft.

The Su-57 can be used to solve the following tasks:

1. Interception of air targets;
2. Gaining air supremacy;
3. Neutralization of air defense systems;
4. Search and destroy all types of ground targets, including highly mobile small objects and well-protected stationary fortifications;
5. Conducting reconnaissance;
6. Electronic warfare.

Unlike the Su-27, which was intended primarily for air combat, the T-50 is versatile, and its stealth makes it much easier to carry out missions. This aircraft is capable of successfully countering fifth-generation American fighters.

Design of the T-50 fighter

In the external appearance of the aircraft, there is a certain similarity with other models created by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, but even with a superficial examination it is clearly visible that the Su-57 is much more “flat” than its predecessors. This form is due, as you might guess, to the desire to reduce radar signature.

Cockpit

The design of the Su-57 canopy will likely undergo changes in the future. However, there is no doubt that the radio-absorbing coating applied on its inside will remain intact. Perhaps the rear part will be redesigned, which so far does not differ in design from a similar element on the Su-27.

The interior of the cabin is somewhat reminiscent of the Su-35S fighter - there is unification in the set of equipment. Three multi-function indicators are installed. Two of them are equipped with fifteen-inch screens, the third is slightly smaller in size and is located on the right side and lower relative to the others. In addition, a wide-angle collimation system is used to display information - part of the data is projected onto the glass of the pilot’s helmet. The cabin has a voice informant and an oxygen generator.

Avionics

If fourth-generation aircraft had one radar station installed, the Su-57 is equipped with a whole radar complex with five antennas. This allows the fighter to be equipped with a “smart skin” capable of monitoring the entire surrounding space. In addition, the equipment also includes an optical-electronic location system.

The 1,526 transceiver modules that make up the active phased array antenna of the T-50's main airborne radar make it possible to detect ground, sea and air targets at long distances, ensure their stable tracking and launch missiles. There is another radar in the slat of the fighter, which operates in the decimeter range, allowing it to detect enemy aircraft made using stealth technology.

The exact characteristics of the avionics remain secret at this time. In addition, it is possible that they will change over time.

Glider

Like earlier Sukhoi Design Bureau aircraft, the T 50 fighter has an aerodynamic design with an integral layout - the trapezoidal wing and fuselage form a single load-bearing surface. The ratio of these two elements has been changed somewhat as the aircraft has become much flatter. Because of this, the fuselage expanded noticeably.

It is worth paying attention to the flow in the front part of the wing. The pilot can rotate this element, which performs the same role on the Su-57 as the front horizontal tail on the experimental Su-37 - it improves maneuverability. The presence of the PGO as a separate element somewhat reduces the reliability of the on-board systems, but at the same time increases the effective dispersion surface, that is, makes the aircraft more visible, so they decided not to use it.

The mechanization of the high wing is provided by flaperons, ailerons and deflectable tips. The T-50 fins are installed in such a way as to ensure the dispersion of radio waves incident on them.

The use of composite materials made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the airframe, which, in addition, became simpler in its design compared to the Su-27. The designers believe that this will make it possible to simplify the serial production and repair of the aircraft.

Power point

The main engine of the T-50 should be the “type 30”, which does not yet have an official designation. Despite the fact that the fighter has already made test flights with such a power plant, very little is known about it. It is only clear that this is a completely new model. Estimated thrust - up to 18,000 kgf.

At the first stage, AL-41F1 engines were installed on the Russian fifth-generation fighter. Their thrust is up to 15,000 kgf in afterburner, and up to 9,500 kgf in normal mode. The engines, in addition, have controlled thrust vectoring (up to 20 degrees).

Widely spaced nacelles with adjustable air intakes are used to accommodate the engines.

Performance characteristics

Official data about the Su-57 aircraft remains secret. For this reason, its characteristics can be assessed rather approximately, based on open information about the technical specifications and other information published in the media.

Flight characteristics

The flight range can be increased to 5500 km through the use of two drop tanks.

Specifications

No data characterizing the magnitude of the EPR (effective dispersion surface) of the aircraft has been published. Foreign assessments are hardly worth considering seriously, since they are very far from even the most minimal objectivity. The 5th generation fighter T 50 is slightly larger in size than the F-22, which theoretically could mean that the Russian aircraft is easier to detect on radar, but this is all just guesswork.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Su-57

Considering that the aircraft has not yet undergone a full test program, and information about its combat use in Syria has not been disclosed, it is quite difficult to assess both the positive and negative features of the T-50 fighter.

The advantages should include:

1. The plane is made with self-reliance. It contains no imported parts. In particular, the entire element base of electronic equipment is Russian;
2. In terms of its speed, both maximum and supersonic cruising, the Su-57 is confidently ahead of its main rival, the American F-35 fighter;
3. The commonality of on-board electronics with the Su-35 simplifies pilot training;
4. The stated cost of the aircraft is much lower than that of foreign competitors.

With the minuses, everything is more complicated. For example, it is known that India withdrew from the program to create the Su-57, stating that the on-board equipment of this machine did not meet the requirements for fifth-generation fighters. In addition, it was said that the Russian aircraft is not stealth, which puts it in a deliberately vulnerable position. All these statements, happily picked up by the Western press, were not supported by any evidence. We can confidently note only one main disadvantage - the Su-57 has not yet entered service, while the F-35 is already being actively exported.

The fighter's main armament

The T-50 is equipped with a 9-A1-4071K aircraft cannon. It is an improved version of the long-known GSh-30-1. The main weapon system consists of a set of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles. They can be placed in internal compartments (this option ensures maximum stealth of the aircraft), as well as on external hardpoints.

The “standard” version of weapons for working against air targets is 8 medium-range RVV-SD missiles and two short-range RVV-MD missiles. Instead of the RVV-SD, it is planned to use the K-77M in the future, capable of hitting highly maneuverable enemy aircraft at a distance of up to 180 kilometers, which will greatly expand the potential of the Su-57 as an interceptor.

To destroy ground targets, up to 8 KAB-500 adjustable bombs or guided missiles with a total weight of up to 4,220 kg, including the latest X-59MK2, can be placed in the internal compartments.

The total weight of the Su-57 combat load reaches 10 tons.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Aviation has always excited the minds of people, and combat fighters are rightfully considered the crown of its development. Now that the world is once again unsettled, and many politicians are increasingly using the expression “Second Cold War,” it is interesting to compare the arsenals of potential “friends.” The fashionable expression “fifth generation product” first appeared in military aviation. Let's try to figure out what it means.

In fact, the term has been around for many years. For the first time, the military and designers of the USSR and the USA thought about such a fighter at the very beginning of the 1980s. The main features of such an aircraft were the so-called three “Cs”:

• super maneuverability;
• ultra-low visibility;
• supersonic flight.

Phantoms of the Cold War

Programs to create 5th generation fighters started almost simultaneously in the USA and the USSR. It was expected that the fighters would enter service with the air force as early as the 1990s. However, the Soviet Union collapsed, and in 2000, due to lack of funding, the multirole front-line fighter program (1.42) was frozen and terminated. The only flight model built - “product 1.44” - made only two flights and was mothballed.

In parallel, in the USSR and then in Russia, work was carried out on another experimental aircraft with a forward-swept wing, the S-37 Berkut (according to NATO codification - Firkin). The fighter was planned to be equipped with the most modern systems: an onboard radar with an active phased array antenna (AFAR) with an increased detection range, a rear-view radar, an optical-electronic complex, and a wide range of weapons to perform air interception functions and engage sea and ground targets. The S-37, like the MiG-1.44, was equipped with AL-41F engines. The Berkut program also did not go beyond the prototype, but served as a flying platform for the design of a new 5th generation aircraft.

F-22A fighter

Meanwhile, the United States managed to seriously get ahead of Russian developers. As part of the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program, by 1990 the first prototypes of new fighters, created on a competitive basis, were already ready. As a result of the tender, in which two pairs of prototypes participated, the winner was the project of the Lockheed company (now Lockheed Martin), which received the designation F-22 Raptor in the series. The contract for the production of engines was concluded with Pratt & Whitney, which developed the F119-PW-100 product.

Initially, it was planned to build nine pre-production single-seat F-22A and two two-seat F-22B (the latter were later abandoned). During flight testing in 1992, a prototype crashed during landing at Edwards Air Force Base. After that, over the course of five years, major changes were made to the design of the fighter. The aircraft in its final form was designed by 1995, in the middle of which the assembly of an experimental aircraft began, which made its first flight on September 7, 1997. Serial production of the Raptors began in 2000, but they began to enter service with the US Air Force only three years later.

Dear and very secret

The F-22 program turned out to be one of the most expensive in aviation history. According to experts, the development and serial production of a significantly reduced number of aircraft (187 instead of the initially planned purchase of 750) amounted to 62 billion dollars, or about 339 million per 1 serial fighter. At the moment, serial production of the aircraft has been completed, and they are in service with 8 air wings of the US Air Force.

F-22A assembly line (currently discontinued)

Today, the F-22A Raptor is the only 5th generation serial fighter in the world that implements the above-mentioned main features of aircraft of this type. In addition, it is characterized by high automation of the processes of piloting, navigation, target detection and weapon use. The aircraft is equipped with an airborne active phased array radar AN/APG-77. The main armament is located in three internal compartments - 6 medium-range air-to-air missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM (from 50 to 100 km) in the central ventral compartment and 2 short-range air-to-air missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder (up to 30 km) in two side compartments.

Launch of the AIM-120 AMRAAM aircraft missile

In addition, the vehicle has four suspension points under the wings, which can be used to accommodate external fuel tanks and aircraft missiles. However, these weapon options dramatically increase the visibility of the aircraft and significantly reduce its maneuverability.

F-22A fighter with open weapons bays

The appearance of the F-22 was formed during the Cold War: its priority task was to gain air superiority. However, fighting ground targets and participating in local conflicts in third world countries were not among the Raptor’s tasks at that time. The use of high-precision JDAM-type ammunition on it began only in 2005. In 2012, the US Air Force received the first modernized F-22 aircraft, which had improved ground-fighting capabilities and was armed with GBU-29 SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) guided bombs. In addition, it is currently not capable of using the latest modifications of air-to-air missiles: short-range AIM-9X Sidewinder and medium-range AIM-120 DAMRAAM (killing range up to 180 km). These types of missiles will be available to arm the F-22 starting in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

Testing the use of short-range aircraft missiles AIM-9X

Training and combat useF-22

Given the secrecy of the technology used in the F-22 program, the United States has long not allowed the deployment of fighter jets outside the country. Only in 2007 did they begin to be based abroad for the first time - on the island of Okinawa (Japan). In 2014, “Japanese” aircraft participated in exercises with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which included the Russian-made Su-30 MKM 4++ generation multirole fighters (according to NATO codification – Flanker-C). In 2007, fighter jets intercepted for the first time a pair of Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers (NATO codification: Bear) off the coast of Alaska.

At first they refused to deploy F-22s at American air bases in the Middle East. However, already in 2009, aircraft appeared in the UAE based on AlDhafra. In March 2013, the fighter reportedly intercepted an Iranian F-4 Phantom II, which in turn was attempting to intercept an MQ-1 Predator attack drone flying along the coast. According to press reports, it was only in September 2014 that the United States decided to use the F-22 to strike ground positions of Islamic State militants located in Syria. During this raid, fighters used 1,000-foot bombs, guided by GPS signals. However, the US authorities considered the use of such expensive aircraft in the fight against rebels to be inappropriate.

What's in Russia?

As already mentioned, for a number of reasons (primarily due to the collapse of the USSR) in Russia the development of a 5th generation fighter was much slower. However, this made it possible to rethink the goals and objectives of the program, because the 1990s and 2000s were not in vain for the Russian aviation industry. During this period, very successful multifunctional intermediate generation fighters appeared - 4++ Su-30MK (according to NATO codification - Flanker-C) in various versions. They have become export hits around the world and form the backbone of the air forces of India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Venezuela, Indonesia and other countries.

Su-35S (according to NATO codification – Flanker-E+)

As it turns out, the key to success in modern aviation is a suitable aerodynamic platform and modern on-board radars coupled with flight and navigation systems, as well as powerful jet engines with all-angle thrust vectoring and a wide range of weapons of all classes. A further development in this direction was the appearance of the Su-35S fighter (according to NATO codification – Flanker-E+), which was created in the interests of the Russian Air Force and should be the main multi-role fighter until the advent of 5th generation production aircraft.

Long-term construction has moved forward

Taking into account the difficult economic conditions, as well as the experience and costs of the United States in creating the F-22, Russia decided to develop a middle-class fighter - in size it was supposed to be between the light MiG-29 (according to NATO codification - Fulcrum) and the heavy Su-27 (according to NATO codification – Flanker). At the same time, the domestic fighter must surpass all Western analogues and provide a variety of combat capabilities. Based on these requirements, in 2001 a tender was announced for the development of a promising front-line aviation complex (PAK FA). The competition was won by the Sukhoi company with the T-50 project.

First flight of the T-50-1. Photo: Sukhoi Holding Holding Company

The construction of prototypes and preparation for serial production were carried out at the aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The experimental T-50 made its first flight in January 2010. Currently, 5 samples are already being tested. In 2014, state tests of the fighter began at the Ministry of Defense training ground in Akhtubinsk, where, simultaneously with test pilots, the military began mastering the vehicle. According to the Sukhoi company, as part of preliminary tests of the T-50, aerodynamic characteristics, stability and controllability indicators, dynamic strength were assessed, as well as the functioning of the complex of on-board equipment and aircraft systems was tested.

Flight of a pair of T-50s. Photo: Sukhoi Holding Holding Company

T-50 equipment and weapons

Since the summer of 2012, two aircraft have been testing the latest airborne radar system with AFAR, as well as a promising optical-electronic detection system.

A prototype of an airborne radar with AFAR at the MAKS-2009 air show

Aircraft refueling and super-maneuverability mode are already being tested. It is planned to use the new “117” product as the main engine for the T-50, which will have higher performance than the previously created AL-41F engine.

Engine AL-41F1

Unlike the F-22, the Russian fifth-generation fighter will be multi-role from the very beginning. On the T-50, an optical-electronic system will be integrated into the on-board radar, which is still not available on its American counterpart. The T-50 is planned to have a much wider range of weapons. As an air combat weapon, the T-50 will carry several RVV missiles (according to NATO codification - AA-12 Adder) in short, medium and long range modifications. Moreover, the latter is capable of hitting enemy aircraft at a distance of up to 200 km - at least this is reported in promotional materials at MAKS-2013. There are no analogues to it in the world today.

Long-range aviation missile RVV-BD

Air-to-ground missiles that the new fighter could be armed with were also demonstrated at the exhibitions. One of these may be the new Kh-38ME aircraft missile (according to NATO codification - AA-11 Archer). It is designed on a modular basis, which allows the use of different combined guidance systems. The latter may include an inertial system and options for final precision guidance - based on homing heads (laser, thermal imaging, radar type) or satellite navigation. Depending on the modification, the missile is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation, penetrating or cluster warhead.

It is expected that the first production T-50 fighters will begin to enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2016, and by 2020 their number will increase to 55 units.

Flight of three T-50s during MAKS 2013

T-50vs F-22 Raptor

Although the Russian 5th generation fighter is somewhat late, it may ultimately be significantly superior to its American counterpart. Let's try to summarize the comparison of the two machines.

Value for money

The American aircraft was designed during the Cold War and, as time has shown, turned out to be unclaimed and very expensive. Russia used the gap from the United States wisely - the experience of creating the F-22, its operation and capabilities were assessed. The PAK FA will be a multi-role fighter with a wide range of missions.

Maneuverability

Overly carried away by the desire for stealth, the United States created aircraft that were incapable of super-maneuverability and poorly suited for close combat. The T-50 prototype publicly demonstrates aerobatic maneuvers, and in full configuration with basic all-aspect engines will demonstrate true super-maneuverability.

Dominance in the air and on the ground

The F-22 was planned as an air superiority fighter using only air-to-air missiles at extremely long and medium ranges. Its use as a carrier of precision weapons to destroy ground targets became possible much later. At the same time, the F-22 can use an extremely limited set of weapons with guidance based on GPS signals. The lack of its own optical-electronic system does not allow the use of a wider range of missiles and guided bombs.

The T-50 will immediately have all the capabilities to hit air and ground targets, including such specific ones as enemy air defense radars, while the American HARM anti-radar missile does not fit the dimensions of the F-22’s internal weapons bay. The presence of super-maneuverability modes and effective short-range missiles of the RVV-MD type will give the T-50 an advantage in close maneuver combat. Possession of ultra-long-range RVV-BD missiles will allow the T-50 to hit the enemy at a distance at which he cannot respond.

In conclusion, here is a quote from a person who can hardly be suspected of bias. “The analysis data that I have seen on the PAK FA indicates that the aircraft has a rather complex design, which is at least as good as, and according to some experts, even superior to, American fifth-generation aircraft,” said former US Air Force intelligence chief Gen. Lieutenant Dave Deptula.