Russia has a new partner in the production of fifth generation fighter
In Russia, you may receive a new partner in the fifth-generation fighter, the first flight scheduled for 2009. April 7, the deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Alexander Fomin reported that negotiations for the exchange of technologies and creation of platforms for the assembly and the licensed production of aircraft maintained to the Brazilian company Embraer - the largest aircraft manufacturing corporation the Latin American region.Often, it put on a par with global industry leaders - Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Earlier, an agreement on joint work on the fighter had been reached with India, although the Russian-Indian aircraft to rise into the air much later than the national.
The new Russian fighter, which was the symbol of the PAC FA (promising aviation complex tactical aviation), recently much talk and write, but it is still largely classified.On the Internet you can find many illustrations, which depicted a perspective image of the plane, but in fact it is impossible to say which of them is closer to the truth.Some of the images provided for the PAC FA, much like the American F-22 Raptor, and seemed to be outside the American fighter and his Russian rival in reality may be much in common.
The works on advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft, designed to provide a counterbalance to the American F-22 and replace the MiG-29 and Su-27, were in the USSR back in 1980. Initially, as claimed in the press, they were involved in design offices Mikoyan, Yakovlev and Sukhoi.In the Mikoyan Design Bureau has developed a so-called draft MiG 1.44 (Item 1.44, or Flatpack to NATO classification) with the use of stealth technology. First flight of fighter aircraft was held in 2000 in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow. But this event, to the surprise of many, remained almost unnoticed.
Earlier in the Sukhoi Design Bureau has developed an experimental multipurpose fighter Su-47 (C-37) Berkut "(Firkin by NATO classification), which was built in a single copy and for the first time off in 1997. In creating this aircraft were used composite materials, as well as the technology wing of the reverse sweep, which, as the experts, improves manageability and low flying at low speeds. The world's first airplane, the design of which was used a similar technique, a German bomber Junkers Ju-287, created at the very end of the Second World War. Development of this project for obvious reasons, never received.
In 2002, as head of the company promising Russian fighter PAK FA (or T-50) was also selected Sukhoi Design Bureau, and in 2004, according to official information the company "Dry" Air Force Russia presented a draft sketch plane. However, as they say, technology wing forwardswept during its creation are no longer used, but the aircraft apparently reminded of "Berkut", built in single copy, as an American Raptor. Nevertheless, some technologies Su-47 and MiG 1.44, with its design is still used.
On the characteristics of the mysterious plane of national development is little. At the PAC FA is said to have established a new powerful engines with thrust vectoring reject the horizontal and vertical planes. In 2005, Saturn was passed at the first five tests of experimental samples, developed in conjunction with the Ufa motor complex.
Originally they were a symbol "Item 117A, and later - the AL-41F-1 (previous modification was designed more for the MiG 1.42 - the prototype of the MiG 1.44).". According to the director of NPO Saturn "Yuri Swallow involved in test flights of fighter aircraft with new engines" have shown a qualitatively new results and achieved the unique characteristics. "
Fighter, according to the press, will be able to bear arms as the suspension of external sites, and in the interior. At the end of February 2009 is indirectly confirmed the Head of the department of an Air Force Engineering Academy named after Professor Zhukovskii Colonel Sergei Khripunov, reported that the Russian fifth generation fighter PAK FA use of physical force for the suspension of arms in some cases be impossible, because the point of suspension is in gruzootseke. To do this, he said, need not mechanized and robotic tools.
About PAK FA is also arming know a little bit.But, as argued he should get a new generation of missile air-to-air missiles, which, according to some reports, would be square in cross section to reduce the size of internal compartments, as well as air-to-surface, anti-tank missiles and bombs adjusted.
To engage aerial targets at a new Russian fighter can apply the new super-range missiles KC-172, developed by OKB "Innovator." Their intended range of up to 400 kilometers. Among the other weapons might be used missiles air-to-air medium-range R-77 (similar to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM), as well as short-range type R-73 The developer of the weapons is the Russian GosMKB Vympel.
PAK FA must also get on-board phased-array radar grid, developed by the Research Institute of Instrument name Tihomirova.According to experts, it does not yield to the radar AN/APG-77, set on the American F-22 fighter. In addition, the Russian plane could be fitted optical-electronic sensors French company Thales. They will perform a variety of combat missions, not including the radar.The control system will be fully computerized.
A distinctive feature of the plane, characteristic of the fifth generation fighter aircraft, should be nearly invisible. For this purpose, in particular, can absorb radio waves used materials, as well as smaller vertical feathers.However, detailed information about the stealth technologies that are used in the production of the aircraft, there is also no. But, according to some sources, they significantly increase the cost of fighter aircraft.As alleged in the press, the price of one machine can be up to 70-80 million dollars. This is substantially more than the current value of Russian combat aircraft, but almost half the price of an American F-22.
According to recent statements by Russia Air Force Commander Colonel-General Alexander Zelina, hopes the first flight of military aircraft Russia could take place in summer 2009, although earlier the military had intended to raise the aircraft in the sky in 2007.Nevertheless, for many, and this prospect is doubtful.Experimental designs fifth generation fighter is still based on "Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation production merger of Gagarin (KnAAPO), which is part of the company" Dry ". At what stage is work - hard to say.
With this plant, by the way, linked the recent scandal vylivshiysya from the local to federal level.According to the representative trade union KnAAPO Arslanova Paul, at the beginning of March 2009 at the company received notice of the reduction of the team, but since last year at the plant develops a conflict caused by the frustration of working-paid.At KnAAPO produce aircraft Su-30MK2, Su-30MK, Su-27SMK and prototypes of multifunctional fighter generation "4 + +" Su-35, but the most important objective for the plant is now considered the establishment of the first samples of PAK FA.
It is difficult to assume, will affect whether the conflict in the project, but some media outlets have already concluded that because of internal divisions in the company, it may stalled.But apparently, if it happens, it is quite different reasons.
In the creation of new models of military aircraft technology Moscow is not the first year of seeking its allies. Several years ago, as they say, the relevant negotiations with China, but to implement these plans, it never came. However, Beijing is already working on such a fighter, which is taken as the basis of a sample of national production.Many experts wonder who this time the Chinese pozaimstvuyut technology, doubting that the design of the fighter would represent something fundamentally new.
The final agreement on cooperation in the production of new combat aircraft Russia has succeeded only in India.New Delhi, as experience shows, is an old and reliable partner of Moscow in the sphere of military-technical cooperation.Moreover, unlike China, Russia has not yet had occasion to accuse the Indians in the open theft of technology.
Negotiations with India on joint establishment of the aircraft were in 2007. In the near future, the military of both countries will agree on the requirements of the project. But already know that the Russian Air Force plans to adopt a single version of the aircraft, Air India and expect to double fighter, because, according to military doctrine, he must fulfill a broader range of tasks.It was expected that the first aircraft will be handed over to customers in 2017, while the purely Russian fighter are planning to adopt a little bit earlier - in the years 2012-2015.
The main partner of "Sukhoi" in this project will be Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - India's largest aircraft manufacturing company, working for the Ministry of Defense.HAL previously worked closely with other defense companies, including MiG and Sukhoi. " The company has 19 manufacturing and 9 research centers in different regions of India. In the 2008/2009 fiscal year which ended March 31, HAL was able to sell their products at 2.05 billion dollars.
What specifically would be such a cooperation with the Brazilian company Embraer, if the agreement will be reached, yet it is not clear.Perhaps it is a licensed assembly of Russian aircraft, or establishing a new base for its modification. In the meantime, know that in April 2008, Russia and Brazil have signed an agreement on joint development of fifth generation fighter aircraft and space launch vehicle for the withdrawal of heavy satellites into orbit. But then the more detailed information on this subject was not.
In its field Embraer is a well-known and credible producer, while building a very specific examples of aircraft for military use, as well as regular passenger planes. In particular, the company was known for training and combat aircraft Tucano and Super Tucan
lder changed EMB 312 Tucano is produced since the early 1980's and shipped to many foreign customers, mostly - Latin American and African. But this plane is also chosen as a trainer, the Air Force in France.
A new modification of the machine EMB 314 Super Tucano was presented in 2003 and also started to gain popularity.Interestingly, of the intention to lease these cars recently announced leadership the United States Navy. The American military expects that the Super Tucano will be used to support special forces carrying out combat tasks in irregular conflict.
Paradoxically, the - United States, having in fact the most powerful aviation industry in the world, found a modest Brazilian car more suitable for such specific tasks, rather than their own contemporary designs.Military note that the Super Tucano can land and take off on unprepared terrain, and perezapravka machine does not take much time.
For the Brazilian aircraft manufacturing company to develop a new Russian fighter can become not only a source of income, but also a matter of prestige.While achieving Embraer has already been recognized - according to experts, the Brazilian company now ranks third in the world among manufacturers of commercial planes behind Airbus and Boeing.
Russia, this cooperation is theoretically could also be on hand, although the motives that led the producers to negotiate with the Brazilian side, yet not quite clear.It is possible that Moscow intends to boost its own military rearmament by the use of overseas production facilities. But, perhaps, an attempt to draw the Brazilians in the project is also linked to export plans and the desire to reduce the cost of the project.
Source: news agency "Lenta.Ru"
Author: Andrei Fyodorov
Published: 08.04.2009
