MOSCOW — Russia on Friday unveiled a new fighter aircraft touted as a rival of the US F-22 stealth jet and developed amid the highest secrecy as part of a plan to modernize the armed forces.
The fifth generation fighter, manufactured by the Sukhoi company and known as the PAK FA, made a maiden flight of just over 45 minutes at the firm's home base of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Far East region.
"The flight lasted 47 minutes during which all the aircraft's systems were tested. It was successful," Sukhoi spokeswoman Olga Kayukova told AFP. "This is the first time it has been unveiled."
Pictures broadcast on state television showed the fighter jet -- which has been kept closely under wraps for years -- flying at al ude and then landing on a snow-surrounded runway.
"The aircraft performed well in all stages of the flight programme. It is easy and comfortable to pilot," said Sergei Bogdan, the pilot for the flight, in comments published on the Sukhoi website.
The new jet has the capability of carrying out long flights above the speed of sound as well as simultaneously attacking different targets.
Russia is currently embarking on a major programme to re-equip its military, not least the air force which is still using largely Soviet-era equipment and suffers from frequent crashes.
The new fighter, which has been in development since the 1990s, is due to enter the armed forces in 2015, Russian news agencies said.
The first flight of the PAK FA (Prospective Aviation System of Frontline Aviation) is being seen in Russia as a major boost for the military after the project was hit by repeated delays over the last years.
"There is no doubt that the plane is needed," the ex-commander of the Russian air force, Anatoly Kornukov, told the Interfax news agency.
"Our Su-27 and MiG-29 planes are good but have aged. They are 20 or more years old and it's time to have something as a replacement," he said.
He said the new plane could easily stand comparison with the US F-22, also a fifth generation stealth fighter.
"It's going to be no worse than an F-22. I've been in an F-22 and I know."
Russia's campaign to modernize its military has been marred by repeated setbacks with new equipment, above all a string of failed tests of its new Bulava sea-based intercontinental nuclear-capable missile.
Last edited by FalleNxWiZarDx; 01-29-2010 at 06:22 PM.
There are exactly 3 prototypes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_PAK_FA
Russia's defense complex is in the toilet, and unlikely to be up to the task, by any neutral assessment.
Further, the overall projected per unit cost of this aircraft makes it HIGHLY unlikely to be fielded in any quan y.
Russia's modernization program absolutely depends on oil revenues propping up the tax coffers. Given the projected slide in Russian oil production in the coming decades, I would find it unlikely to have the sheer monetary firepower required to really carry this through to fruition.
A cold assessment of Russia's military:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ssia/intro.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...a/industry.htm
Information on Russian oil production:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3626
I do not see Russia regaining much of its former glory.
I do see it falling into virulent nationalism, which it is doing.
LOL at the comment "It's going to be no worse than an F-22. I've been in an F-22 and I know." Yeah, I'm sure he's spent hundreds of hours in one and knows its characteristics in detail.
Based on what I've read, just rearrange the letters PAK FA and you've pretty much summed up most of the development process for this fighter.
It looks similar to the Raptor and that other stealth we built. Which is no surprise since the Russians and Chinese have to steal all of our secrets and technology then make it into some piece of copy. Those broke s cannot come up with their own technology and have to steal ours.
From Wiki:
"The first flight video shows, that PAK-FA has no conventional rudders, its vertical tails are full movable[34]. This special tail fin design is mechanically similar to V-tails used by the Northrop YF-23 in 1990s[35].
It should also be noted that while the fighter has a prototype frame, it is still older avionics. In other words while the plane itself is 5th generation there have been no new engines, radar or weapons that would significantly increase the plane's capability."
Copying our from the 1990's. Pathetic.
Top Secret...I do not think it means what they think it means.
Yeah, but it has a limited range without stopping for coal.
Seriously, if it's on Wiki it ain't top secret.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B92FI20091210
The Russians also invested billions in a new class of nuclear submarines designed to carry a special new missile; problem is, they can't get the new missile to work, and they can't retrofit the new subs to work with the old missiles. I'm not sure what they'll do, but for the moment their 'future nuclear deterrent' consists of billion-dollar diving bells.
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