New Russian Fighter takes to skies
 

AWST (Ares): PAK FA Flies

http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver...234f.Large.jpg

Maxim Pyadushkin writes

Russia’s fifth generation fighter, Sukhoi’s T-50 prototype, was flown for the first time from Komsomolsk-on-Amur on Russia’s Far East at 11.19 local time on Friday, January 29. After the 47 minutes flight the aircraft landed at the airfield of Sukhoi’s KnAAPO facility which assembles PAK FA prototypes. The T-50 is intended to meet the Russian air force’s PAK FA requirement for a next-generation fighter.

The first prototype was flown by Sukhoi test pilot Sergey Bogdan. He says it was easy and comfortable to control, and the aircraft performed well on all stages of the flight test program. “During the flight we have conducted the initial evaluation of the aircraft’s controls, performance of the engine and main systems. The aircraft also retrieved and extracted a landing gear”, said Bogdan.

The T-50 design reflects a greater emphasis on low-observable shaping than Moscow's previous fifth-generation effort, MiG’s 1.42 program. Sukhoi started the development of PAK FA in the early 2000s. The first flight was initially scheduled for mid-2009. Three prototypes one of which was delivered to Moscow and is being used for static tests. In December another PAK FA prototype started taxi trials at KnAAPO facility. The third aircraft is believed to be used as a complex full-scale stand intended for ground testing.

Sukhoi doesn’t reveal technical parameters of the new fighter. Nevertheless it’s known that PAK FA prototypes will be powered by a pair of NPO Saturn 117S engines. These engines, a further modification of AL-31F, rated at up to 14.5 ton thrust are now also installed at the new Su-35 multirole fighters. The T-50’s avionics suite is being developed by Ramenskoe Design Bureau. The company’s head Givi Djanjgava earlier explained that the suite includes six-processor computer, visualization tools and flight instrument system.

According to Sukhoi, PAK FA avionics integrates ‘electronic pilot” function and AESA radar being developed by Tikhomorov NIIP design bureau. NIIP’s full-scale phased array antenna was unveiled at Moscow MAKS in August 2009. At that time Anatoly Sinany, Tikhomirov’s chief designer, explained that T-50’s radar antenna will have 1,500 T/R modules, produced by Iztok company from Fryazino, near Moscow. The new avionics will give T-50 network-centric capabilities, enable it to exchange real-time data within the air group and with ground command posts.

But the first PAK FA prototype is likely to fly without radar as it’s just passing bench tests. The first radar for the aircraft is expected to be ready in mid-2010.

Sukhoi also reports that the new fighter implies composite materials and innovation technologies that together with the aerodynamic shape of the fuselage and reduced engine’s signature ensure its low radar, optical and IR visibility.

The new aircraft is expected to enter in service in 2015 and will be supplied to the Russian Air Force along with Su-35 fighters. Commenting the start of PAK FA flight trials, Sukhoi head Mikhail Pogosyan also mentioned that India will join the program on later stages.

T-50???
 

I thought Korea was producing a jet trainer with the designation T-50??

So son of Flanker/YF23/F16XL lives!

Well done the Red corner.

Interesting times in 10 years or so when platform/system maturity allow for exports.

YouTube - Pak Fa First Flight

YouTube - ?????? (100129-110006).avi

Sqwark2000
 

The T-50 is an internal company designation. It has nothing to do with function of type, ie T for Trainer.

I believe that there are some deviations but basically as detailed on Wiki

Sukhoi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Sukhoi prototype designations are based on wing layout planform. Straight and swept wings are assigned the "S" prefix, while delta winged designs(including tailed-delta) have "T" for a designation prefix.'

For example the Su-27 was developed by Sukhoi as the T-10

Sukhoi Su-27 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Su-47 was developed by Sukhoi as the S-32/37

Sukhoi Su-47 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The South Korean T-50

T-50 Golden Eagle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TJ

These guys call it the PAK-FA.

Suchoi PAK-FA startet zum Erstflug - FLUG REVUE

Okay like AWST, just noticed.

New Russian Fighter takes to skies
 

More at New Russian stealth fighter makes first flight - Yahoo! News UK

Russia's New Fighter T-50 First Flight Video
 

Wow, this thing looks like a beast.

T-50 first flight video.

For a nice analysis - click here.

CUBE

Close-up image showing possibly two internal weapon bays.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/att...9&d=1264762555

TJ

A video clip
 

For goodness sake look before you start new threads!!!!!

A good start ... ;)

It looks like the YF-23 to me

http://s005.radikal.ru/i209/1001/75/91147bc00acd.gif

Sukhoi T-50 'Flaptor'

So how did we get the designs comrade?

Weelllll, tovarisch, we hacked into lockheed martin and stole all the plans we could find. We then got drunk and put together the bits we thought were sexy.

This is the result?

Da.

Well done, have 50 roubles..

It looks like a few planes put togther

I wonder how the cost pans out compared to Dave?

Any details on the countries involved in this project?
....

Sadly, the beast is likely to be robust, serviceable and attract global overseas sales.

Unlike embargoed US kit or over-priced UK kit.

Sad, especially when you remember when the World bought Hunters and Canberras. :{

This is going to shock the yanks, losing technical superiority, thinks this beast will eat f35's for breakfast stealth or no stealth.:cool:

More to the point, interesting timing from our red friends just as people are talking about scrapping the Typhoons...

The RAF couldn't get a better publicity tool if it tried, but will they use it?