Russia’s Moves to Save Its Stealth Fighter Deal

[Jimbuna]

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...ter-deal-15016

I wonder how much if any of that will be British Overseas Aid

[ikalugin]

FGFA is a T50 mod for export. If India does not fill it with it's own stuff for the sake of supporting the domestic industry you could cut the developmental costs even more. Current production shedule includes 4 (or was it 6?) FGFA (ПМИ) aircraft in the 2016-2020 time line.

"Indian requirements", in my opinion, are mostly BS, for example T50S gets the cheek arrays and all round optics/ELINT coverage from the get go. The other things they complain about - such as the developmental share, are the results of their own failures - the failure to get into the program early in this specific case.

[Aktungbby]

We should impose another economic sanction on Putin; sue them for stealth patent infringement Apparently some engine bugs to work out : http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail-page-2.asp?aircraft_id=782

One good example is stealth. The T-50’s design places far less emphasis on all-aspect low observables. Instead, it focuses on frontal aspect stealth—thus it has a so-called “Pac-Man” signature where as the F-22’s signature looks more like a spider if one were to look at it from a God’s eye view. Stealth is where the F-22 holds a huge advantage over the Russian jet.
In terms of sheer kinematics, the T-50 and the F-22 are probably comparable—especially once the PAK-FA receives new engines. The Russian jet’s current Izdeliye 117 engines are decent, but ultimately the plane will need to reequipped with the developmental Izdeliye 30 motors to fully exploit the capabilities of its airframe.

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/americas-f-22-stealth-fighter-vs-russias-pak-fa-who-wins-13806 $74.99

[ikalugin]

I wonder how they got the figures for the T50S stealth performance, as there is no availiable immagery of the assembled, post RAM coatings application, T50-6-2 aircraft at the moment, the aircraft that has the stealth related stuff installed (for RCS testing).

izd117 complies with the TTT/TTZ for the PAK-FA program. 2nd gen engines are in development but are more of the long term capability growth thing, supercruise and other features work with the izd117. Also note that not only does the current T50 set up have both the regulated intakes and the round nozles, features that improve engine performance, but the izd117 also having about the same specific parameters (specific thrust and specific fuel consumption) as the F119.

All said however - PAK-FA is behind shedule somewhat, atm the plans are for the 12 T50S and 4 (or was it 6?) PMI aircraft by 2020 time frame, meaning that it's arrival to actual front line service would be in 2020-2025 time frame. The issues appear to be structural (solved) and in terms of producing the aircraft (the city where they are produced is not known for best industrial practices and is geographically remote - in the Far East).