Quote:
Originally Posted by Sea Demon
First look at it, it looks kind of pretty. However I see many problems with it if they're trying to achieve something like F-22/F-35.
* Too many exposed rivets are present in the airframe. This tends to reduce any hull form stealth in a big way. Also, there are no saw shaped patterns, nor does there seem to be much apparent shaping techniques utilized to break up radar emissions. Airframe has a couple of other things sticking out.
* Cockpit has a large metal frame on top. That's going to reflect radar energy. In addition to the fact that no radar absorbing material (F-22 uses gold) is placed on the cockpit canopy.
*Air intakes are large and uncanted. From a 30-120 aspect or so, any enemy fighter that shines its radar at the Pak Fa will see a nice radar reflection. (F-22 cants this angle downward - resulting in enemy aircrafts radar reflecting towards ground or away from the enemy fighters radar receiver regardless of F-22 angle of bank).
*There is no denying looking at these pictures that the rear of the aircraft is huge, resulting in a large cross section. This Pak-FA is absolutely unstealthy from the rear.
*With the size of the engines to the section of airframe fitting them, there doesn't seem to be alot of space for weapons. Unless there will be a compromise to use racks on the wings, which will of course further degrade any attempts at stealth design.
Assuming the fraction of money available to the Russians (compared to USAF) to propagate the design, modify it, and export it against F-35, just how many do you think will ever be produced? I doubt there will be many in the near term. I don't discount that this aircraft has been a step forward for Sukhoi. But looking at it as a whole, it's no F-22 or F-35.
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I think you need to remember this is a first flight and second it is the prototype. The canopy is going to be replaced by a one piece job.
Secondly we don't know what arrangement is in the intakes to hide the fans.
Thirdly if you see watch the video of take off and the stills you can clearly see two weapons bays between the engines. The keypublishing forums have an interesting thread on it.
As for the engines apparently they are thrust vectoring. An interesting thing is the LERXs can move so it is still designed with super maneuverability in mind.
AS for the rivets, You look at preproduction F-22s and F-35s before the paint is applied you can see the rivets. They are then covered up with RAM paint.
Longjam - The Russians have been using FBW for decades now.