| Role | 5th-generation multi-role fighter |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi OKB and HAL |
| First flight | 2012[1] (projected) |
| Introduced | 2015 (projected) |
| Status | In development/preproduction as of 2008[update] |
| Number built | 2 (one single seater for Russia and one twin seated for India) |
| Unit cost | $100-120 milion USD depending on model |
| Developed from | Sukhoi Su-47 and MiG 1.44 technology demonstrators |
The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) is a fifth-generation fighter which is being developed by Russia and India. It is a derivative project from the PAK FA being developed for the Indian Air Force (FGFA is the official designation for the Indian version). The program is initiated to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft to fill a role similar to that of Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II, the world's first fifth-generation fighter jets. According to HAL chairman A.K. Baweja shortly after the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee meeting on 18 September 2008, the Russian aircraft will be a single-seater, the Indian FGFA will be a twin seater, but not a trainer version of the Russian counterpart. Two separate prototypes with minimum common technology will be developed, one by Russia (designated the Sukhoi T-50) and a separate one by India (designated FGFA)
Development
The joint-venture borrows heavily from the success of the Brahmos project but seems fated to repeat its story. Russia and India had agreed in early 2007 to jointly study and develop a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft Programme(FGFA).[3][4] On October 27, 2007, Asia Times quoted Sukhoi's director, Mikhail Pogosyan, "We [India and Russia] will share the funding, engineering and intellectual property [of the new project] in a 50-50 proportion."[5] The Indian version, according to the deal, will be different from the Russian version and specific to Indian requirements[6]. While the Russian version will be a single-pilot fighter, the Indian variant will have a twin-seat configuration based on its operational doctrine which calls for greater radius of combat operations. The wings and control surfaces need to be reworked for the FGFA.[7] Although, development work has yet to begin, the Russian side has expressed optimism that a test article will be ready for its maiden flight by 2009, one year after PAK FA scheduled maiden flight and induction into service by 2015.[8] According to HAL chairman A.K. Baweja on 16 September 2008, HAL will be contributing largely to composites, cockpits and avionics. HAL is working to enter into a joint development mechanism with Russia for the evolution of the FGFA engine as an upward derivative of the AL-31FP.
Difference between PAK FA and FGFA
The difference between PAK FA and the FGFA will be similar to that between Su-30MK and Su-30MKI. Su-30MK is the commercial version of the Russian Su-30M, where as the Su-30MKI (MKI stands for "Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski" meaning "Modernized Commercial India".) jointly-developed with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. Includes Thrust Vectoring Control (TVC) and canards. Equipped with a multi-national avionics complex sourced from India, Israel, Russia and France[9]. The PAK FA and the FGFA will be having minimum of common technology. Further the FGFA will be predominatly using weapons of Indian origin such as Astra a Beyond Visual Range missile being developed by India. The Indian FGFA is significantly different from the Russian PAK FA because a second pilot means the addition of another dimension, development of wings and control surfaces
Design
Although there is no reliable information about the PAK FA and FGFA specifications yet, it is known from interviews with people in the Russian Air Force that it will be stealthy, have the ability to supercruise, be outfitted with the next generation of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and incorporate an AESA radar. The FGFA will use on her first flights 2 Saturn 117S engines (about 14.5 ton thrust each). The 117S is an advanced version of the AL-31F, but built with the experience gained in the AL-41F program. The AL-41F powered the Mikoyan MFI fighter (Mikoyan Project 1.44). Later versions of the PAK FA will use a completely new engine (17.5 ton thrust each), developed by NPO Saturn or FGUP MMPP Salyut.
Specifications (PAK FA and FGFA - projected)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from Warfare.ru[11]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 and 2 (pilot)
- Length: 22.0 m (72 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
- Height: 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 78.8 m² (848 ft²)
- Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,786 lb)
- Loaded weight: 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)
- Useful load: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 37,000 kg (81,571 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Saturn-Lyulka AL-41F turbofan
- Dry thrust: 96.1 kN (9,800 kgf, 21,605 lbf) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 152 kN (15,500 kgf, 34,172 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2+ at altitude (2450+ km/h, 1,500+ mph)
- g-limits: 9 to 10 g)
- Cruise speed: 1,300 km/h (807.8 mph)
- Ferry range: 4,000 to 5,500 km (2,485 to 3,418 mi)
- Service ceiling 20,000 m (65,617 ft)
- Rate of climb: 350 m/s (68,898 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 470 kg/m² (96.3 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.84 (dry thrust)
- Minimum thrust/weight:
- With afterburner: 1.19
- Runway length requirement: 350 m (1,148 ft)
- Endurance: 3.3 hrs (198 mins)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 30 mm internal cannon
- Hardpoints: 8 total, 4 on each side of the aircraft.
Avionics
- Radar: N050(?)BRLS AESA/PESA Radar (Enhancement of IRBIS-E) on SU-35
- Frequency: 3 mm (0.118 in)
- Diameter: 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in)
- Targets: 32 tracked, 8 engaged
- Range: 400 km (248 mi)
- EPR: 3 m² (32.3 ft²) at 160 km (99.4 mi)
- RCS: 0.01 m² at 90 km (55 mi)
- Azimuth: +/-70°, +90/-50°
- Power: 4,000 W
- Weight: 65 to 80 kg (143 to 176 lb)
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
