Russia Developes Fifth Generation Fighter, PAK-FA (T-50) to Counter US F22 and JSF (F-35)

April 28, 2010 | 2 Comments

The Sukhoi PAK FA ( Future Frontline Aircraft System), is a fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by Sukhoi OKB for the Russian Air Force.

The current prototype is Sukhoi’s T-50. The PAK FA when fully developed is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian inventory and serve as the basis of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA project being developed with India. A fifth generation jet fighter, it is designed to directly compete with Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The T-50 performed its first flight January 29, 2010. Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan has projected a market for 1000 aircraft over the next four decades, which will be produced in a joint venture with India, two hundred each for Russia and India and six hundred for other countries.

General characteristics
	Crew: 1
	Length: 19.8 m (65.9 ft)
	Wingspan: 14 m (46.6 ft)
	Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft)
	Wing area: 78.8 m2 (848.1 ft2)
	Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,785 lb)
	Loaded weight: 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)
	Useful load: 7,500 kg (combat load) (16,534 lb)
	Max takeoff weight: 37,000 kg (81,570 lb)
	Powerplant: 2× New unnamed engine by NPO Saturn and FNPTS MMPP Salyut of 175 kN each[36][44] Prototype with AL-41F1 of 147 kN each, definitive version with new engine >157 kN
	Maximum Fuel weight: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb)

Performance
	Maximum speed: 2,600 km/h (Mach 2.45) (at 17,000 m altitude) (1,615 mph (at 45,000 ft altitude))
	Cruise speed: 1,300 – 1,800 km/h (808 – 1,118 mph)
	Ferry range: 5,500 km
	Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,616 ft)
	Rate of climb: 350 m/sec (1184 ft/sec)
	Wing loading: 330(normal) – 470(maximum) kg/m2 (67(normal) – 96(maximum) lb/ft2)
	Thrust/weight: 1.4
	Maximum g-load: +10.0/+11.0 g