"We have completed the flight tests of our first fifth generation fighter." This was confirmed by Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov in an interview on Rossiya 24 a few minutes ago.
Russia plans to start mass production of the fifth-generation T-50 fighter in the 2016. Sukhoi, the Russian company behind the T-50 project, also plans to produce an export version for India.
The Sukhoi T-50, of the program Pak-Fa, 29 of 2010 took off for the first time in January (without, however, part of the avionics such as radar and arms management systems). According to Russian estimates i Pak-Fa will be built in a number between 800 and 1000 specimens, including exports (only the Russians hope to put at least 450 in line). For the T-50, an operating cycle of forty years is expected, with an estimated cost of 100 million dollars per hunt.
The T-50 represents the first experience for the Russians with absorbing radar materials (Ram), compared to the thirty-year experience gained by the Americans with the F-117. Five to date prototypes completed for more than 400 flight hours. Four other aircraft will soon be delivered to the Russian army. All fighters were equipped with AESA radar and three-dimensional vector thrust control.
If the development proceeds without particular problems, the fighter will enter service as early as next year, becoming the first fifth-generation aircraft built by Moscow. According to the Russians (here it is clear the reference to the new American doctrine that for the 20 century considers "out-of-date" the close combat, hypothesizing only duels beyond the visual ray), in the war of the future the dogfight it will still be the protagonist, that's why the T-50 will have every type of weapon necessary to impose its domain in every operating theater and at any distance. It is not surprising, therefore, that the latest version of the R-73 (air-to-air missile, ed. - photo), the E, will equip the Russian PAK FAs.
La duks, a company that makes R-73, is currently working to increase the already outstanding missile capacity of the 25-30 by one hundred.
(photo: TASS / web)
