Posted on 03/23/2005 8:40:27 AM PST by lizol
Russia's Sukhoi to develop 5th generation fighter jet 03/23/2005 18:47
The new fighter jet will be a fundamentally new machine, not just a modernized version of an old pursuit plane
The competition of world's biggest superpowers to develop the fifth generation of pursuit planes still continues. Russian specialists intend to build such a jet, or an aviation complex, as engineers say, in five or seven years. Technical details of such developments are being kept top secret, although Russian aircraft designers decided to expose several solutions of theirs.
Russia's world-famous major aircraft corporations, MiG and Sukhoi were fighting for the right to take the state order for the development of the fighter jet of the fifth generation. MiG specialists chose the 1.44 index aircraft as the prototype of the new jet, whereas Sukhoi decided to base its work on the Su-47 fighter jet. The two planes proved excellent flight performance, but Sukhoi's Su-47 eventually won the contest.
Su-47 "Berkut" ("Golden Eagle") plane is over 25 meters long; the jet's wingspan is more than 15 meters. The peculiar feature of the Su-47 jet is its forward swept wings, which actually gave him the "Berkut" title. The engine of the plane is another peculiarity of the machine - the engine possesses the controlled traction vector. The traction can be changed not only on the axe of the engine, but at an angle to it as well.
The engine of the Russian company Lulka-Saturn is a unique development of Russian engineers, which does not have any analogues in the world. The engine was originally installed on the Su-27 jet, but was subsequently modified for Su-47.
The Su-47 plane will serve as a base, on which new solutions of the fifth generation plane will be tested. Mikhail Pogosyan, Sukhoi's general director, says that the new fighter jet will be a fundamentally new machine, not just a modernized version of the "Berkut."
The pursuit aviation has reached the point, at which the speed requires the absolute precision and attention from a pilot, who hardly has any time to process all the information. Sukhoi specialists think that there is no point to increase the speed further on. "We do not plan the development of aviation technology on the continuing increase of the flight speed. The absence of the future speed perfection will be compensated with a complex of plane equipment and missiles. The ultrasonic speed capacity of the missiles will enable the destruction of even remote targets," Mikhail Pogosyan said.
The controlled traction vector engine of Su-47 will have to be thoroughly modernized. The aerodynamic scheme of Su-47 will undergo fundamental changes as well. Sukhoi's specialists are currently considering an opportunity to use forward swept wings and the front horizontal empennage for the new plane - small wings in the front part of the hull. Mikhail Pogosyan emphasized that the aerodynamic scheme would not repeat the previously discovered solutions: it will be much more complicated.
The 5th generation fighter jet by Sukhoi will be a single-seated aircraft, in which a pilot will have an opportunity to be in full control of the machine with the help of the high-tech equipment.
"Must think in Russian!"
Yup, and it doesn't matter if the new Sukhoi can turn on a dime; it's still limited by the physiology of the pilot. UCAVs should be able to pull sustained 10G+ turns, which the pilot of the Sukhoi won't.
Besides, if the pilot is evading incoming missiles, he's going to be too busy to attack.
"I want him obliterated!"
We've been flying this for over 8 years: 
How about the ABL 747? It should be able to target this supposed 5th generation fighter from 400 miles slant range with 95% or better hit capability. Talk about "over the horizon". Stealth pays dividends at all times.
Sometimes those thrust vectoring engines can cause problems:
An x-wing fighter. Remember from Star Wars?
I know, I know (post #13).
ping.
I don't see any supercruise or stealth technology in this craft. Anyway, the next generation of aircraft will not be manned. It will be the first of the drone generation. You can rest assured this is what the Skunkworks guys have in their garage these days.
They won't replace manned aircraft, but why limit yourself to the human body's limitations. Mach 2.5, 18G turns with computer assisted stability and polymer reinforced airframes.
Once again, the russians are being bottom feeders and are one step behind. The only true advantage they have is in their radar designs in my opinion.
I'll take swarms of evil capitalist drones over some Sukhoi's anyday. :-)
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