Possible photoshops!!
Posted on 08/03/2006 8:27:25 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Indo-Russia joint stealth fighters programme flies into turbulence
Shiv Aroor
Posted online: Friday, August 04, 2006 at 0000 hrs
NEW DELHI,AUGUST 3: A team from Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and Irkut gave a detailed classified presentation to the Defence Ministry on Thursday on its fifth generation fighter concept, but discrepancies have already begun to surface between New Delhi and Moscow over the proposed multi-billion dollar joint programme to develop and produce advanced stealth fighters for both countries in the next decade.
In essence, South Block has communicated to Moscow that the Russian fifth generation fighter programme, designated PAK-FA, is already at an advanced stage of design, which effectively negates the aspect of ‘‘joint-development’’ and has asked it to come up with a more ‘‘equal’’ proposal.
The Sukhoi-led consortium’s concept, based on the PAK-FA, is being pitched vigorously to India as part of a protocol signed by the two countries in 2004 to build a fifth generation fighter.
In fact, the government plans to tell Moscow in December at the sixth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Government Commission that if billions of dollars are to flow from the Indian side for the joint project, Moscow needs a partner because its budget will not allow it to develop alone, then the IAF and HAL must be on board from scratch, so that the aircraft platform incorporates IAF operational needs as well.
The fifth generation joint project is still a futuristic one, though it was clear from Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s comments in Parliament today, that the government is taking strong note of lessons learnt from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme for its other proposed project, the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA).
‘‘For expediting development work on MCA, government may consider collaboration with friendly countries,’’ he said. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bangalore has already begun to conceptualise the MCA, possibly as India’s fifth-generation platform. The only operational fifth generation fighter right now is the American F/A-22 Raptor, with the F-35 Lightening II set to make its first flight this year.
At the most basic level, the wish-list that the IAF has for a fifth generation fighter, which should ideally begin flying operationally between 2015-2020, includes comprehensive stealth, a single engine, supercruise capabilities, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) combat radar and swing-role capabilities that allow seamless switching between air-to-air and air-to-ground modes inflight. This of course is in addition to the capability to operate entirely beyond visual range (BVR) of the enemy and perform short take-offs and landings.
shiv.aroor@expressindia.com
Possible photoshops!!
They cannot come to agreement on the curry/vodka fuel mixture.
By the time they get it up and running, we'll have flying gravity saucers. LOL
Most of the images of the PAK-FA are photoshopped versions of the Raptor or F-35.There have been few reliable pictures about the type since people aren't even sure about it's basic specs(twin engines vs single).
three words........
Russian Quality Assurance
closeki enoughski burp hic
He he heee
cool images!
Most of the research on the Pak-Fa was done between Russia and China. The Chinese version is the J-xx.
India was promised alot in the program, but was shafted because China gave a better deal and is a closer ally of Russia (as of now). Also, Russia is pissed off that India may get access to the F-35 program.
There has been little proof to show that the PRC has had anything to do with the Russia on the PAK-FA.They'd rather take Russian assistance on their high-end products like the J-10,J-XXX or N-subs rather go for joint collaboration.The J-xx is supposedly 2 engined while the PAK-FA may probably be single engined.
About possible Indian access to the F-35,well that would be all the more reason for Russia to woo India back!!
The only nation that has had some concrete involvement with the Sukhoi project is France.I think they are involved in developing some of the avionics on it.
Doesn't look that stealthy to me considering the intakes form a flat horzintal plane which radar is going to love.
I believe that we have promised the Indians the F-35, and that India would rather have that than some half-hearted Russian promises.
LM has offered India the F-35 in more of an informal manner with little of proposals.Going at the current rate,India will probably decide on a 5th gen fighter only after 2010-be it the Russian jet or the F-35.
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