This AESA radar for the PAK FA has an unbelievable range in excess of ~400 km, surpassing the F-22 Raptor's APG-77(V1-2).
The PAK FA will indeed be the Raptor's ultimate rival.
What do you think?
Posted on 08/31/2009 4:57:07 PM PDT by myknowledge
Russia unveiled the first element of its fifth-generation Sukhoi PAK FA/T-50 fighter during the Moscow MAKS air show, with Tikhomirov's NIIP having exhibited the type's active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
The newly unveiled unit is intended for integration with Sukhoi's heavyweight fighter prototype, which air force commander Aleksandr Zelin says is due to fly in November or December. The aircraft was shown to President Vladimir Putin in its assembly phase during his May visit to the KnAAPO production plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
Tikhomirov says the AESA antenna entered benchtesting in November 2008, and was mated with the radar's other blocks for an initial integration test "this summer". A second example to be produced for an operational prototype of the T-50 will be completed by mid-2010, it adds.
NIIP has not provided any details about the new radar, beyond saying that its antenna contains more than 1,000 solid transmit/receive modules. The design is Russia's second AESA system, following the Phazotron Zhuk-AE being developed for the RSK MiG-35.
Outwardly, the T-50 is believed to resemble the configuration of the US Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-22, and will share design features such as internally carried weapons and supercruise performance. The Russian aircraft will also have an integrated on-board sensor and flight control system which will include several radar antennas to provide a 360° coverage.
Sukhoi will complete five prototypes for initial testing, including two to be dedicated for ground test activities. Initial trials are scheduled for completion in 2011-12, with the company expecting to produce an initial batch of aircraft for operational trials by 2015.
Russia's initial batch of aircraft will be powered by NPO Saturn Item 117 engines, derived from the supplier's AL-31F series. A new engine will be incorporated with later production examples, with this likely to be a design proposed by MMPP Salut and based on the AL-31FM3.
India is also seeking its own version of the T-50 under an agreement with Moscow. This is expected to feature some airframe differences and use Indian avionics equipment.
This AESA radar for the PAK FA has an unbelievable range in excess of ~400 km, surpassing the F-22 Raptor's APG-77(V1-2).
The PAK FA will indeed be the Raptor's ultimate rival.
What do you think?
Pretty darn good, except it won't see the Raptor smoke it.
5.56mm
Will it track the ground coming up real fast at Polish Air shows?
Trouble is we only have 186 F22s, but Russia will produce PAKs by the hundreds or better.
No, that would be Obama
In terms of raw power, I’m not surprised at all. In terms of sophistication and processing capabilities, I’ll wait and see, though I think it likely its capabilities will fall a bit short of current western designs.
just my amateur opinion, of course.
Probably, if they have the money, but from recent exercises, they will need a ten to one ratio.
5.56mm
That some democrat sold the f-22 and Aegis plans to the Russies several years ago.. maybe the Chinese too..
Due to the high level of engineering inherent in a 5th generation fighter, such a plane like this cannot be produced in bulk. This is where the element of produceability falls short. That is what aviation fans, like you and me, fail to notice.
My guess is that the Russian VVS will have ~4 squadrons of Su-50 PAK FAs by the mid to late 2020s, backed up by ~12-15 squadrons of 4.5 gen Su-35s.
I specifically meant the Raptor’s ultimate rival in A2A combat.
” I think it likely its capabilities will fall a bit short of current western designs.”
I work closely with Russians. They have come a loooong way in capabilities and sophistication since the USSR. We’ll certainly have to wait to see if that plays into a radar system built by the Russians as a country, but they certainly do have the talent to pull it off. Gone are the days of Iron Curtain technology. They have come into the 21st century.
“That some democrat sold the f-22 and Aegis plans to the Russies several years ago”
Companies now hire Russians directly in American technology companies. Boeing, itself, has a bunch. No one would need to sell anything. The Russians are simply present to take it.
Thanks for the info. That’s sort of what I’ve been wondering about their capabilities.
What a concept...
OVERT SPIES...
Overt, yep. Many were too young to remember the USSR as it was but most also have loyalties to their respective country from which they hail in the old USSR. It is scary that high technology companies fail to understand that hiring foreigners with access to their intellectual property can be dangerous to their corporations. I have not less than 20 working in an area developing the next generation of line of business technologies critical to the success of the company. Any day now we could hear of a Russian or Romanian company releasing competing technology ahead of us.
Never underestimate Russian engineering. It is their training that is lackluster, and where we hold the edge.
The KGB/SVR and GRU have ways of getting information... and it usually from corrupt Democrats on the Armed Services Committee and from reading MSM sources. There are also a lot of Russian and Chinese moles within the Defense industry here.
A phased array by any other name would smell as sweet.
Why the FBI or CIA? These companies legitimately hired these foreigners. If these companies don’t have the brains to figure out that hiring a bunch of foreigners might result in intellectual property leaving the United States, well, then they are just too stupid to live. These companies will die out.
Frankly, I really don’t think the executives give a rat’s ass. They have made millions and so what if the companies die off. Early retirement. Lots of golf and boats and parties.
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