Posted on 02/01/2010 9:31:05 PM PST by myknowledge
On March 29 of last year (2009), DefenseReview published a story stating that we disagreed with the cancellation of the F-22 Raptor program, and calling for at least 1,000 Raptors, total, to be built and fielded. This is because we knew that advanced Russian and Chinese Gen 5 (5th-Generation) fighters have been under development for quite some time, and will likely pose either a grave military threat to the United States or undermine our power around the world when dealing with Rogue Islamic states/countries.
Well, three days ago, the AFP and other international news sources reported that the Russians have just test-flown their latest 5th-Gen, low-observable/stealth fighter aircraft, the Sukhoi PAK FA ((Prospective Aviation System of Frontline Aviation) prototype, called the T-50, for 47 minutes. Under development since the 1990s, the PAK-FA/T-50 is billed by the Russians as matching up well against the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. “It’s going to be no worse than an F-22. I’ve been in an F-22 and I know,” said Anatoly Kornukov, ex-commander of the Russian air force.
Like the F-22, the PAK FA Sukhoi T-50 fighter is capable of supercruise, and should significantly outperform all of our 4th-generation fighters like the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 series aircraft.
The PAK FA Sukhoi T-50 is scheduled to be fielded in 2015, so let’s hope that all of our F-22s are at least outfitted with a helmet targeting system like the Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) or a helmet similar to the VSI F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), allowing F-22 pilots to target enemy fighters with off-boresight missiles like the AIM-9X Sidewinder and at long range with beyond-visual-range ramjet missiles like the MBDA METEOR BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile).
God only knows how many PAK FAs the Russians are going to build, so let’s also hope that 187 Raptors are enough. For the record, Defense Review doesn’t think 187 is NEAR enough–not even close. Unfortunately, we’ll probably find out who’s right, us or Secretary Gates, eventually. We sincerely hope he’s right. If we’re right, and war eventually breaks out, the U.S. military, and specificaly the Air Force, may very well be in for a rude awakening, finding itself at the losing end of a numbers game where swarming tactics, a ruthless game of attrition, and distinctly-Russian chess-like strategy are utilized by the Russians and Chinese militaries. Oh, and good luck defending our huge and very visible multi-billion dollar (above-the-surface) aircraft carriers, ’cause we’ll need it.
Russia has now flown its answer to the United States F-22 Raptor for the first time.
Hope the USAF has enough of these Raptors to counter the PAK FA when it reaches operational service with the VVS ~2015-16, and with the necessary tech upgrades, like an HMD and IRST.
The F-22 was canceled.
The PAK FA was expected use a pair of Saturn 117S engines on its first flights. The 117S (AL-41F1A) is a major upgrade of the AL-31F based on the AL-41F intended to power the Su-35BM, producing 142 kN (32,000 lb) of thrust in afterburner and 86.3 kN (19,400 lb) dry. In fact, PAK FA already used a completely new engine in its first flight, as stated by NPO Saturn.[40] The engine is not based on the Saturn 117S. The engine generates a larger thrust and a complex automation system, to facilitate flight modes such as maneuverability. Exact specifications of the new engine are still secret.[41]
The first flight video shows that PAK-FA has no conventional rudders, its vertical tails are fully movable[42]. This special tail fin design is mechanically similar to V-tails used by the Northrop YF-23 in 1990s[43], but is supplemented by dedicated horizontal stabilators (as on the F-22).
Specifications Because the aircraft is in development, these specifications are preliminary and are taken as estimates from the available images. Data from [44] [45]
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (Indian variant seats 2)
Length: 22 m (72 ft)
Wingspan: 14.2 m (46.5 ft)
Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft)
Wing area: 78.8 m² (848.1 ft)
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 of 175 KN each[40],[46]
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)
Range: 4,000-5,500 km (2,500-3,100 miles)
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
Armament
Guns: 1x30mm
Hardpoints: 4 internal, 6 external for R-74M Archer and R-77M Adder missiles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_PAK_FA
America has much bigger threats in Washington DC. Including Muslims bowing to mayors because she is a good friend of CAIR aka Saudi Arabia.
The russian plane looks like a combo of an F-15 and an F-22 with a Mirage nose aka a mash up.
I remember the days when the only photos you saw of Russian aircraft were blurred or as grainy as a beach.
While I think we should have had quite a few more Raptors you have to realize its generation is going to be much shorter than many think. After the f-22/f-35 cycle the major air superiority craft will be unmanned. Keeping the pilot alive and well takes too much out of the performance.
Who knows what is lurking out in area 51...
The Hawaii ANG's 154th Wing would be the last USAF unit to receive the Raptor, and it will be joined by the reactivated 531st FS 'Black Hawks'.
Adolf Hitler thought of his 'wonder weapons' (German = Wunderwaffen) in a desperate bid to win WWII at the face of imminent defeat at the hands of the Allies.
Russia has no shortage of comedians.
LOL... actually I’m sure if the SHTF for real we could produce something in a few months that would take out the f-22 and pak-4a like nothing else.
Thanks to Obama’s speaking skills however we all know war is a thing of the past.
He's a lyin' commie.
The Raptorski has a radar cross section of half a square meter.
The real Raptor has the radar cross-section of an insect or small bird, at the most.
And the fuel to run them. I recall watching old documentaries in High School where mules would be towing a jet out to the runway to conserve on fuel.
The truth that should be apparent is that the Russians and others can produce weaponry for far lower costs than we can. Their contractors are not the same kind of corporate-government, entitled elite—bosses over all.
We need the big default and new leadership at every level of business, academia and politics, before international hostilities get any more complicated. Then we can have military forces capable of dealing with the probable, high intensity conflicts of the near future.
The PAK FA made its first flight without any RAM applications.
I bet that its ~0.5m2 RCS is only for the front quarter. Also, its compressor blades are partially exposed.
Racketeering.
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