Russian 5th-generation fighter deliveries delayed until 2015

Defense Professionals ^ | 1/20/2010 | Defense Professionals

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Deliveries of fifth-generation fighters to Russia's Air Force will start in 2015 rather than in 2013 as previously announced, the Air Force chief said on Tuesday, according to RIA Novosti.

"In 2013, I hope... the [Sukhoi] PAK FA prototype will be ready and fine-tuned, and we will start deliveries to military units in 2015," said Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin.

A prototype of the fighter made its maiden flight in Russia's Far East on January 29. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said after the 47-minute flight that the first batch of fifth-generation fighters would go into service in 2013.

Russia has been developing its newest fighter since the 1990s. The current prototype, known as the T-50, was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau and built at a plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

Russian officials have already hailed the fighter as "a unique warplane" that combines the capabilities of an air superiority fighter and attack aircraft.

[Ronin]

Even 2015 is unrealistic. 2017 would be more reasonable for a new aircraft like this.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Maybe later. The Russians do not have too much experience in stealth. We have a 50 year lead in stealth.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Shocking...........not.

[Rummenigge]

stealthy in the air.... but who’s the silent master of the sea ?

2 hints:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_XXI_submarine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_212_submarine

[GonzoGOP]

We have a 50 year lead in stealth.

Don't forget the design and mathematics that lead to the F-117 was Soviet. It was just that they didn't think you could actually get an aircraft that shape to fly. The American advantage was in materials science and flight controls, so that it would be light enough to get off the ground and controllable once it was. They have certainly caught up in those two categories.

That being said a decade of development on an aircraft of this type is not surprising. So I was surprised when they were originally talking about having it in production in three years.

[Yo-Yo]

The airframe isn’t the problem, it’s the integrated avionics including the AESA radar, and the new supercruise engines that are pacing development.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Actually, the Germans in WWII were experimenting with stealth technology. The Horten Brothers designed a stealth bomber to attack New York City and a stealth fighter the Ho229

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The B-2 Stealth Bomber and the Horten 229. The are almost identical

[exit82]

Excellent comparison! The Ho229 was the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture. The cylindrical in wing at body engines is a ripoff of the Nazi design.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Actually if the war lasten into 1946, the Amerika Bomber would have been a reality. The Horten Brothers were geniuses and way ahead of their time.The have a HO229 at the National Air and Space museum.

[exit82]

Yes, the Horten brothers were way ahead of their time. They came up with a graphite laden black paint to absorb radar waves—and this is back in 1944!

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Oberst Siegfried Knemeyer who was head of Luftwaffe special technical projects had a special Horten all wing sail plane that he flew.

[Favor Center]

“Don’t forget the design and mathematics that lead to the F-117 “

No. The method of estimating radar cross sections was Russian, not the design.