The production version will have a frameless canopy, according to both Sukhoi and HAL.
Posted on 11/30/2010 12:34:14 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Government of India entered into an agreement with the Russian Government for the development and production of a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft on October 18, 2007 for cooperation in the Joint Development and Certification of Prospective Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft.
The agreement envisages joint production, joint marketing to third countries, sales, after sale support and disposal of aircraft after completion of their life-cycle. Subsequent to this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Confidentiality agreement on July 11, 2008, a General Contract on December 22, 2008 and a Memorandum on March 10, 2010. The estimated expenditure which is likely to be incurred for the programme is yet to be finalized.
The aircraft in service would have maintenance/repair and overhaul facilities in India. The Spares for Indian Air Force will be manufactured by HAL in India. Aircraft System Line Replaceable Units procured from other sources are proposed to be manufactured under Transfer of Technology. The exact details in this regard have not yet been finalized.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri MK Raghavan in Lok Sabha today.
(Excerpt) Read more at india-defence.com ...
Ping
Perhaps we now know why Obama cancelled, or severely curtailed, production of the F-22. Maybe we are about to see a clone that will compete with the F-35.
I am still willing to give the F-35 a chance.
The production version will have a frameless canopy, according to both Sukhoi and HAL.
The production version is also planned to eventually have different engines with low observable 3D thrust vectoring nozzles.
You mean something like what you see on the engine exhaust nozzles of the F-22 Raptor?
I don't think the PAK-FA will feature 3-D nozzles because of stealth considerations--it will probably be up and down vectoring only to better integrate the nozzle with the airframe.
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In either case, Sukhoi claims that it will have two axis thrust vectoring, with differential thrust for roll, giving thrust vectoring in roll, pitch, and yaw, thust the "3D" designation.
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