Sukhoi T-50

The Sukhoi T-50 is a russian fifth generation fighter developed by Sukhoi Aviation in the PAK FA project, designed to compete with the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II in the international market, the T-50 isn't fully developed, but he is planned to replace the MIG-29 Fulcrum and the Su-27 Flanker.

Description
After the release by the U.S. aircraft with the capacity to evade enemy radar, appearing with a minimal radar signature, the Soviet Union began his studies on what would be called fifth-generation fighter. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 meant that most projects that were in development ended abruptly. Part of the industrial structure and technique that was saved was in Russia, and was used to initiate an attempt to keep at least part of which had been adrift. One of the projects given priority was to develop a new aircraft for the Russian air force, trying to follow the path suggested by the Americans, developing large-capacity aircraft with stealth before the enemy radar. The first flight of the aircraft known as Sukhoi T-50, and that is the result of a program called PAK-FA ' Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsy 'or' Study of aerial system for frontal aviation took place on January 29, 2010. Several hypotheses have been initially presented as' concepts 'to the Russian authorities. The variety of artistic visions that went to press, was a mirror of the wide variety of options that presented themselves.

Among the issues to be resolved by the Russian authorities, was the degradation of productive structures and industries related to defense. The production of a revolutionary aircraft, which had been studied for example in the form of Su-47 Berkut was not only too expensive, and above all would take a huge development. Placed within this dilemma, the Russian authorities approved in 2006 a project design PAK -FA would become the final draft , from which the aircraft will be developed to the stage of production. Apparently, the base configuration of the PAK -FA, based on the Su-27 Flanker, very changed. The option was the most logical view of the known difficulties in Russia. When you choose the configuration that was shown at the end of January 2010 the Russians have opted for an aircraft on Stealth, but that will not fail to mark the presence in the Russian market. The new engine used by the aircraft, is the 117S, a derivative of AL-31 engine. This is an already traditional in Flanker aircraft type and is known to be extremely spender, because of the high performance aircraft. But an aircraft with less speed and enhanced for the 'concealment' spend less and need less fuel.

The exact power of the engines is also unknown. Most data points to a power 29000kgf. In any case it is certain that the plane will be capable of 'supercruise, that is the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound, without triggering the post-combustion systems, which greatly increase the consumption and make the plane very more "visible". The maximum speed of an aircraft Stealth is not the most important factor. The Su-27 has been 'refined' so as to take advantage of the power of their engines, but the PAK/FA has to contend with other problems such as the aircraft configuration to reduce the radar signature. Both are difficult to reconcile. Typically, the aerodynamic enhancement leads to better performances, but the improvement to reduce the silhouette in the enemy radar is not the best in terms of aerodynamics. Preliminary data released by the Russian press, to indicate that the aircraft will have less autonomy maximum ( 5.500 km to 8.000 km against the Su-27) also point towards a lower aerodynamic efficiency, greater effort of the engines. The value of 5.500 appears to be very conservative, especially considering that the aircraft must have a maximum.

The reduction in the autonomy of the PAK-FA but should not be just the aerodynamics, but the need to carry weapons inside compartments that are blocked when the plane flies. The space that hold these magazines, will reduce the available space for additional fuel.

Operators

 * Russia
 * Russian Air Force:
 * India
 * Indian Air Forces: Presumed to brought 200 T-50 when the proction starts

316px-PAK-FA_diagram.jpgal characteristics

 * Crew: 1
 * Length: 19.8 m (65.9 ft)
 * Wingspan: 14 m (46.6 ft)
 * Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft)
 * Wing area: 78.8 m2 (848.1 ft2)
 * 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 and FNPTS MMPP Salyut of 175 kN each. Prototype with AL-41F1 of 147 kN each, definitive version with new engine >157 kN[
 * Maximum Fuel weight: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb)

Performance

 * Maximum speed: 2,100 km/h (Mach 2) (1,305 mph) ; at 17,000 m (45,000 ft) altitude
 * Cruise speed: 1,300 km/h (808 mph)
 * Ferry range: 5,500 km (3417 miles)
 * Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,616 ft)
 * Rate of climb: 350 m/sec (68,900 ft/min)
 * Wing loading: 330(normal) - 470(maximum) kg/m2 (67(normal) - 96(maximum) lb/ft2)
 * Thrust/weight: 1.19
 * Maximum g-load: 10-11 g

Armament

 * Guns: 2x 30mm GSh-30-1
 * Hardpoints: Two internal bays estimated at 4.6-4.7 metres by 1-1.1 metres . Other sources suggest two auxiliary internal bays for short range AAMS and 6 external hardpoints

Avionics
N050(?)BRLS AFAR/AESA built by Tikhomirov NIIP and based on Tikhomirov NIIP N035 Irbis-E. It will be the second aircraft based AESA Radar to be built by Russia, the first being the Phazotron NIIR ZHUK-A Radar in the MIG-35.

Designed armament
Two Izdeliye 810 Extended beyond visual range missiles per weapons bay. Multiple Izdeliye 180 / K77M beyond visual range missiles. K74 and K30 within visual range missiles can also be carried. Two KH38M or KH58 USHK air-to-ground missiles per weapons bay. Multiple 250–500 kg precision guided bombs per weapons bay, with a maximum of ten bombs in internal bays Other possible loads include one 1500 kg bomb per weapons bay or two 400 km+ range anti-AWACS weapons on external hard-points. A maximum weapons load of 7500 kg is reported.