PAK-FA: truth and myths. We need a new concept for our combat aircraft
18.02.2012 22:36
PAK-FA: truth and myths. We need a new concept for our military aviation
Just over two years ago, Russia lifted into the air our first fifth-generation fighter PAK FA. The debut of the new Russian aircraft was shown on all television channels around the world. Indeed, it was the first time in 20 years a new warplane since the fall of the Soviet Union was constructed in Russia. However, in addition to cheers and stories about the benefits of the new aircraft that are acting more like a public relations company, analytical articles, there are many professionals and experts both in Russia and abroad that are not so clearly appreciating the Russian know-how. There is no doubt that the PAK FA took off and is now undergoing factory testing - a huge success for the Russian military aviation, but the assessment of the aircraft must be held in an impartial manner, to avoid unnecessary myths and legends. Attempting such an independent analysis is presented below.
PAK-FA: What is it?
What is the PAK-FA in its finished form? In many media as approved by the truth that the T-50 (also known as a fighter), the first since the 80s of the last century, is a radically new aircraft for air superiority which has an original aerodynamic layout that complies with all requirements of stealth technology. It appears this is not true. In the Sukhoi Design Bureau, allegedly veteran of the company this arrangement was considered back in the days when Stealth Technology in the world nobody had even heard of. This was way back in 1974 then in the "one hundredth" department (the department of common species) has been worked out so-called "auxiliary" layout of the Su-27, which was called the T10/12. However, further drawings did not recieve, but despite this it became the basis of T-50. So talk about a revolution in aerodynamic design is clearly not necessary. It is contrary to the claims that came from the Soviet times as a reserve. By the way, a copy of the T-10 aircraft (the index of the Su-27) can now be seen by anyone in the Central Air Force Museum in Monino. If you look closely, the old T-10 looks similar to the T-50 is much closer than with the serial Su-27.
Another interesting point is the inner filling of the aircraft. As you know, at this point PAK FA has a number of contingency systems, and some of it is non-existent (radar, for example). And if the lack of radar during the passage of the first production test can be somehow understood, the presence of an airplane's freelance engine 117M (which was made for the Su-35) leads to some doubt. Moreover, it has been officially announced that the PAK FA program will be divided into two stages. On the ground ostensibly will create the T-50 engine with 117M with many systems (including radar) from the serial production Su-35 fighter. In 2012 or 2013 is scheduled to complete fighter tests with all systems and staff of "Saturn" engine under the mysterious name "Item 129". At the same time it is unclear how the plane (first or second stage) will be put into production in 2015.
All of this seems more than strange, especially amid reports that only in 2016 will be developed the first prototype aircraft engine for the new generation PAK FA, as reported in early February, CEO of United Industrial Corporation "Oboronprom" Andrey Reus. That is it turns out the plane runs on a series of old engines which now stand on the Su-35?
In general, the fighter, as a complex weapons complex, to be called fifth-generation aircraft should be available in all systems of the same fifth generation. In other words, the T-50 fighter, which is now being tested is not a fifth-generation aircraft. It is roughly speaking, not clear what it is. Its characteristics are likely to be slightly worse than the same Su-35, which belong to a generation 4 + +. The only thing that radar cross-section of the new items will be somewhat less due to a special aerodynamic design and the special coating, unless of course it will be applied. As for the 117M engine, which apparently still acting up judging by the incident with the PAK-FA at MAX 2011 is still apparent with them. "Stealth" will not be able to go supersonic without afterburner.
And because of the lack of thrust, the thrust-to-weight ratio is also a big question. Finally, no new avionics in PAK FA will not be able to deal effectively with the American stealth-aircraft (and this is one of its main objectives). In addition, the installation of radar "Irbis" from the Su-35 makes use of missiles on this machine, which, of course are not able to provide solutions to the tasks assigned to the fifth-generation fighter.
The question is, what is the point to test a plane in the absence of standard equipment and avionics, some components of which have not even been invented? And while many "aviation analysts' claim that this machine will allow without waiting for full-time availability engine and other systems that spend most of the trials of the new machine, it all looks at least funny. From a technical point of view to take and replace the single-engine to another plane is not easy and it can lead to serious consequences. In such a situation everything could lead to a crawl - from the alignment of the machine to its dimensions and layout.
Prospects for a new engine is also very uncertain. Once at "Saturn" was working on a fifth-generation engine AL-41F with a maximum thrust of 20 tons under the version of the fighter MiG 1.44 but it and the aircraft itself not brought to reality. But even if the work is going at full speed to develop, debug and staging a series of new engines will require far more than a year. It's not possible by 2016 and may be possible by 2020, we continue to read the tea leaves.
According to experts, the only thing the "Saturn" will try to do is overclocked the 117M engine (option checked the AL-31F) to a maximum thrust of 17 tons Moreover it probably is. But this in turn can lead to a fall in complex flight characteristics of the T-50 and finally which can make the aircraft not ranked as the fifth generation.
Things are no better with other systems for the PAK FA. For example, the design of radar AFAR by NIIP. Tikhomirov for years waged research at their own expense. As is the case today with the financing of this work is unclear. Will there be a sustained period of its testing and mass production? Is our business in this area good to start? It is unlikely they will be able to keep within a very short period of time to develop a series of systems.
Even experts are paying attention to an integrally broken airplane. The aircraft is seen having large losses in balancing lift around the center of gravity. This is another argument in favor of the most important parameter of a new generation of fighter planes - supersonic cruise, or the other - efficiency at supersonic speed - our new fighter is unlikely to be achieved.
Russian invention caused no special enthusiasm here or abroad. In particular, one of the rooms Combat Aircraft is one of the leading international experts in the field of military aviation, John Lake gave his independent view. In his view, the layout of the new fighter jet made by our designers from scratch is a variant of the Su-27, as noted above. He also doubts that by being made of 75% titanium (ie, having a relatively low percentage of structural materials and carbon fiber composites), T-50 will have an equally low radar cross-section like the F-22. But the most important thing in the West questions the assertions of Russian specialists that the aircraft will be using modern electronic equipment. Doubt this will be any more or less as a literate person knows that the Russian electronics industry in the last 20 years virtually ceased to exist and is not able to produce "high-end processors," but even more simple things. Finally, this kind of technology is very complicated to use. Even the Americans are having regular problems with the on-board computer of the F-22 from the operating system restarting when crossing the date-line to the turn off the engine when bombing. It is unclear just what our officials are doing so pompously making hat-throwing statements? Again a cheap PR.
As announced at the top, the timing of launch of production are completely unrealistic Lake said. Export prospects for the T-50, in his opinion, is not very impressive. And it's not that the aircraft will be bad or that it will not be in-demand, but because the Russian aircraft industry simply can not produce such an aircraft in quite a large number will not be able to comply with the delivery schedule of existing contracts. Not to mention the security of machine quality, technical support and spare parts. This is especially true against the background of the officials saying that allegedly by the year 2050 will be produced over a thousand of these machines. And given how we have fulfilled the promises on the issue of civilian aircraft, then it becomes immediately clear. The next myth.
From just above begs the disappointing conclusion. To design the plane, we can even build a few copies but to put it in series production (and hence mass-produce engines, avionics and weapons of good quality for it) is very doubtful.
What is the fifth-generation fighter we need? As you know any weapon designed, tested and sharpened for a certain specific purpose. This purpose or need for any form of arms, all over the world is defined by its military doctrine. In this regard, it is easy to understand why the stealth fighter is wanted by the Americans - to incite a global world order by any means, including military. This is evidenced by the many local wars started by them in the past two decades. Accordingly, the stealth fighters (the fifth-generation fighter aircraft) must be accompanied by their bombers and gain air superiority. In other words, it is sharpened by strike planes. Why does Russia need stealth aircraft, a country which according to our military doctrine is not going to attack anyone. From the lips of the leaders of our country can be heard: we need to achieve parity with the United States. That is, in their opinion, our T-50 - is an adequate response to the creation of American fighters like the F-22 and F-35. An adequate response to any action that does not commit the same action, and a set of measures that will make the initial action useless. In Soviet times, the creation of American aircraft carriers, the Soviet Union responded asymmetrically - created a heavy atomic cruiser with anti-ship missiles and heavy bombers. It seems that in this case, an adequate response to the creation of American F-22 will not create the same characteristics of the machine, and the development of fighter aircraft capable of effectively destroying the Raptor, a fighter that is the fifth generation fighter, and make the plane, similar to the F-22, simply makes no sense. In this regard, the base rate should be made to protect, not attack.
The most important thing for such a machine: it has a radar, able to "pinpoint" stealth aircraft missile systems and quality missiles to shoot down the enemy. By the way, the Europeans have chosen the option of its fighter aircraft. They are not going to, and can no longer financially afford to invest billions in a new "toy". Instead, the majority of European advanced fighter aircraft such as Eurofighter and the Dassault Rafale, is planned for future installation of radar that can "pinpoint" stealth without further ado, these machines will transform into planes that can win the struggle. As the saying goes, "cheap and cheerful." Russia in its original boundaries and the historical orientation of the Armed Forces for defense, the best option would be to go for it this way.
Unfortunately, today's purchasing strategy and design of weapons in Russia do not always adequately reflect the needs of the country itself in these weapons. PAK-FA could be a victim of this policy, and in the presence of the existing problems in the aviation industry, "efficiently out-of-touch", which are carefully masked by colorful PR in the media, the prospects for the domestic fifth-generation fighter look very unique. Of course the PAK FA - the success of the domestic aviation industry, but what is success - real or mythical? I think that time will put everything in its place.
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