Russian 5th generation fighter to fly in 2008

[alyster]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070522/65892313.html

MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's fifth generation fighter will take to the skies by the end of 2008, a first deputy prime minister said Tuesday at a session of a government military commission.

"We are nearing the end of research and development work, and Mikhail [Pogosyan, the head of Sukhoi aircraft maker] confirmed that the first plane will make its maiden flight in late 2008," Sergei Ivanov said.

Ivanov, who oversees industrial development and is seen as a candidate to succeed President Vladimir Putin in elections next spring, said the new fighter will become the mainstay of Russian frontline aviation in the 21st century.

The minister said the new multirole fighter, developed by Sukhoi design bureau, will feature high maneuverability and stealth to ensure air superiority and precision in destroying ground and sea targets.

"The development of a new generation aircraft will certainly boost the authority and competitiveness of the Russian defense industry on global markets," Ivanov said.

Great, they are going to make another version of Flanker 

[Webmaster]

Well, I don't know how much of the original T-50 concept has survived, but my guess is that it will look more like the JSF and F-22 than the Flanker. Or an up-scaled Yak-130 look-a-like.

Fly in 2008....Russian...so that means December 2008 I guess. 

I am curious, can't wait until some more definate design drawings/models are released.

[Gripen]

OMG OMG OMG

what about the Berkut.. or something similar?

[Webmaster]

May 23, 2007

Saturn and Salyut Fight for State Order

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov demanded in a closed meeting yesterday that work on the engine of the fifth-generation fighter jet be speeded up, saying that the lack of the engine is impeding the whole project. New Air Force chief commander Alexander Zelin announced that the first aircraft will have engines made by Saturn. But the Defense Ministry will hold a tender this summer for the development of the engine for the fully finished aircraft, which may give Saturn's competitor Salyut an opportunity to come out ahead.

Sukhoi, the main developer of the new jet, chose Saturn as its partner in 2005. But former Air Force chief commander Vladimir Mikhailov supported Salyut, and the Salyut AL-31F-M2 engine was chosen by the Air Force for use in the jet in December of last year. That use was limited to modernizing Su-27 models, however. Zelin stated yesterday that Sukhoi designed the fifth-generation jet of the first stage around the Saturn engine. The first jet is to take off by the end of 2009. The first stage in the project is the modernization of pre-existing craft, Saturn said, and state financing of the secret project is unofficially said to be $500 million.

The second stage of the project will be the development of a new engine. It will be completed by 2015, with purchases of the engine beginning in 2010 to equip squadrons in the Caucasus and Russian Far East. Industry sources involved in the project have told Kommersant that the development of the new jet will cost $10 billion, with $2-3 billion going for the engine.

A government source said that both Saturn and Salyut's designs are still in the drafting stage and the date of the tender of the second stage will depend on the preparedness of the two participants.

www.kommersant.com

Source: http://www.kommersant.com/p767811/Saturn_Salyut_Fight/

[Viggen]

So who will post the first pictures of this amazing aircraft on Milavia??    Just kidding, hoping more will be released on this aircraft soon. 

[alyster]

If it's maiden flight is in late 2008, when could we expect first deliveries. I doubt they'll have any serious problems with technology such as engines or other things. Only problem would be financing. But the gas and oil prices are high so Russia will probably have the money for it.

[Webmaster]

Well, I don't know, but the article about the engines says the first jet will fly in the end of 2009, so let's say that's the first series produced aircraft, with the prototype in late 2008. The engine article also says purchases of the engine beginning in 2010 to equip squadrons, that would signal full-scale series production. Which makes sense with state trials running for a year in 2009 with the initial series. So based on that, I'd say 2010.

But, then I would add at least 3 years to that estimate  considering possible delays in development, testing, production and funding. But with the JSF also estimated to be (properly) delivered in those years 2012-2015, they wouldn't have done too bad on their development cycle.

[Gripen]

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