Second test flight of PAK FA T-50

2nd flight test of the new stealth fighter

The Sukhoi PAK FA (Russian: Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации, Perspektivny aviatsionny kompleks frontovoy aviatsii, literally "Future Frontline Aircraft System"), is a fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by Sukhoi OKB for the Russian Air Force.

The current prototype is Sukhoi’s T-50. The PAK FA when fully developed is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian inventory and serve as the basis of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA project being developed with India. A fifth generation jet fighter, it is designed to directly compete with Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The T-50 performed its first flight January 29, 2010. Its second flight was on February 6 and its third on February 12.

Sukhoi director Mikhail Pogosyan has projected a market for 1000 aircraft over the next four decades, which will be produced in a joint venture with India, two hundred each for Russia and India and six hundred for other countries.

General 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,[44] definitive version with new engine 157 kN[44] * Maximum Fuel weight: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb)[42]

Performance * Maximum speed: 2,600 km/h (Mach 2.45) (1,615 mph) ; at 17,000 m (45,000 ft) altitude * Cruise speed: 1,300 – 1,800 km/h (808 – 1,118 mph) * Ferry range: 5,500 km[45] () * Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,616 ft) * Rate of climb: 350 m/sec (1,184 ft/sec) * Wing loading: 330(normal) – 470(maximum) kg/m2 (67(normal) – 96(maximum) lb/ft2) * Thrust/weight: 1.4 * Maximum g-load: +11.0 g[42]

Armament * Guns: None on prototype. Apparent provision for a cannon (most likely GSh-301) * Hardpoints: Two internal bays estimated at 4.6-4.7 metres by 1-1.1 metres.[46] . 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