Date Posted 29 January 2010

Sukhoy Discloses Exterior View of PAK FA

The Russian Sukhoy company has shown the exterior view of the PAK FA fifth generation future fighter, known also as the T-50 and Article 701. It happened soon after the airplane's first flight took place at the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association. As has been reported, the first flight test proceeded successfully.

As seen in the photo, the airplane has been constructed in accordance with a normal aerodynamic shape. The engine nacelles are spaced relative to each other, and the air intakes are located beneath the fuselage. The wing has a triangular shape ((a delta wing design)) which allows the airplane's maximum maneuverability at supersonic speeds. The two all-moving fins are deflected somewhat away from the longitudinal axis.

The technical characteristics of the future fighter still have not been declassified. Preliminarily, the airplane will be able to develop a speed up to 2,600 kilometers per hour and make flights to a distance up to 5,500 kilometers. There can be ten suspension points installed on the PAK FA in covered bomb bays ((sic)) and two more additional external pylons.  Preliminarily, the fighter will be armed with one or two 30-milimeter cannon.

The PAK FA, under development by the Sukhoy OKB since the 1990s, has been executed using stealth ((STELS)) technology, which will allow lowering the fighter's observability in the optical, infrared and radar wave ranges. The airplane also will be distinguished by high maneuverability and will be able to take off and land on runways 300 - 400 meters in length.

Source: 29.01.10, Lenta.RU

First Flight of Fifth Generation Fighter with New NPO Saturn Engine Ends Successfully

The first flight of the fifth generation airplane - the future tactical aircraft aviation complex (PAK FA) took place today at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur with engines developed by OAO NPO Saturn.

The flight proceeded successfully and the prototype spent 47 minutes in the air. Honored test pilot Sergey Bogdan piloted the airplane.

Findings for the first flight the fifth generation airplane with the new engine were obtained after completion of the necessary amount of tests on a flying laboratory.

((As can be expected, there are numerous articles today about the first flight, including prospects for the aircraft, India's inclusion in the project, and how the airplane should be superior to the U.S. F-22.  While there are two articles translated here today from late yesterday discussing somewhat different aspects of the program, only articles discussing further tests or revelations will be translated.))

Source: 20.01.10, NPO Saturn

Engine for Fifth Generation Airplane Successfully Undergoes Tests

On 21 January, in the Moscow suburb of Zhukovskiy, the first flight of an Su-27M flying laboratory with the engine intended for the fifth generation airplane took place.  The flight lasted 45 minutes and was successful; there were no criticisms in the operation of the engine. A complex of special and service life tests was made in assuring the start of the engine's flight, including a principally new automatic control system.

Findings for the first flight of the fifth generation airplane with the new engine were obtained after completion of the necessary amount of tests on the flying laboratory.

Source: 28.01.10, Avia.RU

First PAK FA Flight Put Off for Day

The first flight of the Russian fifth generation fighter was put off for a day, the Rosbalt agency states. The flight was put off without specification of the reasons, they announced at the Far East air and air defense force Far East headquarters.

It earlier had been reported that the new fighter (the T-50) was supposed to make its first flight on Thursday, 28 January. The fifth generation fighter already has undergone first tests.

Ground taxi runs in December 2009 were made successfully. The Khabarovsk Kray governor, Vyacheslav Shport, then announced that inasmuch as the first taxi runs of the airplane showed good results, a decision was adopted to lift the airplane into the air at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur, and not transport it to Moscow for tests. Series production of the new combat aircraft also will be unfolded at Komsomol'sk-on-Amur.

Source: 28.01.10, Avia.RU

Cuba Intends to Obtain Three An-148 Airplanes

((Title says it all.  Not further translated.))

Source:  29.01.10, Aex.RU

Date Posted 28 January 2010

Flight Tests of Fifth Generation Fighter to Take Place in Next Few Days

The first flight of the future tactical aircraft aviation complex (PAK FA) will take place before the end of this week, the Interfax agency reports.

Ground taxi runs of the airplane have been successful. It is technically ready for flight tests which will take place according to the actual weather in the next 2 - 3 days.

The first PAK FA flight tests will be at the Komsomol'sk-on-Amur Aviation Production Association (KnAAPO).

Source: 27.01.10, Avia.RU

Bad Weather Interferes with T-50 Fighter Tests

Bad weather may have been the reason tests of the modern  Russian-manufactured T-50 fighter were put off, the Rossiya 24 channel reports. Official representative of the air and air defense forces Far East headquarters still have not made any comments about why the airplane has not made a test flight.

It has not been ruled out that the test flight, put off until Friday, also may not be taking place because of bad weather conditions. One is reminded that the future tactical aircraft aviation complex (PAK FA), an ultramodern fighter, has already undergone the ground part of the tests. The airplane has performed taxi tests at the Dzemgi airfield in Komsomol'sk-on-Amur. The PAK FA flying example being developed by the Unified Aircraft Building Corporation it to replace such models as the MiG-29 and Su-27, and also be a worthy counterpart to the American F-22 "Raptor."

The Sukhoy design bureau has been participating in the fighter's development, where they have given it the design designator of T-50. According to specialists, the PAK FA meets all requirements for fifth generation airplanes: economic to maintain, it develops supersonic speed without afterburner, maneuvers in high G-loading conditions, and also ultramodern intellectualization of the aircraft.

The fighter's maximum speed will be nearly 2,100 kilometers per hour and it will be able to make flights to a distance of nearly 5,000 kilometers. "Stealth" ((STELS)) technology is used on board the airplane.

Source: 28.01.10, RBK

Date Posted 27 January 2010

Mil' Resumes Heavy Transport Helicopter Development

The Moscow Mil' Helicopter Plant has begun development of a new heavy helicopter, based on the Mi-26 multirole transport, the largest in the world, EquipNet reports. The technical characteristics of the future Mi-46 still are not being reported. In parallel with creation of the new aircraft, the Mil' OKB will upgrade existing Mi-26.

It must be noted that Mi-46 development had already been underway in the beginning of the 1990s; however, it was stopped inasmuch as the project was acknowledged to be unwise. According to Russia's ministry of civil aviation technical assignment, the Mi-46 was supposed to combine the functions of a transport helicopter and a flying crane.

According the calculations, the Mi-46's weight should have been 30 tonnes. For comparison, this figure for the Mi-26 is 56 tonnes. The new helicopter was supposed to develop a speed greater than 270 kilometers per hour, and its flight range was 750 kilometers. They came to the conclusion during development at the Mil' OKB that it would be more effective to create two aircraft instead of one - a transport helicopter and a flying crane.

Source: 27.01.10, Lenta.RU

Klimov to Create Innovative Complex

The Klimov company will build a design and manufacturing complex (KPK) of an innovative type. An Oboronprom unified industrial corporation design committee has approved the KPK project.

The project is unique and the most modern for our country's aviation industry. It is not supposed to be inferior to world leaders in all parameters. The first new generation design bureau for the development of aircraft engines will be created within its framework. Powerful intellectual, test and manufacturing bases will be united in the same area. The KPK will be built at one of the Klimov production facilities in Shuvalov. Its creation has found support in the St. Peterburg administration. The amount of investments in the project is 3.8 billion rubles. The cost recovery period is nearly 7 years.

Source: 27.01.10, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur'er

TsSKB-Progress to Begin Static Tests of "Rysachok" Airplane in 2010

The Central Specialized Design Bureau-Progress ((TsSKB-Progress)) State Scientific and Manufacturing Missile and Space Center (Samara) plans to conclude construction of three prototypes of the multirole twin-engine "Rysachok" airplane in 2010 and begin the aircraft's static tests, the company's deputy general director for scientific operations, Professor Sergey Tkachenko, has reported to AviaPort.

He specified that the stand for the static tests will be built at the TsSKB-Progress plant.

TsSKB-Progress is working on the creation of the "Rysachok" airplane together with the developer - the Tekhnovia Scientific and Commercial Firm (Moscow).

The lightweight twin-engine "Rysachok" turboprop airplane is intended mainly for use as a graduate training airplane ((advanced trainer)) at Russia's civil aviation flight schools. Moreover, the airplane can be used for aerial operations.

They will install two TVD Walter M-601F on the "Rysachok" airplane. The airplane is intended for carrying passengers with baggage or freight weighing up to 1,750 kilograms. Flight cruising speed is 250 kilometers per hour. Practical flight range will be nearly 2,000 kilometers. Length of the cargo hold is 4.4 meters, width is 1.5 meters and height is 1.56 meters.