Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Russian T-50 aircraft flight test.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to India, the Russian state arms exporter “Rosoboronexport” and India “Hindustan” signed a joint development of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) files. Both sides in the next 10 years to develop 250-300 fifth-generation fighter aircraft. □ newspaper Zhuangao/Zeng Hua

“Five machine” Russian-Indian joint

According to Itar-Tass reported on 21 December, Russia and India to determine the FGFA will be the fifth generation fighter PAKFA Russian T-50 prototype, based on the two sides will be completed within 18 months FGFA joint preliminary design, estimated cost of $ 295 million, equal shared by Russia and India. Russia and India, two countries agreed in 2016, developed two versions of single and double. Russia plans to FGFA as a fifth-generation fighter T-50 export version, hope that by 2020 India will be the fifth-generation fighter into the Indian Air Force.

Russian fifth generation fighter development lasted nearly a decade before its first flight, but India’s fifth-generation fighter FGFA development process should be shorter, because the extensive use of T-50 fighter aircraft design. If all goes well, FGFA fighter should be in within the next five to six years to achieve flight, in 2018-2019, the enter mass production stage.

aircraft in accordance with Russian-Indian bilateral cooperation project on FGFA provisions, Russia and India in the next decade the two countries for the Indian Air Force jointly developed 250-300 fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Russia and India did not say “FGFA” cooperation project specific investment amount. Earlier, Indian Air Force chief of staff 普拉迪普瓦 桑特纳亚克 general has said the Indian Air Force from 2017 onwards will buy 200-250 FGFA Five machines have 200-seat and 50 single-seater. India, this will cost $ 25 billion.

performance comparable to the F-22

Although PAK-FAT-50 and FGFA specific information not known, but according to the Russian Air Force sources, FGFA performance with the stealth fighter will have super cruise capability, equipped with a next-generation air-to-ground and air-to-ship missiles, but also the installation of active electronically scanned array radar. Indian Air Force Commander Admiral Naik said in an interview with Reuters, 30 tons of fifth-generation fighter is a variable-mission aircraft, it has a wide range of stealth features to enhance the combat survivability in the process, it will have stronger fatal, 360-degree environment observation, smart weapons, data links, high-end mission computer, and so on.

According to reports, FGFA aircraft first flight will be equipped with 2 production by the research consortium developed the Saturn 117S engines, each engine thrust about 14.5 tons. Follow-up version of PAKFA aircraft will be used by scientific research and production association Saturn or FGUPMMPPSalyut developed a new engine (each engine driving force of 17.5 tons). Currently, there are three Russian companies compete to provide the engine for the project, the final version of the engine will be delivered from 2015 to 2016.

otherwise familiar with the project of the Indian Air Force official said Russian-Indian joint development of fifth generation fighter known as the American F-22 “Raptor” fighter competitors, could be circumvented by advanced radar, from the short runway, and the life time than now when the aircraft longer.

PAK-FA fighter U.S. response to Russia’s fifth-generation fighter F-22 developed, its stealth, aerodynamic performance, the sensor’s precision and ability, cost, maintenance and availability, etc., can and the latter under a high. First, although the F-22 stealth fighter stronger, but the PAK-FA fighter fight in high-altitude capability is superior. Second, PAK-FA fighter also has more weapons and fuel tank capacity. On the operational capability and cost,, PAK-FA fighter is winning easily – F-22 fighters is not only a higher cost, but not easy to maintain, and maintainability of PAK-FA fighter Su-27 fighters over there by the increased. In addition, PAK-FA fighter F-22 fighter costs only one-third.

stimulate neighboring countries

Many military analysts fear that India has launched the fifth generation fighter development project, may set off a new round of the Asian Development Five machine competition. India in aerospace areas lagging behind China, but thanks to PAKFA fifth-generation fighter project, would put India ahead of fifth-generation jet fighters that China will put into use. India’s success may spur China, Japan and South Korea and other Asian countries, more efforts to develop the Five Dynasties machine project.

analysis Reuters UK, India in 2018 after the introduction of the fifth-generation fighter, the air force will have greatly improved, can be alleviated India, India-Pakistan border to the anxiety it brings. New Delhi has been closely following the rapid development of China’s military, worried about Beijing’s long-term strategy in the region will lead to India being surrounded. Indian military commanders have stressed the increased firepower, especially air force firepower, is a measure to deal with this situation. The fifth-generation fighter jointly developed by Russia and India is an integral part of the strategy.

Currently, India plans to spend $ 10.4 billion purchase 126 multi-role fighters, and Russia signed contracts of approximately $ 120 purchase 270 Su-30MKI fighters, has also invested over $ 2 billion has been introduced to upgrade the Su – 30MKI fighters, put $ 3.6 billion into 120 made the “brilliant” light fighter. In the foreseeable future, more than 200 fifth-generation fighter will become the mainstay of India’s air fleet, which will help the Indian Air Force received 44 Squadron troops and more than 792 fighters, playing a brand new Air Force.

By convention, tend to follow the example of Pakistan’s procurement of new weapons, India’s move is bound to take measures to strengthen one’s own strength in order to maintain the military balance between India and Pakistan, which will further deteriorate the security situation in the fragile region .