So Otaku, would you know what is on the MKI? NPO Saturn AL-31F @ 12.5 tons or MMPP Salyut AL-31FM1 @ 13.5 tons? Reason I ask is there were reports (ages ago) that the AL-31FP on the MKI was derived from the AL-31FM; some websites actually showed the MKI specs sheet with 13.5 tons thrust. Thanks much.

Also, there are reports saying the upcoming upgrade for the MKI will include higher thrust engines along with an advanced Bars NO11M with Irbis type performance. Not to mention an internal bay. Any news on the ECM suite? My guess is that the 2014 upgrade will consist of the new Bars + Brahmos capability. Better engines, AESA and internal bay will come up during a later upgrade (2025?)

USS.

Weapons bay for the Su-30MKI? I assume it will be between the intakes, but how much can you really fit in there and for what reduction in RCS. Especially at the cost of weight and complexity….

Here’s some pictures I found, one looks like a Photoshop job, the other shows a wind tunnel model of questionable relevance:

http://img3067.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=15570_157_122_459lo.jpg

See red circle. I found this in the MiG-31M image at Paralay’s site:

http://paralay.com/t05/tip_05.jpg

It’s not in the regular MiG-31 image:

http://paralay.com/t05/tip_01.jpg

Could it be chaff/flare dispensers?

The pie graph linked to is a breakdown of US discretionary spending. This is a certain percentage (30% IIRC) of the total US budget which includes both discretionary spending and non-discretionary (obligatory) things such as Medicare and Social Security.

Consequently, the biggest contributors to deficit are things such as the Republicans’ Medicare prescription drug benefit, which was passed as a permanent program with no provision for funding (i.e. 100% deficit spending).

The modified weapons bay of the Berkut seems big enough to carry at least one R-72/KS-172. Anyone knows whether its the R-72 or R-37 that’ll be the ultra long ranged AAM for the PAK-FA?

I did some quick measurements (very rough and some guesswork) and it looks like the R-37 might not quite fit. If the gray line down the middle, flanked by the red marks (warning text?), indicates the gap between the bay doors, it doesn’t appear to be long enough for a R-37. Width wise, two might be able to squeeze side by side (ignoring length).

The bay appears to be a perfect fit for two R-77s side by side. If my guess about the length is correct, you can forget about a KS-172 going in there. I’d love to hear others’ takes. Of course this is all speculative. The length may be arbitrary, and be dictated by the Su-47’s fuselage and how much aerodynamic fairing they could fit before and aft of the bay. If you’re testing out a mechanism and some preliminary attachment system, you could size it for the R-77, do some tests, then scale it up on the T-50, and test out bigger weapons when that aircraft gets built.

I wonder why people don’t paint regular fighters black instead of the dull gray or silver. I would love to see Black Su 30 MKIs 🙂

Like all RAF training aircraft, Tucanos have been painted all black. This high-visibility scheme has been selected as it has been demonstrated that the human eye can pick out black against a background more readily than any other colour.

http://www.ets-news.com/third.php?id=377

That should explain the fear to Iranian S-300PMU2.

I don’t understand. Does the Desert Prowler fear the S-300 or does the S-300 fear the flying wing? How close could a stealthy aircraft such as this get?

😉 PAK FA looks approximately so. The basic racks of the chassis as at Su-34, two-wheeled.

I notice you have changed the attached 3-view. It was a shape which was very reminiscent of the F-22, and is now something more similar to the Su-27.