OKB MiG was always the darling of the Soviet leadership and OKB Sukhoi somewhat a Cinderella. However, when the USSR fell apart this complacent and cosy relationship with the politburo also evaporated. In the tough years of the early to mid 1990s it was ‘every man for himself’ and MiG simply didn’t have the export orientated products (MiG-29) to compete with Western fighters on the international market. Sukhoi, however, landed on its feet first with a large PLAAF order from KnAAPO (Su-27/30MK) and later developing the Su-30MKI with Irkut for the IAF.

As their order books and coffers swelled they embarked on the S-37 project. Not only was this a (mostly internally funded) technology demonstrator for advanced composite wings (showing-off with FSW), S-ducts etc., it was to capture the attention of the Yeltsin govt. that Sukhoi was more than capable of developing a next-gen. fighter and to persuade the RuMoD to bury the MiG 1.44 once and for all.

Hence, the S-37 was never intended for production, just a hedge that once the 1.44 had been terminated, the RuAF’s 5G (PAK-FA) requirement would be retendered at some time in the future when the Russian Govt. could afford it.
A healthy balance sheet (due, primarily, to the hugely successful Su-30 deals) a tech demonstrator (S-37) and ever increasing political ties (thanks to the shrewd leadership of Pogosyan), virtually guaranteed Sukhoi victory for the T-50.

So, Msphere, the reason for the existence of the one, sole S-37 is entirely Machiavellian in nature.

Yeah, but I highly doubt the KND-924-3 is the first stage (compressor face)….either way, no worries I’m just being over curious.

http://missiles2go.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/img_9427.jpg

08/07/12 @ Severomorsk:

Irbis-E in-flight test video:

http://www.niip.ru/upload/video/ikran%20Irbis.wmv

Fulcrumaholic:

MiG-29K/KUB:

http://russianplanes.net/st/Mikoyan-Gurevich/MiG-29KUB_(9-47)
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraftsearch=Mikoyan-Gurevich%20MiG-29K%20%289-41%29&distinct_entry=true

MiG-29M2/ ‘MiG-35’:

http://russianplanes.net/st/Mikoyan-Gurevich/MiG-29M2_(MiG-35)
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cx=partner-pub-8297169501225184%3Aa05n2n-tzky&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Mig-35&sa=Submit&search_active=1&search=&sheadline=&search_field=datedesc&submit=&siteurl=www.airliners.net%2Fsearch%2Fphoto.search%3Faircraftsearch%3DMikoyan-Gurevich%2520MiG-29K%2520%25289-41%2529%26distinct_entry%3Dtrue&ref=www.airliners.net%2Fphoto%2FRussia—Navy%2FMikoyan-Gurevich-MiG-29K-%289-41%29%2F1635724%2FL%2F&ss=5130j11112176j7

It is easy to hand out brickbats when you are not required to compete in the same field. RFJ may not be made of Pulitzer Prize stuff, but to judge by places I have been him at trade shows, he probably has better access to Russian design bureaus and their senior personnel than you or I have.

Dearest indomitābilis Mercurius, apologies if you found my broadside against RFJ a tad OTT, it’s just that for a correspondent that contributes to some of the most reputable western defence journals, he is susceptible to some eye-watering clangers- but the failings of editorial staff could be to blame.

A case in point was in late 2009 when PAK-FA’s first flight was repeatedly delayed, RFJ reported (in Jane’s iIrc) that Sukhoi’s PAK-FA programme was all but vapourware and that the Su-35BM would have to be re-branded PAK-FA in order for the top RuAF brass to save face! (and no, it wasn’t April 1st). There are others, notwithstanding the one above as he has a bad habit of trying to ‘make’ news (more akin to gossip)when there is none.
Anyways there’s too many examples to get into here.

Having said that, he does appear to have a soft spot for MiG and has been most kind in his assessments of the company despite their huge financial problems for over a decade. Me thinks he got loads of free joy rides on MiGs in the 1990s. :p

TR1, agreed and once we see what’s under that canvass, that may accelerate change.

Austin, I was talking about post 2020 time frame. Note the PAK-FA/FGFA is a heavy, premium stealth fighter that will be beyond the means of many current FLANKER operators, and a medium-class will be required as both an operational necessity and for the post 4G+/ non-F-35 export market

Teer, more likely it will be MiG, as Sukhoi is very busy with T-50 and reportedly a heavy, X-47B class UCAV. Not much is known about the T-50’s FCS apart from that it’s being developed by MNPK Avionika and is called KSU-50, it may end up being some sort of hybrid FBW/FBL for the different control surfaces (at one time the Su-35BM’s KSU-35 was thought to be FBL- I guess replacing electric cables with fibre-optic ones isn’t such a big deal anymore), we’ll have to wait and see.

http://mnpk.ru/production/military-product/

As for AMCA’s engines, I think the Indians will partner with Snecma (watch for an announcement sometime this year):

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showpost.php?p=1865794&postcount=397

though for the Russians and an alternative export option would be a Klimov development.

I much prefer this cool, high security teaser ‘unveiling’ as opposed to the tasteless J-20 ‘power-ranger’ show boating as witnessed during Gates’ visit last January.

Italy, the beauty of mock ups is that they can be assembled locally like a piece of IKEA furniture (or even a non-mock up L-15)- it saves you having to shut down one side of an eight lane motorway. As for the [chinned]nose, it’s design appears to be very similar to the J-20’s though, of course, not dimensionally.

I wonder if this will prompt the Russians (and others) to get into bed with the Indians for the AMCA?