‘Russian Stealth’ may gain market supremacy in ten years’ time

13.02.2010, 12.39

By Itar-Tass World Service writer Lyudmila Alexandrova

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The plane’s shape makes it invisible in the optical, infra-red and traditional radar wave bands. …..

Classic

Someone speaking about the fully detailed color 5 view reconstruction? Soon! 😉

awesome illustration

Re the IFR probe in my illustration, it is retractable but shown extended. The two doors on the probe makes me think they hinge up-down rather than being attached to the back of the probe, which is why you cannot see the doors in my illustration. Just a guess though.

Kapedani, thanks for the constructive criticism. I disagree for what it’s worth. I think that the photos clearly indicate that the landing gear retracts into the side of the intake area not upwards into the wing root. The S-bend in my sketch is intended to show as both upwards and laterally, and yes I think it does impede on the weapons bay somewhat.

The cross-section you show is great, but like I said not confident on the wheel arrangement. Also think the three-missiles per door is optimistic. Two missiles (total 8) is adequate. With the arrangement you show the upper missiles have to go rather close to the launch rail of the lower missile when the door is open.

a couple of questions…

a) The L-band radars. Where would they be housed and how big would they be

b) the yellow bits; composites …. grey bits; metal?

c) where are the SRAAMs housed?