I wonder if the 31BM’s ‘new’ radar is the Bars with the new antenna?

Ukraine based RuNavy Su-24:

Haavarla made me do it:

:diablo:

Arthur’s paradise:

From left: Tu-22RDM; -22Y; -22KD; -22PD, @ Engels 08/10.

Zelin ‘details’ timeline for flight test programme:

2010- 1 more prototype to commence testing;

2011-12 final prototype batch delivered (iIrc 2 aircraft);

2013- contract will be signed for 10 pre-production/EMD aircraft for RuAF trials @ Akhtubinsk & Lipetsk;

In all, 14 aircraft (excluding KNS) should complete ~3,000 flights for series production to commence ~2016;

I read somewhere ~$1bn has already been spent from the federal budget with a similar figure required to complete the initial flight test programme (3 flying prototypes ’till the end of 2013);

AW&ST reported the Indians estimated the cost of the FGFA @ $8 billion, but was unclear as to whether this was to be the Indian Govt. contribution and during what stage.

http://www.avia.ru/press/16664/

Any corrections/additions welcome.

*The federal $1bn figure excludes the significant sum expended by Sukhoi (private cash) post 2003, and the substantial re-tooling @ KnAAPO and other facilities. Also, the PAK-FA programme is believed to have full federal funding ’till 2015.

Quite Eurofighter-esque taper on ‘902’s nosecone:

😀 I don’t know why this needs to be said 3 times, in 2 days, but the point of the S-duct is NOT to cover the engine face. Radar waves do NOT behave like light waves. If you can’t see it, doesn’t mean radar waves care…

It really only ought to demonstrate to you that you have no idea what I’m talking about. The issue with skin deformation caused by the assembly process and daily wear-and-tear, is that it will reflect radar waves back in unpredictable and uncontrollable manners and directions (similar to the way it does with light waves). (not to mention the possibility of applying any sort of RAM treatment on that thing!)

(Personal insult removed by moderator – see posting above!)
kapedani kontradiction 🙁

Poor little old Russian companies like Transas have obviously no ability to cobble together some COTS parts and turn them into avionics.

The PAK-FA was designed with the latest CFD/CAD packages sourced from Europe & the US i.e. more recent, capable & predictively accurate versions than those used on the F-35. Most probably the reason why they’ve had the confidence to open-up the flight test regime quite so quickly.

It was built and assembled using precision-machine tools imported from Europe & Japan (e.g. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries fabs- as per Dreamliner) as such, the T-50 is the most contemporary ‘White World’ design in existence.

Imho, Thales bits ‘n pieces will find their way onto RuAF PAK-FAs (Franco-Russian defence ties are coming on leaps & bounds), most probably for an EO DAS type system- take note Quadbike. It is inconceivable that the avionics kit of customised export PAK-FAs will be superior to the domestic version.

Can you point out where Pogosyan has said/behaved in this manner?

Late last year he said (or let slip) the initial batches of IAF T-50s would differ in software source code only, more recently he’s become very vague & elusive on the 2-seater FGFA. Then the contractual signature dates kept slipping and at Farnborough last month he was quoted as saying he doesn’t see the need for an additional agreement per se, and the contracts will be signed in the autumn. Check the AW&ST archive, I’m sure Abhimanyu would add some masala to the articles.

The Russkies aren’t afraid of the Indians running to LM- they know it won’t happen. Having said that, Pogosyan’s a pragmatist he’s known for a long time MMRCA is lost. The T-50 is his company’s crown jewel- it requires no ‘hard sell’ :diablo:.

Indians obviously chose to pay for the T-50, they surely know why.

The Russkies are squeezing the Indians very hard on the T-50, they appear to be renaging on past public announcements- despite no contractual agreements being signed. Even Pogosyan has been uncharacteristically bullish with his ‘you’ll get licensed assembly and you’ll be grateful- take it or leave it’ tone, he knows so long as the T-50 is price competitive with the F-35, his posture is safe. Incredibly, LM has made no effort to capitalise on the confusion.

Why? because the Russians know (barring the F-22) the T-50 will have no equal in A2A combat and the Indians realise this because they’re privy to far more data on the project than anyone else. The customised T-50-MKI stuffed full of Russian, Indian, Western & Israeli sytems will have their MoD guys bouncing-off the walls with glee.