@Mack8,
that’s an ill approach you try to take there. Every new generation of jet fighters gained weight and that despite miniaturisation of electronics and lighter materials! Why? Because these aircraft are crammed up with increasingly more stuff and the new airframes become more volume efficient. A good example here is the F-15A vs Eurofighter comparison. It’s no secret that the F-15 is significantly larger than the Typhoon about 3.5 m longer, 0.35 m higher, with a 2 m longer wing span and a 6.5 sqm larger wing area. Yet the F-15A’s empty weight is just 12.5 t or in other words 1.5 t above that of the Typhoon! At the same time its internal fuel load is just 5.4 t or ~500 kg higher than that of the Typhoon and that despite its enormous size in comparison!
That the T-50 must be lighter because it’s smaller than the Su-27 is subsequently not really applicable! The F-22 is also smaller than the F-15, but it’s yet about 50% heavier! Do you seriously believe that the T-50 will be magically lighter than its predecessor contrary to ALL other fighters in the world?
Yes i see your point , i actually had in the back of my head some of the issues you posted ( the continuous weight growth), i should have made my point clearer.
Again , it’s all speculation , but its not unreasonable to assume that while smaller than Su-35, the T-50 might end up ( in the initial series , Izd.117 powered version) about as heavy or even heavier than Su-35, but still lighter than F-22.
One of the reasons for my belief is that i find it really hard to believe that the russian designers didnt thought long and hard what kind of airframe and how heavy an airframe they want to build, to compete and even surpass F-22 with the available engines, in ( what they consider to be ) the key parameters.
Would be really interesting when some official weight data would show up for T-50.
My 2 pence.
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