Russia, China push fifth-generation fighter programmes to meet year-end milestones

[sonicboom]

Russia, China push fifth-generation fighter programmes to meet year-end milestones
By Reuben F Johnson
13 December 2010

This aircraft, like the first prototype, will be flown initially from the Dzemgi aerodrome adjacent to the Komsomolsk-na-Amure Aviation Production Association (KNAAPO) and then, following initial acceptance test flights, it will be transferred to the Gromov Flight Research Institute (LII) in Zhukovskiy.

Sukhoi General Director Mikhail Pogosian said the T-50 will take part in a flight display at the August 2011 Moscow Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) as well as being on static display.

Both prototypes are powered by the same Saturn/Lyulka 117S engines fitted to the Sukhoi Su-35 while a new engine jointly developed by Saturn and the MMPP Salyut plant is in its design phase.

Russian aircraft programmes - even in Soviet times - have often had year-end deadlines to complete first flights that came down to the wire. Sources close to the programme told Jane's that "the end of the year deadline may not be met, but the aircraft will fly very soon - either before the end of 2010 or just after the new year".

The programme designation has been changed and is now officially being referred to as the 'PAK-FA/MI' (MI meaning Mnogofunktsionalniy Istrebitel, or Multirole Fighter).

Russia, China push fifth-generation fighter programmes to meet year-end milestones