Ok, the first pics are out, except it has a cover on it but you can see the overall shape & layout and the canted stabilators, which probably means it doesn't have horizontal stabilizers like we kinda predicted. Looks pretty good so far. Seems longer than I anticipated and tall enough from top to bottom to accommodate internal weapons bays. The intake is probably under belly like the MiG 1.44 and it appears Sukhoi is the chief designer and builder with possibly MiG involved to a certain degree.
It also appears to be a fully functioning aircraft and not a mockup since it's being towed which is a good sign.
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Oleg Panteleev, Executive Director of the branch of the agency “Aviaport”, told reporters:
"All this indicates that the domestic light fighter will enter into competition with the American F-35 in foreign markets."
He added: "I am sure that the display of the aircraft at the MAKS-2021 will have a positive effect. The introduction by Rosoboronexport of inviting more than 120 delegations from 65 countries to the exhibition was not for nothing.”
“The Sukhoi Design Bureau, on its initiative, is conducting research work to create a fifth-generation single-engine light multipurpose fighter aircraft,” the Russian website, Sputnik News, said, citing some sources.
“During the development of the aircraft, it is planned to make extensive use of the basis developed in the framework of the creation of the Su-57, including the modernized “Product 30” engine, radio-absorbent coatings, radio-electronic equipment and a weapons system.
Currently, single-engine fighters are widely used in the world. The American F-16 and F-35 fighters, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen, and the Chinese J-10 are some of the leading single-engine combat aircraft. Among the benefits of equipping combat aircraft with a single engine is to significantly reduce the cost of production, operation and maintenance of the aircraft.
Checkmate as it ill be called:
Quoting an industry source, the news agency reported: “Sukhoi is developing a single-engine light tactical aircraft with a take-off weight of 18 tons. The maximum speed of the aircraft will be above Mach 2. It will also have superior maneuverability and improved take-off and landing performance, thanks to its engine equipped with thrust vector control technology. The thrust-to-weight ratio of the aircraft would be higher than 1.
We can probably also expect some avionics commonality with the Su-57, and thrust vectoring capability, possibly based on one engine. A Divergent Supersonic Inlet (DSI) is highly likely as well, which would simplify the inlet design while maintaining performance and help with reducing radar cross-section from the forward hemisphere.
