Singapore Airshow 2016: Analysis - PAK-FA's Asian export hopes stymied by lack of 'fifth-generation'

[Zarvan]

Although it looks like a fifth-generation fighter, the T-50 PAK-FA currently lacks many of the systems associated with that class of combat aircraft, and it is doubtful whether they will be incorporated into future production blocks. Source: Sukhoi
The presence of the US Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor at the 2016 Singapore Airshow, and statements from the company about future demand in Asia for more F-35 models to be procured have highlighted the interest in the region for fifth-generation combat aircraft.

A number of air forces have a programme to acquire a fifth-generation fighter, but what qualifies an aircraft to carry that label is a "matter of perspective," a US industry representative told IHS Jane's .

Russian industry has consistently referred to the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA as a fifth-generation aircraft, but a careful look at the programme reveals that this is an 'in-name-only' designation. What qualifies a fighter aircraft as being a next-generation design is more than just having a stealthy-looking shape, said Lockheed Martin representatives.

Previously, Russian defence think-tanks had been projecting that the T-50 would be purchased by Asian nations that were already operating some model of the Sukhoi Su-27/30 'Flanker'-series. This would include Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. China, another major operator of Sukhoi aircraft is developing its own next-generation aircraft in the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31.

Russian specialists familiar with the T-50 programme state that the aircraft will have trouble gaining traction in the Asian market as the on-board systems offer very little fifth-generation technologies despite what is projected to be a considerably higher price tag than the latest Su-35 'Flanker-E', ordered by China and Indonesia.

Both the T-50's NIIP Irbis radar and the NPO Saturn 117S engine that are two of the major subsystems of the T-50 are the same as those installed in the Su-35. Also, a number of the avionics on-board the T-50 and Su-35 are common. Those that will be part of the production-configuration of the T-50 will more likely than not be only incremental or evolutionary improvements over their analogues on-board the Su-35, say the same specialists.

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Singapore Airshow 2016: Analysis - PAK-FA's Asian export hopes stymied by lack of 'fifth-generation' qualities | IHS Jane's 360

 

[dyingtoknow]

Weren't there many here who said the Pak FA is (not will be, IS) the best plane to have ever flown? It was better than the F22, and would blow the F35 out of the sky. In fact the F35 was so useless in comparison to the might of the Pak FA there was no point in even producing the F35 - there was articles coming out every day telling us this fact.

Now comes the reality.

The only reason the Pak FA has not received immense scrutiny and criticism is that Russia is not transparent with the ongoings of the project - if we knew everything about what was happening with the Pak FA as we do with the F35 we'd all see it for what it is - a failed project in the making.

The fact the Pak FA was even compared to the F22 is an absolute insult to the engineering marvel that is the F22. No doubt the F35 will push the barriers further on what a fighter plane can do, in its own way. The f35 will be 2x the plane the Pak FA will ever be (and that's being generous here).

 

[Silicon0000]

what if Someone say that SU35 and T50 are both similar because SU35 is 5th gen minus stealth?

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Isn't India Buying PAK-FA?? The reports didn't Mention India any where??

 

[cerberus]

Both the T-50's NIIP Irbis radar and the NPO Saturn 117S engine that are two of the major subsystems of the T-50 are the same as those installed in the Su-35.

T-50 Uses N036 Beylka AESA
The radar is a part of the T-50's Sh121 multifunctional integrated radio electronic system (MIRES). The N036 radar system is developed by Tikhomirov NIIP Institute and consists of a main nose-mounted X-band AESA radar with 1,552 T/R modules, designated the N036-1-01.and two smaller X-band AESA radars with 358 T/R modules mounted on the sides of the forward fuselage designated N036B-1-01. The suite also has two N036L-1-01 L-band arrays on the wing's leading edge extensions that are not only used for friend-or-foe identification but also for electronic warfare purposes. Computer processing of the X- and L-band signals enable the system’s information to be significantly enhanced

 

[volatile]

It seems US dominance over all over the world will be there for more than a decade .Alas there is no one in the world to come up with even feature of F22 designed and built in 1990s so rest of the world is 25 years behind .Pakistan may be 50 where as India will be 50 (my assumptions are based on fact we were still able to make F17 4th Gen plane design in 1970s where as India even failed to make some thing similar to 1970s fighter). Sorry for off topic but couldnt resist .Hats off to F22 makers and F35 ones as well as if you read about it it lacks more punch in certain areas then F22 only negative point for 5th Gen is payload in Stealth configuration.