Sukhoi PAK-FA / FGFA: Updates,News & Discussions

[1000VA]

 

[S-DUCT]

Interview:General designer "Saturn" Yuri Shmotin
Генконструктор НПО "Сатурн" Юрий Шмотин: "Двигатель второго этапа подарит самолету пятого поколения новую жизнь" / АвиаПорт.Дайджест(Use google translate)

One of the biggest challenges currently facing the Russian aircraft engine is a development of the second stage engine for the aircraft PAK FA (T-50). Most of the work on the creation of this engine performs Rybinsk "Saturn."

About that, at what stage is the creation of the engine, which features the new aircraft will become the "heart" told "Interfax-AVN" chief designer "Saturn" Yuri SHMOTIN.

- Yuri, tell us what should be the engine for the fifth generation fighter aircraft? What are its main features?

- The plane of the fifth generation T-50 is not just a fighter, bomber or attack aircraft. This multi-purpose aircraft. Such aircraft should be given a new "heart", which would make it highly maneuverable, fast, cost-effective and able to withstand such competitors as American F-22 and F-35.

Engine for the fifth generation fighter aircraft will be different from the previous generation increased specific thrust, lower weight, reduced specific fuel consumption and the presence of new solutions for low visibility. In this case, it should be relatively cheap to operate and maintain. "Saturn" is currently working on such an engine.

- What units and aggregates of the new engine is given special attention in the development? What is the greatest challenge for the engineers?

- In aircraft engines, everything is important. One of the most complicated engine components is a high-pressure turbine. We were asked to make a turbine operating at this level of temperature at which the metal nickel alloys just melted. This work was successful.

The heart of an aircraft engine is a high-pressure compressor. Of its level of excellence is directly dependent all basic characteristics of the engine. The amount of detail in the new high-pressure compressor, we have managed to reduce by almost half compared with the previous stage of the compressor, while providing a significant performance increase by one level. The cost of making such a compressor will not exceed the cost of making HPC engine fourth generation. This is subject to the application of new materials and technologies.

Solving these and other problems, we will get to a gas generator with a new level of performance, which will be the basis for a new family of engines. Characteristics of the gas generator units, such as the effectiveness of the ARC, increased on average by more than four percent, and on a number of modes and eight. In fact, it is a revolution in engine, because determines the possibility of the engine with a huge reserve of development for traction.

- What structural materials preferred for a new engine?

- No of new materials is impossible to provide the characteristics that we make to the new generation of CCD. The specialists of "Saturn" is a good experience and the impact of new materials developed by the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM).

First of all, it is, of course, high-temperature nickel alloys spade. Turbine blade - it is a unique product. It is a complex spatial structure, which must operate at temperatures above 2000 K.

There are also proprietary materials "Saturn." We can offer them for a new generation engine. These materials make it possible to increase the half life of the engine at the same temperatures.

Today much is said about the use of composite materials. The new engine for the PAK FA used composites that are based not only on the polymer matrix to the cold part, and parts by the high-temperature compositions. These works "Saturn" is already long enough.

- Do not forget that all new and modern with the time expires. Is there a possibility of the engine created for modernization?

- Of course. Concurrently with the development work on the engine of the fifth generation we build backlog, which will develop the engine is not only ten, but at 30, maybe 50 years.

Today, the "Saturn" conducted extensive research on the development of fifth-generation engine with the use of a technology called "variable cycle engine." The studies, which suggest that a certain transformation engine thermodynamics through design changes can significantly improve engine performance at subsonic and supersonic flight conditions. One of these transformations can be the use of the third circuit. All this is provided.

- How will affect the installation of new engines for flight characteristics of fifth generation fighter? Feel a difference pilot peresevshy the plane with the engine of the first stage on the plane with the engine of the second stage?

- The new engine is fundamentally different from the previous product of the first stage. Of course, the pilot will immediately feel the difference in traction. The plane with the new engine will be more docile and can quickly react to the pilot. In fact,

- Yuri, we know that the PAK FA is already being tested. What engines are equipped with the first prototypes?

Now prototype completed the first phase of the motor, which in engineering circles is known as the product 117. In essence, this is the result of a deep family AL-31, which is installed on the aircraft today the Su-27.

Certainly, it's a great engine, which is a best seller and is built on the fundamental principles and basic ideas of the design office Arkhip Cradles. But this is still the engine stage 4 + +.

 

[S-DUCT]

Update on FGFA.
The Contract to Develop a Sketch and Technical Project of the Russian-Indian 5th-Generation Fighter Was Completed

(Source: Sukhoi Company JSC; issued April 10, 2013)

MOSCOW --- The contract to develop a sketch and technical project of the Russian-Indian perspective multi-functional 5th-generation fighter (PMI/FGFA) was completed. The fighter design was fully developed.

Both parties have agreed upon on the amount and division of work during the research and development (R&D) stage. A contract for the R&D is being prepared. It is to be signed this year.

The agreement on the joint development and production of the 5th-generation fighter aircraft was signed on October 18, 2007 in Moscow at the 7th Session of the joint Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technical Cooperation. It is the largest joint project of the Russian-Indian military and technical cooperation.

In December 2010, Rosoboronexport, Sukhoi Company and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a contract to develop a sketch and technical project of the fighter. In the course of the first stage of the project the Russian side has trained Indian professionals, provided them with the original data and the software to create a single working environment.

The Indian working group of experts has been working in Russia since January 2012 and a group of Russian specialists in India. Both parties exchange the necessary information.

The PMI/FGFA fighter developed by the parties will have some differences from the Russian prototype due to specific requirements of the Indian Air Force.

Sukhoi Company is currently involved in other Russian-Indian joint programs, such as modernization of the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters and adaptation of the Russian-Indian air-to-ground BrahMos cruise missile to the Su-30MKI

 

[SR-91]

@sancho, @Abingdonboy, @S-DUCT, or anyone that knows about Pakfa/Fgfa.

India is about to spend a lot of money to build a jet that has been flying for a while now.
can u plz explain me what r&d are they taking about? Pakfa is almost a developed jet.
which design phase are talking about? The Indian Airforce Fgfa is keeping the same design as Pakfa.Only avionics are being changed to our specs.
Thx in advance

 

[IND151]

India and Russia have crossed the first milestone towards the development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), completing the preliminary design of the plane.

“The preliminary design contract (PDC) for the Russian-Indian fifth generation aircraft has been executed,” Russia’s Sukhoi aircraft company announced on Wednesday.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed the $295-million PDC contract in December 2010 with the Sukhoi company, which is responsible in Russia for developing the PAK-FA (perspective aviation complex-frontline aircraft), as the FGFA is called in Russia.

“The aircraft design has been fully developed,” Sukhoi said in a press release. “Both parties have agreed upon on the amount and division of work during the research and development (R&D) stage. A contract for the R&D is being prepared. It is to be signed this year.”

Under the PDC contract Sukhoi has also trained Indian engineers and provided HAL with the data and software needed to create a single working environment. A team of HAL engineers and IAF experts has been working at Sukhoi’s design bureau in Moscow, while Russian engineers have been assigned to HAL.

Four T-50 aircraft, the Russian prototype of the fifth generation fighter, have already performed more than 200 test flights since January 2010.

The customised FGFA version will have “some differences” from the Russian prototype to meet “specific requirements of the Indian Air Force,” the Sukhoi announcement said.

Russian experts said the FGFA will differ in “mission hardware and software,” as well as weapons. India has dropped its initial plan to redesign the single-seat T-50 into a twin-seat version.

Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne told reporters at Aero India-2013 that India is to receive from Russia the first prototype of the fifth-generation fighter in 2014, followed by two more in 2017 and 2018. The FGFA is expected to go into series production by 2022.

This is India’s biggest-ever defence project and its largest defence deal with Russia. It is expected to cost India more than $30 billion. However, last year India scaled down its original plan to acquire 214 planes by one-third, to 144 aircraft, citing time and cost factors. Russia plans to induct 60 planes at an estimated price tag of $100 million per aircraft.

http://idrw.org/?p=20800

 

[sancho]

@sancho, @Abingdonboy, @S-DUCT, or anyone that knows about Pakfa/Fgfa.

India is about to spend a lot of money to build a jet that has been flying for a while now.
can u plz explain me what r&d are they taking about? Pakfa is almost a developed jet.
which design phase are talking about? The Indian Airforce Fgfa is keeping the same design as Pakfa.Only avionics are being changed to our specs.
Thx in advance

The external design now will basically remain the same, since IAF seems to have changed their mind about the twin seat version, most likely to avoid cost increases and develpment delays. However, what we see today is basially a prototype for the early Pak Fa, that the Russians want to induct around 2015. The final Pak Fa & FGFA will have some design changes, which should include the type 30 engines with new TVN.
The policy change to take the single seat version too, obviously reduces the design participation of HAL, which now should be limited to the addition of new materials, coatings and cockpit designs.

 

[Abingdonboy]

 

[SR-91]

@sancho
Russians are upto their 5th prototype and by 2014 many more will roll out but the first prototype India will get in 2014,which aircraft will it based on?
Will it be based on the Russians 1st PAKFA prototype or will it be based on 8th or 9th (or whatever prototype number they will be flying by 2014)?

 

[Agnostic_Indian]

@sancho
Russians are upto their 5th prototype and by 2014 many more will roll out but the first prototype India will get in 2014,which aircraft will it based on?
Will it be based on the Russians 1st PAKFA prototype or will it be based on 8th or 9th (or whatever prototype number they will be flying by 2014)?

should be based on latest one, going back and starting from scratch doesn't sound logical.

 

[SR-91]

should be based on latest one, going back and starting from scratch doesn't sound logical.

thx.
Ok,so the Russians came out with their first prototype in 2010 and will take six years to fully develop it.
India will receive their 1st prototype in 2014 and will take another six/seven years to fully develop it.
My questions is why India needs to spend six/seven years to make minor changes like more composites,better avionics? The same amount of time the Russians took to go from prototype to production series.

 

[sancho]

thx.
Ok,so the Russians came out with their first prototype in 2010 and will take six years to fully develop it.
India will receive their 1st prototype in 2014 and will take another six/seven years to fully develop it.
My questions is why India needs to spend six/seven years to make minor changes like more composites,better avionics? The same amount of time the Russians took to go from prototype to production series.

Because the T50 takes certain techs from the Su 35 / 35, like the engines, while FGFA and the final Pak Fa will be completely new developed fighters, including a new engine, which is expected to be available only around the time we get our first prototype. Not sure if our first prototype will also have that engine from the start, but as Agnostic_Indian said, we will benefit from the tests and trials the Russians already do with their techs.
Personally I was suprised to hear that we also get 4 prototypes, since I didn't expected so much would be tested after we chose the single seater as well, but at the end it depends on how many changes the FGFA / final Pak Fa will have compared to T50 / first Pak Fa.

 

[SR-91]

then it would be safe to say,FGFA will be radically different than PAKFA/T50.

 

[S-DUCT]

http://hal-india.com/HAL-CONNECT/HAL-CONNECT-ISSUE-65.pdf
from above.

FGFA full fledged production will commence from 2019-2020.

 

[sancho]

then it would be safe to say,FGFA will be radically different than PAKFA/T50.

Not sure if I would call it radically, since the baseline design will remain the same except of the engines and nozzles mainly. The main difference of FGFA are internally and won't be seen just like that.

 

[SR-91]

sancho bro, dont you think these six/seven years India will take is a lot for these changes