Light Multi-Role Tactical Aircraft - 2010
The Russian defense industry lacks a small affordable fighter that can be supplied to countries that cannot afford the export version of the T-50 / Su-57. Countries that in the past purchased MiG-21 or various Chinese copies of this aircraft. However, among those with whom Jane's representatives in Russia managed to communicate, there is an opinion that the development of this type of fighter could be a repetition of the scenario with the Sukhoi Superjet airliner: a lot of money was spent (with a rather mediocre return) in an attempt to copy something already existing on the market, although it was much easier to organize their licensed assembly in Russia (in the case of the Superjet, I mean the Embraer E-Jet series). When I discussed this program with people I knew who were directly working on it, I told them that the plane that they are trying to create and build in Russia already exists and flies in several countries. It's called the Gripen,” added Jane's interlocutor.
Proponents of the project defend it, arguing that it would have been inexpensive, since it would have used a significant amount of existing technologies. For example, the RD-33 Klimov / Sarkisov jet engine, which is already in use on the MiG-29. As of 2014, the project was still a “paper airplane, existing only in sketches,” says a specialist. “This program also lacks external funding. So far, the development is fully paid by the company itself. ”
Like the US Air Force, the Russian Air Force (and the earlier USSR) tried to have a balanced fleet of heavy twin-engined aircraft gaining air superiority and light interceptors that complement them. To maintain such a structure, you need to form a heavy component of the T-50, and the fleet of light fighters, that is, the MiG-29, is also replaced with something - just like the F-35 replaces the F-16.
“Small countries with a limited budget may well do without heavy fighters like the Su-30, they are quite suitable for the MiG-21, MiG-29 and the possible continuation of this line. Most likely, the situation is unlikely to change in the future. For example, at the moment India is planning to begin assembling a hundred light fighters under a foreign license, choosing between the American F-16, the Swedish Gripen and the Russian MiG-35. At the same time, it should be noted that the MiG-35 can rather be attributed to middle-class fighter jets, ”says air expert Vladimir Karnozov. This means that in the future RAC "MiG" may be engaged in the creation of a lightweight and, possibly, single-engine fifth generation aircraft.
Thirdly, there is a long-standing concept that the number of light fighters should exceed the number of heavy ones. This applies to the Air Force of all major countries, including Russia and the United States. This is due to the fact that the use of expensive and heavy machinery, which has redundant capabilities, to perform a specific task is not profitable. “Many years ago, a concept was adopted in the USA, which implies the presence of 20% of heavy and 80% of light fighters in the park. In accordance with it were developed heavy fighter F-15 and light F-16. A similar approach was adopted by the Soviet Union, which led to the creation of a pair of Su-27 and MiG-29, ”said Karnozov.
This ratio changed in favor of heavy vehicles with a large radius of action, which happened in countries with large territories, such as Russia and the United States. At present, the ratio between the F-15 and F-16 in the USAF is 1 to 2. After the Cold War, short range frontal fighters were less relevant to actual requirements. At the same time, the theory of complementarity of heavy and light fighters has not yet been disputed.
“A lightweight fighter is necessary first of all for protection, it is not a means of attack. Most likely, it will be a plane that can solve the same tasks as the PAK FA, with the only difference that it will have a smaller radius of action (without refueling in the air), ”the military pilot of the 1st class, Hero of the Soviet Union, State Duma deputy Nikolai Antoshkin. According to Antoshkina, one of the main goals of the program is the creation of an aircraft, including for promising aircraft carriers of the project 23000 Storm, whose construction is planned in 2025-2030. In addition, this fighter can be a cheaper version of the PAK FA.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
