2015 - PAK FA Program
Russia and India have completed the preliminary design for the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), the regional director of international cooperation at the united Russian-Indian aircraft manufacturing company said 10 January 2015. “As of now, we and our Indian colleagues have completed the creation of the export version of the [Sukhoi] PAK FA, known in India as FGFA. We already have documents and understanding of the scope of the next phase of design, the scale of future production,” Andrey Marshankin said.
Marshankin noted that while the Russian version of the fifth generation fighter jet is operated by a single pilot, the Indian Air Force prefers aircraft that are operated by two pilots. “In difficult conditions of modern warfare it is extremely difficult to simultaneously maneuver [the aircraft] and attack the enemy. Currently, the Indian side suggests that the Indian version of the fifth generation fighter will be made for two pilots,” he said.
The Sukhoi PAK FA (T-50) is the Russian Air Force’s first stealth fighter, intended to succeed the Sukhoi Su-27, as well as the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets. The aircraft conducted its first test flight in 2010 and deliveries were set to begin in 2016. The FGFA, developed jointly by Russia’s Sukhoi and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is a derivative from the PAK FA.
According to statements from the Defense Ministry, in March 2015 the Russian military revised plans to buy 52 fifth-generation T-50 fighter jets under its Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK FA) program due to budget limitations. The initial purchase would be limited to just 12 planes, after which the armed forces will decide on further acquisitions. The armed forces had previously made firm commitments to acquire 52 aircraft.
Deputy Defense Minister in charge of Armaments Yury Borisov announced the possible reduction in the total purchases during a visit to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant. He stated that “the company is ready to start mass production of the fifth generation fighter starting in 2016.” However, the deputy minister added, the Ministry of Defense reserves the right to revise the number of units purchased.
“Given the new economic conditions, the original plans may have to be adjusted,” Borisov explained. “It is better to have the PAK FA kept as a reserve, and later move forward, while for now squeezing everything possible out of the 4+ generation fighters ” [the Su-30 and Su-35.
According to Kommersant’s 23 March 2015 source in the military, the State Armament Program until 2020 called for the purchase of 52 T-50 fighter jets. “We even created a precise delivery schedule,” said Kommersant’s source. “In the period 2016-2018, the Russian Air Force was scheduled to receive eight fighter jets annually, and in the years 2019-2020 – 14 such aircraft each year.” These plans were actually feasible, he said, before the country became mired in economic difficulties.
Head of the United Aircraft Corporation, Yuri Slyusar, said in June 2015 that the first batch of the stealth multirole fighters will enter into service with the Russian Air Force following official tests by the end of 2016 or early 2017. Slyusar said three additional prototypes of Russia's Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter will begin flight tests in 2015. Currently, at least five prototypes were being used for flight testing, according to Sukhoi.
Russia’s 5th generation jet T-50 will not be offered to foreign customers in the near future, the chief delegate of Russia’s weapons exporter Rosoboronexport at the Le Bourget air show, Sergey Kornev, said on 18 June 2015. "At the moment the T-50 plane is not meant for export. There is number one list of all types of products for all arms and services that we are empowered to export. At the moment this plane is not on the menu," Kornev said in reply to a question. "We have no right to promote this product or to disclose its parameters until a legal decision has been made to put it on the list," Kornev said.
The first flight of the Russian fifth generation fighter PAK FA with the engine of the second stage will take place in 2018 rather than in 2017 as previously estimated. This was announced on 24 November 2015 by Deputy General Designer of United Engine Corporation (UEC) Victor Belousov. "Preparations for the flight - in 2017, the first flight - in 2018" - said Belousov.
Earlier it was expected that the PAK FA with the engine of the second stage - the so-called "article 30" - will rise into the sky in 2017. Now the fighter prototypes are equipped with engines of the first stage - "Article 117". "This year will be ready one sample demonstrator engine of the second stage", - said the representative of the corporation. Earlier it was planned that in 2015, JDC will make two such demonstrator.
Serial deliveries of the PAK FA was expected to begin in 2017. In the summer of 2015 the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry Yuri Borisov said media reports that the military in the coming years will buy only one squadron of fighter of the fifth generation, but will increase the order for the Su-35.
In December 2015, Russia's defense ministry signed a five-year contract with Sukhoi company worth more than 60 billion rubles for the supply of 50 multi-role fighters Su-35S for the Russian air force. The agreement seemed to indicate that the 5th generation aircraft Sukhoi PAK-FA will not be produced for many years in quantities allow for the replacement of the withdrawn Su-27 aircraft.
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced 03 December 2015 that the PAK FA T-50 prototype had “practically completed” flight tests and would be inducted into the Russian Air and Space Force in 2017. At that time, four PAK FA T-50 prototypes, along with two test beds of the fighter, had been delivered by Sukhoi to the Russian military for testing. Three more prototypes were expected to be delivered in early 2016.
Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV Channel "Several planes are now primarily testing airborne avionics. The tests proving the aircraft’s flight characteristics have practically been completed," the deputy defense minister said.
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