With the agreement by the Indian defense minister Ak Antony and Sergei Avinov, both countries have agreed upon an ambitious project to build a 5th generation combat aircraft. Once the project takes off it will be a 50-50 partnership effort by both countries, like the previous very successful Brahmos hypersonic cruise missile system.
Information on this jet is very vague and internet forums are filled with rumors about this new jet. PAK FA stands for Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi – Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces.
Although there is no source that is reliable on the design and specifications of the aircraft the information basically sums up to by saying all the basics of a 5th generation aircraft; stealthy, ability to supercruise, armed with next generation air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-ship missiles and equipped with AESA radar. It is also rumored to be powered by a Saturn AL-41F engine. Some sources say that PAK FA was developed in response to the 5th generation American fighter JSF . Therefore we can infer that the capabilities of PAK FA might be similar to the JSF.
Analysts are predicting the maximum speed will be around Mach 2.1. The main component of a 5th generation aircraft is it’s stealth, but it is uncertain on how low the Radar Cross Section is because this is the first time Russia and India are making a complete stealth plane. They can use radar absorbent materials which lowers the RCS like they did for the Indian variant SU-30, SU-30MKI and they might as well use the plasma stealth like the Americans
August 26, 2007 at 12:16 pm
The PAK-FA may not happen for India as the new Russian laws state that the UABC cant take any investemenst from any foreign country for any startegic project. The PAK-FA is one of teh most important strategic projects of the Russians. So, It may happen that the PAK-FA may never fly for India. Anyways, teh agreement over it was a preliminary one only and not much has been committed to eachother by both teh countries.
August 29, 2007 at 10:51 pm
[...] Posts India to buy 200 aircraft instead of 126PAK-FA: The next Indo-Russian 5th Generation aircraftMeduim Combat Aircraft India to develope more UCAV technologiesNext Big LeapISROModern Fighter [...]
October 30, 2007 at 10:08 pm
[...] Posts LCA tejas vs JF 17PAK-FA: The next Indo-Russian 5th Generation aircraftIndia and Russia Signed Agreement on a 5th Gen AircraftMeduim Combat Aircraft India to buy 200 [...]
November 10, 2007 at 9:48 am
5 th generation fighter aircraft is one of the best fighter air craft in 21 st centuary it will effectively replace all mig 21, 23 & 25 air crafts in indian air force
May 19, 2008 at 5:25 pm
If this replaces
PAK-FA: The next Indo-Russian 5th Generation aircraft
the airrafts like 21, 23 & 25 air crafts in indian air force
then what is the purpose of LAC TEJas
Why is that
Are LCA is not apable of replacing this Airrafts or LCa is not better than these aircrafts
June 28, 2008 at 5:09 pm
@ali
there is a need of variety of aircraft
pak-fa has a frount swept wing its unique and allow it to fly a extremly low speeds
July 16, 2008 at 3:21 pm
lokk ppl india air force is going to be buying 126 sukhoi-30mki of the shelf from russia and will HAL has been permitted to make another 200 this will significantly consilidate india’s position in the south asian arms race (india is already a major superpower here) now by 2012 india will have mirage-2000,jaguar ,and su30mki as frontline fighters and will use su-47(golden eagal )as air dominance fighter.
August 1, 2008 at 5:21 pm
i think pak-fa should hit the skies as soon as possible
August 3, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Well we already joined and this project has three nations. If that is the PAK-FA, but we dont really know what we have signed for. All we could know that we may have joined the MIG’s 5th plane.
@Rahul India is a major power. We are not a Superpower yet. India is a Potential superpower. So we may come one. I wish we do and i think we will. Only last 100 years the only superpowers are and were USA and USSR. Do some research before posting that the SU-47 can be used as a frontline fighter. SU-47 is only a Technology Demonstrator. The PAK-FA is based off the SU-47 and the MIG 1.44. Why would India buy SU-47 when only one is made. Plus India was invited into the PAK-FA or the LFI project.
August 10, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Keep in mind that according to Russia, Pak FA will be build for very less price when compared to F22 (with the capability of F22, let’s say more than F22 because we know what F22 dose and no idea what PAK FA is packed with…) which will be sold too many other countries……
This is a threat to USA. No idea what USA will do when they find F22 capability aircrafts throughout the world…..
Oh! at the same time if Russia manages to produce PAK FA at unpredicted cost than a better advice to USA would be to purchase PAK FA instead of F22……
PAK FA is co-developed just like BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile “the world’s fastest cruise missile” which is better than all other cruise missiles. So I am sure that PAK FA is going to give massive HEARTATTACK to USA………..pity them
August 14, 2008 at 4:03 pm
“The fifth generation Indo Russian fighter aircraft will be ready fo induction by 2017, says Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major.”………..but dont u guyz think 2017 is too long time.
as indias current squadron strength is just 33.5 squadron.
most of the indian fighter crafts are old migs, though mirage is in the upgradation phase, but we got only 40 mirage fighters. We cant call us 4th largest air force if our fighter planes are outdated. ……plz somone enlighten me about the MMRCA project currently undergoing.
September 13, 2008 at 3:52 am
I think the Americans are smarter then what you guys give them credit for, i mean i’m sure that if they can’t mass produce the F-22 Raptor to the degree the Russians are building their Mig-35’s amongst other, they might decide to mass produce in the hundrads the F-35 wich is an excelent fighter jet, although it’s still in tests and stuff. So yes, America does hava less expensive and almost as dedly alternative to the F-22 fighters.
September 24, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Rameez said:
pak-fa has a frount swept wing its unique and allow it to fly a extremly low speed
Reply:
No it DOES NOT, an experimental Sukhoi jet, the SU-47, aka Berkut is the front-spent wing experimental fighter. This is not a production plane, just a 1-of for experiments and wowing audiences at airshows… BTW: Front-spent wings is nothing new, the Germans were playing with it in WWII, the Americans developed an X-series plane that really showed what the technology could do in the 60s.
Rahul Dutta said:
“…as frontline fighters and will use su-47(golden eagal )as air dominance fighter.”
Reply:
As I said above, the SU-47 is not a produciton plane nor is it meant for production… It ain’t happening!
VJPakfa said:
“Keep in mind that according to Russia, Pak FA will be build for very less price when compared to F22 (with the capability of F22, let’s say more than F22 because we know what F22 dose and no idea what PAK FA is packed with…)”
Reply:
Russia says alot of things… As it stands, it is doubtful they will have the funds to even finish the PakFA on time. Furthermore there is NOT AN IOTA OF EVIDENCE that the PakFa will be “more than F22″… Knowning what the F22 does doesn’t mean you can replicate it. We’ve known about the F117 capability for 20 years yet I don’t see other countries producing stealth technology… Nations know about AESA radar yet that knowledge does not mean they can just produce the technology!
VJPakfa said:
This is a threat to USA. No idea what USA will do when they find F22 capability aircrafts throughout the world…..
Reply:
Considering the fact that we’ve not even seen the PakFa yet (static models & animations don’t count), I cannot see it being ready before 2020. Do you expect the USA to basically sit on its hands until then?! The USA is ahead now and in 12 years, they will have new enhancements as well. Look at the evolution of the F16, compare the F16I Sufa or the Block 60 proposals with the F16a version – point is: F22 of today will PALE IN COMPARISON to F22 of tommorrow.
Furthermore, on the topic of “knowing what the F22 can do”, do not be presumptious. We know diddly…
“PAK FA is co-developed just like BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile “the world’s fastest cruise missile” which is better than all other cruise missiles. So I am sure that PAK FA is going to give massive HEARTATTACK to USA………..pity them”
What an absurd statement. Joint development does not always equal superiority, the Eurofighter was a joint project, are you saying it’s comparable to the F22? The Patriot2 & 3 program had contributions from various nations yet it’s still not as capable as the Arrow w/ Green Pine Radar combination.
The USAs current cruise missles work very well for their current needs but again, don’t be lulled into thinking that means you see all their cards. The USA, by many reports, has successfully constructed RAMJETS that are achieving unheard of hypersonic speeds. Ramjet Cruise Missles are likely in development.
I am not underestimating other nations, in military tech any nation can gain an upper hand through tactics, technology or plain luck HOWEVER one needs to consider history for it is the greatest predictor of the future. For the past 50 years, USA TECHNOLOGY has ruled the skies WITHOUT RIVAL.
American Planes have achieved TOTAL AIR SUPERIORITY IN NEARLY ALL CONFLICTS THEY WERE INVOLVED IN.
Israelis took on all flavour of Migs in Skyhawks, Phantoms, F16s & F15s (and French Mirages also) and dominated in all instances. In the Yom Kippur war they suffered temporary setback due to advanced SAMS (a new development at the time) but quickly recovered using new tactics to overcome these systems.
The Israelis faced planes piloted by Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, Pakistanis (sent a few pilots to ARab countries) and EVEN RUSSIANS (yes, Russia sent Egypt planes and a few pilots, eventually these pilots faced Israelis in actual dogfights, the Russians underestimated the Israelis and some were knocked out of the sky).
In Vietnam, Libya, and Iraq (how quickly we forget Saddam once had one of the worlds largest armies w/ a capable air force!) the USA technology & tactics dominated again…
There is something to be said for Soviet ruggedness, their systems don’t break down – once an Ak47 or Mig hits the market, it can be killing for decades! However, in terms of airpower, the USA has always had an edge IMHO.
October 4, 2008 at 12:43 am
Americans don’t use plasma stealth
November 19, 2008 at 3:46 pm
@ winglessblog
u certainly seem to be a very practical chap. But theres smthing i gotta tell u…. even wid mig-21 bis .IAF cud outmanouver US F-16s & F-18s wid scorelines of 5-0.
IAf has been deprived of advanced tech till now ….although indias defence spendings have always been sky high ….. but in recent times it has increased drastically. so Indian gov. can put their money whereever they get the best deal.
russia alwayz has been a strong strategic and defence partner..so …. results are in the form of brahmos….. and we,re PAK-FA is goin be a succes too
April 1, 2009 at 1:41 pm
PAK FA is a multi role which is similar to the all aspects of JSF, T-50 considered to be best in world . JSF is fifth gen but it is inferior to f-22 in some performance. Due to heavy pricing of f-22 USA has selecting JSF .
for T-50 PAK FA russia has selected india for financial partner by avoiding china, because china has the habbit of Cloning / spying the technology, another thing russia dosen’t want china to have TOT of PAK FA .