Posted on 02/15/2010 8:12:00 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Russia's effort to develop an F-22 class fighter (the PAK FA) is going to require a lot of work. The prototype, that took its first flight recently, was clearly the basic Su-27 airframe modified to be stealthier. This included changing the shape of the aircraft to be less radar reflective, and providing internal bays for bombs and missiles. But there's much more to do in order to achieve anything close to the stealthiness of the F-22. It took fifteen years for the F-22 to go from initial flight, to entering service. The PAK FA could proceed faster, learning from the F-22 experience (especially if some of the Internet based espionage carried out in the last decade was Russian). But such development speed has not been a Russian characteristic. Another problem is the engines, which were not ready for the first flight. Older model engines were used, because initial flights are mainly to confirm the basic airworthiness of the airframe. The new engines, also being used in the Su-35, are suffering development problems. The Russians have always had difficulties with their high end military engines, and that tradition continues. Currently, the Russians say it will take several years to perfect the new engine.
Russia will also need a new family of air-to-air missiles, as the current ones are too large for the internal bays on the PAK FA prototype. These are already in the works, along with more compact versions of air-to-surface missiles. There are also problems with the electronics and, well, you get the picture.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Does it have thrust vectoring?
The PAK FA has three dimensional vectoring.
I think I understand what 2 dimensional thrust vectoring is. But 3 dimensional? What's that?
The F-22's thrust vectoring is only effective in pitch and roll.
The first two vectoring is pitch and yaw axes.Russian engine manufacturer Lyulka Saturn has publicly revealed a three-dimensional thrust vectoring version of its AL-31 powerplant The new AL-31FP is fitted with an all-axis thrust vectoring nozzle.
“It does sound strange, but 2D thrust vectoring is what the F-22 has, which means the nozzles only move up and down. The FAK FA will have 3D thrust vectoring, which means the nozzles will move up and down, as well as left to right. With the wide spacing of the engines, the thrust vectoring will be effective in pitch, roll, and yaw.
The F-22’s thrust vectoring is only effective in pitch and roll.”
I think they’re counting their dimensions incorrectly, and confusing them with aircraft controls. ‘Up and down’ (pitch) represent one dimension. It that’s what the F-22 has then it has 1D of thrust vectoring. ‘Side to side’ (yaw) is a control direction not a spatial dimension as such. Then there’s roll control, which would likely involve ducting some engine thrust out to the wingtips. Roll isn’t a spatial dimension either.
Whether or not they are behind is not important. They are moving ahead and we are moving back.
Sounds like words I live by. :)
Thanks. It is important to have goals in life.
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