Sukhoi PAK-FA ?

Barry George wrote in message ...
Yes, I believe that it is likely that the PAK-FA will try to fill both
roles.

Russia still has a requirement for a heavy interceptor and given the
decisions so far it seems
likely funding will someday be reserved for it. It will be ten or twenty
years before there is
enough funding for it and it will have to compete with S-400 family SAMS.
Russia needs such
interceptors for defending such a large frontier but they cost money. The
Mig-31 weighs as much as
four unloaded Mig-29s and the fuel bills for it are shocking.

Soviet Fulcrum-A's or C's with their 1980-vintage equipment are more a match
to F-16A's (that's the SMT upgrade is for, but there is no money). About the
MiG-31 fuel bills-well, T-6 is not JP-7 (if it is T-6 at all), and MiG-31's
replaced Tu-128's, the lagest fighters/interceptors ever used in operational
service! Maintenance is the problem, not fuel. I haven't herd about the
latest BM conversions.


It will have to have very long range and will most likely (I am guessing
here) could take two forms
either that of a low speed, extremely high altitude missile platform or a
more costly fighter with
sprint speeds in combat of over mach 3.5! It is slightly possible that such
a project could be based
off of the medium and heavy bombers (think T-60 and T-4MS) which will
replace the Su-24 and Su-34.

Su-24/32FN are not medium nor heavy bombers (Tu-22M3/4 and Tu-160 are).
According to Samoilovytch, related drawings went to Tupolev that supposedly
trashed them, and MS projects never went further than the model phase
(Tu-160 is the resulting aircraft, although T-4MS allegedly got the
contest). T-4 (prototype) and T-4MS (proposal) are as much different as
XB-70 and B-1 (actually, MS is some combination of those).


Run a search on the mig project 7.01 to see the next stage above MFI!
-Jonas Weselake-George

Sukhoi already got MFI project go-ahead, and MIG is struggling. There is
nothing much wrong with MAPO-MIG, except that Sukhoi had Simonov-and he is
much better salesman than Belyakov. According to Samoilovytch, there was
some funny equipment that was designed by "Sukhoi" when Simonov came there!

Nele

NULLA ROSA SINE SPINA

"forties" wrote in message
oups.com...
Another stillborn paper concept, from what I gather.
Well, although sounds like Tu-202 is myth I knew ex-RAF persons who
said they have seen this a/c during test flights in mid of '90s..

Lots of UFOs are seen also...doesn't mean they are from outer space, though.
:-)


They are scratching hard to try and meet their obligations for the
An-70 project, and
are behind the power curve on that one already.

Antonov Design Bureau (AN-70) is Ukrainian company. Russians just
finance it.. and sounds like they were not/are not actually interested
in this a/c..

Actually, that is a joint project (the D-27 engines originate with MMPP
Salut in Moscow, don't they?). The Russians bought into it up front, then
backed out, or appeared to, and now they say they are back onboard...but are
reportedly a bit slow in actually living up to their end of the financial
bargain. Why? Because they are cash-strapped, plain and simple.


As Keith quite accurately pointed out, their defense budget just will
not support any
major new combat aircraft development right now, with the exception of
those
programs they may jointly pursue with India and/or China.

Knowing Russian internal security policy I am sure they will not let
to transfer such advanced technologies to other country for any sort of
cooperation especially for the development of future main Russian
fighter. Looks like they just use India/China to get money and play
with them... Rough proove of my words is that for instance any hardware
(a/c, missiles etc) sold to outside countries is light version (reduced
accuracy, etc) of equipment used in Russia's Armed Forces..

Not anymore. The latest Su-30 variants they have sold to India and China are
better equipped than anything they are flying in the Russian forces. And I
don't buy them being so stupid as to try and rip-off development funding
from either of those nations, as that would result in the shut down of a
major source of cash inflow for their military industries. Ain't gonna
happen, because if they lose their exports, they shrivel and die, 'cause the
Russian Federation just does not have the funds to keep them afloat by
itself.

Brooks

Soviet Fulcrum-A's or C's with their 1980-vintage equipment are more a
match
to F-16A's (that's the SMT upgrade is for, but there is no money).

And Fulcrums are superior than F-16* in all modifications by all
factors- be honest.

About the
MiG-31 fuel bills-well, T-6 is not JP-7 (if it is T-6 at all), and
MiG-31's
replaced Tu-128's, the lagest fighters/interceptors ever used in
operational
service!

Mig-31 replaced Mig-25.. Mig-31/Tu-128 replacement - is profanation..
like b-2 replaced b-29 largest US bomber..

Maintenance is the problem, not fuel. I haven't herd about the
latest BM conversions.

Maintanance of SR-71 is also a problem.. as well as for any a/c reaches
M3+. Agree?

-E

"forties" wrote in message
ups.com...
Soviet Fulcrum-A's or C's with their 1980-vintage equipment are more a
match
to F-16A's (that's the SMT upgrade is for, but there is no money).

And Fulcrums are superior than F-16* in all modifications by all
factors- be honest.


The combat record suggests otherwise, as does the fact that
the Germans retired their Fulcrum's


About the
MiG-31 fuel bills-well, T-6 is not JP-7 (if it is T-6 at all), and
MiG-31's
replaced Tu-128's, the lagest fighters/interceptors ever used in
operational
service!

Mig-31 replaced Mig-25.. Mig-31/Tu-128 replacement - is profanation..
like b-2 replaced b-29 largest US bomber..

Maintenance is the problem, not fuel. I haven't herd about the
latest BM conversions.

Maintanance of SR-71 is also a problem.. as well as for any a/c reaches
M3+. Agree?


Maintenance of the SR-71 is no problem at all, the aircraft
went out of service years ago.

Keith

forties wrote in message . com...
Soviet Fulcrum-A's or C's with their 1980-vintage equipment are more a
match
to F-16A's (that's the SMT upgrade is for, but there is no money).

And Fulcrums are superior than F-16* in all modifications by all
factors- be honest.


Wrong comparison. You cannot compare MiG-29-12B (first export) to latest block F-16. Malesian
"cabrolet" MiG-29, OTOH, can be compared in the fighter role. Malesians also have "Hornets", so
ask them what they prefer ;-) .

About the
MiG-31 fuel bills-well, T-6 is not JP-7 (if it is T-6 at all), and
MiG-31's
replaced Tu-128's, the lagest fighters/interceptors ever used in
operational
service!

Mig-31 replaced Mig-25.. Mig-31/Tu-128 replacement - is profanation..
like b-2 replaced b-29 largest US bomber..

MiG-31s replaced Tu-128 "ships" or "barraging fighters" in their units. Size did not matter
there, range and authonomy does (as well as requred Pk).


Maintenance is the problem, not fuel. I haven't herd about the
latest BM conversions.

Maintanance of SR-71 is also a problem.. as well as for any a/c reaches
M3+. Agree?

-E


It is not M3+ for MiG-31, but M2.83. I suppose that maintaining MiG-31 resembles more that of
F-14, and it is hard to make it with the Siberian airstrip at sub-zero temperatures without
enough money!

Nele

NULLA ROSA SINE SPINA

Actually, that is a joint project (the D-27 engines originate with
MMPP
Salut in Moscow, don't they?). The Russians bought into it up front,
then
backed out, or appeared to, and now they say they are back
onboard...but are
reportedly a bit slow in actually living up to their end of the
financial
bargain. Why? Because they are cash-strapped, plain and simple.

There's very interesting interview with Commander of RAF (Jan 2005).
"Commander of RAF decided do not answer questions about AN-70 a/c"
Russians actually doesn't/never been interested in this a/c. Cash is
not a reason- they have cash enough for modernization of all military
forces. Not mythical money like US who is economical bankrupt but live
oil profits.

"forties" wrote in message
ups.com...
Actually, that is a joint project (the D-27 engines originate with
MMPP
Salut in Moscow, don't they?). The Russians bought into it up front,
then
backed out, or appeared to, and now they say they are back
onboard...but are
reportedly a bit slow in actually living up to their end of the
financial
bargain. Why? Because they are cash-strapped, plain and simple.

There's very interesting interview with Commander of RAF (Jan 2005).
"Commander of RAF decided do not answer questions about AN-70 a/c"

For the very good reason is that its not part of his command.

Russians actually doesn't/never been interested in this a/c. Cash is
not a reason- they have cash enough for modernization of all military
forces.

Yet they havent done so.


Not mythical money like US who is economical bankrupt but live
oil profits.


Psst that would be Russia , the USA is a net importer of oil.

Keith