Russia shows off fighting aircrafts of the last generation

The other days, not far from Moscow, on the polygon of the Institute for testing the military devices from Jukovo, the new destroyer Su-35 made its first demonstrative flight, which according the experts it’s close of the fifth generation. MiG-35, another fighter aircraft will turn up on the armament markets in 2009-2010.

Su-35 got over the con frontation with the potential buyers, Russians or foreigners. The deliveries towards the beneficiaries overboard will begin in 2010-2011. Mentioning this detail, the chief of “Suhoi” holding, Mihail Pogosean, added that for the Russian air forces, purchasing these aircrafts is in the state program elaborated till 2015. The flight lasted only six minutes, but according the statements of the company’s pilots chief, Serghei Bogdan, “it’s enough for that an eye of expert to notice the peculiar performances of the device”. “There are many requests for this type of aircraft, as from the Russian beneficiaries, as from abroad. In foreign countries, this device will arrive on our traditional outlets –in South Asia, in Latin America, in the Middle East. The deliveries will start in less then three years, in 2011”, the same Pogosean stated at a press conference.

Behavior on the flight

The summer testing of SU-35, destroyer of the generation 4++ (or 4,75 in the terminology used by the publications in English) started on February 1, with almost one year later against the initial schedule. According to sources inside the Suhoi holding, there were made 11 flights from the testing program. “Generally, it was proceeded to an evaluation of the features of stability, safety, pilotage and maneuverability of the aircraft, as also of the force equipments. Moreover, there were examined the apparatus systems. An essential moment, taking into account of the fact that SU-35 it’s an absolutely new aircraft, endowed with the most modern complex of board devices. The main centre is represented by the system of information and pilotage”, Serghei Bogdan stated. “The board systems were submitted to all sort of tests, it was observed their behavior during the flight. It was important to be known how well the system’s elements”, he mentioned.

“Aerodynamic hole”

Among other features of the aircraft, the experts were interested to see how the aircraft reacts in maximum conditions, meaning long flight in regime of supersonic speed. Moreover, touching the maximum established limits must be done at an acceleration of the aircraft until a speed of minimum 1,3M (depending of the altitude), in order to avoid the so-called “aerodynamic hole” –speed pitch in the limits of 1,1 – 1,2 M, when the supersonic flight isn’t recommended because of the aerodynamic resistance, which directs to a high consumption of fuels. Now, only two devices already launched in serial productions, are capable to fly in supersonic regime: it’s about the interception aircraft MiG-31 and the American aircraft F-22A Raptor. It is hoped that also SU-35 will touch this performance.

Supersonic speed

“In my oppinion, I still don’t know how to interpret the results of the limit flight, which allowed a testing of the acceleration performances of SU-35. Anyhow, a preliminary analysis shows that at the medium altitudes, when the engines aren’t forced, the aircraft that is in the first stages of supersonic speed continues to take speed. Moreover, it was noticed that at certain altitudes and with a rest of fuel, the aircraft engines work at “maximum” regime. There are imposed some changes, especially at the apparatus weight and at settling the pitch of height – speed which allows touching and maintaining the supersonic speed ”, Bogdan added. In his turn, the commander of the military air forces of Russia, Aleksandr Zelin, showed that by its qualities, Su-35 is superior to its predecessor, Su-27, what doesn’t mean that this the last one will be withdrawn from the army endowment. “Su-27 will continue to carry on the missions for which was conceived”, the officer outlined.

“The glass cabin”

In what concerns the MiG-35, with about 20 tone, enters in the category of the easy destroyers, next to its direct competitors, F-18, F-16, or Mirage-200. Now, the aircraft is called MiG-29M/M2, and MiG-35 will become further. At the Moscow’s Air Show, MAKS-2005, was presented a prototype of the apparatus– MiG-29M OVT. As the experts in domain describe it, MiG-35 has a unique maneuverability, the aircraft being endowed with engines with displaceable vector of attraction on all axes. Other machines which have this feature - Su-30MKI and the American F-22 – the movement is on only one surface. Also, of the devices performances, now being in full process of technological testing, it deserves to be mentioned the high fight load, the high security and the increased viability, given by the twin-engine system and of doubling the basis aggregates.

Moreover, it was applied the principle of the “glass cabin”, when all the information needed by the pilot in fight conditions - tactical, technical and of navigation – these are displayed on three big multifunctional screens. This thing allows the pilot to remain in formation of fight and to use the armament in endowment without raising the hands from the instruments of coordinating the flight. In the endowment of MiG-35 there enter the missiles with medium range of action from the class “air-air” PBB-AE, which operates according to the principle “pull and look”, as also of the missile R-73.