Moscow continues to pursue a Sukhoi-based fifth-generation fighter. After five years of effort, Russia finally found an international partner for the development project. In 2007 India entered an agreement to jointly develop a fifth-generation fighter based on the Sukhoi.The Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA -- standing for Advanced Frontline Aviation Aircraft System -- is a stealth-enabled fighter jet designed to compete with the American Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Aircraft and the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor.
Russian air force watchers already christened it "Raptorsky," after the F-22 Raptor, with which it is supposed to compete.
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Interesting article but a bit confusing. It takes the superiority of the F-35 over Flankers as a given - almost to the point of reading like propaganda.
ReplyDeleteThis sentence "The F-35 is expected to enter service no later than 2012, while the Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA is certain to be in mass production by that time." makes little sense.
2012 would be optimistic for the F-35 while the article presents many arguments why the T-50 will NOT, in fact, be in mass production by 2012.
Pete