Russia Unveiled New 5th Generation Fighter Jet

 

By News Desk

Russia has unveiled a new 5th generation fighter jet earlier in this week. It is a single engine fighter just like American F-35 Lightening II. 

Russia is planning to showcase the fighter on 26th July 2021 during MAKS 2021 military hardware exhibition in Moscow.

It is believed that this new stealth fighter carries the same power plant which powers first Russian 5th gen fighter jet SU-57 Felon. 

Single engine 5th generation fighter jet of Russia would enable Russian air force to compete with NATO in next generation fighter era as it is going to play a critical role in overall balance of air power in Europe and Asia.

China is already in the race of producing 5th generation fighters. It has produced heavy J-20 Mighty Dragon and medium weight J-31. Both of these are though twin engine unlike American F-35 or this new Russian fighter. 

Russia: Intensive Weapon Testing of PAK-FA

By News Desk
 
Russian latest 5th generation fighter Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA 'fifth-generation' has conducted trials of munitions launched from its internal weapons bays for the first time, the former commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) General Vladimir Mikhailov told state TV.

Despite the announcement, the claim could not be confirmed by any other sources, and neither has it been disclosed which weapon types were launched during the trials.

According to IHS Janes, there are total 5 prototypes of PAK-FA out of which 3 prototypes (T-50-3, T-50-4, and T-50-5R)  have necessary avionics and radars installed required for weapon testing. These three prototypes are currently in the Ministry of Defence's test centre in Akhtubinsk, which specializes in the testing of mission systems and airborne weapons.

At the same time, the T-50-1 and T-50-2 are undergoing captive-carry tests in Zhukovsky near Moscow with various configurations of external loads. Among the noticed configurations there are two air-to-surface Kh-31 and two air-to-air R-73 missiles, and also six 250-kg free-fall bombs.

According to unofficial information, a sixth prototype will depart the production facility in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at the end of April. It will be the first aircraft of the second test batch, reportedly fitted with significant changes in the airframe structure.

PAKFA project has direct relevance to Indo-Pak military balance as well. India's next generation fighter program (FGFA) is based on PAKFA fighter. Though there are certain issues where both the countries are yet to settle their differences like amount of Indian investment and Russian cooperation in terms of transfer of technology to India along with the aircraft. 

IAF is planning to induct FGFA by mid of next decade and once inducted, this would pose a serious challenge to PAF which has not yet announced any plans to induct any next generation fighter aircraft and is contended with modernizing its 4th generation fighter fleet comprising on F-16s and JF-17 Thunders.