Post-PFI Soviet/Russian aircraft projects

The post-PFI projects refer to several Soviet and Russian Air Force projects initiated to replace the PFI-era aircraft.

The result of the LPFI project was the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum.

The result of the TPFI project was the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker.

History

In 1969, the Soviet Union became aware of the existence of the United States' "teen"-series of aircraft, including the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. In response, the Soviets initiated the Perspektivnyi Frontovoy Istrebitel ("Perspective Frontline Fighter") -abbreviated as PFI - project to develop a multirole fighter aircraft capable of countering the new generation of U.S. aircraft. The PFI project then branched into two projects, the Tyazholy Perspektivnyi Frontovoy Istrebitel , "Heavy Perspective Frontline Fighter" (TPFI) and the Lyogkiy Perspektivnyi Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Light Perspective Frontline Fighter" (LPFI). The goal of the TPFI project was to develop a fighter capable of long-range flight, primarily to intercept hostile aircraft, which resulted in the Sukhoi Su-27 "Flanker" series of aircraft. The LPFI was intended to develop a light multi-role fighter with short flight range, but capable of providing air-to-ground support when deployed close to the frontlines, which resulted in the Mikoyan MiG-29 "Fulcrum" series of aircraft. After successfully developing fighters for these two projects, the Soviets initiated a project to develop a next-generation aircraft capable of overpowering the newest American threats. These projects included fighters, attack aircraft, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.^[1]

Overview

During the mid-1970s, the Soviets initiated the I-90 fighter project, Sh-90 attack aircraft project, B-90 bomber project and M-67 reconnaissance aircraft project. The I-90 consisted of a heavyweight fighter project (MFI) and a lightweight fighter project (LFI). The LFI was subsequently canceled and replaced by the LFS during the early-mid 1990s. In the early 2000s, both the MFI and LFS projects were canceled in favor of the PAK FA program.

The Sh-90, B-90 and M-67 projects were never realized, although Yakovlev's and Mikoyan's entries for the Sh-90 were based on the Yak-130 and MiG-AT, respectively. Both are trainer aircraft currently being offered for sale by the two companies. Sukhoi, Mikoyan and Yakovlev were the major competitors in these projects, although Tupolev and Myasishchev may have also submitted entries for some projects.

I-90

The I-90 (Istrebitel, Fighter) project consisted of the MFI (heavyweight fighter) and LFI (lightweight fighter). Eventually, the LFI was canceled in favor of the LFS, although both the LFS and MFI were subsequently canceled in favor of the PAK FA.^[2][3]

MFI

The Su-47 was developed by Sukhoi to match the MiG 1.44.

The goal of the Mnogofunksionalni Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Multifunctional Frontline Fighter", (MFI) project was to create a heavy fighter with exceptional air-to-ground capabilities. Initially, Mikoyan worked on the project 512, which resembled the F-15 because of the boxed air intakes on the side of the fuselage, although the wing was placed lower and the fuselage design was slightly altered. However, Mikoyan's proposed design was the MiG 1.42, an aircraft with two 2D Thrust vectoring engines, canards, wedged air intakes on the bottom (much like the Eurofighter Typhoon) and 16 flight control surfaces. The design was later upgraded to the MiG 1.44, which has a modified radome, 3D thrust-vectoring engines, modified wings and a refueling probe.

Yakovlev's entry was visually similar to Mikoyan's entry - a canard-equipped fighter - although Yakovlev's design had only one engine and boxed air intakes to the sides. The Yak-MFI design never materialized and only remained a mock-up.

Sukhoi did not submit an entry due to their confidence in the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker design. Eventually, Mikoyan was awarded the development of the MFI project. However, as work on the MFI progressed, Sukhoi discovered that the MiG-MFI design was a major threat to the Su-27 design, and began a heavy fighter design of their own, although the MFI project was awarded to Mikoyan two years before. This design resulted in the S-32 forward-swept wing fighter with two engines and canard foreplanes. The design was later altered to add an elevator and modified canards. The design was once again modified to have 2D thrust vectoring nozzles. Instability in the design resulted in a further upgraded fighter named the S-37, later re-designated the Sukhoi Su-47.

A 1.44 prototype was eventually built and flown in early 2000, although the project was cancelled in 1997 in favor of the PAK FA.

LFI

The LFI (Lyogkiy Frontovoy Istrebitel, Light Frontline Fighter) project was intended to develop a lightweight fighter with respectable air-to-ground capabilities. Yakovlev proposed the Yak-43, an upgraded Yak-41 with a stealthier design and more powerful engines. After neglecting the MFI competition, Sukhoi decided to submit a design for the LFI called the S-37 (unrelated to the heavyweight Forward-swept wing fighter). This S-37 resembled the Gripen in that it had canard foreplanes, a delta wing and one engine. Mikoyan entered the MiG izdeje 33 design, which bore a resemblance to the F-16. MiG could not afford to develop both the MFI and LFI, so their LFI entry was eventually withdrawn. The program was subsequently cancelled in 1992, and no prototypes of the three designs were built, although MiG sold the izdeje 33 concept to China, which resulted in the JF-17 Thunder fighter.

LFS

The focus of the LFS (Lyogkiy Frontovoy Samolyot, Light Frontline Aircraft) project shifted to creating a strike fighter with significant surface attack capability, while retaining respectable air combat abilities. Work on the project began around 1994, although the program was officially initiated in 1999. Yakovlev's entry resembled the JSF entry from BAE, as the JSF program purchased information from the Yakovlev design bureau.^[4][5] Initially, Sukhoi's entry was the S-52, a lightweight version of the S-32 retaining the Forward-swept wing wing and canards, but with only one thrust vectoring engine and boxed air intakes to the side. Sukhoi later proposed the S-55, a design based on their S-54 trainer aircraft. The S-55 bore a strong resemblance to the Su-27, although it only had one engine. Sukhoi later proposed the S-56, a stealthy fighter design with canards and one engine. Mikoyan proposed the I-2000, an aircraft with an unusually large LERX which gave it an ability to sustain controlled flight at a very high Angle of attack. The LFS project was canceled in 2001 in favor of the PAK FA program, although the I-2000 later influenced the design of the HESA Shafaq.

PAK FA

Main article: Sukhoi PAK FA

PAK FA (Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsyi - "Perspective Aviation-Complex Frontline Aviation" [Perspective Multirole Frontline Aircraft]) is an ongoing program to develop a stealth-capable multirole fighter for the Russian Air Force. The program began in 2001, just after the cancellation of the LFS program. Mikoyan, Sukhoi and Yakovlev submitted designs, but the PAK FA program was awarded to the Sukhoi T-50 (unrelated to the T-50 Golden Eagle). Both Mikoyan and Yakovlev have a 15% share on development and production of the aircraft. The flight testing phase of the aircraft began in 2010.

Russian-Indian 5th generation Fighter Program

Main article: Sukhoi/HAL FGFA

Very little information exists regarding this joint Russian-Indian project, although it has been mentioned several times by the Russian Air Force. While the fighter is said to be based on the PAK FA, it will be a separate lightweight fighter project similar to the F-35 (whereas PAK FA is a heavyweight fighter project and closer to the F-22). Flight testing is scheduled for 2012.^[6][7]

Sh-90

The Sh-90 (Shturmovik, Attack Aircraft) project intended to develop an attack aircraft to replace the Su-25. The main entries consisted of modified trainer designs from MiG and Yakovlev, and an unusual two-cockpit design from Sukhoi. The project was later canceled due to the emergence of modernized Su-25 variants, such as the Su-25T, Su-25TM (Su-39) and Su-25KM.

LUS

Yakovlev proposed the Yak-133, a modified version of this Yak-130.

Mikoyan proposed the MiG-AC, a modified version of this MiG-AT.

The LUS (Lyogkiy Udarnyi Samolyot, "Light Strike Aircraft") project's goal was to develop an attack aircraft to succeed the Sukhoi Su-25. Sukhoi's design was an unusual aircraft with two cockpits, a v-tail and a large fuselage. The left fuselage was to contain the piloting equipment and radar sensors, whereas the right fuselage was to accommodate the weapons systems and a Fire-control system. The aircraft was to be powered by one or two non-afterburning engines, and payload was to be stored within two large internal bays. Yakovlev and Mikoyan's design were based on their modified trainer models, the Yak-133 and the MiG-AC, respectively. The Yak-133 is a modification of the Yak-130, and the MiG-AC is a modification of the MiG-AT. The project was canceled in the early 1990s due to newer models of Su-25 proving to be sufficient in achieving this goal.

B-90

The B-90 (Bombardirovshik, "Bomber") project was intended to develop a next generation bomber aircraft to replace Tu-22Ms, although the project seems to have been canceled before much work was accomplished. It is believed that the main competitors were Tupolev and Sukhoi. Sukhoi submitted the T-60 design, which had a variable-geometry wing on the lower fuselage, two 2D thrust vectoring engines, a flat lifting fuselage, stealth capability, the ability to store ALCMs within its bay and Mach 2+ speed. There were at least three different designs named T-60 and T-60S. They resulted in final T-54 design, submitted around 1993. Tupolev submitted a flying wing design called the Tu-202, but the design posed many problems and was later abandoned due to the Soviets' inexperience with flying wing designs. The B-90 project seems to have halted with the development of the Su-32 and the Tu-22M5 models as well as the Russian PAK DA.^[8]

M-67

The M-67 (Myasishchev, name of manufacturer) was a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed by Myasishchev as a response to the United States' SDI program. The M-60 project was extensive, with variants featuring stealth or UAV capabilities, with some variants designed to carry a crew of 10-15 for 8 hours at an altitude of 20 kilometers. The program was later canceled, but subsequently may have been developed for civilian uses, such as ecological and stratosphere research.

Notes and references

1. ^ Furda, Matej (2004-12-30). "Soviet stealth aircraft (diagram)". Hitechweb. http://www.hitechweb.szm.sk/Xtras/SovietStealth.jpg. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 
2. ^ Venik (1999-06-20). "LFI Bibliography". aeronautics.ru. http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws001/s5455biblio.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-15.  ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Iron Eagles. "LFI and LFS: Russia's future strike and fighter craft". Tripod. http://iron-eagles.tripod.com/articles/lfi.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-15. 
4. ^ http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/russia/yakovlev/yak-41/yak-41.htm
5. ^ http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jawa/jawa010103_1_n.shtml
6. ^ India Times (2007-10-30). "Indo-Russian 5th generation fighter to take-off by 2012". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Europe/Indo-Russian_5th_generation_fighter_to_take-off_by_2012/articleshow/2503005.cms. Retrieved 2007-12-15. 
7. ^ Rian (2006-08-18). "В России создаются два истребителя нового поколения (Russian)". rian.ru. Archived from the original on 2007-11-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20071126132458/http://rian.ru/weapons/20060818/52801337.html. Retrieved 2007-12-15. 
8. ^ T, Kabir (2002-05-07). "Sukhoi T-60 Project". Key Publishing. http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3434. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 

See also

• Sukhoi Su-47