According to the head of the Sukhoi holding Mikhail Pogosyan, the second advanced aviation complex of front-line aviation (PAK FA) will begin flights by the end of the year.
“The first flight prototype made 40 flights, and we are generally satisfied. The tests are moving faster than planned, the Interfax-AVN news agency quoted him as saying.
Earlier it was reported that serial deliveries to the PAK FA troops would begin in 2015. The first prototypes of the pilot batch should be delivered to the Lipetsk Center for Combat Use and Flight Personnel Retraining in 2013.
According to Sukhoi, PAK FA has a number of unique features compared to its predecessors. It combines the functions of a strike aircraft and a fighter.
The PAK FA is equipped with a fundamentally new avionics complex that integrates the function of an "electronic pilot" and a promising radar station with a phased antenna array. This greatly reduces the workload on the pilot and allows him to concentrate on performing tactical tasks.
The onboard equipment of the aircraft allows real-time data exchange with both ground control systems and within the aviation group. The use of composite materials and innovative technologies, the aerodynamic layout of the aircraft, and measures to reduce visibility provide an unprecedented low level of radar, optical and infrared visibility. This makes it possible to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of both air and ground targets, at any time of the day, in simple and difficult weather conditions.
Fifth-generation aircraft, along with modernized fourth-generation aircraft systems, will determine the potential of the Russian Air Force over the coming decades.
Characteristic features of the PAK FA: multifunctionality (the ability to solve the problem of hitting both air and ground, sea targets in any weather and time of day); super maneuverability; low visibility in the optical, infrared and radar wave ranges; supersonic cruise flight, the ability to take off and land using sections of the runway with a length of 300-400 meters; high intellectualization of the board; circular information field, the possibility of all-aspect target firing.
