India, Russia Cooperating re: “Fifth-Generation Fighter”
Related Stories: Asia - India, Budgets, Fighters & Attack, Issues - International, Russia, Spotlight articles
(click to view full)
Russia’s SU-27/30 Flanker family fighters were invented in the 1980s and 1990s, and attempted to incorporate the lessons from America’s “teen series” fighters (F-14, F-15, F-16, F/A-18) into their designs. They were successful, and India’s Air Force may now be flying the world’s second best air superiority fighter in the SU-30MKI. Meanwhile, the USA is creating “5th generation” fighters like the F-22A Raptor that offer full stealth, supermaneuverability, an advanced AESA radar, huge computing power that creates a single “sensor fusion” picture from the plane’s array of embedded sensors and datalinks, and the ability to “supercruise” above Mach 1 instead of just making short supersonic dashes. To a lesser extent, there’s also the cheaper F-35 Lightning II, with some stealth, a smaller AESA radar, sensor fusion, and even more sensors embedded around the aircraft.
Russia’s MiG 1.44 (if indeed it was a real project?) and/or “I-21” type aircraft were an attempt to keep up, but lack of funds suspended both efforts. The obvious solution is a foreign partner, but Europe had limited funds and its own 4+ generation projects in the Rafale and Eurofighter. India has a longstanding Russian defense relationship, and from their point of view a joint development agreement is one way to restrict Russian cooperation with China along similar lines. See Vijiander K Thakur’s “Understanding IAF interest in the MiG fifth generation fighter” for more on the proposal to cooperate with MiG. Even so, India’s procurement history is full of dead-ends and “almost weres” – which is why reaction to past announcements has been very muted here.
(click to view full)
An agreement has now been signed – but our response is still inclined to be rather muted, until working designs are discussed and more is known. A “fifth-generation fighter” could be a project as ambitious as Indo-Russian cooperation on an updated MiG 1.44 or I-21 type aircraft. Or, it could turn out to be an updated version of the SU-30 family with uprated engines for supercruise, some level of sensor fusion, and an AESA radar. Then, too, the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project has a non-trivial set of obstacles to overcome, in order to see production versions for India.
For the specific releases and coverage to date, and analysis of the program’s current state and future hurdles, DID offers this Spotlight article…
Displaying 395 of 1,614 words (about 5 pages)
Stay on top of DII's coverage of India and Russia's fighter aircraft development, when you subscribe to DII. Our cross-linked article network and reference materials include:
- Discussion of project goals to produce a "fifth-generation" fighter jet. Will it be a plane on par with the F-22A Raptor or F-35 Lightning II, or just an improved SU-30?
- What's been signed: a protocol outlining a 'new strategic relationship,' to include more frequent joint exercises and greater R&D cooperation
- What's awaiting a final deal: a review of details known about the base aircraft, final design, and funding resources, and a test flight plan for Sukhoi's PAK FA
- Additional articles from the DII library: "Costs & Time Kill Full SU-30MKI Production in India," "India's MMRCA Fighter Competition," "Hardball Sales: Russia Forcing India out of Taijikistan?," "India's Defense Budget Rises 7%, to $20.11 Bn," "Stuck in Sichuan: Pakistani JF-17 Program Grounded? No.," and more
- 5 photos
Subscribe now to the Defense Industry Insider. DII covers hundreds of defense procurement programs, and gives thousands of links, expert analysis and the latest industry news.
