India keen to induct 5th-Gen stealth fighter by 2017

[pkd]

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India keen to induct 5th-Gen stealth fighter by 2017

NEW DELHI: India and Russia, after protracted negotiations and some glitches, are now going full steam ahead to finalise the joint project for the stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), which will havesuper-manoeuvrability and supersonic cruising ability.

The FGFA, along with other R&D projects like the multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) as well as the BrahMos-2 `hypersonic' cruise missiles, will gain further momentum when PM Manmohan Singh holds a summit with President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow this December.

India and Russia will then also ink the fresh inter-governmental agreement on military-technical cooperation to extend their "strategic partnership'' by another 10 years, as reported by TOI earlier.

The two countries will also sign an agreement on the "after-sales product support'' of Russian-origin equipment held by Indian armed forces to address New Delhi's long-standing concerns about technical problems and tardy supply of spares.

This was formally announced after the two-day talks between defence minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov ended in Moscow on Thursday.

While India has several ongoing multi-billion dollar military projects with Russia, which range from refit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and lease of K-152 Nerpa Akula-II nuclear submarine to production of 230 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and 1,657 T-90S main-battle tanks, the FGFA is the most futuristic of them all.

Though the Indian FGFA will be based upon the single-seater Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA being currently developed by Russia, it will be built to IAF specifications. IAF, for instance, is also keen on a twin-seater version of the FGFA.

Antony, on his part, has already declared India wants the FGFA's development to be completed by 2016 to ensure IAF can begin inducting it by 2017.

"FGFA discussions with Russia are progressing quite satisfactorily...they are on track. The Russian FGFA prototype should make its first flight sometime early next year,'' said IAF vice-chief Air Marshal P K Barbora.

IAF, in fact, recently finalised the technical requirements for its FGFA, which will have long-range strike and high-endurance air defence capabilities, and submitted them to Russia.

An Indian team will also be leaving for Russia soon to decide the exact sharing of the technical work-load between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation.

IAF wants the FGFA to have "a very high degree of network centricity'' as well as multi-spectral reconnaissance and surveillance systems -- optical, infra-red, laser and radar sensors. Stealth, with a "minimal'' radar tracking signature, will be an important requirement.

The American F/A-22 `Raptor', each of which costs upwards of $140 million, is the only operational FGFA in the world at present. Another, the F-35 `Lightning-II', in turn, is still under joint development by US, UK and seven other countries.

IAF's most potent fighter is currently the Sukhoi-30MKI, which can be placed a little over fourth-generation, along with others like Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Gripen and F/A-18 `Super Hornets'.

While fourth-generation fighters typically revolve around multi-role capabilities, FGFA takes it forward by incorporating stealth technology, composite materials, supercruise, thrust-vectoring and integrated avionics as well.

[PAFAce]

According to Aviation Week, one of the most reliable aerospace magazines around, the IAF hopes to induct the FGFA after 2020. This comes from an interview they conducted with the Indian Chief of Air Staff, who is a far more reliable source than any politician.

Antony, on his part, has already declared India wants the FGFA's development to be completed by 2016 to ensure IAF can begin inducting it by 2017.

This is wishful thinking. Development completed by 2016 doesn't seem too far off, if he means initial development and prototyping. Anything other than that is being too ambitious. I would take the IAF CAS' words over the words of the Defence Minister any day as politicians are always looking to score points. I would also take the IAF CAS' words over Antony's because I've seen Antony's work before, and it's pretty disappointing.

Don't take this as coming from a Pakistani, take it from someone who has long followed and even worked in the Aerospace industry, there is no way FGFA induction will begin in 2017.

IAF's most potent fighter is currently the Sukhoi-30MKI, which can be placed a little over fourth-generation, along with others like Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Gripen and F/A-18 `Super Hornets'.

Disappointing that they didn't have the cojones to mention F-16 Block 50/52 and Block 60. I guess even the Times of India cares about distribution.

[Storm Force]

I agree with PAF ace theres no way before 2020 that FGFA will enter IAF service even if the prototype flys this year or next year.

I realise that the Russians have already done alot of work on the ibris aesa radar and the ramjet bvr missles but IAF may well want to add its own or even israeli jammers and western electronic suites like they have with mki..

In short the prototype flight is just demonstration flight of a new fifth gen air frame even the new 5th gen engine is not ready that will eventually be 3d TVC..

In some ways 2020 will fit nicely with IAF other plans to induct 7 sqds of MMRCA (126 planes) by 2020 and at least 6 sqds of Tejas(100 planes)This alone will take over a decade meaning HAL has no scope to license build PAK FA til at least 2020+

[Insane]

India keen to induct 5th-Gen stealth fighter by 2017

- Sure India is keen to by 2017 which means it will be happy to induct it by 2022.

[praveen]

Any idea about Chinese stealth

[Gabbar]

India keen to induct 5th-Gen stealth fighter by 2017

- Sure India is keen to by 2017 which means it will be happy to induct it by 2022.

Are you insane ?

[booo]

I have a different question.
is the research on all the 5th gen technologies completed? or will be completed by 2017? As of we know only AESA is done.

[Insane]

Are you insane ?

Answering that is as difficult as - A person answering in the affirmative to a question, " Are you Sleeping ? " , when hes sleeping

On Topic that is how most of our programs are. 5th generation fighter means a 5 year extra time from anticipated time is a good estimation. 2 Nicely trained squadrons of FGFA ready for combat ain't happening before 2022 ( I will be happy with this result). Anything sooner is a real bonus but i am not counting on it.

[Storm Force]

The research for FGFA has been going on since the 1990s.

The development of a prototype plane is ready but all the 5th generation goodies are not complete. There are part completions of radar jammers new weapons but no where near completion. The new engine is not ready so the prototype will fly with the AFL41 same as IAF SU30MKI engine until then.

This will take a decade and $10 billion of additional investment.

India is coming on board with the project only half way there. they will contribute 50% of the cost here in but will gain invaluable experience for future MCA and lca upgrade prpgrammers from FGFA.

[gogbot]

Any idea about Chinese stealth

I heard rumor, that they may have a viable platform by 2013.

[Midgetman]

I have a different question.
is the research on all the 5th gen technologies completed? or will be completed by 2017? As of we know only AESA is done.

actually from what ive heard the first flight is expected by late 2009 or early 2010. "At present we are building prototypes of the fifth-generation fighter and will soon start preparation for flight-testing, which is planned for 2009," Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan announced at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace. so im expecting them to start inducting it into the russian air force by 2014. Pogosyan said mass production of the future fighter could begin by 2015, soo it does make sence that the IAF might recieve its first aircraft by either 2016-2017...

[applesauce]

Any idea about Chinese stealth

according to rumors, they are trying to have some kinda of advanced prototype by around 2015 ish, if the ws-15 is finished by then it will use that other-wise they will test with russian engines, there are 2 projects going, the major obstacles right now are engine and radar

[praveen]

according to rumors, they are trying to have some kinda of advanced prototype by around 2015 ish, if the ws-15 is finished by then it will use that other-wise they will test with russian engines, there are 2 projects going, the major obstacles right now are engine and radar

they completed a stealth airframe design so fast

[aimarraul]

they completed a stealth airframe design so fast

if you know who is main threat to china,you can easily guess when china started preliminary R&D of 5th-Gen fighter,lots of process has dragged on for far too long because of the lack of funds ，2010-2020 will be the burst period to china's defense industry

[PAFAce]

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if you know who is main threat to china,you can easily guess when china started preliminary R&D of 5th-Gen fighter,lots of process has dragged on for far too long because of the lack of funds ，2010-2020 will be the burst period to china's defense industry

Despite this, I do not expect to see a Chinese FGFA prototype before a Russian one. However, I expect China won't be too far behind, they've already started making their way into the 4.5th Generation market. The thing about both the Russian and the Chinese industries is that they are both highly secretive, and are both highly goal-oriented. Unlike the Western defence industry, all the resources are employed to meet specific targets, since financial profit is secondary to defence capability. This makes for an interesting contest for sure, as similar markets go after a similar prize.

I say it again, I find it highly unlikely that India will be inducting any FGFA in 2017.