Kimppis wrote:So how are the capabilities going to differ from PAK FA? Faster and longer operational range, but less stealthy and maneuvrable? It's going to be more or less heavily based on MIG-31, or is it? Or could they design an interceptor somewhat based on the PAK-FA?
No stealth, from what we've heard it's gonna be a MiG-31 redesign, capable of flying at Mach +4 speeds.
So, I would expect it to be more streamlined and dynamic, more swept-back, shorter wings. Smaller control surfaces perhaps. More fuel capacity. To streamline it more they'll have to do something about the drag the mounted missiles generate, but I don't know what.
Dunno what engine they're gonna put on that thing; but it will give a massive amount of kick. They'll probably use that new hypersonic fuel formula they invented recently, or something like it. So I'd imagine the engine would be something we haven't seen before in fighters and interceptors. Maybe it'll have a scramjet or something for activation above certain speeds?
Probably a lot of interesting/exotic materials used too. Composites for sure, to handle the heat generated by air-friction at extreme speeds.
I'd imagine it will be less manuevrable than the MiG-31, already not particularly known for its maneuverability, and won't be able to operate from the shorter airstrips either. It will also be more expensive operationally, both for the fuel and for maintance.
Will probably have the same payload capacity and hardpoint amount as the MiG-31, but it's also possible that they might have to sacrifice here too. Won't be too bad really, with the new, ultra-long range and long-range missiles - you won't need as many of them anyhow.
It will be pretty darn fast though, and it will designed to operate at this speed for a good length of time. Essentially a trans-hypersonic interceptor.
Home
Latest images
Register
Log in
