Since then, when aviation found its application on the battlefield, its role in combat operations became clear, especially at the present time, when Russian fighters have more and more advanced and powerful means for fighting.
The speed of military vehicles in the air is constantly increasing. Work on reducing visibility on radar screens does not stop.
Recently, the means of warfare have grown so much that with the help of aviation alone military conflicts are resolved. In any case, in modern military conflicts, the key role belongs to the air fleet.
Fifth generation aircraft
Recently, the term "fifth generation" can often be heard. What does this concept mean, what is the difference between aircraft from the previous generation.
In this case, we can talk about clear requirements:
- Fifth generation aircraft should be as invisible as possible for radars, and in all wavelength ranges, especially in infrared and radar.
- The aircraft must necessarily have the properties of multifunctionality.
- At the same time, modern Russian fighters are a super-maneuverable machine, given the ability to evade the enemy at supersonic speed without afterburner.
- Also, fifth-generation aircraft must carry out all-round close combat. At the same time, they conduct multichannel firing of missiles of different ranges. In addition, at speeds higher than the speed of sound, the electronics of the aircraft should be able to help the pilot in solving many problems.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have at their disposal excellent vehicles in order not to be the last to protect the airspace: the light MiG-35, designed for the long years of the MiG-31, the Russian SU-30SM fighter, the new T-50 (PAK FA).
T-50 (PAK FA)
The new development of Russian aircraft manufacturers T-50 (PAK FA) is amazing with its capabilities. He is fantastic, like the fighters from the Star Wars movie saga.
The aircraft is super maneuverable, has the ability to be invisible to radar. A fighter can fight at any distance, striking targets both in the sky and on the ground.
What makes the T-50 invisible?
The aircraft skin is 70% made using composite materials. They significantly reduces the scattering area. Such parameters allow you to slip away from enemy radars, because on the screen the T-50 will be visible as an object the size of a balloon.
The latest Russian fighter is equipped with powerful engines: there are two of them. These engines have a thrust vector controlled function that makes the aircraft very maneuverable. T-50 (PAK FA) can deploy in the air almost in place.
Protection against air defense systems at PAK FA
To reduce radar visibility, enemy air defense engines switch from round marching nozzles to flat ones. And although this reduces the efficiency of the engine from loss of traction, but this solution allows you to "hide" the turbine of the aircraft from radars and in the infrared range.
In addition, the T-50 powerplant (PAK FA) allows you to accelerate the aircraft to supersonic speed even without the use of afterburner, which is unattainable for aircraft of class 4 +++.
It should be noted that the newest Russian fighter cost the national treasury $ 2 billion. A plane of the same class from Lockheed Martin F-22 cost the Americans $ 67 billion.
Smart T-50 skin
It will not be so easy to get to the T-50: 6 radars are distributed throughout the skin of the aircraft to provide all-round visibility. The optoelectronic sensor of the target detection system is located to the right of the cab. Behind is already an infrared sensor, which helps the system to see threats "behind".
The sensors of the equipment for the Himalaya electronic warfare station are scattered over the surface of the PAK FA. They allow the advanced aircraft to remain invisible to enemy radars, but the aircraft itself can notice the enemy's invisible aircraft.
Su-30 - an advanced domestic combat aircraft
The Russian Su-30 fighter is a modern large-scale aircraft, appeared in 1988 during the Soviet era.
The base aircraft for the creation of advanced "drying" was the combat training Su-27UB. The new machine was equipped with an air refueling system, and navigation and weapon control systems were also improved.
Already in 1992, during the time of perestroika, the first production Su-30 took off. Mass production of military vehicles was then suspended, and the Russian Defense Ministry bought only 5 vehicles for the needs of the army.
But the first Russian Su fighters were not the advanced aircraft that we are observing now. In those days, they were able to use only uncontrollable weapons of the air-ground class.
But already in 1996, the Su-30MKI (I - “Indian”) began to be produced. They appeared front horizontal tail, improved avionics and engines with a controlled thrust vector.
The performance characteristics of the Su-30
- The combat load that a fighter is capable of carrying is 8 tons.
- The basic armament characteristic of domestic vehicles is 30 mm GSh-301.
Flight performance is improved due to the existing air refueling system.
Su-30 aircraft continue the line of Su-27UB aircraft. But the new generation Su has already installed a radar of a modernized type, on which a phased array is used, and in the future it is possible to install a radar with an active type headlamp. On the new "Dryers" the installation of sighting and navigation containers on a special suspension is already foreseen.
Such data make it possible to use all air-to-ground weapons in an airplane: adjustable bombs of various calibers, supersonic anti-ship missiles of the X-31 class.
MiG-35
Another representative that can easily be attributed to fifth generation aircraft is the MiG-35.
Russian MiG fighter aircraft belong to the 4 ++ generation aircraft, this designation is intended to show that this aircraft is superior to the fourth-generation aircraft in combat qualities. He is also able to successfully fight for airspace with fifth-generation fighters.
That is why the MiG-35 due to the fact that the production of vehicles of this class is relatively cheaper than the fifth generation products is a suitable alternative for the air defense forces.
What distinguishes the MiG-35?
What can a fighter do?
- intercept air targets;
- enhance air superiority;
- concentration on the battlefield;
- suppress air defense;
- ground support aircraft;
- Destruction of marine targets.
What is the difference between the MiG-35D and MiG-35 in comparison with the MiG-29:
- super maneuverability;
- increased flight range;
- high combat survivability;
- exceptional reliability.
Like all modern Russian fighters, this aircraft may well act as a transitional fighter between generations 4 +++ and 5.
- The aircraft is well upgraded from single to double.
- The new powerful engine has an increased resource.
- The ZhUK-AE station locator has an active phased antenna. This allows the aircraft to simultaneously conduct up to 30 air targets and attack six of them at once.
- MiG-35 has optical-location stations.
- The detection and recognition of ground targets such as a tank is carried out at ranges of up to 20 km.
- Defense, which minimizes a sudden attack by the enemy, recognizes both aircraft and missiles launched.
- Combat load up to 6 tons. At the same time, the presence of weapons suspension points increased from six to eleven.
Su-47 (S-37) "Golden Eagle"
Russian fighter Su-47 "Golden Eagle" or S-37 are different:
- increased combat autonomy;
- all-mode application;
- supersonic cruising speed;
- stealth;
- over-maneuverability.
Actually, the aircraft is the prototype of the fifth generation cars. Black color gives the fighter a more formidable and impressive appearance.
The wing with the reverse sweep helps to solve the tasks successfully. Russian Su-47 military fighters have a set of intelligent composite materials that are used for self-adaptive structures. The fuselage itself is made of titanium and aluminum alloys and has up to six cargo compartments for the placement of weapons elements. This makes the aircraft even more inconspicuous.
Folding wing consoles are almost 90% made of composite materials. This solution allows you to use the aircraft as a carrier-based fighter. To exit from a corkscrew, the machine is equipped with an integrated remote control system.
To control the aircraft, the pilot can use multifunctional remotes. They have all the controls necessary for the pilot. This helps to pilot the SU-47 without taking his hands off the RUS and the ORE.
Yak-141
Due to the fact that the aircraft is supersonic, it is perfectly used for intercepting air targets, can conduct close combat, and carry out assault attacks not only on ground targets, but also on surface ones.
Russian Yak-141 fighters quite fit the definition of modern aircraft. They have an indispensable function of vertical take-off and landing. And at the same time, the machines are supersonic and multi-purpose.
Russian fighters (photos of which are presented in the article) fully cope with the tasks of intercepting and conducting close combat.
After the first instance was built in 1986, this aircraft machine of its class was the first to overcome the barrier of sound speed. The climb time of a Russian aircraft is much shorter than that of a similar English model of the Harrier SVVP fighter.
Due to the fact that he does not need standard runways, he takes off quite well without taxiing to runways from shelters immediately along the taxiway. And this can provide a mass take-off immediately of a group of Yak-141 aircraft . Such characteristics make it possible to use it as a carrier-based aircraft.
The Americans, like the Russian military, are already working on the creation of sixth generation aircraft. In all respects, these aircraft should surpass 5th generation aircraft in terms of maneuverability and stealth. In addition, sixth generation fighters may have hypersonic speed (about 5.8 thousand km / h). Piloting can be both remote and directly carried out by the pilot.