Russia's new stealth fighter jet made its public debut Tuesday, according to state-run news source RIA Novosti.
The Sukhoi T-50, developed collaboratively by Russia and India, appeared at the MAKS 2011 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow.
Gen. Alexander Zelin, head of the Russian air force, told RIA Novosti he expects the T-50 prototype to be ready in 2013, with "mass-produced aircraft" arriving in 2014 or 2015.
The aircraft is expected to become a staple of airborne defense for both Russia and India, Mikhail Pogosyan, head of Russia's United Aircraft Corp., told RIA Novosti.
"The T-50 will be the newest main plane both for the Russian and the Indian air force," Pogosyan said.
The article from the state-run media source says the Sukhoi T-50 cost the two governments about $6 billion to develop, with India shouldering about 35% of the cost. It is intended to match the U.S. F-22 raptor.
also this is still a prototype, the engine will change etc, they are still working on it..work in progress, ever heard of that expression...it might look similar to the f22 but this is different in many ways...im just happy that 2 strong countries will have the means to protect themselves and friends if needed...i like balance in everything.
I read all the comments. One thing I haven't seen is this. Our esteemed occupier of the White House has seen fit to cancel the F-22 program. The USAF will only have what it has presently. The Chinese, the Russians are all developing aircraft that will match or surpass the F-22. What is the USA doing? Wasting our money to support the very people who will do anything to get over us. We need more F-22's and we need them fast. I don't understand, North American Aviation was able to produce the best fighter of WW2 in 102 days. Now with all the computers in the world it takes years for a design, hmm. maybe the engineers need to begin doing things with slide rules, triangles and T-squares. Maybe then we could produce a new and better airplane in months not years. Personally I am learning to speak Chinese, Russian, and Hindi.
Why is most comments saying that it looks like an F22? I don't see them to look all that similar.
Nice, now maybe Russia can buy two of them in the next 5 years....
They will have to give up one to India
Ok, I'm a bit confused...Isn't India suppose to be an ally of the U.S.? While Russia isn't considered an enemy of the U.S., I don't believe they are yet considered an ally, are they? We're "friendly", but not necessarily "friends" – right?
Why do we always have to point fingers – democrat, republican, etc.? Perhaps some of the comments about the U.S. being too stupid aren't so far off base? Afterall, is it smart to fight in a house that is burning? We need to make sure we are aware of our surroundings and at the end of the day, republican, democrat, Tea Party, or whatever affiliation you call yourself – aren't we all suppose to be Americans? (Yes, Canadians, I understand that some of your might consider yourselves "Americans" living in North America, but you know what I mean!). Stop the bickering, support each other and do what's right for our Country!
In this case, what you don't ask will help us later.
I could not have said it any better. Perhaps, "YOU" should run for president as an independent. Congratulations
You haven't read news from last 50 years. If you check, entire Indian Air fleet is Russian(migs ans Su). Russia and Israel are India's largest military partners. America has been providing Pakistan with weapons since 1948. Just in recent times US has approached India for defense deals through contracting. India-Russia defense alliance is a well known fact from last 50 years, what is that a news to you. I recommend some basic reading before you post.
This is a business decision for India, that's all. We're still pretty closely allied, but the Raptor costs more than they want to pay, and we don't produce enough of them for ourselves much less another country. I wouldn't be surprised too that some of the tech in the Raptor might be something we don't want to share just yet. US avionics have always been a couple steps ahead of the Russians – they may duplicate the stealth tech, but I don't think we'd be up for handing over the avionics tech just yet...
Ahhhh!!! How nice!. The nations who get on the microphones and talk about nothing else except how they are ALL for PEACE! in the world, still developing instruments that can possibly destroy innocent human beings in the name of "Rivally" with other nations. Actions Speaks Louder Than Words......
Friendship with india is a necessity for US ,they are still backing Pakistan over some agendas,As India shares equal distances with Russia and US ,Russia is more trustworthy for them than US and this relationship is not started yesterday.it was started after Chinese invasion of India.still we cannot decide who is enemy or who is friend.it is only business my friend."
You have a point that we should all be Americans first.
I am not worrying much about defending our country with the technology that we have, what I am concerned about is the extensive operational range of our armed forces.
For our home defense do we need to have bases in the far away places of the globe? The majority of the great powers in history have fallen from within, and at the end an invasion finished them off.
If we keep our economy robust and keep our citizens in productive employment and reduce foreign entanglements; as our first wise President said, we will be around as a civilization for a long time.
By the way our JSF will be more than a match to these bad copies of the F-22.
What type of "Business" it this where you design machines that can hurt innocent human beings? What's the code (of ethics) to run, operate and justify a business like this? Just Confused myself.
A wolf in a 50 is not innocent my sweetie!
I guess the russians haven't realized that the f22 is yesterday's tech for the U.S.
BUT US F-22 Raptor production was cancelled last year so why does Russia need to match it?
It gives us a rabbit.
And F-35 is what?
We're only making 187 so we can save money. That essentially forces us to rely on the 70's era F-15. So we're now yesterday's tech.
Well, they have supercavitating torpedoes.
Congrats Russia for matching the F-22. Now match the Navy's railgun, the Airforce's laser, and the Army's stealth helicopter. We are worlds apart my friend.
Why would you think that the mission of the T-50 is to do something like dogfight with a F-22? Are you still living in the danger zone, Mav?
More outdated than this plane's technology is the Cold War perspectives of most of the commenters here who view Russian (and Indian) military equipment as foils for the American military...
i still think an old F-4 Phantom could take it down.
P-51 even
Raptorski!!
BUT the US F-22 Raptor production was cancelled last year so why does Russia need to match it?
TechIsReady, lol. Are you serious? My comment makes me a moron? First of all, I have a masters degree in computer engineering and is currently Ph.D. student. I think your reply speaks for your eduction. JackA
Really man, really? You're trying to point out your intelligence and you say you, "... is currently Ph.D. student." You should proof read fist next time and post second.
"I have a masters degree in computer engineering and is currently Ph.D. student."
Ummmm... "I is"? Generally speaking, if you're going to brag about how smart you are, you should avoid glaring fundamental grammar errors.
Is this like: "He bees da wabbit!" ?
Liar. Your grammer and spelling suck.
Ok Lokari. ... http://lokari.net/
Your thesis adviser should help you with your grammar.
Ofcource its meant to go against the F-22, its almost an exact replica,...Knock-offs!
You have not seen pics of F-22 have you?
Ditto copy of american fighter jet!!! Wonder how Russia got the design?? BTW India probably expects this to be gifted to them just like the nuclear bombs were given to them by South Koreans with a wink from USA.
So you say that SK (not a nuclear power) gave the bomb to India, with our implicit knowledge.
Did some angry guy on the radio tell you such things?
The jet is an almost carbon copy of the F22 aesthetically; the only difference I can see is the Russian jet has a slight curve by the air intake. However, the main function innovation of the F22 is the thrust vector, which allows far more manuverabilitly than a fixed engine. It'll be interesting to see if the Russians can copy that. If not, they just have a really fancy F15...
The Su-30, 35, and 37 all use thrust vectoring already, They can do some pretty flashy stuff with it.
Lacking any performance data, it is difficult to compare the T-50 with the F-22. However, given the major differences between Russian manufacturing techniques and those favored by US firms, I suspect the T-50 to be heavier and a bit more rugged than the F-22. Since it was not developed (as far as I know) as a 'joint strike force' fits all services design, it is probably cheaper to build. How the T-50 would stack up in a battle situation with the F-22 is likewise open to question, but in the past the best of the Russian's fighter planes flown by experienced Russian pilots could hold their own.
True, but the Russians also spent more money on training. More training means that you preform better in the field, but it takes longer to get the pilots to the fight.