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.
Sid, I do appreciate the insight on the India-Russian defense alliance, and you're right, I should have looked that up before commenting. Good lesson for us all! Thank you.
We have millions of young kids that couldn't get a summer job and the politicians go to other countries to offer them jobs that belong to US people, we are driven down the toilet as a country by this government that only seeks to be popular among all the countries while our unemployment is increasing by the day. Instead of giving money to countries like Pakistan where their Army has proven repeatedly to be against us, and India where they are working for countries that are foes to the US, how about encouraging more kids to attend colleges and Universities so they can rightfully get these jobs, provide schooling, health care and jobs for our kids, let Indians be taken care by their own government. It's just fair.
Don't worry people. The Decepticons will take their fighter jets out of the sky just like they did the F-22s in Transformers.
Ok Lokari http://lokari.net/
Let me guess... this jet is the bestest EVER! In six months you'll see the exact same article, just with another picture and by another country. Does it really matter anymore who's jet is the fastest or the most agile? They all blow s h * t up and k il l people... and that's all that matters. Oh, and the stealth thing is overdone by now. I have a minivan that has stealth capabilities... so what.
Yes, military superiority matters, even if you think it doesn't.
I just love the way all these arrogant, self-righteous right-wing blowhards try to play this down as much as possible. On the other hand, no country on earth puts anywhere near the amount of money in their millitary as we do and we're going broke doing it too!!!
Come on people, stop saying this is a copy of one of our planes. It's a piece of crap. Just look at the engine separation. This plane must be a beast to turn. I certainly wouldn't want to get in a dog fight with the F-22 in this piece of junk.
The Russians clearly designed it that way for a reason, long before the F22 came along Russia had many planes that could dance circles around ours. The Mig29, Su37.
The engine separation is necessary for thrust vectoring when rolling, which allows the thing to turn pretty well.
And you realize that most of the F-22 is made in China?
Shows how much you know- each engine can independently vector its thrust upwards, downward or side to side. The plane is the first fifth generation fighter with full 3-D thrust vectoring along all three aircraft axes making it VERY nimble.
So I guess your an expert on thrust vectoring and have flight experience to know that wil "be a beast to turn"?
Someone doesn't understand aerodynamics very much... or rather, at all.
funny how you americans are all scared up by a plane lol
who's scared of a wannabe f22 halfassed lookalike with engines circa 1972?
looks like the one the US just built a few years ago that can redirect its boosters and change direction in mid flight.
I once flew one of those, and it's called an F-14 Tomcat.
It looks like a hybrid between the old twin engine F-14 and the F-22. The two air frames probably perform similarly with the T-50 likely having more thrust and greater top speed but the F-22 with it's vectored thrust (and I would imagine) greater manuverability. In a fight it would come to the pilots and the range of the targeting systems/missiles, their and radar visibility. Manned fighters are old-hat but we won't be going full-Terminiator for at least another 25-60 years.
I give it 10 years before these end up being auctioned to the highest bidder, at least the Russian ones.
Actually they are making T-50 to match China's F-8 superfighter not to US raptor. Guys pls. remember India is there. Their target always Chima or Pakistan. Not the USA.
The new Chinese fighter is not the F-8, its the F-10...
Looks remarkably like the underside of an F-14 Tomcat – what was that . . 70's vintage?
The pain job is very cool.