SU-47 (S-37) BERKUT - experimental fighter aircraft

[2RHPZ]

Another project which never be deployed?

SU-47 (S-37) BERKUT EXPERIMENTAL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, RUSSIA


The Sukhoi Design Bureau of Moscow, Russia has developed the Su-47 (previously called the S-37 Berkut or Golden Eagle) fighter aircraft, which first flew in September 1997. Su-47 is in a forward swept wing configuration and uses a highly unstable triplane (with three main lifting surfaces) aerodynamic configuration. The Su-47 completed the first stage of flight trials in December 2001. In May 2002, Sukhoi was selected as prime contractor for the next-generation Russian PAK FA fighter programme. The PAK FA will be a development of the Su-47 but without the forward swept wings

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/s37/index.html

[Abbyy]

Another project which never be deployed?


Sure. That one made just for technology demonstration and development of 5th generation fighter purposes.

[carpandean]

Looks familiar:

http://www.f-16.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=62&page=1
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/foward_sweep/Tech9G3.htm
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/FactSheets/FS-008-DFRC.html

and going way back:

http://www.vectorsite.net/avhe162.html

[Michael RVR]

I'd be careful making comments like that, the russians have been doing it for a while now, this isn't a new development.

:roll: *shrug*

[AFACadet]

The Su-47/S-37 was NEVER intended to enter production--ever.

Not directed to anyone in this thread, but I just don't understand why people can get that though to their heads...

That was made very clear by the Russians even before it flew in 97.

[2RHPZ]

The Su-47/S-37 was NEVER intended to enter production--ever.

Not directed to anyone in this thread, but I just don't understand why people can get that though to their heads...

That was made very clear by the Russians even before it flew in 97.

Thanks, my fault is that I made comment without deeper knowledge of this project.

[usa320]

I'd be careful making comments like that, the russians have been doing it for a while now, this isn't a new development.


Not as long as we have... US flew the X-29 for the first time in 1984.

Forward swept wings now isnt as important as FBW technology has become more effective.

[Flagg]

Forward swept wings now isnt as important as FBW technology has become more effective.

That's a bit of a "what came first chicken or egg" comment.

Without the aid of FBW, the X29 is completely unflyable

The main reason for testing the X29 was to determine the advantages of a forward swept wing concept.......as it was felt a forward swept aircraft could have aerodynamic advantages in transonic flight...this turned out to be true.....but the slight performance advantage in one part of the flight envelope were outweighed by other problems encountered.

[AFACadet]

The Germans beat everyone in 1944...

[Flagg]

Although I don't thiunk the primary reason for doing so was for aerodynamic purposes...I think the main goal was to push the Arado wings back farther to allow for a larger bomb bay(as the wing spars would no longer be sucking up space)

[GazB]

The germans identified swept wings as being good fairly early on but also that swept back wings generated a vortex at the tip of the wing which induced parasitic drag. This drag was increased by spanwise flow... in other words air travelling along the wing instead of over it. With forward swept wings the spanwise flow move inwards instead of outwards to the wingtip so as long as there was an efficient wingroot lift area drag was greatly reduced in subsonic flight.

BTW satellite photos of an aircraft at a Russian airbase with forward swept wings predates the X-29s first flight by about 2 years... this too was a test aircraft.

While they were exploring FSW advantages they also learned about synthetic and composite materials as well as building structures that are rigid in one direction and flexible in another.

From what I have seen the Su-47 will be the basis of the new fighter design to replace the Flankers in production. It is expected to have a conventional wing instead of a forward swept wing, though forward sweep might be used on a potential naval variant... naval aircraft greatly benefit from excellent low speed handling and characteristics.

[OB Kenobi]

The Germans beat everyone in 1944...

Ever see this site?

http://www.luft46.com/

[Viktor_s]

Another project which never be deployed?


Sure. That one made just for technology demonstration and development of 5th generation fighter purposes.

More like a flight lab, isn't it? the length of the plane is just a little too big.

[AFACadet]

swept back wings generated a vortex at the tip of the wing which induced parasitic drag. This drag was increased by spanwise flow...

Actually, that induced drag (kDi). Parasitic drag comes from friction and lumps and bumps in the airflow.



From what I have seen the Su-47 will be the basis of the new fighter design to replace the Flankers in production.

That is exactly what I was talking about in my first post. No, that's not the case. The Su-47 (S-37) was never intended for anything other than a test aircraft. It was simply a technology demonstrator. There were no plans for a production version. Third party sources, desperate for a new Russian aircraft, starting coming out with incorrect information indicating the S-37, later Su-47, might for something other than the test scene. Sukhoi didn't help much either with its redesignation.


The MiG 1.42 on the other hand WAS planned as a production fighter. For a number of reasons, that plan was shelved a while back.

As the article stated in the first post, the PAK FA is the current design for a production fighter, having nothing to do with the Su-47/S-37

[GazB]

Actually, that induced drag (kDi). Parasitic drag comes from friction and lumps and bumps in the airflow

Thanks for the correction...

Regarding the rest...

The Russians basically told all their design bureaus during the late 80s and through the 90s that there is no money and there will be no money for new designs till 2005-2006. This applied to everything from tanks to planes etc etc.
In the late 80s there was however a program to design a new heavy fighter to replace the Su-27 Flanker series. This was a response to the US ATF requirement and was called MFI or medium fighter/interceptor. There was a similar program called LFI or Light fighter/interceptor. The latter later changed to LFS when all the single engine fighters like the Su-17 series fighterbombers and Mig-21 and Mig-23/Mig-27 aircraft were withdrawn because a light strike capability would be lost as well. The S-32 which later became the S-37 was Sukhois technology demonstrator to meet that need. (Migs 1.42 and 1.44 were also designed for that program).
Many things happened (like the Flanker series gained political supremacy because it was thought that larger longer range fighters would allow fewer airbases and more area covered) plus the sheer cost of operating big aircraft have led to the Mig-29s getting upgrades to allow multirole operation, plus the Flankers also getting air to ground capability in their current upgrades.
The MFI program was eventually deemed too expensive and the PAK-FA program, which will be a joint project with india and possibly China and perhaps even some French companies. Sukhoi has won the primary Russian position to build it and it is believed that the final aircraft will look like an Su-47 but with a butterfly type wing like the F-22.

[Draconian]

Did you watch the movie STEALTH with Jamie Fox, if you look at it closely the fighter planes used in the movie was somewhat patterned from su-47.. it was like a combination of a tomcat and the Su-47..

[joe mama]

Did you watch the movie STEALTH with Jamie Fox, if you look at it closely the fighter planes used in the movie was somewhat patterned from su-47.. it was like a combination of a tomcat and the Su-47..

Asshat, the fighter planes in that movie were patterned after Jessica Biel's roast beef curtains. Or, if you prefer something more romantic, meat flaps. Or something more sensitive, how about clam handles.
p-)