Russian Photos (updated on regular basis)

[shardana]

Most flankers in service today wear same three piece camo from the mid 80's

The F-22 Raptor is the only US fighter design with the stealth, speed and agility to defeat the new Russian PAK-FA design. To be highly effective against the PAK-FA, it will need a range of upgrades, including a new technology infrared sensor. Depicted technicians at the USAF AEDC performing low observables testing on an electro-optical sensor fairing, developed for the AIRST sensor. The AIRST was deleted from the F-22 avionic suite during development as a cost saving measure (US Air Force image).


Imagine an apocryphal story of three fighter pilots meeting in the bar at an air combat conference in Stockholm, in the year 2015. Chuck is a NATO F-22A Raptor pilot based in Germany, Boris an Su-35-1 Flanker E Plus pilot flying from one of the bases protecting Moscow, and Johan, a F-35A Lightning II pilot from the Netherlands. All are masters of their craft and after drinks, “merely to lubricate the vocal chords”, they do what fighter pilots all over the world do – swap stories and make claims about their beloved aircraft.SPIE Newsroom. DOI: 10.1117/2.1200808.1237.).
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Legacy bandgap detector imagers cannot compete against the emerging higher resolution colour tuned QWIP imagers. Above: current podded variant of the longwave LM AAS-42 InfraRed Search Track sensor (C. Kopp image). Below: AAS-42 installation on the F-14D Tomcat, now retired (US Navy image).

<H1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">QWIP based imaging Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) detectors can be “tuned” by design for sensitivity in a particular infrared band, using a fundamentally different detection technique to conventional “band gap” detectors where the material determines the colour sensitivity of the detector. First commercialized by Germany’s AIM/Diehl-BGT, QWIPs have since been adapted for ballistic missile defence applications. QWIPs have also been built to operate not only in the “conventional” midwave and longwave infrared bands, but also in the “very longwave” 15 micron band to detect very cool targets. QWIPs capable of simultaneously imaging in two, three or four infrared bands have also been manufactured and marketed. QWIP technology, therefore, opens up the potential for even greater detection ranges against targets cooler than what current production infrared sensors can track, and provide for much better infrared background rejection.

Consider a QWIP technology “OLS-50M” installed in the PAK-FA. Such a device could be design-optimised for simultaneous detection and tracking of aircraft exhausts, jet-plumes and missile flares to ranges of 70 nm and beyond – the limiting factors are the size of the optics, cooling system and detector area. Russia has decades of experience in the integration of infrared sensors into its weapons systems, and QWIPs could well become the primary sensor and radar the secondary. This means that the F-22A AN/ALR-94 will be denied signals to detect and track the PAK-FA.

The ‘shooting match’ shifts from radar-centric to ‘infrared centric’. The problem here is that the PAK-FA will have it, the F-22A does not, and the ability of the F-35 EOTS and DAS to make long range aircraft detections and guide weapons is at best ‘unproven’. The F-35 systems have not been designed to be highly sensitive at the task of searching and tracking distant aircraft at those infrared colours where aircraft and their jet engines emit most of their infrared energy. An understanding of the physics, or for the ever-hopeful, a simple Developmental Test and Evaluation exercise will demonstrate this.

With the Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) radar detections being reduced to distances below 60 nautical miles and infrared sensor detection ranges growing beyond 50 nautical miles, a new generation of missiles will be required to dominate the battlespace.

Russian missile companies have shown much more flexibility and adaptability in the design of missiles, so the PAK-FA could have a new-generation of shorter range, but higher agility missiles – a fusion of the ideas in the R-74 and R-77M, with a diverse mix of seeker heads. These missiles will likely be cued by the IRST sensor, be equipped with inertial midcourse guidance and, probably, mid-course guidance update capability transmitted either by radio, or possibly infra-red laser or millimetric wave links.

Expect the PAK-FA to have vectored thrust and high levels of agility like the Flankers it is to either replace or complement. Long missile range requires large rocket or ram-jet motors and these heavy weapons lack the agility to pull high terminal ‘G’, and may be ‘ducked’ by the PAK-FA as easily as by the Su-35-1.

The PAK-FA will use a new super-cruising engine, based on technology from the Al-41F series, so its tactic might be to maintain combat speeds of about Mach 1.5 and use a more compact version of the ramjet RVV-AE-PD. A supersonic launch enables a ramjet to light without a powerful booster – thereby denying an opponent the detection of the usual missile launch flare.

Fights between the F-22A and the PAK-FA will be close, high, fast and lethal. The F-22A may get ‘first look’ with the APG-77, the Advanced Infra Red Search and Track (AIRST) sensor having been deleted to save money, but the PAK-FA may get ‘first look’ using its advanced infrared sensor. Then, the engagement becomes a supersonic equivalent of the Battle of Britain or air combat over North Korea. The outcome will be difficult to predict as it will depend a lot on the combat skills of the pilots and the capabilities of the missiles for end-game kills. There is no guarantee that the F-22 will prevail every time.

The fate of the F-35 Lightning II would be far worse in an air combat environment challenged by the PAK-FA. If the Mach 1.5 PAK-FA is using its infrared sensor as the primary sensor and observes radio frequency emission control (EMCON), then the first detection by the F-35’s APG-81 radar could be at ~20 nautical miles or less with a missile launched by the PAK-FA’s infrared sensors already inbound from 60 to 70 nautical miles away. The PAK-FA could easily break to a direction outside the F-35’s AIM-120 engagement zone.

The sustained turning performance of the F-35A Lightning II was recently disclosed as 4.95 G at Mach 0.8 and 15,000 ft. A 1969 F-4E Phantom II could sustain 5.5 Gs at 0.8 Mach with 40 percent internal fuel at 20,000 feet. The F-35 is also much slower than the 1960s F-4E or F-105D. So the F-35A’s aerodynamic performance is ‘retrograde’ when compared with 1960s legacy fighters. The consequence of such inferior JSF performance is that its DAS might detect an incoming missile, but the aircraft lacks the turn-rate to out-fly it. As the F-35 also lacks the performance to engage or escape, repeated ‘freebie’ shots from the PAK-FA could inflict high losses. Expect the exchange rate to be of the order of 4:1 in favour of the PAK-FA, possibly much higher[3].

Russian aerospace companies have demonstrated an ability to outpace US aerospace manufacturers in terms of delivery of an operational capability and also the diversity of the capabilities of their weapons systems. The cumbersome US acquisition system, and marketing rather than technology driven aerospace industry, put the US at a distinct competitive disadvantage in rapidly adapting to an evolving threat environment.

The most dangerous situation the US could face, is where the high and upwardly spiralling development and production costs of the JSF ‘cuckoo’ the available resources, which are needed to develop the advanced capabilities necessary to counter the new Russian PAK-FA, and the generation of new weapons which the PAK-FA will inevitably be armed with.

Complacency is not an option. Having ruled the roost for the decade out to 2015, the F-22A may be knocked off its perch by a newcomer, unless the US invests in new sensors, especially, and advanced technology Infra-Red Search and Track, stealth improvements and a new generation of missiles for the F-22 – assuming it even builds more than the token number of F-22s currently planned. The F-35 has already been neutralised and negated by the Su-35-1/35BM and will be substantively overmatched by the PAK-FA. The West needs to think long, hard and fast about the PAK-FA, as the current and retrograde “F-35 centric” future fighter fleet model guarantees certain defeat in future combat.

PAK-FA rendering by NPO Saturn. Unlike the JSF, the stealthy PAK-FA is being designed with air superiority performance and high agility as the primary consideration. To date only speculative renderings have been released, making assessments difficult (Saturn NPO).

Endnotes:

[1] Radar Parameters

Radar Cross Sections cited (X-band):
F-22A Front Aspect = 0.0001 m2, Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 – 0.001 m2 (0.005 used in this analysis);
F-35A Front Aspect = 0.001 m2, Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 m2;
PAK-FA All Aspect = 0.01 m2;
Su-35-1 Front Aspect= 2 m2.

Radar Range Figures used are:
F-22A APG-77 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
F-35A APG-81 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
PAK-FA IRBIS-E N035 Best Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP);
Su-35-1 IRBIS-E N035 Worst Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP)

[2] Boyd Cook, PIRATE: the IRST for Eurofighter TYPHOON, Proc. SPIE, Vol. 4820, 897 (2003), URL: http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=
PSISDG004820000001000897000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes

[3] Boeing F-15SE ‘Silent Eagle’. This low-signature version of the F-15 Eagle was assessed during the compilation of this NOTAM. Its radar cross section, while claimed to be comparable to the export configuration of the F-35 from nose-on is likely to be substantially inferior from other aspects. Its infrared signature will be similar to the standard F-15 Eagle. Thus, the PAK-FA using radar will detect the Silent Eagle at a range sufficient to launch BVR missiles and at similar or greater ranges to the F-35 for infrared-based engagements. Flying wide sweeps and distributing sensor detections as is done for the legacy Sukhois will enhance radar detections and enable IRST ranging. The advantage the F-15SE Silent Eagle has over the F-35 JSF is that it has the aerodynamic performance and fuel reserves to egress from a dangerous air combat engagement.

I don't know which thermal sensor will use the PAK FA anyway this will be a good weapon to detect Stealth fighters

[K-5]

I don't know which thermal sensor will use the PAK FA anyway this will be a good weapon to detect Stealth fighters

Oh, I miss the big cat and it's roar in the mornings PAKFA will probably use AIRST that was introduced with MiG-35. Specs of that thing are very promising:
In air combat, the optronic suite allows:

• Detection of non-afterburning targets at 45 km range and more;(all aspect?)
• Identification of those targets at 8 to 10 km range; and
• Estimates of aerial target range at up to 15 km.

For ground targets, the suite allows:

• A tank-effective detection range up to 15 km, and aircraft carrier detection at 60 to 80 km;
• Identification of the tank type on the 8 to 10 km range, and of an aircraft carrier at 40 to 60 km; and
• Estimates of ground target range of up to 20 km.
  http://www.aviapedia.com/video/new-mig-35-ols-video
  

[alexgodinez]

For ground targets, the suite allows:

• A tank-effective detection range up to 15 km, and aircraft carrier detection at 60 to 80 km;
• Identification of the tank type on the 8 to 10 km range, and of an aircraft carrier at 40 to 60 km; and
• Estimates of ground target range of up to 20 km.
  http://www.aviapedia.com/video/new-mig-35-ols-video
  

[/quote] its use full for detecting aircraft carriers? GASP

[void]

Radar Cross Sections cited (X-band):
F-22A Front Aspect = 0.0001 m2, Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 – 0.001 m2 (0.005 used in this analysis);
F-35A Front Aspect = 0.001 m2, Side and Rear Aspect = 0.01 m2;
PAK-FA All Aspect = 0.01 m2;
Su-35-1 Front Aspect= 2 m2.

Radar Range Figures used are:
F-22A APG-77 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
F-35A APG-81 = published figures (AW&ST - pessimistic);
PAK-FA IRBIS-E N035 Best Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP);
Su-35-1 IRBIS-E N035 Worst Case published figures (Tikhomirov NIIP)

Where did you get the RCS and radar performance figures for the PAK-FA? I was under the impression that the radar type/model wasnt even announced for the PAK-FA, and that the RCS definitely was a closely held secret.

[DarthJesus]

I've read that APA article and I have to say the whole thing is more than a little specious. The F-35 has yet to enter service so its hard to make an accurate measurement of its capabilities. The same thing for the Su-35. And as for the PAK-FA we don't even know what it looks like yet! How can you make any kind of realistic appraisal of its abilities without knowing anything about the airplane? APA has some interesting articles but it also makes some suspect arguements.

[zg18]

I've read that APA article and I have to say the whole thing is more than a little specious. The F-35 has yet to enter service so its hard to make an accurate measurement of its capabilities. The same thing for the Su-35. And as for the PAK-FA we don't even know what it looks like yet! How can you make any kind of realistic appraisal of its abilities without knowing anything about the airplane? APA has some interesting articles but it also makes some suspect arguements.

Well , that's understandable because the project is "Top Secret".

[Nuclear_Warrior]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSMMaiqaTs

What a great song, can anyone tell me what are they singing about?

[KramerIDF]

Heya everybody. Instead of making a new post asking, I felt it would be a bit appropriate to ask here instead, because it is also a picture request.

The USAF has the Security Forces, and the RAF has the RAF Regiment, does the Russian Air Force have any sort of ground unit that specializes in airfield security/defense? If so what is the name of them and are there any pictures? Thanks.

[Xaito]

Yamadaev shot dead in Dubai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOEdbMGZxQ

[Er_spectr]

I've read that APA article and I have to say the whole thing is more than a little specious. The F-35 has yet to enter service so its hard to make an accurate measurement of its capabilities. The same thing for the Su-35. And as for the PAK-FA we don't even know what it looks like yet! How can you make any kind of realistic appraisal of its abilities without knowing anything about the airplane? APA has some interesting articles but it also makes some suspect arguements.

The article says that judging the current Russian technologies, the highest RCS they can reach is 0.01. Well it is supposed to be an estimate. The thing is we (people with only public data) can not comment on this matter, Sukhoi might have some top secret technologies that no one is even aware of. The problem is that in the 21st century having secret tech is extremely hard if not impossible

[Bolt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSMMaiqaTs

What a great song, can anyone tell me what are they singing about?

They're singing about hot spot - about what dangers are there being in one etc. Nothing concrete, only general talk about the war

Yamadaev shot dead in Dubai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOEdbMGZxQ

Damn. RIP. He probably was the only Chechen that I really respected.

[K-5]

Yamadaev shot dead in Dubai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOEdbMGZxQ

Damn, first Vostok CO now him, RIP... Khadyirov Junior is one ambitious fellow

The article says that judging the current Russian technologies, the highest RCS they can reach is 0.01. Well it is supposed to be an estimate. The thing is we (people with only public data) can not comment on this matter, Sukhoi might have some top secret technologies that no one is even aware of. The problem is that in the 21st century having secret tech is extremely hard if not impossible

True, but that source is known to make rather obscene exaggerations about PAK-FA. Look at the IRST proposed airborne object detection range for example.
I found this what-if projections which I thing are much closer to what an actual PAK-FA prototype is going to look like (big hopes for MAKS this year). It's got sound airframe, and that immature prototypeish look.

[Alef]

http://rutube.ru/tracks/1709381.html...0bfdef610bb65b

[shardana]

Damn, first Vostok CO now him, RIP... Khadyirov Junior is one ambitious fellow

True, but that source is known to make rather obscene exaggerations about PAK-FA. Look at the IRST proposed airborne object detection range for example.
I found this what-if projections which I thing are much closer to what an actual PAK-FA prototype is going to look like (big hopes for MAKS this year). It's got sound airframe, and that immature prototypeish look.

70 NM range for AIRST seems an exaggeration but it anyway depends by enviromental condition (bad weather,clouds etc.)
Anyway use of thermal sensor will create problem to the stealth fighters they cannot reduce emission to zero, sensor fusion too could be a challenge.

[Kutuzov]

Some Marching Glinka style :