Mikoyan Design Bureau. MiG 1.42

Multirole fighter

The content pages are based on a variety of aviation oriented sites, as well as on the basis of published statements by developers of aircraft, equipment and engines.

download Analysis of the MiG 1.42

Work on the project "Fighter - 90" was started in 1981.In the MiG Design Bureau were engaged simultaneously in two cars: front-line fighter light (PRL) - 412 and multi-role fighters (IFI) - 512.In preparing the preliminary design of an unprecedented large-scale use of the results blowdown wind tunnel, testing the models - to assess the visibility of the aircraft stands - for testing air intake nozzles, including two engines combined to form a flat, etc.

Presented to the protection of preliminary design PRL and the IFIs have been the basis for conceptual design of a new fifth-generation fighter.Because of the difficulty of financing the simultaneous development of two planes, it was decided to concentrate on the design of aircraft IFIs.Chief designer of the project, received 1.42 code, has been appointed, GASedov (former pilot - test pilot of the MiG-19).

The firm was built cabin layout 1.42 where it was found a chair with adjustable back angle, depending on congestion ( an article on such a chair ), the instrument panel represented the large-format monitor with a bordering of a set of buttons.Information presented in three dimensions, the most important - in the foreground, the rest of the "depth".

The wing has a folding unit for placement in a standard dock, folding by hand.The ends of the wings in the folded position are lowered.

Fuselage structure assumed on automatic welding, the sheets are boiled neck, which improves the surface quality and reduces the ESR, respectively.

Access to the cabin is carried out on withdrawable ramp width 250 mm.

Onboard radar HO-14 presented a forward looking antenna and two lateral (PFAR).

The uncertain situation with the station protect the rear hemisphere, 1.44 planned to install a beam diameter of 500 mm at this station.But on the runway at the instance of 1.44 and 1.42 series are much smaller than the beam, it is possible that it was planned to install PAR type "Epaulette".

We considered the option to install the mobile gun in a vertical plane: +30-35 degrees azimuth: 5 / 15.

Development of the project I-90.

1.Type of 1.44 end of the eighties, engine P-79 (Yak-141).

2.Type of 1.44 experienced.

3.View 1.42 serial.

In the nineties, the project has undergone some changes, we can assume that the car appeared compartment load at 6 SD.The aircraft was under index 1.46.As an alternative perhaps even the appearance of wing sweep.

In 2003, RAC "MiG" was a change of leadership, among other things, the resumption of work on the topic "MFD-2003".In its current form, this project is a competitor to the T-50 Sukhoi Design Bureau.Focuses on the sharp decline in the effective area of ​​dispersion (EPR), the weapon is placed inside the fuselage.According to rumors the ideology of the machine has changed, saving scheme "duck" the designers abandoned the ventral air intake for the benefit of both sides.

As the power plant, obviously stands izd.117S with 15 500 kg thrust and a flat nozzle.Accordingly, the take-off weight of the new machine is in a class of Su-27M and F-22 .

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... Despite the economic and financial crisis, Russia has that continues to be among the leading aviation powers.Through the efforts of designers and engineers Mikoyan design bureau developed the fighter, according to their performance characteristics is not inferior, and a number of indicators, even superior to American F-22 "Raptor" - machines that embodies the latest technological advances of the military-industrial complex of the United States.

A bit about the history of IFI.In response to the deployment in the United States in the early 1980s.R & D program, ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) in response to a 1986 joint resolution adopted by the closed Central Committee and USSR Council of Ministers provides for commencement of work on the fifth generation fighter plane.Defining the concept and appearance of a new combat vehicle took the leading research organization of the Ministry of Aviation Industry and Air Force, with the participation of the largest engineering offices involved in the design of military aircraft.It is possible to formulate a clear tactical and technical requirements for a promising fighter.

A few years later Mikoyan Design Bureau introduced ordering directorates BBC sketch plan MFI, which was successfully defended before the State Commission.At the same time, confident in the correctness of the chosen path and the reasonableness of the proposed solutions, mikoyanovtsy developed the necessary technical documentation for the aircraft, using computer-aided design system.In 1989 he released a full set of working drawings, and then began manufacturing and assembling the first aircraft on the basis of a pilot plant ANPK "MiG".Leaders work to create the IFIs were Rostislav Belyakov, General Designer, Chief Designer, Gregory Sedov, and at the final stage - the chief designer, Yuri collars.In early 1994, the IFI has been delivered to Zhukovsky.In December of that year, MFI, driven by test pilot Roman Taskaeva, made a high-speed taxiing on the runway the flight research center in Zhukovsky, with a margin of nose landing gear.However, due to lack of funding further work on the project 1.42 were frozen.Do not even have helped numerous appeals in various instances.

MFI - a heavy single-seat fighter, executed on the aerodynamic configuration "duck" with tselnopovorotnym front horizontal tail surface (CHR), sredneraspolozhennym delta wing and a V-shaped tail.In our country, this aerodynamic configuration for the design of jet machine is implemented for the first time.

The aircraft has improved takeoff and landing characteristics.The power plant consists of two AL-41F engines with thrust vector control, providing maneuverability machine in a dogfight over the entire range of speeds and long cruising flight at supersonic speeds to besforsazhny mode.Estimated maximum speed corresponds to the number M = 2.6.

Engine air intake - adjustable, with an S-shaped channels for the screening of the engine compressor and radiopoglaschayuschey lining.The design of the fuselage, wings and canards are widely used in composite materials based on carbon and polymers.The machine is designed to meet the technology requirements of "stealth", but much less than overseas competitors.Application radiopoglaschayuschih coatings, shielding, radar and contrasting elements of design, low thermal signature, conformal placement of missiles allowed to reach values ​​of the effective area of dispersion comparable to the F-22 .Airborne pulse-Doppler radar with a fifth-generation phased array antenna and electronically scanned radiation pattern can effectively carry out long-range aerial combat with the enemy of visual communication, and maintain over 20 airborne targets simultaneously.

Specially designed for MFIs managed long-range missile air-to-air and "air-surface" of the fifth generation, realizing the principle of "fire and forget".However, there remains built a 30-mm cannon.In addition, the external hardpoints can carry a fighter all types of missile-bomb armament used by the aircraft of Russian Air Force.

The fate of the IFIs is going to be difficult.The current economic realities are such that in the foreseeable future is unlikely to be possible to deploy its full-scale production for the Russian Air Force.Indeed, the estimated cost of the new fighter will be about $ 70 million in the same time completely unreasonable to close the project 1.42.It appears that Russia would accept the offer of China on cooperation in the project work for MFIs, followed by export sales data for the needs of Air Force aircraft that state.In the future not ruled out the transfer of relevant technologies.The potential investor is willing to finance all necessary works.

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FIFTH FAILURE

"The product is 1.44"

John Doe, "Aerospace Review" 2 / 2010

29 February 2000 at LII airfield.Gromov in Zhukovsky near Moscow for the first time off the ground an experimental fighter RAC "MiG", known as "Product of 1.44".The test flight, which lasted 18 minutes, took place in full accordance with the job.The plane climbed about 1000 meters flew two circles over the airfield at a speed of 500-600 km / h, and then successfully completed the landing.

"The flight, which we all waited so long, was surprisingly mundane" - then said chief pilot RAC "MiG" honored test pilot, Hero of Russia Vladimir Gorbunov.- "The car behaved obediently, even though it is clear that in his aerobatic qualities of a brand new airplane.So that all the work is still ahead. "

This event took place in Zhukovsky, almost unnoticed, not that the first flight of the T-50, reported by almost all media.A brief report on the evening television news, somewhere between successive political scandals and the weather forecast, a few lines in newspapers, even a small press release on the site the RAC "MiG".Even the pictures airplane in flight was not.This is in sharp contrast with the ground demonstration of a prototype machine in 1999 that caused wide public response.

The first flight took place a year after the first public demonstration of "Products 1.44".New car shown at the LII.Gromov in January 1999 event was timed to the 60th anniversary of the Mikoyan Design Bureau.Newspapers and television hype, sometimes openly bearing the speculative nature, was only an echo of serious undercover battles, walking around the new machine.

Preliminary work on the creation of heavy fifth-generation fighter for the Air Force and Air Defense Forces began in late 1979 within the framework of the I-90 ("fighter of the 1990s.").In1981 , theGovernment approved a regulation "Task comprehensive program," a fighter of the 1990s.In addition to MMP them.AIMikoyan, in its execution, was attended by leading institutions, developers, and aircraft systems of ministries of defense industries and the Defence Ministry.The need for such programs was due to the magnitude of the tasks.We had to develop not only the new generation of aircraft, but also promising engines, radar and optical-electronic equipment, flight control and navigation and radio communication equipment systems, electron beam, a new guided missile weapons.

By this time, outline the requirements for the new fighter:

-  multi-functionality, which involved an equal opportunity activities on air and ground targets,

-  low visibility (visual, radar, thermal and electromagnetic)

- maneuverability, which involved the implementation of innovative techniques and tactical elements of air combat, as well as expand the range of possible flight mode with no exit to the brink of collapse and Stalling,

-    supersonic cruise speed, enable it to implement a vigorous style of aerial combat, the imposition of the initiative to the enemy and rapidly respond to changing tactical situation.

In the drafting of the IFIs has been used all scientific and technological backlog, accumulated by the domestic industry in the 1980s.This is embodied in an aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft, based on the results of the vast amount of pipe purging TsAGI.According to their physical appearance MFI is qualitatively different from any previously created domestic military aircraft.This is embodied in a number of design features, such as in a record used in the construction of composite materials.

In 1981, TsAGI has issued recommendations on the appearance of a new combat aircraft:

-   statically unstable circuit "duck" is profitable both in terms of maneuverability, as well as the best bearing properties

-  delta wing with sweep a large area on the leading edge of 40-45 °.

-  deviation of the thrust vector engines for better takeoff performance and ensure supermaneuverability,

-  Adjustable air intake ventral, the best at supersonic and subsonic, and at low speeds and high angles of attack and has a smaller radar visibility due to "shadowing" the fuselage.

- internal or conformal placement of weapons.

Common features of heavy fighter who has received the name "product 12.5," took shape in the early 80s.The general management of the subject carried out by General Designer Rostislav Belyakov, became chief designer Georgy Sedov.

The basis of the new aircraft was put all the same formula of the "three C", but her priorities have changed.Not the first place went supersonic cruise speed, maneuverability and then followed, and then - secrecy.

Implementation rather contradictory requirements identified a large volume of research.The shift in focus has resulted in significant differences from the scheme IFI previous generation fighters that are just beginning to come into service.Had to abandon the integrated layout, greatly increases the midsection, and contrary to the requirements of the supersonic cruise, the wing lost its influx introduced new control surfaces, which had yet to find a name.However, IFI, according to one of the designers, viewed "evolved MiG-25" - high-speed fighter, "grown up" to a new level.

Preliminary design perspective fighter OKB specialists.AIMikoyan prepared in 1985, his feature was that, that he carried out in two parts - on a multipurpose tactical fighter and fighter air defenses, called the IFIs, and on the light fighter - PRL ("4.12").At the same time a high degree of unification of the two planes.At the stage of pilot project in the light of blowdown wind tunnel of TsAGI, preliminary data on the performance of engines, equipment and research to reduce radar signature, identified the rational dimension of the IFIs and the PRL, selected aircraft aerodynamic configuration, adopted the basic structural and layout solutions, as well as the parameters of major systems of fighters.MMP them.AIMikoyan successfully defended this preliminary design.winning the competition at OKB.PODry.

By this time it was already known about the American work on the project long-term tactical fighter ATF ( Advanced Tactical Fighter ).In September 1983 the U.S. Air Force signed a contract to study the formation of his appearance, and October 31, 1986 i have decided the winners of the tender, which was to build prototypes for comparative trials.

The decision at the state level was adopted in the Soviet Union - a joint resolution Politburo and USSR Council of Ministers, adopted in 1986, stipulates the basic steps, timing and responsible program IFIs.This Resolution MMW them.AIMikoyan was entrusted to the development of MFIs in the "weight category" Su-27.In the future due to lack of finances of a program of PRL, intended to replace the MiG-29, have been frozen and all efforts were concentrated on a heavy bureau fighter.

The general management of the works carried out to establish a MFI chief designer of OKB im.Mikoyan RABelyakov.Chief designer was named Hero of the Soviet Union, an engineer and test pilot, GASedov and his deputies - VNShchepin Vorotnikov and Yu (1997 Yury Vorotnikov replaced Georgy Sedov as chief designer).Significant contribution to the IFIs have made deputy general designer Anatoly Belosvet, and TsAGI specialists (in particular, Academician Byushgens).Integrated management of IFI was developed under the leadership of General Designer VMPetrova, and drives elektrogidravlichvskie government - led by BVBelevitin.

The first drawings for the "product 12.5" was released in 1986 but the original edition has undergone considerable change.In addition to the huge amount of blowdown wind tunnel of TsAGI, conducted research on large-scale flying models.Four-meter model, weighing half a ton were thrown from a helicopter, allowing you to assess the controllability of future aircraft at supercritical conditions.Tests were conducted in the Institute of Air Force flights took place during the so-called "windows" in the western bays of reconnaissance satellites.In addition, the models were masking the yellow-green color, were instructed to pick them up within minutes after landing.

In flight models with conventional mechanical control already by 1990 achieved without sustainable behavior tendency to stall at angles of 60 ° and shtopornyh performance, enviable and machines "unstable" scheme.In itself, this was promising, as was previously thought that a statically unstable aircraft like the layout, not equipped with a control system with the artificial preservation of stability, almost uncontrollable.

Based on studies to alter designs.Innovations, often substantial, and introduced the first prototype, which began to build a pilot production of MMP them.AIMikoyan.Work on it began in 1989 when aircraft received a new designation - "the product 1.42."By 1994, the project has undergone six revisions, four of which were tested for flying models.

Originally planned to equip the aircraft engines with flat nozzles, which reduce visibility, and radar screening drives turbines.However, such a construction, at first glance a simple, poor-selling was due to poor distribution of temperature fields in the "box" nozzle, which threatened to burn-out walls.The transition to flat nozzles had to be postponed, and meanwhile, managed to carry out dvigatelisty thrust vector control by rejecting the usual steep controlled nozzles.

MFI wing with straight leading edge, no different from the influx has become generally accepted in the previous generation of fighters.Eddies, flowing down from the front edge and positively affect the stability of the aircraft (Academician Byushgens figuratively likened them to "rails on which the slide plane without failing at a high angle ") is now shaped beam mount CHR.location of which had to painstakingly pick through experimentation.

The first two editions of "pure" PGO replaced by another in which the blades of CHR (the term "stabilizer" has lost its meaning, as the front fins IFI performed primarily other functions) have been impressive, "tooth."In practice, this solution CB has already been used in upgrading the MiG-23 - then the "tooth" equipped with the wing and then the rush that had a positive impact on maneuverability.

The corresponding transformation undergone and placement of weapons.The variants of the internal gruzootseke at the top of the fuselage, from where missiles were thrown out after the opening of the valves hydropneumatic pushers.This decision has promised some advantages, making it easier to start at targets flying at higher altitudes and maneuvering with the overload.However, it inevitably led to problems in the operation - to four-meter rise in the height of the missile would require special cranes and scaffolding for each aircraft - too expensive and cumbersome installation.As a result, weapons bay took a more proper position at the bottom of the fuselage.

MFI had to get a new generation of radars with phased array novelty in complex weapons are radar "defense of the tail" with the discovery of the enemy in the rear hemisphere and missile guidance, including a reverse start that run back on the flight (this method was worked out for missiles P -60 and R-73).

In the run-up pilot project was developed by the IFIs seven basic configurations of the aircraft, for which a GosNIIAS was analyzed in a total of more than 300 aviation complex concepts.

While working on the fighter MMP them.AIMikoyan visited the Minister of Aviation Industry ISThe Force is with the Deputy Minister of MPSimonov (who later headed the Sukhoi Design Bureau).MFIs with the concept of a number of comments they have approved, but the greatest attention of the Minister drew a poster with a suggested forming technology, the concept of an airplane on the stage of technical proposal.The Minister said that the technology needed to implement, and Deputy Minister signed the poster.It is hard to say where he is now a poster describing the technology, envisioning a fighter plane, which was endorsed by MPSimonov, but the technology is in its basic components still exists.

In 1988 came the tactical and technical requirements of Air Force aircraft on the IFIs, and in 1989 released a full set of working drawings of the IFIs, which allowed to start construction of the first pilot of the experimental machine, which received factory index "1.44".It was designed to evaluate and working out at the flight test, aerodynamic promising fighter, the definition of basic flight characteristics, stability and control characteristics, strength assessment, testing and refining an integrated management system (CCS) power plant systems and equipment, and subsequently only complex in general.

Serial production of the IFIs, it was decided to organize at the Nizhny Novgorod Aircraft Production Association "Sokol", which was involved in the construction of prototypes, as well as aircraft for static testing.

In the flight test program was planned to use the IFIs are only five aircraft, with a gradual build-up functions, while fine-tuning for the MiG-29 was built 13 machines.Perform a full test program was to take no less than 1,000 flight hours.

Much work had experts "Saturn" them. A . M .Cradle, who were able to produce more than two dozen engines AL-41F.tested in the stands of the plant and CIAM, as well as flying laboratories FRI: subsonic - based on the Tu-16 supersonic and - based on MiG-25LD (M 20-84).The engine was equipped with thrust vector control.

Initially, work on the program IFI were fast enough, not yielding, and even ahead in terms of work on American counterparts, created within the program ATF .

In the pilot production of MMP them.AIMikoyan was the layout of buildings cockpit "1.42" where it was found a chair with adjustable back angle, depending on congestion, as represented by the dashboard of a large-format monitor with a bordering of a set of buttons.Information presented in three dimensions, the most important - in the foreground, the rest of the "depth".The pilot got into the cab of withdrawable ramp width 250 mm.

The wing had a folding unit for placement in a standard dock, folding was carried out manually.The ends of the wings in the folded position fell down.Fuselage structure assumed on automatic welding, the sheets had to cook in a joint, which increased the surface quality and reduced, respectively, of the EPR.Onboard radar HO-14 was represented by a single antenna front view and two side looking antenna.We considered the option to install the mobile cannon, capable of turning in a vertical plane at angles of 30 - 35 °, and azimuth from -5 to +15 °.

In 1991, there was a successful defense of conceptual design and layout of the IFIs.In parallel with work on multifunctional frontline fighter based on the basic design options were studied reconnaissance aircraft, fighter ship-based and other modifications.

In essence a mortal blow struck the project collapse of the USSR and transition of the country remains a "market" economy.The Government was not up to the aircraft, were the main money, at one point disappeared from the country.Difficulties around fighter "dispute" to reach a time the presidential administration, but even then the work proceeded very slowly.When installing the control systems, such as Nizhny Novgorod plant "Hydromash" did not agree to place without prepayment steering gears, remained understaffed and other systems.Did not get along with the new management bureau, went to Anatoly Kvochur LII, which was to become the leading test pilot MFIs.

V1992, it was drastically reduced funding for the IFI.However, pilot production ANPK "MiG" managed to build a model airplane, the airframe for static tests and in conjunction with production plants lay the groundwork for the construction of prototypes.In early 1994, the assembly is over an experimental aircraft 1.44.and summer of that year he was taken to the flight station ANPK "MiG" at the airport LII.Gromov in Zhukovsky, where the ground has continued testing of its systems and started the preparation for flight tests.

In December of that year, the test pilot Roman Taskaev performed at "1.44" the first high-speed taxiing on the runway of FRI with a margin of nose landing gear.However, because of sharp budget cuts on the IFIs due to economic hardship in the country to bring the fighter to the stage of flight tests did not succeed.In 1995, funding for the program was almost discontinued.

At Le Bourget in June 1995, Deputy General Designer, Anatoly Belosvet said that the company expects to show new car at the show in Zhukovsky near Moscow.However, the demonstration then canceled just hours before the opening of the MAKS-95, citing the ban on the military, although wet-paint the aircraft was ready for rollout.In the secret area only allowed leadership of the Ministry of Defence and the government.

Press office, failed to compensate for the event, distributed the text of the interview Rostislav Belyakov, stating that IFI was established in response to the U.S. program of ATF , and the bureau to "firmly adhere to the relevant characteristics of the project requirements of the Air Force."As a result, MFIs should not only be equal to the American fighter, but "to beat him on a number of characteristics."The last statement in respect of already being a flying American aircraft then became almost a ritual, repeated from year to year.

MFI has been officially mentioned again March 21, 1996 while showing a trainer MiG-AT.Director-General of the MAPO-MiG Vladimir Kuzmin, announced then that the orientation provided adequate funding for the new fighter could be raised in the air "within six months."Links to financial difficulties were heard again and again, however, not without malice noticed one of the Western observers, the "other Russian planes are also flying. "Demonstration of the fighter waiting at the MAKS-97, but in the end it did not take place again.

Meanwhile in the U.S. resulted in a comparative flight testing of prototypes ATF , marching with the 1990 issue of adopting F -22 was resolved in September 1997 began flying fighter pilot series.But the plans of Defense and the Russian Air Force from year to year, MFI has continued to be enrolled in one of two high-priority items (the other remained Sukhovskaya Su-27IB).

Only in 1998 could find the means to resume testing.

At the end of that year, "Miguev allowed to show the fighter pilot community, the more that the" competitors "of the Sukhoi aircraft in autumn showed the S-37 Air Force leadership and the aviation industry. Such a demonstration was to draw attention to the project and lead to the allocation of additional funds needed to begin testing. In addition, the display of the newest aircraft gave a chance to find potential foreign partners interested in joint development of advanced fighter aircraft.

By the way, then in the media reported that China had offered to participate in financing the creation of the fighter's condition following delivery MFI Air China, and at a later stage - the transfer of a license for its production.

MFI - heavy single-seat fighter, executed on the aerodynamic configuration "duck" with tselnopovorotnym front horizontal tail surface (CHR), sredneraspolozhennym delta wing and V -shaped tail, in our country such aerodynamic configuration for the design of jet machines has been realized for the first time.

The power plant consists of two AL-41F engines with thrust vector control, providing maneuverability machine in a dogfight over the entire range of speeds and long cruising flight at supersonic speeds to besforsazhny mode.

Engine air intake - adjustable, with S -shaped channels for the screening of compressor engines and radar absorbing lining.The design of the fuselage, wing and canards are widely used in composite materials.The machine is designed to meet the technology requirements of "stealth", but to a much lesser extent than overseas competitors.The use of radar absorbing coatings, shielding, radar and contrasting elements of design, low thermal signature, conformal placement of missiles allowed to reach values ​​of the effective area of dispersion, comparable to the F -22.Airborne pulse-Doppler radar with a fifth-generation phased array antenna and electronically scanned radiation pattern can effectively carry out long-range aerial combat with the enemy of visual communication, and maintain over 20 airborne targets simultaneously.

Especially for the IFI have developed long-range missiles of "air-to-air" and "air-surface" of the fifth generation, realizing the principle of "fire and forget." In addition, the external hardpoints can carry a fighter all types of missile-bomb armament used Russian Air Force aircraft

The first prototype, called "product 1.44", which today would get the status of a "technology demonstrator", showed the public January 12, 1999

Among came clear frosty day in Zhukovsky were Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, commander of the Air Force Anatoly Kornukov, Economy Minister Andrei Shapovalyants and presidential aide Yevgeny Shaposhnikov (when he was commander in chief, Marshal Air Force took an active part in shaping the program).Among the guests was the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill, accompanied by the archpriest Aleksei.

The appearance of the fighter took impressive: the crowd at the venerable society betonke, shaking the air with thunder of engines and drifting snow vzmetaya, taxied the plane, as if returning from the next test flight.From his cab came out leading the company's test pilot Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Gorbunov, reported leadership that "fighter on the ground is very obedient."

Following the demonstration held a press conference on the questions answered not only theCEO ANPK "MiG" Michael Korzhuyev and chief designer Yuri Vorotnikov, but also representatives of the government.Mikoyanovtsy expressed confidence in the success and the reality of the respective characteristics, and the ministers talked vaguely about the financing of the tests.Metropolitan Kirill has described his interest in what he saw: "Presented here for me is a sign that Russia has retained its intellectual potential, so I have great pleasure in communicating with people whose knowledge is perhaps the only thing that can now lead Russia out of economic breakthrough ".

According to Air Force Commander Anatoly Kornukov, the aircraft type MFIs, despite financial difficulties, still had to find "a place in the Air Force of Russia."But then the commander said it was "not even the car of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."According to the Commander, entering a new generation of fighters in combat units could only begin in 2008-2010. Iefive to seven years after the U.S. Air Force will have its closest equivalent - F -22 A .At the same time, according to the Commander in Chief, should be borne in mind that the American machine takes the place of aircraft F -15 C , had exhausted its potential for modernization, while the Russian multipurpose fighter of the fifth generation to replace the more advanced Su-27, which the early 2000s.must undergo modernization, approximates their combat capabilities to the level of the fifth generation fighter.

Among the few publicized characteristics were identified wingspan - 15 meters, length - 20 m and a maximum takeoff weight - 30 tons

Presentation itself has acquired some of those present with the filing of the nature of "sale" did not really equipped machines.Fuel to the fire poured subsequent newspaper articles.As one of the staff size."In newspapers and on television to praise us for the same stupidity that scolded."

Flight testing of aircraft scheduled to begin in February.

But the first flight took place only a year later.By this time the director of "MiG" was Nikolai Nikitin.In a press release about the first flight of the IFIs, he noted that much of the pledged in an experimental fighter "article 1.44", can be used to create a fifth generation fighter."We have a pretty clear understanding of how to be a Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft.Moreover, today we are working on long-term plan that takes into account the maximum extent modern economic and political realities.Data obtained during flight tests, should form a solid foundation for proposals RAC "MiG" to create the next generation fighter for the Air Force and Air Defense of Russia.

27 April 2000 "1.44" made ​​a second test flight, lasting 22 minutes.During the flight, was tested a number of aircraft and propulsion systems, in addition, unlike the first flight of the fighter were produced and retractable landing gear.However, further flight testing the aircraft is not known.

In a press release also stated that a change in military doctrine of the USSR and Russia in the 1990s.led to a serious rethinking of the role fighter aircraft in the structure of the Russian Armed Forces."The country's leadership and the Armed Forces came to the conclusion that the most effective way to today's Russia meets the needs of not creating a new generation of fighters and a large-scale program of modernization of the existing fleet of tactical aircraft.Despite the fact that "the product 1.44" can not become a prototype for a new fighter for the Air Force and Air Defense of Russia, the project is extremely important for the further development of domestic aircraft. "

This meant that more than 10 years of leading aircraft design bureau and billions of rubles have been largely wasted!On the program, multirole fighter was given up.Thus, over a mean coverage of the first flight, "1.44" becomes clear.Whether to make a holiday of a successful flight of a machine that is still deprived of the future?

The high cost (estimated at - $ 70 million in the late nineties, many asked for the American F-22 ,hence the analogy - paralay ) combined with limited defense budgets of Russia, obviously, not allowed to order the IFIs in the amount commensurate with output fighter previous generation.This trend was typical for the U.S..From 2001 to 2011, the Pentagon intended to finance the purchase of 339 production F -22 A , while approximately the same time period the U.S. Air Force bought a 1103 fighter-type F -15.Due to the high cost of limited export potential and the IFIs.

Due to lack of funding further work on the project, "1.42" were frozen.Did not help, and numerous appeals in various instances.

MAPO "MiG" and the Air Force began to consider the plane, "1.44" as a kind of "flying stand," intended for research and flight testing of technologies, working out design elements less expensive and "more realistic in terms of" light front plane LFS.

In an interview, "Aerospace Review" (November 2002) Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov said the much-needed (albeit vague) words: "Work on the fifth-generation combat aircraft are conducted in accordance with the legal documents regulating the order of the creation of aircraft for military purposes.There are currently drafting the documents that define specific areas of work on perspective plane and the mechanism of their realization ...

When you create a new aircraft will be used design technical solutions implemented in the development of MFIs.Talk about the resumption of these programs is currently impractical. "

In 2003, RAC "MiG" there was another change in leadership, work on the theme of the IFIs have been renewed.Now this project is a competitor Sukhovsky T-50.According to rumors, the ideology of the machine has changed significantly.After saving scheme "duck", the designers abandoned the ventral air intake for the benefit of both sides.As the power plant, apparently planned to use the engine, "117C" with a thrust of 15,500 kg and a flat nozzle.Accordingly, the take-off weight of the new machine should be in a class of Su-27M and F -22.

On the establishment of military aircraft of the 5th generation has been said and written quite a lot.Since the first and, in fact, the last flight, "1.44" Ten years have passed.What gave this project the domestic aviation industry?This question is answered in the article "Delayed shot into the 5th generation combat aircraft," Vyacheslav Volodin:

"Today, in response to the directives of quality services our specialists have been formalized description of its activities in accordance with standard IDEF , it is useful to recall that the IFI program in such a formalization has been implemented and the beginning of the 1980s.and without any "import" statements about the struggle for quality.This was done at the initiative of two major specialists: professors, Ph.D.Rudnev, VE...and Professor, Ph.D.Samoilovich O.S who left while working in Design Bureau.Sukhoi Design Bureau and headed them.Mikoyan's work on design automation.Thanks to their efforts came the so-called "Technology and design work OKB NII using CAD modeling and operational," not only formalized describing the actions of participants in the joint development project aircraft, but also establishes the basic methodological docking models used in this process. "

As the complex target program, the development of IFI at the time identified the development of a number of domestic aviation technology, says Volodin.This also applies to engines and avionics, and other components of military aircraft.In this case the ratio of the value of complex criterion "level of combat capabilities" and the take-off weight exceeded the other IFIs aircraft of the 5th generation.According to studies on cost effectiveness F -35 noticeably faster than F / A -22.but in no way inferior to the IFIs F -35.

We can assume that the functional concept of the IFIs.formed in response to the question "What would be combat aircraft of the 5th generation," in general has stood the test of time, notes in his article V. Volodin.The answer to this question is determined by the overall military doctrine of the state, the emerging military-political situation and the ensuing military tasks assigned to tactical aviation.Design of IFI was carried out calculations to ensure superiority over the most powerful enemy aircraft, for which the model was accepted conditionally F -22.

It took quite a long time, filled with dramatic changes in the country and the world.But today more and more obvious that the situation, the provisions once the basis for the formation of the tactical and technical requirements for MFIs, not much has changed.Is that the theaters of operations, for which the United States for some time regarded the creation of new combat aircraft, moved to other regions of the world.These regions are absolutely here, as they say, close by.The magnitude of these theaters are such that the conduct of combat operations here, including for the protection of their own heaven on a potential enemy aircraft without a tactical range of 2000 km and is no longer necessary.

In recent years, the national press has become a very popular theme of reducing the volume of purchases by the U.S. Department of Defense aircraft F / A -22 for the U.S. Air Force, said Volodin.Yes, the volume of purchases approved by Congress F / A -22 significantly lower than originally anticipated, but in any case it is several hundred aircraft.Do not confuse quantity and quality and quantity can always be increased - the volume of production of aircraft already in series production, can always be raised.For the U.S. aviation industry is not a problem.But the "quality" - the establishment of military aircraft of the 5th generation - is a matter entirely different kind.To address this issue among Americans took 20 years.