| Mikoyan Project 1.44 |
Article Index for Mikoyan |
Website Links For Project |
Information AboutMikoyan Project 1.44 |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MIKOYAN PROJECT 1.44 | |
| jet aircraft | |
| russian fighter aircraft 2000-2009 | |
| canard aircraft | |
|
The Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42 is a Russian Air Force prototype fifth-generation air-superiority fighter aircraft. Apart from a number of names along the lines of "Object/Project 1.44/1.42", the aircraft is also known as the '''MiG-MFI'''. It was unofficially known as the ''' MiG-35 ''' although MiG is now using this designation for the export version of the MiG-29 OVT. The MFI has also been referred to by some sources as the '''MiG-39'''. Despite the prototype status of the 1.44/1.42, NATO has assigned the reporting name "Flatpack" to this aircraft. The relationship between the 1.44 and 1.42 designations is unclear outside the military world, and these are generally used interchangeably. For simplicity, the '''1.44''' designation is used throughout this article. The 1.44 was Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau's entry to Russia's ''Многофункциональный Фронтовой Истребитель'' (''Mnogofounksionalni Frontovoi Istrebitel'' - Multifunctional Frontline Fighter) program (a development program that originated in the 1980 s, similar to the Advanced Tactical Fighter program held in the United States). It was designed to compete with and supercede the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in all aspects. Many of its design features are similar to those found on fifth generation Western fighters, including Thrust Vectoring , Supersonic Cruise and modern avionics. Looking back upon its development history, the 1.44 served purely as a technological showcase and testbed for future aircraft designs, not as an actual air superiority fighter. DEVELOPMENT The MiG 1.44/1.42 has been shrouded in mystery throughout the course of its existence. The Russian government cancelled the MFI program in 1997 due to the unacceptably high per-unit cost of the aircraft (Ф2.05 billion RUR, US$70 million)). Development continued, with the first test flight taking place on February 29 2000 and two confirmed test flights in 2001 . In Russia's abandonment of the MFI program, the PAK FA (''Перспективный Авиационный Комплекс Фронтовой Авиации - Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi'' - Prospective Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces) program was initiated for the development of an aircraft designed to fill a role similar to that of the F-22, and come at a size and cost similar to that of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter . In 2001, India agreed with Russia to make the PAK FA program a development/production joint-venture between the two nations. Both Mikoyan-Gurevich and Sukhoi submitted concepts to the Defense Ministry for the PAK FA program (MiG entering an updated Project 1.44), but the Russian Defense Ministry selected the Sukhoi Design Bureau as the primary contractor for the PAK FA fighter. Design work has commenced on a backward-swept winged derivative of Sukhoi's experimental Su-47 Berkut aircraft. PAK FA proves to be a very ambitious program, with production of the PAK FA fighter planned to commence in 2010. MiG-MAPO and Yakovlev have also been mentioned as secondary contractors. The MiG 1.44 is currently serving as a technology demonstrator for the PAK FA program. The in-development PAK FA aircraft will use the same in-development Lyulka AL-41F engine planned for the 1.44. Other details are not yet known. DESCRIPTION The 1.44 is a fighter features a Pulse Doppler Radar with a Phased Aerial Array Antenna . The radar system is linked to a fire control system that allows the fighter to engage up to twenty separate targets at the same time. It is claimed that the radar system also enables the 1.44 to compete with the likes of the F-22 at Beyond Visual Range (BVR) aerial combat. This claim is somewhat debatable because it is unlikely that it can compete with American made AESA radars. The handling and manoeuvrability characteristics of the 1.44 are estimated to be on par with that of the F-22, since the MiG features thrust vectoring, digital Fly-by-wire flight control, and two powerful engines. Its internal bay is large enough to carry 8 R-77 missiles. It is believed that Project 1.44 is test-bed for Russian Plasma Stealth technology granting stealth capabilities without compromising airframe design. SPECIFICATIONS (PROJECT 1.44) ''Note: Since the 1.44 never went beyond pre-production, most of the specifications are estimated.''
IN FICTION
EXTERNAL LINKS
RELATED CONTENT
|
|
|