Mikoyan Project 1.44
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| Project 1.44 | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Fifth-generation air superiority fighter |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan |
| Maiden flight | 29 February 2000 |
| Status | Technology demonstrator |
| Primary user | Russian Air Force |
| Produced | 1 |
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The Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42[1] is a prototype 5th generation jet fighter aircraft developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau as an air superiority fighter in the Russian Air Force. 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. Unofficially known for a time as "MiG-35", MiG is now using this designation for the export version of the MiG-29OVT. The MFI has also been referred to by some sources as MiG-39.[citation needed] Despite the prototype status of the 1.44/1.42, NATO has assigned the reporting name "Flatpack" to this aircraft.[citation needed]
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[edit] Development
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 1980s, similar to the Advanced Tactical Fighter program held in the United States). It was designed to compete with the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. 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.
The MiG 1.44 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. After the cancellation 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 in order to develop 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 Lightning II.
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 formerly served 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.
[edit] Description
The 1.44 is a delta-winged, twin-tailed single seat air superiority/strike fighter with an all-moving forward canard plane. Its physical appearance and design characteristics mostly resemble the Eurofighter Typhoon.
It is powered by two Lyulka AL-41F afterburning, thrust vectored turbofan jet engines, each generating 175 kN (39,340 lbf) of thrust (these engines are still in development). Both engines are fed by a single air intake placed under the fuselage. The 35-ton aircraft has a theoretical at-altitude maximum speed of Mach 2.6, and is capable of long-term supersonic flight. The 1.44 has a tricycle landing gear system, with a single, dual-wheel landing gear in the front, and two single-wheels in the rear.
Avionics on the 1.44 are considered cutting-edge by Western standards: the glass-cockpit-enabled fighter features a pulse Doppler radar with a passive electronically scanned 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. Although there is no source to back up the information 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.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (Project 1.44)
Note: Since the 1.44 never went beyond pre-production, most of the specifications are estimated. General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 19 m (63 ft)
- Wingspan: 15 m (50 ft)
- Height: 4.50 m (15 ft)
- Wing area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 35,000 kg (77,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Lyulka AL-41F afterburning turbofans, 176 kN (39,680 lb) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.6 (2761.2 km/h, 1716 mph)
- Range: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
- Service ceiling 17,000 m (55,720 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 30 mm Izhmash GSh-301 cannon
- Missiles: R-77 AA-12 Adder medium-range radar-guided missiles, R-73 AA-11 Archer short-range IR-guided missiles, K-37 long-range radar-guided missiles, K-74 short-range IR-guided missiles
- Bombs: likely any AGM or small-diameter free fall bomb in the Russian inventory
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ 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.
[edit] External links
- FAS.org MiG-35 Page
- MiG Project 1.42 Article, Alexei Gretchikhine
- Sergei Babain's "True Supersonics" MFI Page
- MiG MFI at Aerospaceweb.org
- MiG 1.42 MFI at Fighter-Planes.com
- Recent (8/18/06) news story (in Russian) that reports that MIG is developing a fifth-generation light fighter (according to the commander of the Russian Air Force Vladimir Mikhailov). This project is different from the PAK FA project.
- MIG-39/1.42 MFI at Russian Military Analysis
- MIG MFI at ROY'S RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT RESOURCE
- MiG-39/1.42/1.44 at Military Video RESOURCE
- MiG-39/1.42/1.44 maiden flight video at YouTube
- Janes Article on MIG 35 for India and AESA Radar
[edit] Trivia
- This Aircraft is seen in Command & Conquer Generals And Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
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