Wraps come off new Russian fighters: Russia's so-called "intermediate-generation" fighters made their debut at MAKS 2007.

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Making their debuts at this year's MAKS Show were a cluster of new fighter aircraft--the MiG-29K "941", MiG-29KUB "947" and MiG-35 "154" presented by RSK MiG Corporation, and the Su-35 "901" presented by Sukhoi. The MiG-29KUB (which started flight testing on 20 January 2007) and MiG-29K (which made its first flight on 25 June 2007) had previously been seen only by a restricted circle of experts. The MiG-35 demonstrator was shown at Aero India in Bangalore in February 2007. The Su-35 (a designation formerly used for other aircraft) was on show for the very first time, since it was delivered to Zhukovsky from KnAAPO production plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur just one week before the show. The aircraft was due to start flight testing after the Show. The MiG-35 and Su-35 belong to the class of fighter aircraft, which have rather unexpectedly appeared as intermediate fighters between current fourth and future fifth generation aircraft. Several years ago, the development strategy of Russian fighter aircraft looked rather simple: fourth-generation fighters would become obsolete and a fifth-generation fighter was urgently needed to replace them. As recently as 2002, it was thought that a simple modernisation of the existing MiG-29SM and Su-27SM would be sufficient until Russia's fifth-generation fighter entered full series production in 2012. Russia classifies the MiG-29 and Su-27 as fourth-generation fighters, the upgraded MiG-29SM/SMT and Su-27SM/Su-30MK as "four plus" and the MiG-35 and Su-35, "tour plus plus". The new T-50 fighter being developed by Sukhoi undert the PAK FA programme belongs to the fifth generation. There is one further category , "five minus", for the first T-50 with temporary equipment and engines borrowed from the Su-35.

Generation "four plus plus"

However, progress on Russia's fifth-generation fighter has been slower than expected. The formal 2015 target for beginning series production in the definitive configuration is considered optimistic. Informed observers expect the actual date to be closer to 2020. For the time being, crucial technologies necessary for construction of such aircraft do not exist in Russia, and programme financing is unclear. Also, the political situation around the globe and in Russia itself could change in any way within the next dozen years. There are too many ambiguities to put all hopes in the T-50 only. Therefore, the notion of a transient-generation "4++" appeared, where the potential of fourth-generation fighters is developed by incorporating the first results of work on the fifth generation.

Though the MiG-35 and Su-35 retain the airframes of the MiG-29 and Su-27 "in principle", there are many differences in the details. Aerodynamic shaping has been streamlined, digital 'fly-by-wire" control systems have been implemented, and more modern structural materials have been applied. Some space for additional fuel has been found inside the airframe. The Su-35 can carry 11,500kg of fuel in its internal tanks--22% more than Su-27. For the MiG-35 the increase in fuel capacity is even greater: 4,800kg, or 38% more than the MiG-29.

On the engine side, the RD-33MK for the MiG-35 and Izdeliye 117S (AL-41F1)for the Su-35 are updated versions of the former RD-33 and AL-31F with new fans, higher turbine inlet temperature and new FADEC control systems. The maximum thrust of the RD-33MK has been increased to 88.3kN (+8%, compared with the RD33), while the AL-31F, at 142.2kN offers an extra 16% thrust. Thrust vectoring technology has been implemented on the both engines. The nozzle of the 117S can be moved 15[degrees] up or down, the same as the nozzle of the AL-31FP engine in the Su30MKI. The RD-33MK engine features a three-dimensional nozzle which can be deflected by 15[degrees] in any direction (in the MiG-35, the horizontal deflection is limited to 8[degrees] by the structure of the tailplane). One of the key improvements in transient-generation Russian fighters is reduced maintenance costs thanks to an increase in time between overhauls. In addition, the aircraft service life is several times longer than the MiG-29 and Su-27--6,000 flight hours for the airframes and 4,000 operating hours for the engines. This will reduce the cost of one flight hour of the MiG-35 by half, compared with the venerable MiG-29. Alongside improved airframes and engines, the intermediate-period fighters will feature new equipment and weapons.

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In the case of the MiG-35, new features include the Zhuk-AE active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar, modern electro-optical sights and multisensor self-defence system. The current experimental variant of the Zhuk-AE radar has an antenna containing 680 transmit/receive (T/R) modules. The production radar will be equipped with a larger antenna with 1,000-1,100 T/R modules offering a search range of 200km.

The radar installed on the MiG-35 is coupled with two electro-optical fire control units: a built-in OLS-UEM sight for detection and tracking of air targets, and a containerised OLS-K unit used against surface targets. In addition to a conventional radar warning receiver, the self-defence suite of the MiG-35 includes two systems seldom installed on lightweight fighter aircraft: the SOAR ultraviolet missile launch and approach warning receiver, and the SOLO receiver to alert the pilot that he has been detected by the laser rangefinder of a hostile aircraft. Jamming devices include an active electronic jammer (such as the Italian Elettronica ELT/568(v)2 for the export version of the aircraft) and flare dispensers.

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The MiG-35 is on offer under the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme for the Indian Air Force, which is why it has been equipped with such advanced equipment. However, since not all clients are as demanding as India, the RSK MiG offering also includes a simpler version of the MiG-29M with the airframe and engines of the MiG-35 a mechanically scanned Zhuk-ME radar. All equipment for the MiG-29M is already in series production (Zhuk-ME radar as of 2004), so that the aircraft is available immediately and not in three or four years' time, like the MiG-35. The first client appeared in January 2007 when Syria ordered a squadron of MiG-29M/M2 fighters (M2 is a two-seat version).

High hopes for Mig-29K

The MiG-29K shipborne fighter is the naval variant of the MiG-29M. Extensive high-lift devices and an arresting hook have been installed for reduced-approach-speed carrier landing. Folded wings have been introduced to increase hangar capacity. In 2004, India ordered 12 MiG-29Ks and four two-seat MiG-29KUBs with an option for a further 30 aircraft. Two pre-production aircraft are already flying, one MiG-29K and one MiG-29KUB. RSK MiG Corporation hopes to sell 250300 MiG-35s and MiG-29M/Ks through 2020.

In 2003, Sukhoi launched the Su-35 intermediate fighter programme, to be manufactured by KnAAPO in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

From 1992 onwards, large batches of Su27 and Su-30 heavy fighter aircraft were bought by China (280 aircraft including license-build ones) and India (190 aircraft, including the ordered ones); several other countries bought smaller batches of the aircraft. The development of the Su30MK fighter aircraft is divided between two lines: the "Irkutsk" line made by Irkut Corporation at Irkutsk and the "Komsomolsk" line made by Sukhoi Company in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. "Irkutsk" variants (Su-30MKI for India, Su-30MKM for Malaysia and Su30MKI(A) for Algeria) are the most advanced fighter aircraft produced in series in Russia today, mainly thanks to the Bars electronic scanning radar and the thrust-vectoring engines; these versions also features Indian, French and Israeli equipment and systems. "Komsomolsk" variants (Su-30MKK and Su30MK2 sold to China, Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia) are equipped with the older N001 radar in various versions, simpler avionics and engines without thrust vectoring; their equipment is entirely of Russian origin.

Chinese production halt

In 2004, China broke off talks on purchasing the next batch of 24 Su-30MK2 fighters and stopped license production of the Su-27SK after only half of the planned 200 aircraft had been built, leaving the KnAAPO factory in a very difficult financial situation. Sukhoi expects to make a comeback in Chinese and other markets thanks to the new Su-35.

Testing of the first Su-35-1 "901" shown on static exposition at MAKS was due to get under way in the autumn of 2007. The "901" aircraft will be followed by Su-35-2 and Su-35-4 aircraft equipped with weapon control systems (the first Su-35-1 has no radar). The Su-35 will be ready for the market in the 2009-2010 timeframe. Total production is estimated by Sukhoi at 300 aircraft.

The core of the Su-35 fire control system is the Irbis-E radar, an advanced version of Bars. The advantages of Irbis over Bars include longer detection range (up to 400km), wider search zone, wider range of operating frequencies and better resistance to jamming. Tests of the Irbis-E began in January 2007 with the Su-30MK2 "503" experimental aircraft. The radar being tested is still incomplete: the antenna is secured in the neutral position due to a lack of an antenna steering system.

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However, Irbis-E, like Bars, features passive electronic scanning. Such a choice was justified several years ago at the beginning of the Su-35 programme. Today, and especially in several years, when the Su-35 enters the market, this choice may limit its export potential because all its rivals will then offer aircraft equipped with AESA radars. One possibility is that Sukhoi will equip the Su-35 with an AESA radar in the next step of modernization. Tikhomirov NIIP radar design bureau is building such a radar for the fifth-generation Sukhoi T-50; a simplified version could be installed on the Su-35. Worth noting among the weapons offered on the Su-35 are two high-performance missiles not used by lightweight fighter aircraft: the K-100-1 air-to-air missile, with a range of 300-400km, and the Yakhont heavy antiship missile. In total, the Su-35 can carry eight tons of external weapons and stores.

Unlike the universal MiG-35 lightweight fighter (maximum weight 23.5 tons), the heavier Su-35 (up to 34.5 tons) is targeting a narrow customer base. It will attract interest mainly from states with a large surface area and with big money, or at least with big ambitions. China is certainly one such state, and the Su-35 has been included in talks over military cooperation. Another country to have expressed interest in the Su-35 is Venezuela, which after receiving 24 Su-30MK2V fighters in 2006-2007, intends to order a batch of Su-35s. The Su-35 will also be offered to Libya, Syria and Iran. In all these countries, pure Russian equipment of the aircraft is advantageous: the buyer avoids the threat of US or EU embargos.

For the next 10 years at least, the MiG-35 (MiG-29M/K), Su-35 and further modifications of the Su-30MKI will constitute the backbone of Russian export efforts. These aircraft are being targeted solely at foreign clients. Russia's current state programme for armaments acquisition for 2007-2015 (GPV-2015) provides only for modernisation of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft; it does not include procurement of any new machines. However, the Russian Air Force has begun to call for the inclusion of MiG35s and Su-37s (the designation of the Su35 for Russia) within the GPV-2015 programme. The Russian Navy is also considering purchase of a batch of shipborne MiG-29K fighter aircraft for its "Admiral Kuznetsov" aircraft carrier. Future plans will depend on progress on the T-50 new-generation fighter. RUSSIA'S INTERMEDIATE-GENERATION FIGHTERS

MiG-35 Su-35 Engines RD-33MK 117S Maximum thrust 2 x 88.3kN 2 x 142.2kN Nominal take-off weight 17,500kg 25,300kg Maximum take-off weight 23,500kg 34,500kg Weapons/stores 6,500kg 8,000kg Maximum speed at sea level 1,400km/h 1,400km/h Maximum Mach number 2.0 2.25 Maximum range, internal fuel 2,000km 3,600km Ferry range 3,000km 4,500km