India says to have fifth-generation jets in 2018

[ulver81]

NEW DELHI: India will introduce an advanced fighter jet it is building with Russia in 2018, a move that will bring sophistication to its air power but could also spark unease among neighbours China and Pakistan.

New Delhi has watched warily as China has made rapid strides in defence, worried that Beijing's long-term strategy for the region could involve encircling India. Indian military commanders have stressed greater firepower as a counter-measure, particularly for the air force.

The fifth generation fighter aircraft joint project with Russia is part of that strategy. "The fifth generation aircraft would possess technologies which would provide it (India) the edge over adversaries in future air warfare," PV Naik, the Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), said. "China is rapidly modernising its air force ... On our part, the IAF is reviewing its tactics regularly to increase its combat potential," Naik said.

India's plans to bolster its air force include upgrading more than 50 airbases along the Chinese and Pakistan border, he said. Traditionally, any move by India to acquire new weaponry has been met with similar moves by Pakistan, putting already fragile regional security under further strain.

The fifth-generation fighters, billed as a competitor to the US F-22 Raptor, can fool sophisticated radars and will be able to take off from short airstrips and remain in the air for longer than the current fighters, air force officials say.

India's air force says it has more than 800 active combat aircraft but is dwarfed by China's, which has more than 2,000 fighter aircraft. Arms procurement is a painfully slow process in India because of red tape and charges of corruption in winning tenders.

India plans to procure at least 200 of the fifth-generation fighters, each valued at $100 million, in a deal which analysts say is watched with unease by neighbours Pakistan and China. India is looking to spend more than $50 billion over the next five years to modernise its largely Soviet-era weapons systems.

The governments of Russia and India have already signed the deal for the advanced jet, although the two companies that will build them have not.

Officials say that is just a formality and will be completed this year. Production of the stealth jet fighter is a 50-50 joint venture between Russia and India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will build a mission computer, cockpit displays and other navigation systems. India is also buying 126 multi-role fighters and will pare down the number of bidders for the $11 billion deal by June or July, Naik said. That contract is one of the world's biggest arms deals.

India says to have fifth-generation jets in 2018-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

[ulver81]

China expects fifth generation fighter in 10 years
By Siva Govindasamy

China expects to unveil a fifth-generation fighter with stealth capabilities within the next 10 years, according to a senior air force official.

Chengdu Aircraft, the country's leading fighter manufacturer, is developing the fighter with Shenyang Aircraft, Ho Weirong, deputy commander of the Chinese air force said during a television interview with state-owned CCTV.

Research and development work on the fighter, which has not yet received a designation, is under way "intensely", says Ho. Flight trials are expected to last a few years, allowing the aircraft to enter service by 2020, he adds.

China reportedly has several indigenous aircraft programmes under way. These include plans for new fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, plus attack and utility helicopters, airborne early warning aircraft, trainers and transport aircraft. Various categories of unmanned air vehicles are also being developed.

Separately, state-owned manufacturer AVIC plans to unveil the prototype of an indigenous 220t-class heavy airlifter by the end of this year, according to some Chinese news reports. Subsidiary Xian Aircraft is responsible for the project, they quote AVIC president Hu Xiaofeng as saying.

The aircraft is reportedly based on Russia's Ilyushin Il-76MD, and borrows some concepts from other Western aircraft, such as Boeing's C-17. Powered by four turbofan engines, the aircraft will be 49m (160ft) long and have a 50m wingspan and maximum height of 15m.

Maximum speed will be 405-430kt (750-800km/h), range 4,400km (2,380nm) and service ceiling 46,600ft.

China expects fifth generation fighter in 10 years

Nzomma, dieci anni per entrambi i paesi (sulla carta).Si sa qualcosa di più sul progetto J-XX?

[ulver81]

New generation of fighter jets on horizon

* Source: Global Times
* [026 November 10 2009]
* Comments

By Deng Jingyin

A senior military officer said Monday China's military pilots could expect to jump into the most advanced fighter jets in 8 to 10 years, while President Hu Jintao called for a "new chapter" in the development of China's air force.

Hu made the remarks while he met senior officers, experts, role models and pilots with representatives from People's Liberation Army Air Force Sunday, one of the events held to mark the 60th anniversary of the air force.

China's national defense and its army's modernization are confronted with new situations and tasks. In accordance with the requirements of both offensive and defensive operations, the air force is urged to strengthen the development of military system, Hu said.

The same day, He Weirong, deputy commander of the air force told China Central Television that military pilots could expect to jump into the most advanced fighter jets in 8 to 10 years that will have stealth capability.

He said that the planes are in development and will match or exceed the capability of similar jets in existence today.

Worldwide, the 4th generation jet fighters, with the US-made F-22 raptor as the bench mark, is also known as the 5th generation fighter planes based on Russian standard.

They will have the 4S ability, which are stealth, super cruise, super maneuverability and short take-off.

"Compared with the 3rd and the improved 3.5 generation, the 4th generation fighters have overwhelming technological advantages. Its most striking characteristic is the capability of invisibility, which also could be called low detectability," Dai Xu, an air force colonel and military strategist, told the Global Times Monday.

Currently, the F-22 is the only in-service 4th generation fighter in the world. The F-35 and Russia's T-50 are in the development process.

Chinese 4th generation fighter is the 4th one entering into the actual development process.

According to Dai, the development of the 4th generation fighter shows the progress of Chinese Air Force's modernization.

"America is already equipped with 4th generation fighter jets. It clearly shows the direction of the development of the air force. China is developing the 4th generation fighters, which means that China's weapons are developing steadily but also indicates China lags behind in the field," Dai added.

China-made third-generation fighter J-10's performance is equivalent to US F-16 fighter, deputy commander He said in the interview.

"J-10's max weapon load is up to six tons with 11 pylons and its shortest take-off distance is only 350 meters," he said.

J-10 performing at National Day military parade will be showcased in an air show in Beijing tomorrow to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA air force, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

"J-10 is China's first combat aircraft with independent intellectual property rights, equivalent to foreign 3rd generation fighters in terms of performance. J-10 will continue to be improved," Zhang Jigao, deputy chief designer of J-10 said.

Improved Design program of J-10 has been in full swing and its more advanced sister model will be available in the near future, an insider told Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po.

Global Times - New generation of fighter jets on horizon

[WillyI]

Se Cinesi e Indiani continuano ad armarsi in questo modo c'è da aver paura che prima o poi decidano di usare tutte queste armi..