Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft

Fifth Generation aircraft is most advance aircraft compare to the 4^th and 4.5^th generation .The fifth generation aircraft have lower visible in radar ,advance aerodynamic structure ,long range ,good fighting capability in air to air to surface and air to ship. I am not the technical or aerodynamic engineer  but have good knowledge in defense and my following article based on the research and information .I am belongs from India but my article based on the facts ,not to support any specific country.

PAK T50 FA :

This is the most advance fighter plane of fifth generation, jointly developed by Russia and India. As per the technical expert comment this aircraft used the most advance technique to become stealth. The design is also made based on aerodynamic and stealth. Former USSR during 1980’s instruct there engineers to develop a new plan to replace the sukhoi27 and mig29.After the dissolve of USSR, financial crises of new Russian federation,hit this plan so Russia give proposal to China to join this project, but China denied this proposal due to his own fifth generation aircraft J20.Lator on India join this project on 2007,and both the country invest 6 billion us dollar for the research and development. Twin engine plan first  test flight made in the year of 2010.It is believe that first lot issued to Russian Air Force in 2015-16.There is only three aircraft come in fifth generation category, one F22 raptor ,F35 lighting and Chengdu J20.but when we compare with these three ,T50 always get a bonus point.F22 was come into service in 2005,but unable to fulfill the standard of fifth generation aircraft so continue research doing to improve its capability and to match the standard of fifth generation aircraft.US Air force already inform the Lockheed martin that F22 unable to fulfill all the parameter.F35 Lighting was already informed in media that comparatively low category compare to F22 and the other investing countries like UK,Australia,Netharland,Norway,Italy,Isreal  are interested to get F22 .

Chengdu J20, is nothing but a copy of F117, and it is well known fact that Chinese develop anything based on reverse engineering.

As there is little information about T50 but some rumor in the defense world that it has plasma stealth. Plasma stealth is a advance technology, in which ionized gases to create layers around the aircraft to reduce the visibility in radar.

Maximum weapon load capacity is 7500kg.It can load air to air, air to surface and air to ship missile. The T50 designer plan to add Brhamos missile in this aircraft.Brahmos is the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia.

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 19.8 m (65.9 ft)

Wingspan: 14 m (46.6 ft)

Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft)

Wing area: 78.8 m2 (848.1 ft2)

Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,785 lb)

Loaded weight: 29,772 kg (65,636 lb)

Useful load: 7,500 kg (combat load) (16,534 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 37,000 kg (81,570 lb)

Powerplant: 2 × AL-41F1 for prototypes turbofan, 147 kN (33,047 lb) for prototypes; over 175 kN (39,340 lbf) for definitive engine version each

Fuel capability: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb)

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2+, 2,100-2,600 km/h (1,300-1,560 mph) ; at 17,000 m (55774.3 ft) altitude

Cruise speed: 1,300-1,800 km/h (808-1,118 mph)

Ferry range: 5,500 km(3,417 mi)

Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 350 m/s (68,900 ft/min)

Wing loading: 330-470 kg/m2 (67-96 lb/ft2)

Thrust/weight: 1.01 (1.20 for new engines)

Maximum g-load: 9+ g

Armament

Guns: None on prototype. Apparent provision for a cannon (most likely GSh-301). Possible two 30 mm cannon.

Hardpoints: 10 internal hardpoints and up to 6 external hardpoints: two internal bays running longitudinally on the fuselage supporting 6 R-27/R-77 AAMs (3 each) or 4 R-33/R-37 AAMs (2 each), plus 2 small internal wing bays for 2 R-73 AAMs and up to six external hardpoints. Including the advanced X-38 air to surface missile.

F22 Raptor:

American also want to compete USSR in fifth generation section of aircraft, because it is well known fact that Mig29 and sukhoi 27 was already technically more advance that the US 4 th generation so, they don’t want to become loser again. The American start their fifth generation aircraft project  also on 1981 after getting secret information from CIA ,about USSR project. This  aircraft introduce in 2005 in service .The main cause  why it not comparatively advance than t50 is, unable to maritime strike as like T50.Cost of F22 raptor is more than the T50.After introducing this in USAF ,this plan met with many accident due to low supply of oxygen in cockpit and some breathing problem.USAF after these incidence grounded all the aircraft .Lockheed martin added additional oxygen supplier equipment in cockpit in 2012.I am not the test pilot nor a aeronautical engineer but have good knowledge about defence,my  remark is that F22 is nothing but a 4.5 generation category aircraft like Sukhoi -30,not the fifth generation.

Lockheed martin well know the fact that F22 never able to beat T50 in any field.F22 comparatively advance than F35 and J20.

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 62 ft 1 in (18.90 m)

Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)

Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)

Wing area: 840 ft² (78.04 m²)

Airfoil: NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip

Empty weight: 43,340 lb (19,700 kg)

Loaded weight: 64,460 lb (29,300 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 83,500 lb (38,000 kg)

Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 Pitch Thrust vectoring turbofans

Dry thrust: 23,500 lb[315] (104 kN) each

Thrust with afterburner: 35,000+ lb(156+ kN) each

Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally,[6][312] or 26,000 lb (11,900 kg) with two external fuel tanks.About 3,050 gal or 20,333 lb JP-8 (without additions) internally.

Performance

Maximum speed:

At altitude: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h) [estimated]

Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,963 km/h)

Range: >1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks

Combat radius: 410 nmi (with 100 nmi in supercruise)(471 mi, 759 km)

Ferry range: 2,000 mi (1,738 nmi, 3,219 km)

Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (currently restricted to 44,000 ft, sans vests)(19,812 m)

Rate of climb: 40,000+ ft/min[citation needed] (200 m/s)

Wing loading: 77 lb/ft² (375 kg/m²)

Thrust/weight: 1.09 (1.26 with loaded weight & 50% fuel)

Maximum design g-load: -3.0/+9.0 g

USAF poster overview of key features and armament

Armament

Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon in starboard wing root, 480 rounds

Air to air loadout:

6× AIM-120 AMRAAM

2× AIM-9 Sidewinder

Air to ground loadout:

2× AIM-120 AMRAAM and

2× AIM-9 Sidewinder for self-protection, and one of the following:

2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or

8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs

Hardpoints: 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 U.S. gallon drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,268 kg).

  F35 Lighting:

F35 lighting is jointly developed by US ,UK,Italy ,Germany,Australia,Norway,Japan .This aircraft is in development stage but many critics believe that F35 is lower category compare to F22 raptor. AND corporation (research AND Development) of US made a simulated war game in 2008, in which Sukhoi 35 beat F35,now you can judge that if a 4th generation aircraft able to beat the fifth generation aircraft than why you can waste your money in there development.USAF clearly informed to the Lockheed martin that F35 was not up to the mark.F35 only superior than Chengdu J20.

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 51.4 ft (15.67 m)

Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m)

Height: 14.2 ft (4.33 m)

Wing area: 460 ft² (42.7 m²)

Empty weight: 29,300 lb (13,300 kg)

Loaded weight: 49,540 lb (22,470 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 70,000 lb (31,800 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan

Dry thrust: 28,000 lbf (125 kN)

Thrust with afterburner: 43,000 lbf (191 kN)

Internal fuel capacity: 18,480 lb (8,382 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6+[244] (1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h) (tested to Mach 1.61)

Range: 1,200 nmi (2,220 km) on internal fuel

Combat radius: 584 nmi (1,080 km) on internal fuel

Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m) (tested to 43,000 ft)

Rate of climb: classified (not publicly available)

Wing loading: 107.7 lb/ft² (526 kg/m²; 745 kg/m² max loaded)

Thrust/weight:

With full fuel: 0.87

With 50% fuel: 1.07

Max g-limits: 9 g

Armament

Guns: 1 × General Dynamics GAU-22/A Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 4-barreled gatling cannon, internally mounted with 180 rounds

Hardpoints: 6 × external pylons on wings with a capacity of 15,000 lb (6,800 kg)and two internal bays with two pylons each for a total weapons payload of 18,000 lb (8,100 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:

Missiles:

Air-to-air missiles:

AIM-120 AMRAAM

AIM-9X Sidewinder

IRIS-T

MBDA Meteor (pending further funding)

Air-to-surface missiles:

AGM-88 AARGM

AGM-158 JASSM

Brimstone missile / MBDA SPEAR

Joint Air-to-Ground Missile

Storm Shadow missile

SOM

Anti-ship missiles:

JSM

LRASM

Chengdu J20:

It is well known fact that Chinese always copy any advance  technology and they develop based on reverse engineering. Chinese start the J20 project in 2002 and belive that this come into existence in 2017.Expert believe that J20 is using the F117 stealth technology ,which short down in Serbia in 1999.Some defense expert believe that J20 is the product of  cyber-espionage of the Lockheed Martin FB-22 and F-35 projects. Most of the European and Russia try to avoid the technology transfer of export of any new defense equipment to China due to the copy the same by Chinese engineers.

If this is true than J20 never be a fifth generation aircraft ,it is a 4 th or 4.5 generation aircraft.

General characteristics

Crew: one (pilot)

Length: 20.3 m (66 ft 7 in)

Wingspan: 12.88 m (42 ft 3 in)

Height: 4.45 m (14 ft 7 in)

Wing area: 73 m2 (790 sq ft)

Empty weight: 17,000 kg (37,479 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 36,287 kg (80,000 lb) upper estimate

Powerplant: 2 × WS-10G (prototype); WS-15 in production J-20 afterburning turbofans dry, 180 kN (40,000 lbf) with afterburner

Range: 4,000 km (2,485 mi; 2,160 nmi)

Combat range: 2,000 km (1,243 mi; 1,080 nmi)

Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,617 ft)

Armament

None on prototype

Production aircraft will be equipped with PL-21 LRAAM, PL-12D MRAAM, PL-10 SRAAM, LS-6 Precision Glide Bomb, 30mm cannon, up to four rocket launchers, two IR decoy launchers, air-to-surface missiles and smart bombs.