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Aerospace Pictures and Art Thread


LostCosmonaut

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It has been pointed out that the SU-47 has inlet S-ducts and a flat fuselage bottom, two things that are considered essential for good stealth in US designs:

 

lVs2yf7.jpg

 

KxGHQ5H.jpg

 

But T-50 has engine pods that make the bottom of the aircraft quite lumpy, and it has relatively modest air intake curvature:

 

2vAFnHv.jpg

 

 

What is going on?  Did Sukhoi decide that a very high degree of stealth wasn't worth it on T-50 and focused on aerodynamics instead?  Or did they find better technical solutions to the stealth problem?  It will probably be years before we know for sure.

 

If I were Sukhoi, I would be trying to sell a slightly scaled-down SU-47 to the Chinese as a carrier-based fighter, using the new WS-13 engines under development for the J-31.  China has gotten much better at jet development, but not so good that they wouldn't appreciate the help from the Russians.  Plus, it's not like the Russians are in a position to make new carriers, so helping the Chinese build up their carrier force doesn't really impair the strategic balance.  And if Sukhoi really has found better solutions to stealth problems in T-50 than in SU-47, then they wouldn't be giving away too much by using that design.  Going on the looks alone, China may actually be ahead of Russia in stealth technology, although that is a very rough estimate.

 

Forward swept wings are particularly attractive for carrier-based aircraft as they help provide good handling during the landings.

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