archangel
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I wouldn't say PakFa is more advanced or powerful than F35. Its a different aircraft with a different strategy.
Where F22 and F35 would try to use stealth as its advantage, they would be compromising on maneuverability and weapon capacity.
PakFa gives up a bit of its stealth characteristics to gain more maneuverability and weapon capacity. It has a powerful radar and focuses more on detecting the other aircraft and negating their stealth advantage.
PakFa won't be anywhere near the JSF in stealth but would be able to detect it at distances where JSF would still be unaware about PakFa's position.
Also radar can be fooled by using RAM coatings and stealth design but IR signature is something that is unavoidable. These machines are burning fuel at an unbelievable rate, which emits an IR signature that no amount of technology can hide today.
Russia is very good with its IRST and believes it would be the next alternative to radar and its true since radar would be the tool of the past with 6th gen planes.
An improved IRST would be very potent tool to locate aircraft like F35 in air. Also IR guided missiles are evolving rapidly, they are way more maneuverable, which increases the chance of a kill. Also latest IR missiles like ASRAAM can differentiate a flare from a plane. If Russia work out an intelligent missile like this, then its game over for F35.
The biggest problem with JSF is that its grossly underpowered. With a thrust to weight ratio of 0.84, its really a lazy plane. PakFa is supposed to be powered by two engines of 175KN of thrust. Even if it is powered by AL41F with 157 KN of thrust, its thrust to weight ratio comes to be 1.22. If 175KN engines are used it would be upped to 1.4 Now that is POWER.
Overall the game is very interesting. The two fighters use different strategies for combat and only a real fight would be able to answer all our questions. But today, I would like to put my money on the PakFa.
As far as I know from the Australian Report and the Design itself, F-35 is not much stealthier than the PAK-FA. The one that we have seen was a prototype tested to check its flying capabilities. I guess it didn't even retract its Landing Gear. So, please just don't casually denounce the PAK-FAs capabilities. Also, FGFA is more likely to be used, like other Indian Aircrafts, in a defensive role than an offensive role. Now, when its about coming into a country and attacking, Stealth is the key . But if its about being within in your country, stealth is useless, because the ground based Radars can easily detect planes like F-22 Raptor and so can Early Warning Aircrafts. So, keeping in mind the defencive policies of both Russia and India, FGFA/PAK-FAs stealth is just adequate unlike America's aggressive policies of invading other countries.