Scrutinising the Sukhoi Corporations work on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) a project that India will soon sign up to co-develop gives one an idea of Russias size, and its aerospace expertise. During daytime, in Moscow, the Sukhoi Design Bureau conceptualises FGFA components; by 10 pm the drawings are electronically transmitted over 5,000 kilometres to a manufacturing unit in Siberia. Here, at KnAAPO (Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Organisation) seven time zones away it is already 5 am next morning. Within a couple of hours, the drawings start being translated into aircraft Production.
Having designed over 100 aircraft (including Indias Su-30MKI), built over 10,000 fighters, and with 50 world aviation records to its credit, Sukhoi understandably regards Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) its partner-to-be in designing the FGFA as very much the greenhorn.
But the newcomer wants its due. Bangalore-based HAL has negotiated firmly to get a 25 per cent share of design and development work in the FGFA programme. HALs work share will include critical software, including the mission computer (the Su-30MKI mission computer is entirely Indian); navigation systems; most of the cockpit displays; the counter measure dispensing (CMD) systems; and modifying Sukhois single-seat prototype into the twin-seat fighter that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants.
THE FIFTH GENERATION FIGHTER
Cost of development $8-10 billion
Indias requirement 250 fighters
Russias requirement 250 fighters
Cost per aircraft $100 million
Indian name FGFA
Russian name PAK FA
India will also contribute its expertise in aircraft composites, developed while designing the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Russia has traditionally built metallic aircraft; just 10 per cent of the Su-30MKI fuselage is titanium and composites. The FGFAs fuselage, in contrast, will be 25 per cent titanium and 20 per cent composites. Russias expertise in titanium structures will be complemented by Indias experience in composites.
With Indias work share almost finalised, the 2007 Russia-India Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to build the FGFA will soon evolve into a commercial contract between Russias United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and HAL. Ashok Baweja, until recently the chairman of HAL, told Business Standard: When HAL and UAC agree on terms, they will sign a General Contract. This will include setting up a JV to design the FGFA, and precise details about who will fund what.
This contract will mark a significant shift in the aeronautical relationship between India and Russia. For decades, HAL has played a technologically subordinate role, assembling and building fighters that Russia had designed. Now, forced to accept HAL as a design partner, the Russians have negotiated hard to limit its role.
The reason: Russia is sceptical about Indias design ability in such a cutting edge project. In June 2008, Business Standard interviewed Vyacheslav Trubnikov, then Russias ambassador to India, and an expert on Russias defence industry. Contrasting the Su-30MKI with the Tejas LCA, Trubnikov pointed out snidely, I know perfectly well the Russian ability. But I dont know what contribution the Indian side might make. So, one must ask the question to the Indian designers, to HAL what is their claim for building a fighter of the fifth generation type? Either avionics, or engine? What might be Indias contribution? To be absolutely frank, I dont know.
For long, the UAC argued that HAL could not expect a major role in the FGFA because Sukhoi had finished much of the work while New Delhi dithered about joining the project. UAC asserts that 5,000 Sukhoi engineers have worked for five years to design the FGFA. Such claims are hard to verify, but it is known that the Sukhoi Design Bureau has about 8,000 engineers, distributed between many different programmes.
With Sukhois ploughing on alone, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju admitted to Business Standard: The longer India waits to join the project, the lesser will be our contribution. But, we are not sitting idle. Through the defence ministrys existing programmes [such as the Tejas LCA] we are building up our capabilities.
Most Indian officials agree that India has not lost much. Even if the FGFA makes its much-anticipated first flight this year, it is still at a preliminary stage of development. Ashok Baweja assessed in early 2009, The FGFAs first flight is just the beginning of the programme. My understanding is that the Russians are going ahead (with the test) to validate the FGFAs proof of concept (conceptual design). Whatever composite materials they have now, theyll use. But, because the composites will change the FGFA will keep evolving for a fairly long time.
A top ministry official estimates, It will take another 4-5 years to develop many of the FGFAs systems. Then, the aircraft will undergo at least 2000 hours of certification flying and, possibly, some reconfiguration. The FGFA should not be expected in service before 2017. And the twin-seat version may take a couple of years longer.
With just a 25 per cent share of design, South Block policymakers still believe that the FGFA project is a vital step towards Indias emergence as a military aeronautical power. Developing 25 per cent of this fighter is far better than just transferring technology to build it in India, as we did with the Su-30MKI, points out a defence ministry official.
Ashok Baweja puts the project in context. India can only (develop the FGFA) by partnering with Russia. They have so much experience. Its not just the design you must also have materials maraging steel, titanium, composite alloys, and the industrial base to convert these into high-tech components like gyros, sensors and optics. The FGFA will give us important experience for building fighters hereafter.
Link: India to develop 25% of fifth generation fighter idrw.org
Having designed over 100 aircraft (including Indias Su-30MKI), built over 10,000 fighters, and with 50 world aviation records to its credit, Sukhoi understandably regards Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) its partner-to-be in designing the FGFA as very much the greenhorn.
But the newcomer wants its due. Bangalore-based HAL has negotiated firmly to get a 25 per cent share of design and development work in the FGFA programme. HALs work share will include critical software, including the mission computer (the Su-30MKI mission computer is entirely Indian); navigation systems; most of the cockpit displays; the counter measure dispensing (CMD) systems; and modifying Sukhois single-seat prototype into the twin-seat fighter that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants.
THE FIFTH GENERATION FIGHTER
Cost of development $8-10 billion
Indias requirement 250 fighters
Russias requirement 250 fighters
Cost per aircraft $100 million
Indian name FGFA
Russian name PAK FA
India will also contribute its expertise in aircraft composites, developed while designing the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Russia has traditionally built metallic aircraft; just 10 per cent of the Su-30MKI fuselage is titanium and composites. The FGFAs fuselage, in contrast, will be 25 per cent titanium and 20 per cent composites. Russias expertise in titanium structures will be complemented by Indias experience in composites.
With Indias work share almost finalised, the 2007 Russia-India Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to build the FGFA will soon evolve into a commercial contract between Russias United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and HAL. Ashok Baweja, until recently the chairman of HAL, told Business Standard: When HAL and UAC agree on terms, they will sign a General Contract. This will include setting up a JV to design the FGFA, and precise details about who will fund what.
This contract will mark a significant shift in the aeronautical relationship between India and Russia. For decades, HAL has played a technologically subordinate role, assembling and building fighters that Russia had designed. Now, forced to accept HAL as a design partner, the Russians have negotiated hard to limit its role.
The reason: Russia is sceptical about Indias design ability in such a cutting edge project. In June 2008, Business Standard interviewed Vyacheslav Trubnikov, then Russias ambassador to India, and an expert on Russias defence industry. Contrasting the Su-30MKI with the Tejas LCA, Trubnikov pointed out snidely, I know perfectly well the Russian ability. But I dont know what contribution the Indian side might make. So, one must ask the question to the Indian designers, to HAL what is their claim for building a fighter of the fifth generation type? Either avionics, or engine? What might be Indias contribution? To be absolutely frank, I dont know.
For long, the UAC argued that HAL could not expect a major role in the FGFA because Sukhoi had finished much of the work while New Delhi dithered about joining the project. UAC asserts that 5,000 Sukhoi engineers have worked for five years to design the FGFA. Such claims are hard to verify, but it is known that the Sukhoi Design Bureau has about 8,000 engineers, distributed between many different programmes.
With Sukhois ploughing on alone, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju admitted to Business Standard: The longer India waits to join the project, the lesser will be our contribution. But, we are not sitting idle. Through the defence ministrys existing programmes [such as the Tejas LCA] we are building up our capabilities.
Most Indian officials agree that India has not lost much. Even if the FGFA makes its much-anticipated first flight this year, it is still at a preliminary stage of development. Ashok Baweja assessed in early 2009, The FGFAs first flight is just the beginning of the programme. My understanding is that the Russians are going ahead (with the test) to validate the FGFAs proof of concept (conceptual design). Whatever composite materials they have now, theyll use. But, because the composites will change the FGFA will keep evolving for a fairly long time.
A top ministry official estimates, It will take another 4-5 years to develop many of the FGFAs systems. Then, the aircraft will undergo at least 2000 hours of certification flying and, possibly, some reconfiguration. The FGFA should not be expected in service before 2017. And the twin-seat version may take a couple of years longer.
With just a 25 per cent share of design, South Block policymakers still believe that the FGFA project is a vital step towards Indias emergence as a military aeronautical power. Developing 25 per cent of this fighter is far better than just transferring technology to build it in India, as we did with the Su-30MKI, points out a defence ministry official.
Ashok Baweja puts the project in context. India can only (develop the FGFA) by partnering with Russia. They have so much experience. Its not just the design you must also have materials maraging steel, titanium, composite alloys, and the industrial base to convert these into high-tech components like gyros, sensors and optics. The FGFA will give us important experience for building fighters hereafter.
Link: India to develop 25% of fifth generation fighter idrw.org
Use a different translating software 
