Now here is an interview of NPO chief where he says that PAK-FA is all ready flying with new fifth gen. engine npo-117,
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Q - Since United Engine Corporation been
formed , 5 th generation Fighter T-50 " climbed
into the sky and is undergoing flight tests , the
first Superjet already been transferred to
commercial airlines ... What in your opinion the
most important changes occurred in the Russian
aviation industry during this period (3 years) that
we acquired, and what can be lost?
A - The main thing in my opinion, is that joint
efforts succeeded in stopping the fall of the
industry. This required the efforts of many, first
and foremost, I would note Mikhail Pogosyan
and Eugene Marchukov - the General Designer
of the engine for the T-50.
For military aircraft, we have created two
engines - one for the aircraft, like Su-35 ",
the second - for the Russian aircraft 5 th
generation of T-50". The first - is "117C" - is
mainly intended for export. He is more
simple in terms of aerodynamics, and most
importantly - targeted for aircraft with
conventional arms, suspended on pylons
outside the fuselage, with no strong
constraints on dimensions. Such schemes
fro example are used on 4-th generation
aircraft s , exported to India and Malaysia.
The second engine - is "117" - though only differ
by one letter in the title, much more advanced
engine - this is a real engine of the 5-th
generation. From the rivals can sometimes be
heard the 5-th generation engine should be
with such a blade, such and such materials, high-
speed rotors, and you do not have this ... None
of this is all just ways of achieving the goal. A
single goal - increasing specific thrust, ie the ratio
of thrust to its weight. For example, the first jet
engine Arkhip Mikhailovich Lulka weighed 1350 kg
and had the same thrust, that is, its specific thrust
is equal to 1. The 4 th generation engine ,
"AL-31F, has already managed to achieve specific
thrust of 8.7, and on a 5 th generation, the figure
is 10.
The new engine delivers a supersonic speed
without afterburner mode. What it gives? If
before the fighter was flying to the target with the
speed of 700 km / h, now - it is twice as fast.
Our "117" today is already flying on two
T-50s. For the company it is quite a major
achievement, a large move forward. Although it
never was easy. We also have new ideas, we can
boast some good groundwork. What is needed
in the field of military aviation - the beginning of
this mass production? To protect such a large
country like ours, from a serious attack the
number as 500-1000 aircrafts is needed . For
this needed orders, money, production
infrastructure.
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Defunct Humanity: New interview with Al-41F chief designer