Time： 2024-08-18
韦克威科技
Russia steps up construction of PAK DA stealth strategic bomber
Currently, Russian aviation manufacturing companies are intensifying the development of the PAK DA (Long Range Aviation Future Aviation System) stealth strategic missile bomber. According to reports, the first experimental prototype is currently under construction and testing will be conducted in the near future. But there is currently no detailed and complete official news.
1 Step up construction:
In early 2019, according to Russian media reports, the design plan for the future PAK DA bomber was approved. At that time, it was known that the user and the executing enterprise had signed all the documents required for the production of the prototype. What kind of production is agreed upon in the above documents? can make nothing of it.At the end of 2020, TASS reported intriguing news citing two sources from the defense industry department: one was that the United Aviation Manufacturing Group had completed the development of design documents. Start providing prototype construction materials. The manufacturing of aircraft components is entrusted to a factory under the United Aviation Manufacturing Group.The second source is clear that assembly of the cockpit for the future prototype of PAK DA has already begun. It is said that the construction process should be completed by 2021. Of course, the above information has not been officially confirmed.Last December, TASS reported new construction details citing anonymous sources: two or three aircraft are being assembled simultaneously for flight and static testing. Initial production of parts and equipment has been initiated. All the organisms will be built every few months.The source confirmed the previous message: The cockpit of PAK DA is manufactured by Novosibirsk Aviation Factory, including several systems, some of which are used for ground testing. The final assembly will be completed by Kazan Aviation Factory.A few days ago, there was new news about the construction of the PAK DA test prototype. On August 2nd, TASS reported that construction work on the "demonstration prototype" is underway. Be ready before 2023. Other details were not disclosed.2. Engine issues:
At the beginning of last year, the International News Agency reported that the engine of PAK DA would soon begin debugging. In the near future, the United Engine Manufacturing Group should prepare a flight laboratory based on the Il-76 transport aircraft and manufacture new test engines. At the end of 2020, the laboratory began ground testing, which will take at least two years.Last December, there was new news. The leader of Kuznetsov United Engine Manufacturing Group talked about the progress of the new experimental engine codenamed "Product RF". Some of its individual components have been tested. In addition, we will begin assembling the first experimental product. We plan to start testing on the test bench within 2021.The completion deadline for the RF engine is currently unknown. Not long ago, it was reported that the first PAK DA should be ready before 2023, and it can be inferred that the engine should be ready before then.3 Technology and Components:
Recently, there have been reports that individual components of future bombers are being developed and produced. We are also continuing to explore various new technologies and conducting various experiments.According to reports from the industrial sector cited by TASS, radar stealth tests for bombers are currently underway. Models of aircraft and individual components were placed on a professional test bench. The ultra small RCS index was determined through computer simulation during the scientific research experiment stage. The test bench test confirmed the above performance. According to reports, enemy fighter jets have discovered that the distance of PAK DA has been reduced by several orders of magnitude.TASS reported in early June that a dedicated airborne defense system is being developed for PAK DA. It is said that the above-mentioned airborne defense system can protect bombers from any enemy weapons (radar, optical guided weapons) attacks. At this point, there is a strong emphasis on electronic warfare systems, but no details have been disclosed.TASS reported that all weapons of PAK DA are placed inside the fuselage, and the bomber will be equipped with long-range missiles, which can carry out assaults from outside the enemy's air defense zone, greatly reducing the risk of early detection and interception.At the Moscow Airshow-2021, the "Star" company announced that it is developing ejection seats for PAK DA. This plan is proceeding as planned and is currently being prepared for testing. The seats prepared recently will be installed on the bomber. The pilot's rescue system will be equipped with a new type of parachute with an increased area. With its help, it can ensure safe skydiving at any altitude. At that time, "Xing" claimed to be manufacturing this new type of parachute.4. Production stage:
The PAK DA program is steadily progressing and has achieved promising results. Almost all necessary experimental work is nearing completion, and most of the design tasks have also been completed. We started producing individual components over a year ago, and in addition, we prepared and initiated the construction of several experimental prototypes. Some components of future bombers are still in the testing and debugging stage.It is reported that the first PAK DA will be ready for deployment before 2023. The start time of the flight test is unknown, but the first flight will not be later than 2025. It is also possible to predict the approximate time for completing experiments, initiating mass production, and starting to provide bombers to the military.It should be pointed out that the process observed now does not completely match past messages. For example, it has been confirmed multiple times around 2015 that PAK DA may make its maiden flight in 2020-2021. Unfortunately, the plan was not completed by this deadline and the maiden flight was postponed. And it is unclear whether 2021, as the first flight deadline, was included in the official work schedule at that time.Obviously, the judgment at that time was too optimistic. The situation in mid-2021 is that the industrial sector continues to test and debug various components, including engines, electronic equipment, and rescue systems. It will take several more years to complete these tasks, otherwise it will be impossible to manufacture a real PAK DA bomber and conduct flight tests.5. Critical period:
Anyway, the various organizations of United Aviation Manufacturing Group and United Engine Manufacturing Group are continuing to work and constantly achieving new results. Some of them are already known to the public through official statements or anonymous sources. In summary, preliminary conclusions can be drawn from the current scenario and a positive assessment of progress can be made.Despite the scarcity of official information and lack of details, it is evident that this is a crucial period in the history of PAK DA. The success or failure of the plan and the future of Russia's long-range aviation will depend on the current development of individual components and even the overall aircraft.Source: Frontiers of Maritime Defense