Published: 10/29/1997

The Sukhoi design bureau has unveiled its newest fighter, the S-37 Berkut, which was previously referred to in the press as the S-32. After a presentation of the aircraft to the Air Defence Force and Naval Aviation heads in the second half of October, Sukhoi gave brief information on and two aerial pictures of the aircraft to two prominent Russian newspapers - Commersant Daily and Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Independent Newspaper). Previously, Sukhoi officials refused to even confirm work on new fighter designs beyond the Su-27M. The photos published in the newspapers show a single-seat twin-engined aircraft fitted with canards, forward-swept wings, horizontal stabilisers and two outward-canted vertical tails. In general, it resembles the Grumman X-29 experimental fighter. The plane has circular engine nozzles and single-slotted flaps. The example depicted bears "01" on its sides, seemingly be the only operable example built so far. Earlier, the Interfax news agency reported that the new Sukhoi carries weapons internally to reduce the radar and infra-red signatures. The S-37 is described by Sukhoi as "super-agile supersonic stealth fighter of the fifth generation". It is known that this first development prototype flies daily from the aerodrome of Gromov's Flight Test and Research Institute in Zhukovsky. Basic data Typical take-off weight - 24 tonnes Length -22.6m Wing span - 16.7m Maximum speed - 2,200km/h Engine thrust - 25 tonnes In weight and size the S-37 is very close to the Su-27-family of fighters. It is believed that its powerplant consists of two AL-31PFU engines in use on the Su-37 and Su-30MKI fighters. There is no confirmation, though, that Aircraft 01 is fitted with thrust-vectoring nozzles. Sukhoi says the S-37 is a direct answer to the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor and that the S-37 was first flown two weeks after the US fighter. Despite being direct competitors, the two types differ considerably in aerodynamics. While the F-22 features classic aerodynamic layout, the S-37 represents a new step in the development of Sukhoi's "unstable integral tri-plane with trust-vectoring system" concept, offering a high lift/drag ratio, outstanding manoeuvrability at all speeds and high-alpha regimes. At the same time, numerous aerodynamic surfaces increase characteristic radar and infra-red signatures of the plane. Simultaneously with Sukhoi, fifth-generation fighters are in development at the Mikoyan design bureau. Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes that the MFI ("Multifunctional Frontal Fighter"), also referred to as the Article 1.42, is at the final stages of preparations for the first flight. Powered by two 20-tonne Lulka-Saturn AL-41 engines, the new MiG is bigger than the S-37. Commenting on the mute words of his colleagues at the Paris air show, Anatoly Belosvet, deputy general designer at Mikoyan, confessed at MAKS'97 that the MFI has not been flown yet. He said that some Rbs8bn is needed to put the first prototype in the air. "If we had the money, the plane would have flown three years ago", he added. Belosvet believes that "the advanced aerodynamic solutions on which the fighter was built will be used in our Future Light Multifunctional Fighter". (DF1097.1) (VK)

Article ID: 74