Aircraft
Sukhoi T-50 Moves to Radar, In-flight Refueling Tests
The second prototype of the T-50 stealth fighter lands at Zhukovsky after its display at the recent Russian air force 100th anniversary airshow. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
The second prototype of the T-50 stealth fighter lands at Zhukovsky after its display at the recent Russian air force 100th anniversary airshow. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

The third prototype of Russia’s new T-50 stealth fighter now has an AESA radar. Sukhoi reported this month that the program has logged more than 120 test flights, which suggests that only some 20 flights have been made in the past nine months. However, Russian air force commander Gen. Victor Bondarev told journalists that testing of the PAK FA (the Russian acronym for Future Complex of Frontal Aviation) is on schedule, and that performance to date is “by and large corresponding to the specification that we put forward for this aircraft.” The T-50 first flew on Jan. 29, 2010.