In Russia, the development of the prospective aviation complex for long-range aviation (PAK DA, «Envoy», «product 80») program was conceived almost a quarter of a century ago. The Ministry of Defense of the country believed that it should be a low-observable aircraft of the «flying wing» type, similar in design to the American B-2 Spirit. This is written by military expert Ruben F. Johnson in the article «The PAK DA Bomber Will Never Become the Russian Version of the B-21 Raider» for the 19fortyfive publication.
It is assumed that the PAK DA will become a «sixth-generation bomber» with the characteristics of the Northrop Grumman B-2 and B-21, as well as some others.
Apparently, the armament will be located in the internal compartment of the aviation complex. The PAK DA will be able to fly at supersonic speed, developing it without turning on afterburner chambers (an additional combustion chamber in turbojet engines, designed to briefly increase thrust by injecting fuel into the flow of hot gases exiting the turbine).
What is even more impressive is the equipping of the aviation complex with laser weapons, and an unmanned flight function. It is not surprising that some representatives of the US Department of Defense are skeptical about this project. They doubt that the PAK DA will ever take to the skies.
Johnson recalled that the United States and the countries of the European Union imposed sanctions on the sale of electronic components, machine tools, and composite materials technologies to Russia. Consequently, the PAK DA may remain a «paper airplane» if its developers do not find an alternative.
At best, it will suffer the fate of the «Mikoyan 1.42» (refers to the MiG-1.44/1.42 project of the multirole fighter development program). Aircraft designers developed a prototype that made several test flights, but did not become a serial model.
Assumed characteristics of the PAK DA:
- Engine — developed by «ODK-Kuznetsov»
- Maximum thrust — 24 tf
- Maximum take-off weight — 145 t
- Payload weight — up to 35 t
- Range — up to 15 thousand km
- Practical ceiling height — 20 thousand m
- Armament — cruise missiles (at least 12 pcs.)
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