With the collapse of the USSR, numerous defense programs were curtailed due to lack of funds. Perhaps, if it had not ceased to exist, the Russians would have had amazing combat aircraft capable of challenging the United States and its NATO allies. This opinion was expressed by military expert Brent Eastwood in an article for 19fortyfive.
One of the projects that came under attack was the MiG 1.44 multirole frontline fighter. This aircraft would have surpassed the American F-35 and F-22, the expert believes.
President Ronald Reagan ordered the build-up of US military power. In the 80s, the F-14, F-15 and F-16 fighters dominated the skies. In order not to lag behind, the Russians needed a new aircraft, such as the MiG 1.44.
According to Eastwood, the MiG 1.44 was supposed to usher in a new era of ultra-fast stealth aircraft. However, its development was delayed. Finally, in February 2000, the first prototype of the multirole frontline fighter took flight.
In April of the same year, the second flight took place. A few years later, the project was closed, and aircraft designers focused on the more promising Su-57.
The only flying copy of the MiG 1.44 was abandoned in the open at the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky. The aircraft was mothballed and sent to the hangar. Some experts claim that some of the technologies of this fighter went to China.
Technical characteristics of the MiG 1.44:
- Length — 17.3 m
- Wingspan — 11.99 m
- Empty weight — 18,000 kg
- Maximum take-off weight — 23,500 kg
- Engine — AL-41F
- Thrust at afterburner — 2 × 18,000 kgf
Read more on the topic:
- "Unprecedented audacity": three MiG-31 interceptor fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces, flying over the Gulf of Finland, raised NATO aircraft into the air
- Second life of the Soviet MiG-19: China has made the Shenyang J-6 fighter unmanned
- PAK DA awaits the fate of the MiG-1.42 front-line fighter: 19fortyfive analyst explained what prevents the development of a strategic bomber
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