Микоян МиГ 1.44: История советского истребителя пятого поколения

Fighter technology demonstrator aircraft

The Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42 (Микоян МиГ 1.44; NATO reporting name: Flatpack) is a multirole fighter technology demonstrator developed by the Mikoyan design bureau. It was designed for the Soviet Union's MFI (Mnogofunksionalni Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Multifunctional Frontline Fighter") project for the I 90 ("1990s fighter") program, the answer to the U. S.'s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF). The MFI was to incorporate many fifth generation jet fighter features such as supermaneuverability, supercruise, and advanced avionics, as well as some degree of radar signature reduction. The design's development was a protracted one, characterised by repeated and lengthy postponements due to a chronic lack of funds after the collapse of the Soviet Union; the MiG 1.44 made its maiden flight in February 2000, nine years behind schedule, and was cancelled later that year. The MFI project was replaced by the more modern and affordable PAK FA program, which resulted in the Sukhoi Su 57.

The MiG 1.44 had its origins in the early 1980s, when the U. S. Air Force began developing a successor to the F 15 Eagle under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) project, which would eventually result in the supermaneuverable and stealthy, albeit costly, F 22 Raptor that first flew in 1997. Consequently, the Soviet government tasked its fighter design bureaus the job of developing a fighter with which to counter the perceived American threat, and replace the Sukhoi Su 27. In 1983, the project was formally approved as the I 90 (И 90, label=short for). At this time, the attributes of the next generation of fighter aircraft were still not universally defined; the U. S. pursued a dedicated air superiority fighter with the ATF emphasizing stealth and kinematic performance, whereas the Soviet direction instead focused on "multifunctionality", or a multirole fighter with exceptional air to ground capability, while similarly emphasizing kinematic performance such as supermaneuverability at high angles of attack and increased supersonic endurance. Mikoyan occupied itself with two concurrent projects, one of which focused on a heavy multirole design designated MFI, the other a light tactical fighter named LFI (Lyogkiy Frontovoy Istrebitel, "Light Frontline Fighter"). To minimise costs, both designs were to share as many components as possible. However, as the research and development phase for the two projects progressed, costs escalated due to the complexity normally associated with advanced aircraft projects. As a result, the Soviet government created the Combined Task Programme in 1983 with the aim of maximising efficiency and developing technologies to be used for all classes of aircraft. Besides the mechanical and aerodynamic aspects of the design, engineers investigated hundreds of issues to refine the layout and specifications.

While both MFI and LFI designs passed critical review, due to budgetary constraints, Mikoyan shelved the latter to free up funds for the development of the MFI, which had by then been redesignated Izdeliye (product) 1.42. TsAGI was still a part of the design effort, having tested radio controlled models for research into stability and handling characteristics, particularly at high angles of attack. It was later confirmed that the 1.42 is still controllable at angles of attack of up to 60°. In 1988, Mikoyan was issued a specific operational requirement for the 1.42. Three years later, the design passed the Soviet Air Force's critical review. This paved the way for the construction of a flyable technology demonstrator, and so Mikoyan issued specifications to specialized factories tasked with such roles. The technology demonstrator, bearing the designation 1.44, would be used to verify the aerodynamic layout and flight control system of the design. Construction of it was halfway when the collapse of the Soviet Union brought a halt to further funding. Inevitably the scheduled first flight of the almost complete aircraft slipped indefinitely. The company tried in 1997, to no avail.

In early 1994, the incomplete aircraft was transported to Zhukovsky Airfield, where it would undertake flight tests. Ground tests began later that year, culminating in the first high speed runs with Mikoyan's Chief Test Pilot Roman Taskayev at the controls. Mikoyan was financially insecure, resulting with the change in the management during the years leading up to 2000; this opened up other sources of funds. The change in the company's management also brought many changes. The Russian government revealed the project's existence in late 1998. On 24 December 1998, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta published a brief article on the fighter, accompanied by several photos. During 1999, final preparations were made for first flight. The aircraft was finally completed. It underwent ground tests, including high speed taxis during which the aircraft was rotated. On 12 January 1999, the 1.44 was officially rolled out in the presence of top ranking Russian military and government personnel, international journalists and other dignitaries. Until then, the status of the 1.44 was largely a secret; the previous day, however, Aviation Week & Space Technology published a photo taken from the roof of the hangar in which the demonstrator was parked. On 29 February 2000, the aircraft performed its first flight at the hands of Vladimir Gorboonov. During the 18 minute flight, the 1.44 reached a maximum height of and reached speeds of The aircraft touched down at 11:43 am Moscow Time, amid tight security. Gorboonov later described the aircraft as docile. After the 22 minute second flight on 27 April, engineers probably uncovered some problems, since there were no reported flights thereafter. Mikoyan made use of weight saving materials in the construction of the aircraft, with aluminum lithium alloys making up 35% of the empty weight, steel and titanium alloys (30%), composites (30%) and others (5%). The MiG MFI was unconventional in its layout, in an effort to improve in flight efficiency and stealth characteristics. Efforts were made to minimize surface area, possibly to reduce drag. The wings were of delta planform, with leading edge sweep at 52°. At the tips were dielectric fairings which housed electronic countermeasures/electronic support measures. The wings had full span leading edge flaps. The canards, meanwhile, had a leading edge sweep of 58°, and had prominent dogtooth which improved airflow over the wings at high alpha (angles of attack). Russian aviation experts claim that the unorthodox design, use of radar absorbent materials (RAM), and internally mounted weapons, gave a radar cross section (RCS) of less than , comparable to that of the F 22 Raptor. The RCS falls to with the use of a plasma shield. Two Lyul'ka Saturn AL 41F afterburning turbofans produced of thrust, giving the MFI a top speed of Mach 2.35. The engines are variable cycle, which increased supersonic dry thrust and allowed the jet to supercruise at Mach 1.5. The axisymmetrical engines could be vectored in both pitch and yaw planes. The nozzle's inner petals were lined with ceramic tiles to reduce infrared signature. The engines, through serpentine ducts covered in RAM, were fed by a double intake ramp with a splitter plate underneath the front fuselage. Weapons and fuel drop tanks could be carried under the wings as well.

MiG 1.42: Primary version for production; performance was to be better than that of the 1.44. NATO assigned it the code name "Foxglove". MiG 1.44: Demonstrator prototype with failed upgrades; 1 was built. NATO assigned it the code name "Flatpack". MiG 1.42R: Proposed reconnaissance variant with reconnaissance equipment in the weapons bay. MiG 1.42K: Proposed naval variant with folding wings, arrestor hook, strengthened landing gear and enhanced corrosion protection. MiG 1.42 trainer: Proposed two seat trainer variant.

Note: Since the 1.44 and 1.42 never went beyond pre production, most specifications are estimated.