Norwegian newspaper VG reports that several classified tests by the Norwegian Defence Institute (FFI) concluded that the Swedish aircraft had no chances against the Sukhoi PAK FA. While Jas Gripen is a fourth-generation plane, the Sukhoi PAK FA is a fifth generation plane.
The Norwegian government subsequently decided to rather go for the U.S. made Joint Strike Fighter, the newest and most advanced U.S. fighter aircraft project currently under development. The JSF will have socalled Stealth-technology.
In yesterday’s press release from the Norwegian government, the Swedish Jas Gripen is described as unfit for Norwegian conditions.
The aircraft is being developed by a consortium of companies including Embraer of Brazil and HAL of India spearheaded by Sukhoi OKB, which refers internally to the project as the T-50. Although there is no reliable information about the PAK FA’s specifications yet, it is known from interviews with people in the Russian Air Force that it will be stealthy, have the ability to supercruise, be outfitted with the next generation of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air-to-ship missiles, and incorporate an AESA radar, Wikipedia reports.
The first test flights with the Sukhoi PAK FA are supposed to take place in 2009.
