Sukhoi Company has completed trials of T-50s (5th generation fighter aircraft PAK FA) initial approach to a flight refuelling aircraft.

Aircraft T-50-2 made nine approaches to an Ilyushin Il-78 tanker accompanied by a Su-25UB aircraft.

T-50-2, Sukhoi’s second prototype, is undergoing a range of flight trials to test the new plane’s flight envelope in subsonic and supersonic regimes and in different configurations.

The first prototype, T-50-1, is being prepared for a flight test programme involving flight at super-critical angles of attack and super-manoeuvrability. Flight tests of the T-50-3 with a unique on-board active phased array radar system were started earlier this month.

In the course of the ground and flight tests of the T-50-3 prototype the radar “airto-air” and “air-to-surface” test modes in the first experiments demonstrated a stable and effective performance comparable with the most advanced existing radar systems. The further development of these capabilities was confirmed. The optical channels tests have begun.

The radar developed by the Moscowbased Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design allows to increase the target detection range in simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-surface modes, recognise and classify group and single targets, and simultaneously attack several targets with precision-guided weapons, and perform electronic warfare functions.

A fourth T-50 will join the test programme later this year.