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Project 1.44
An artist's conception of the MiG 1.44 technology demonstrator with delta wing design
Role	Air-superiority fighter, multirole fighter
National origin	Russia
Manufacturer	Mikoyan
First flight	29 February 2000
Status	Technology demonstrator
Primary user	Russian Air Force
Program cost	$100 billion
Unit cost	$434.9 million

The Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42^[1] (Russian: Микоян МиГ-1.44) is a 4.5th generation jet fighter technology demonstrator developed by the Mikoyan Design Bureau. Apart from a number of names along the lines of "Object/Project 1.44/1.42", the aircraft is also known as the MiG-MFI. Although the MFI was once unofficially referred to as the MiG-35, MiG is now using this designation for an advanced Mikoyan MiG-29.

Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications (Project 1.42/44) 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Development

The 1.44 was Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau's entry to Russia's Многофункциональный Фронтовой Истребитель (Mnogofounksionalni Frontovoi Istrebitel — Multifunctional Frontline Fighter) program (a development program that originated in the 1980s, similar to the Advanced Tactical Fighter program held in the United States). It was designed to compete with the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Many of its design features are similar to those found on 4.5 generation Western fighters, including supersonic cruise and modern avionics. Looking back upon its development history, the 1.44 served purely as a technological showcase and testbed for future aircraft designs, not as an actual air superiority fighter prototype.^{[citation needed]}

The MiG 1.44 has been shrouded in mystery throughout the course of its existence. The Russian government cancelled the MFI program in 1997 due to the unacceptably high per-unit cost of the aircraft (Ф2.05 billion RUR, US$70 million). Development continued, with the first test flight taking place on February 29, 2000 and two confirmed test flights in 2001. After the cancellation of the MFI program the PAK FA (Перспективный Авиационный Комплекс Фронтовой Авиации — Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi — Prospective Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces) program was initiated in order to develop an aircraft designed to fill a role similar to that of the F-22, and come at a size and cost similar to that of the F-35 Lightning II.

In 2001, India agreed with Russia to make the PAK FA program a development/production joint-venture between the two nations. Both Mikoyan-Gurevich and Sukhoi submitted concepts to the Defense Ministry for the PAK FA program (MiG entering an updated Project 1.44), but the Russian Defense Ministry selected the Sukhoi Design Bureau as the primary contractor for the PAK FA fighter. Design work has commenced on a backward-swept winged derivative of Sukhoi's experimental Su-47 Berkut aircraft. PAK FA proves to be a very ambitious program, with production of the PAK FA fighter planned to commence in 2010. MiG-MAPO and Yakovlev have also been mentioned as secondary contractors. The MiG 1.44 formerly served as a technology demonstrator for the PAK FA program. The in-development PAK FA aircraft will use the same in-development Lyulka AL-41F engine planned for the 1.44.

Despite the non-production status of the 1.44/1.42, NATO has assigned the reporting name "Flatpack" to this aircraft.^[2]

[edit] Design

The 1.42/44 is a delta-winged, twin-tailed single seat air superiority/strike fighter with an all-moving forward canard plane. It is powered by two Lyulka AL-41F afterburning, thrust vectored turbofan jet engines, each generating 175 kN (39,340 lbf) of thrust (these engines are still in development). Both engines are fed by a single air intake placed under the fuselage. The 35-ton aircraft has a theoretical at-altitude maximum speed of Mach 2.6, and is capable of long-term supersonic flight. The 1.44 has a tricycle landing gear system, with a single, dual-wheel landing gear in the front, and two single-wheels in the rear.

The glass-cockpit-enabled fighter features a pulse Doppler radar with a passive electronically scanned array antenna. The radar system is linked to a fire control system that allows the fighter to engage up to twenty separate targets at the same time.

[edit] Variants

MiG 1.42/42 Primary version which may go onto production; the functions are better then that of the 1.44. Known as the "Foxglove".

MiG 1.44 Demonstrator prototype with failure upgrades; will remain a demonstrator. 2 have been built. Codename is "Flatpack".

[edit] Operators

 Russia

• Russian Air Force

[edit] Specifications (Project 1.42/44)

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

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 19 m (63 ft)
• Wingspan: 15 m (50 ft)
• Height: 4.50 m (15 ft)
• Empty weight: 18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
• Loaded weight: 28,000 kg (62,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 35,000 kg (77,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Lyulka AL-41F afterburning turbofans, 176 kN (39,680 lb) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.6 (2761.2 km/h, 1716 mph)
• Range: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
• Service ceiling: 27,000 m (70,720 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30 mm Izhmash GSh-301 cannon
• Missiles: R-77 (AA-12 Adder) medium-range radar-guided missiles, R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range IR-guided missiles, K-37 long-range radar-guided missiles, K-74 short-range IR-guided missiles
• Bombs: likely any AGM or small-diameter free fall bomb in the Russian inventory

[edit] See also

• Sukhoi PAK FA
• Sukhoi/HAL FGFA
  

Related development

• Mikoyan Project LFI
  

Comparable aircraft

• F-22 Raptor
• Sukhoi Su-47
• Shenyang J-XX
• Mitsubishi ATD-X
• Medium Combat Aircraft
  

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• FAS.org MiG-35 Page
• MiG Project 1.42 Article, Alexei Gretchikhine
• Sergei Babain's "True Supersonics" MFI Page
• MiG MFI at Aerospaceweb.org
• MiG 1.42 MFI at Fighter-Planes.com
• MIG-39/1.42 MFI at Russian Military Analysis
• MIG MFI at Roy's Russian Aircraft Resource

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