Miragedriver
Brigadier
Since we don’t have a what if section I thought I would create one to place aircraft that could have been, but world events prevented them from developing
Enjoy
Enjoy
What if Aircraft
- Thread starter Miragedriver
- Start date
Miragedriver
Brigadier
“Article 33”, “Project 33”, “Product 33”, or “Project R-33”
In the late 1970ies, the Mikoyan OKB design bureau began working on a very light “strike fighter” that was intended to be a direct competitor to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This new Mikoyan design, designated Izdeliye 33 (Izd 33) (and variously translated as “Article 33”, “Project 33”, “Product 33”, or “Project R-33”), was of conventional layout and similar in appearance to the F-16, with a fixed geometry, chin-mounted air intake and a blended wing and body layout and pronounced leading edge root extensions (LERX).
The aircraft was originally powered by a single Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engine – the same engine used by the twin-engined MiG-29. Overall, the Izdeliye 33 was less complex and capable than the MiG-29, but also much cheaper in acquisition and operation.
In due course the aircraft received the official designation MiG-33SE ("S" for, "seriynyy" = serial and "E" for "eksportnyy" = export).
These production aircraft differed in several details from the Izdeliye 33, the most obvious change were enlarged elevator surfaces and bulges on the flanks which had become necessary in roder to fit bigger low pressure tires to the main landing gear for operations on rough airstrips.
Compared with the prototypes, the operational MiG-33 was powered by a Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet, rated at 55 kN (12,000 lbf) dry military power, 68.5 kN (15,400 lbf) with afterburner and 96.8 kN (21,800 lbf) for 3 minutes with boosted afterburner (CSR mode, altitude < 4,000 metres (13,000 ft)). The air intake received an adjustable ramp and the radome became smaller.
The first airframes left the Sokol production plant at Nizhny Novgorod in 1987. When the aircraft became known to the public it received the ACSS code name “Foghorn” in the West.
Instead of the MiG-29's state-of-the-art Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system, a less sophisticated RLPK-29E targeting system, based on the N019EA "Rubin" radar, was fitted. As a secondary sensor, a modified S-31E optoelectronic targeting/navigation system and different IFF transponders were fitted.
This avionics suite still featured modes for look-down/shoot-down and close-in fighting. With this equipment, the MiG-33SE was able to carry the new and very effective R-73 (NATO: AA-11 "Archer") short-range air-to-air missile, as well as the R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo") mid-range AAM with IR and radar homing. A SPO-15L "Beryoza" ("Birch") radar warning receiver was carried, too, along with chaff/flare dispensers.
The new type quickly found buyers: first orders came, among others, from Algeria, Angola, Eritrea, North Korea and Vietnam, and deliveries started in early 1988. In 1989 the MiG-33SE was also offered to India for license production (replacing the country’s large MiG-21 fleet), but the country wanted a more potent aircraft and eventually became one of the first MiG-29 export customers.
Beyond its operational service, the MiG-33SE left other footprints in Asia, too. Following the cancellation of U.S. and European companies’ participation in the development of the Westernized Chengdu J-7 variant known as the “Super-7”, China launched a program in 1991 to develop an indigenous evolution of this MiG-21-based design, which it designated the FC-1 (“Fighter China 1”).
To expedite its development, officials of the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) or the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) – perhaps both – approached Mikoyan for technical support.
In 1998, CATIC purchased Izdeliye 33 design and test information from the Mikoyan design bureau, along with other research and development assistance. These designs were used for the development of JF-17 / FC-1 by Pakistan and China, which entered production in 2007.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length (incl. pitot): 16,2 m (53 ft)
Wingspan: 10.73 m (35 ft 1.5 in)
Height: 5,5 m (18 ft)
Wing area: 35,6 m² (382 ft²)
Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,570 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
Fuel capacity: 3,500 kg. (7,716 lbs.) internally
Powerplant:
1× Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet, rated at 55 kN (12,000 lbf) dry military power,
68.5 kN (15,400 lbf) with afterburner and 96.8 kN (21,800 lbf) emergency power
Performance:
Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,530+ km/h, 1,500+ mph) at high altitude
1,110 km/h (690 mph) at low altitude
Range: 1,550 km (837 nmi, 963 mi) with drop tanks
Ferry range: 3,335 km (1,800 nmi, 2,073 mi) with auxiliary fuel
Service ceiling: 17,060 m (59,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 285 m/s (56,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 337 kg/m² (69 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.7 at loaded weight
Maximum design g-load: +9 g
Armament:
1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds in the left fuselage side
7 Hard points (6x pylons under-wing, 1x under fuselage) for up to 3,500 kg (7,720 lb)
of ordnance including six air-to-air missiles — a mix of semi-active radar homing
(SARH)/infrared homing R-60, R-27, R-73, active radar homing R-77 AAMs.
Air-to-ground weapons include RBK-500, PB-250, FAB-250, FAB 500-M62, TN-100, ECM Pods,
S-8 rockets in respective pods, S-24 unguided rockets and guided Kh-25 and Kh-29 ASMs
In the late 1970ies, the Mikoyan OKB design bureau began working on a very light “strike fighter” that was intended to be a direct competitor to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. This new Mikoyan design, designated Izdeliye 33 (Izd 33) (and variously translated as “Article 33”, “Project 33”, “Product 33”, or “Project R-33”), was of conventional layout and similar in appearance to the F-16, with a fixed geometry, chin-mounted air intake and a blended wing and body layout and pronounced leading edge root extensions (LERX).
The aircraft was originally powered by a single Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engine – the same engine used by the twin-engined MiG-29. Overall, the Izdeliye 33 was less complex and capable than the MiG-29, but also much cheaper in acquisition and operation.
In due course the aircraft received the official designation MiG-33SE ("S" for, "seriynyy" = serial and "E" for "eksportnyy" = export).
These production aircraft differed in several details from the Izdeliye 33, the most obvious change were enlarged elevator surfaces and bulges on the flanks which had become necessary in roder to fit bigger low pressure tires to the main landing gear for operations on rough airstrips.
Compared with the prototypes, the operational MiG-33 was powered by a Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet, rated at 55 kN (12,000 lbf) dry military power, 68.5 kN (15,400 lbf) with afterburner and 96.8 kN (21,800 lbf) for 3 minutes with boosted afterburner (CSR mode, altitude < 4,000 metres (13,000 ft)). The air intake received an adjustable ramp and the radome became smaller.
The first airframes left the Sokol production plant at Nizhny Novgorod in 1987. When the aircraft became known to the public it received the ACSS code name “Foghorn” in the West.
Instead of the MiG-29's state-of-the-art Phazotron RLPK-29 radar fire control system, a less sophisticated RLPK-29E targeting system, based on the N019EA "Rubin" radar, was fitted. As a secondary sensor, a modified S-31E optoelectronic targeting/navigation system and different IFF transponders were fitted.
This avionics suite still featured modes for look-down/shoot-down and close-in fighting. With this equipment, the MiG-33SE was able to carry the new and very effective R-73 (NATO: AA-11 "Archer") short-range air-to-air missile, as well as the R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo") mid-range AAM with IR and radar homing. A SPO-15L "Beryoza" ("Birch") radar warning receiver was carried, too, along with chaff/flare dispensers.
The new type quickly found buyers: first orders came, among others, from Algeria, Angola, Eritrea, North Korea and Vietnam, and deliveries started in early 1988. In 1989 the MiG-33SE was also offered to India for license production (replacing the country’s large MiG-21 fleet), but the country wanted a more potent aircraft and eventually became one of the first MiG-29 export customers.
Beyond its operational service, the MiG-33SE left other footprints in Asia, too. Following the cancellation of U.S. and European companies’ participation in the development of the Westernized Chengdu J-7 variant known as the “Super-7”, China launched a program in 1991 to develop an indigenous evolution of this MiG-21-based design, which it designated the FC-1 (“Fighter China 1”).
To expedite its development, officials of the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) or the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) – perhaps both – approached Mikoyan for technical support.
In 1998, CATIC purchased Izdeliye 33 design and test information from the Mikoyan design bureau, along with other research and development assistance. These designs were used for the development of JF-17 / FC-1 by Pakistan and China, which entered production in 2007.
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length (incl. pitot): 16,2 m (53 ft)
Wingspan: 10.73 m (35 ft 1.5 in)
Height: 5,5 m (18 ft)
Wing area: 35,6 m² (382 ft²)
Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,570 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
Fuel capacity: 3,500 kg. (7,716 lbs.) internally
Powerplant:
1× Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet, rated at 55 kN (12,000 lbf) dry military power,
68.5 kN (15,400 lbf) with afterburner and 96.8 kN (21,800 lbf) emergency power
Performance:
Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,530+ km/h, 1,500+ mph) at high altitude
1,110 km/h (690 mph) at low altitude
Range: 1,550 km (837 nmi, 963 mi) with drop tanks
Ferry range: 3,335 km (1,800 nmi, 2,073 mi) with auxiliary fuel
Service ceiling: 17,060 m (59,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 285 m/s (56,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 337 kg/m² (69 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.7 at loaded weight
Maximum design g-load: +9 g
Armament:
1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds in the left fuselage side
7 Hard points (6x pylons under-wing, 1x under fuselage) for up to 3,500 kg (7,720 lb)
of ordnance including six air-to-air missiles — a mix of semi-active radar homing
(SARH)/infrared homing R-60, R-27, R-73, active radar homing R-77 AAMs.
Air-to-ground weapons include RBK-500, PB-250, FAB-250, FAB 500-M62, TN-100, ECM Pods,
S-8 rockets in respective pods, S-24 unguided rockets and guided Kh-25 and Kh-29 ASMs
Ahh yes, the A-12 Avenger was... well...never was..
Yes, this was one of the ones I was going to put up on this page too at some point.
Here's what the US Marine version was going to look like:
kwaigonegin
Colonel
The YF 23 was superior to the YF 22 and the F23 engines certainly better than the 119s but at the end of the day as usual politics and short sightedness won over. Most likely the F23s of today would be powered by uprated F120 variable cycle engines!
Don't get me wrong the Raptor is amazing but the Black Widow had it won would've been even better!
Don't get me wrong the Raptor is amazing but the Black Widow had it won would've been even better!
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Here's the thread where you can reminisce about it to your heart's content:
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@kwaigonegin The YF-23 was better at stealth, and several other cirtical areas.Here is a very serious "What if" aircraft that would have been a GREAT additional 5th generation fighter:
The YF-23 would have made a great F-15E follow on, or an aircraft carrier capable A-6 follow on!
The YF-22 was more manueverable, and viewed as "Stealthy enough for any furute peer competitors."
Fact is, they could buld F-23s today, up to curent standards as Strike aircraft...or even a bit larger as a bomber. o they could even make a carrier version as an attack aircraft to replace the A-6. I think it could be designed to carry more than the F-3C...it would be a bigger bird.
Fact is, the design is still far more advanced than anything other nations are coming up with.