Bhutan set to develop 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft with Stealth features. (Bhutan Information Agency) The R&D department of the Royal Bhutan Air Force has developed the first prototype of its 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft, tentatively called the DF-22 Shabdrung. It will have advanced avionics and missiles along with stealth features to make it almost invisible to RADAR. The first aircraft is expected to be inducted into the RBAF in late 2025. As the aircraft is in development, these specifications are preliminary and are taken as estimates from the available images. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Crew: 1 Length: 19.8 m (65.9 ft) Wingspan: 14 m (46.6 ft) Height: 6.05 m (19.8 ft) Wing area: 78.8 m2 (848.1 ft2) Empty weight: 18,500 kg (40,785 lb) Loaded weight: 29,772 kg[N 1] (65,636 lb) Useful load: 7,500 kg (combat load) (16,534 lb) Max. takeoff weight: 37,000 kg (81,570 lb) Powerplant: 2 × Druk JO-2 114 thrust vectoring turbofan Dry thrust: 93.1 kN (21,000 lbf) each Thrust with afterburner: 147 kN (33,047 lbf) each Fuel capacity: 10,300 kg (22,711 lb) PERFORMANCE Maximum speed: Mach 2+ (2,135 km/h, 1,327 mph) Cruise speed: 1,300-1,800 km/h (808-1,118 mph) Ferry range: 5,500 km (3,417 mi) Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,000 ft) Rate of climb: 350 m/s (68,900 ft/min) Wing loading: 330-470 kg/m2 (67-96 lb/ft2) Thrust/weight: 1.01 (1.20 for new engines) Maximum g-load: 9.8 g ARMAMENT Guns: AT-456 Cannon. Hardpoints: Currently 6 internal hardpoints and up to 6 external hardpoints: two internal bays running longitudinally on the fuselage supporting a total of 4 DXX-BT AAMs, plus 2 small internal wing bays for 2 DXX-JK AAMs and up to six external hardpoints. AVIONICS HY606 multifunctional integrated radio electronic system R897 Drong radar built by Namgyal Defence Industries Main X-band 89NHG0 AESA radar with 1522 V/S modules 2 Side facing X-band 76NGH0 AESA radars with 358 V/S modules each, to increase angular coverage. 2 L-band 89NHG0 arrays on the Leading-edge extension for IFF functionality. X420 Dzong ECM suite built by F.Pork institute 765XF electro-optical suite. 765XF-L: Laser-based countermeasures against infrared missiles 765XF-A: IRST for airborne targets 765XF-P: Ultraviolet warning sensors 765XF-D: Targeting pod
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:52:02 +0000