Re: Questions about the raptor
At the beginning of the ATF program (around the late 1970s to 1980) which later became the YF-22 and YF-23 program, the USAF's Air Intelligence, DARPA and, CIA did studies as to assess what the USSR's technical capabilities would be in the time period of 1990 to 2010. The study was based upon the Cold War continuing and it turned out to be very accurate. The specs of the ATF were designed so the F-22 would be superior to anything the USSR could build in this time period. The financial breakdown of the USSR, the need for cash and, the Russians placing some of their best weapon systems on the open market allowed the USA's intelligence services know the accuracies and inaccuracies of that study. The fact that Russia has sold the USAF Su-27's (11/26/95) and MiG.-29's (from many different countries) only helps our intelligence community. The Russians have not developed any new aircraft since the country went bankrupt. Only modifications of the MiG.-29 or Su-27. So, the USA knows what the Russian are capable of making and will be able to make for many years. It would be the height of irresponsibility to allow such a database on an opponent to become out of date!
Many other countries know what the Russian Air Force has also. In 1988, the Japanese Diet (the Japanese Parliment or Congress) paid the USSR $300,000 (USD) for two JSDAF pilots o undergo training / familiarization / evaluation program for the Su-27 in the USSR! Japan wanted to know the capabilities of the Su-27 because it had been causing the Japan Air Defense problems.
Russian aircraft are no mystery to the American Military! Indian and Israeli avionics are more advance than Russian avionics. Avionics are the weak point for Russian aircraft. The Indian and Israeli avionics are not in the class with European or American avionics.
The Russian Air Force generals have said 'many, many' times the PAK-FA is NOT, the direct competitor to the F-22, it is more of a competitor of the F-35A. The true or direct competitor to the F-22 still has not been designed! While not a direct competitor to the F-22, it does close the gap between the F-22A or F-35A and current generation 4.5 fighters. The F-22 is being upgraded every few years so the F-22A that became operational in 2005 is well behind the F-22A that has been upgraded to the 3.1 standard. In another couple of years the last ninety-one F-22As will be upgraded to the 3.2 standard.
