Tensions between the United States and Russia are undeniably heating up, especially in the wake of the U.S. election which many in the government now say was influenced by Vladimir Putin. So, it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye on what kind of military technology they’re packing, right? Thanks to a new reveal by a Russian aircraft manufacturer, we can do just that. This is the T-50, Russia’s new stealth fighter jet.
Built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, the T-50 has been in development since 2009 with an expected introduction by 2018. This new reveal showcases a new prototype of the platform, dubbed the T-50-8, and shows the jet taxiing along a snowy runway.
The plane carries a rather large $50 million price tag, but Russia’s state-owned media has been extremely vocal about the plane’s superior capabilities, suggesting that it’s worth every penny. The T-50 has a ranger of nearly 3,500 miles and a top speed of around 1,500 miles per hour. The fighter’s cannon is also a much-talked-about feature, capable of a fire rate of 1,800 rounds per minute, which Russia claims is the “best such performance for this type of weapon around.”
America’s F-35 stealth fighter platform, which was just formally introduced in 2015 with the F-35B, carries a price of around $100 million per unit, and its stated specs are largely inferior to those Russia claims of the T-50. The plane is expected to enter full production next year, and Russia has already committed to buying “at least one squadron of the planes from the first batch.”
