Is Russia working on a crazy supersonic cargo plane?

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March 24, 2015 </span> <a class="picture-count" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures"> 8 Pictures </a> </div> </div> <div class="inline-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/pakta.JPG" data-at2x="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/pakta@2x.JPG" alt="The heavy transport craft concept, dubbed the PAK TA, could fly at supersonic speeds of up to 2,000 km/h (Image: Aleksey Komarov)" class="hero-img"/> </a> <div class="caption caption--hero"> <p> The heavy transport craft concept, dubbed the PAK TA, could fly at supersonic speeds of up to 2,000 km/h (Image: Aleksey Komarov) </p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures" class="gallery-link">Image Gallery</a> (8 images) </div> </div> <div class="article-body"> <p>A state-run Russian news site is reporting that the country has ambitions to build a huge, supersonic cargo plane capable of transporting tanks to the field in a matter of hours. While there's plenty of reason to be skeptical that transporting such heavy loads at high speeds is even feasible, let alone realistic, Russia's military is reportedly giving itself roughly the next decade to figure it out.</p> <ul class="thumbnails"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures#1"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/pakta-0.JPG" title="The PAK TA is reportedly Russia's new super cargo transport project (Image: Aleksey Komarov)" alt="The PAK TA is reportedly Russia's new super cargo transport project (Image: Aleksey Komarov)"/> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures#2"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/pakta-1.JPG" title="Sources claim the PAK TA could reach 2,000 km/h (Image: Aleksey Komarov)" alt="Sources claim the PAK TA could reach 2,000 km/h (Image: Aleksey Komarov)"/> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures#3"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/pakta-2.JPG" title="Some 80 of the craft may be built by 2024 (Image: Aleksey Komarov)" alt="Some 80 of the craft may be built by 2024 (Image: Aleksey Komarov)"/> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures#4"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/pakta-4.JPG" title="The craft may have a 7,000 km range (Image: Aleksey Komarov)" alt="The craft may have a 7,000 km range (Image: Aleksey Komarov)"/> </a> </li> </ul> <p>Russia's RT reports that the heavy transport craft, dubbed the PAK TA (Perspective Airborne Complex of Transport Aviation), could fly at supersonic speeds of up to 2,000 km/h (1,243 mph), carry up to 200 tons (181 tonnes) and have a range of 7,000 km (4,350 mi). The program could call for the construction of a fleet of 80 of the new craft to be built by 2024, giving the Russian military the capability to deliver 400 Armata heavy tanks or 900 more lightly armored vehicles to a battlefield in quick fashion.</p> <p>The specs are sourced to an apparent anonymous leaker who claims to have attended a closed-door meeting with Russian military leaders and passed on details to the Russian language site, Expert Online.</p> <p>According to the website Russian Aviation, Ilyushin Aviation Complex – an aircraft engineering outfit dating back to the early years of the Soviet Union – is handling the project. CEO Viktor Livanov is quoted as saying "Today it is just a project that may be implemented by 2030." He added that the exact specifications are still subject to negotiations and that the Russian Ministry of Defense is just one of several potential customers.</p> <p>Whatever the real status of the PAK TA is at the moment and whatever their reasons, someone certainly seems to want the wider world to know that such an ambitious concept is being discussed.</p> <p><div class="inline-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/pictures#6" target="_blank"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516im_/http://images.gizmag.com/inline/pakta-5.JPG" alt=""> </a> </div> </p> <p>Among the reasons for skepticism is the fact that the purported specs involve more than doubling the speed of most military transport craft up to this point in history, and doing so while carrying an unprecedented payload – save perhaps for another Russian giant, the Antonov An-225, that once carried a 250-ton (227-tonne) load.</p> <p>Presumably, the costs of design, construction and fuel for such a craft would also be pretty ridiculous at a time when Russia's economy is getting hammered. But it's never wise to totally rain on a propaganda parade. Anything is possible, even if not very practical.</p> <p>The concept video below, from Aleksey Komarov, Customer and Technical Manager at the Volga-Dnepr Group, shows what the future of heavy transport could look like.</p> <p>Sources: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://rt.com/news/242097-pak-ta-russian-army/" target="_blank">RT</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://expert.ru/2015/03/18/transportnik/" target="_blank">Expert Online</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2014/3/20/2237/" target="_blank">Russian Aviation</a></p><div class="inline-item js-article-video"> <iframe src="//web.archive.org/web/20150705015516if_/http://player.vimeo.com/video/103542677" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--horizontal share-bar"> <li> <div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false" data-share="true"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> _ga.trackFacebook(); </script> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/">Tweet</a> </li> <li> <div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/"></div> </li> <li> <iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A//www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1" name="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1"></iframe> </li> <li> <div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/pakta.JPG" data-description="A state-run Russian news site is reporting that the country has ambitions to build a huge, supersonic cargo plane capable of transporting tanks around the world in a matter of hours. Russia's military is giving itself roughly the next decade to figure it out. 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As well as being a Gizmag regular, he currently contributes to CNET, NPR and other outlets.</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/author/eric-mack/"> All articles by Eric Mack </a> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <p class="h2 title-standout">Tags</span> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--horizontal article-tags"> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/supersonic/" rel="tag">Supersonic</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/russia/" rel="tag">Russia</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/transport/" rel="tag">Transport</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/aviation/" rel="tag">Aviation</a></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <p class="h2 title-standout">25 Comments</p> <ul class="list-ui list-ui--vertical word-wrap"> <li> <p>the wings, fuselage and inlets would make supersonic flight impossible. </p> <p>Why would you spend so much developing this when a cargo 777 or 747 will do the job perfectly well?</p> <p>Why do the trailing edges near the root have a stealth profile? This is pointless given the aircraft's role and the fact that the rest of the plane is clearly not going to have any other stealth qualities. There is no aerodynamic advantage (subsonic or supersonic) to these profiles.</p> <p>Also, with such a long tail, low ground clearance and thin wings, it will struggle to rotate without contacting the tail on the runway. </p> <p>The inlets either side of the fuselage are enormous, and would cause huge drag, making high subsonic flight difficult, let alone supersonic</p> <p>the fuselage itself is far too fat and short for supersonic flight, and shows no evidence of area ruling. </p> <span class="strong">mommus</span> </li> <li> <p>There may be a Russian effort to build a supersonic cargo plane, but the attractive graphics show a design that couldn't possibly fly above mach 1. The shape of the airframe and the propulsion system might get it to transonic speeds. Rather than a serious aeronautical design, it is more likely a fanciful offering to capture the imagination in the same manner that concept car graphics are are produced in design studios. </p> <span class="strong">Nostromo47</span> </li> <li> <p>Has someone been watching old Thunderbirds episodes? Didn't they see the strings?</p> <span class="strong">TarnimLeDren</span> </li> <li> <p>Shenanigans! </p> <span class="strong">David Finney</span> </li> <li> <p>The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.</p> <p>The video looks like graduate project of some talented 3D-art student ("diplom" mean "graduate project" in Russian). Nothing is possible here. Russia has no long runways for such monsters. The only long enough runway there is a 4500 meters long "Site 251," built for project Buran, but it located in Kazakhstan. Also, I doubt this wings will survive breaking sonic barrier. The plane chassis also does not looks capable for 200 tonnes load.</p> <p>Remembering the Russia Today channel is only a tool of the anti-American propaganda, this news is only a fruit of the inflamed imagination.</p> <span class="strong">blueskydreamer</span> </li> <li> <p>Well in the western world these kinds of shenanigans are called start-up companies, showing shiny renderings to hunt for investors. When Boeing releases sketches like this, people marvel at them. And they have in the past, both Boeing and Airbus. Engineers like to dream. Let 'em!</p> <p>Russia has awesome aviation and space engineers, but Poo-tin has to raise flags in parts of the world where he shouldn't and does not give a crap about his own people, and their potential. I feel their pain.</p> <span class="strong">BeWalt</span> </li> <li> <p>I think you commentators are in a large part correct with your opinions but I also know Russia has a lot of experience in making very large aircraft and very fast aircraft. They have developed such aircraft countless times before and at least 1 is still flying today. The largest cargo plane in the world. I am no Russia/Putin fan either but Russia has proven many times that they have at least the courage to try outrageous ideas and sometimes they succeed. I believe in Russia it is less about economics or feasibility, in Russia they just build it and if it crashes, they build another one and only after so many crashes they stop the project and conclude it cannot be done. This is oversimplified but basically how Russians design and develop aircraft and spacecraft. </p> <span class="strong">esthero</span> </li> <li> <p>If you question the Russians ability to develop radical aircraft, perhaps you should youtube "Caspian Sea Monster"........</p> <span class="strong">JPAR</span> </li> <li> <p>Russia has a long history in aviation and space travel. I have little doubt of their capabilities. Their practical nature also means that they can build at a fraction of the cost of what Boeing and others can. </p> <p>Even if it is a "fruit of an inflamed imagination", this is what makes the possible into reality. This is a cool-looking machine that has a stealthy air to its design. If there are few runways to deploy it in, then how does the Antonov-225 manage? Besides, it doesn't take that much to build extra-long runways.</p> <p>If any of you believe that Vladimir Putin doesn't care about the Russian people, you've been hoodwinked by American propaganda, and there's lots more of that.</p> <span class="strong">owlbeyou</span> </li> <li> <p>Not as far fetched as some people like to imagine. The supersonic speed is questionable but this design has similarities with one of my flying wing designs that was capable of operating in the transonic range.</p> <p>You would not have a problem with runway length at the base end; that's a purely civil engineering problem, you need it, you build it. The field delivery would pose problems, parachuting 100+ tonne loads doesn't appear sensible especially if it lands on your own forces.</p> <p>Hey ho, back to the drawing board!</p> <span class="strong">Stuart Wilshaw</span> </li> <li> <p>Doable Technology, but who's going to fund if. Can't see Vlad "The Mad" Putin, doing it. He rather Rob the Treasury, than Fund Anything...</p> <span class="strong">Michael Flower</span> </li> <li> <p>Any member of the russkaya mafiya will testify that Putin cares deeply about the Russian people, owlbeyou.</p> <span class="strong">the.other.will</span> </li> <li> <p>@JPAR</p> <p>The Caspian Sea Monster wasn't an "aircraft"- it was a ground effect vehicle, an "ekranoplan".</p> <p>It was never feasible for actual service.</p> <p>In many ways it was like Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose"- it came, it was seen and it was put aside.</p> <p>The difference was that the actual name of Hughes' craft was given to the most successful military cargo design ever produced- the C-130 "Hercules".</p> <span class="strong">Griffin</span> </li> <li> <p>Supersonic with one jet engine, and some electric fans. I don't think so.</p> <p>One anti-aircraft missile strike, and you would lose a helluva lot of tanks. I think there is a a lot of sabre rattling going on. Putin is acting like a megalomaniac.Or perhaps he is one.</p> <span class="strong">David Clarke</span> </li> <li> <p>This is never going to be built, I guarantee it. Russia still has some good aircraft engineers, but I don't think they can build this. Economically/financially they are pretty beat up with the cheap oil. Show me their air force, you will find that is has aged a lot, show me their space program, and you will see that same crafts they were launch decades ago, the same as today, with nothing revolutionary on the horizon. </p> <span class="strong">Derek Howe</span> </li> <li> <p>A design exercise in fantasy. Some interesting ideas but wouldn't get off the ground. One engine? Look at the size of those electric fans and then the area for "energy storage". They would run for about 10 seconds. The inlets are the wrong shape and size for supersonic flight and far too big. The wings have the wrong airfoil for supersonic flight. The clincher but that it isn't real is that you are seeing it.</p> <span class="strong">George Orwellian</span> </li> <li> <p>I think Russian engineers have been playing the game AIRMECH (formerly known as Herzog Zwei) a little too much.</p> <span class="strong">Jason Pase</span> </li> <li> <p>And so the good old "disinformatsia" restarts. It's a shame the Russians just can't break out of the old cold war mentality!!!!</p> <span class="strong">David Stansbury</span> </li> <li> <p>They can't be serious; the HUGE frontal area alone would prevent it from going supersonic. Just look at ANY supersonic aircraft and you'll see tiny frontal areas. And those long thin wings wouldn't work either. Do you see any supersonic aircraft with wings like that that don't sweep back in flight? Twin electric fans run by a single turbine? I doubt they could produce enough supersonic thrust at supersonic speeds to do any good at all.</p> <span class="strong">maaaks</span> </li> <li> <p>In the early 90s I saw a flight-demonstration of a confidential VSTOL areoplane at a mlitary air base south of Moscow wich looks very silimar to this PAK TA, but smaller, with very short and fat wings. Cut 70% off the PAK TA wings, then it looks nearly like that 90s Prototye of a russian blended wing aircraft with 2 huge turbofans IN the very thick, slot onblown wings for high upforce, so it needed less than 100 m for take off (Very Short Take Off and Landing). One Jet-engine on the back and it reached 2.2 Mach, was very stable against stalling, had very fast rolling times and could "hoover" very slow in the air! Very impressive! It looked fat and ugly, but was a fast and perfect dog fighter! This was 23 Years ago so I dont know what these very advanced and crazy russian engineers built since then, but a few years later the same russian engineers built the vectorized VTOL-System for the american Lockheed Martin X-35B, better known as F-35... so the russians i met have a lot experience to built crazy advanced planes, i think. </p> <span class="strong">Future3000</span> </li> <li> <p>Everything is impossible until it's done.</p> <span class="strong">Noel K Frothingham</span> </li> <li> <p>Hmmm, interesting concept - but the single motor bit is a no-no, as are non-variable intakes for supersonic airflow, as are "standard" wings as opposed to something more delta-form. Then there are those electric fans providing 'vectored thrust' - another noble notion but you'd need far smaller (variable), intakes - again - for Mach 1+, plus another (turbine), engine to drive each of 'em. Finally, though an airframe like these images could utilise ground-effect to get off the ground, in true Ekranoplan fashion, you're still going to need Much more power than even three main engines could currently proVide sub sonically. And did anyone mention the Landing Gear height? With gear that low to the ground, even the slightest crosswind is likely to lead to the loss of at least one wingtip... Good initial effort, but needs (much), more work...</p> <span class="strong">Nick Herbert</span> </li> <li> <p>Everybody hates a Flying wing or lifting body,but what would happen if its airflow characteristics get interrupted during supersonic flight?Would it disintergrate?Never underestimate the Russian engineers,that part of the world has produced some astounding genius.</p> <span class="strong">kmccune</span> </li> <li> <p>Surely if this was feasible why wouldn't the Russians target the international commercial market? If this was possible it would make every international airliner obselete overnight.</p> <span class="strong">Terence Munro</span> </li> <li> <p>From the earliest practical experiments with rockets, the high frontier has been perceived as a forum for advancing a wide variety of national goals. It was and in many cases still is a means for promoting patriotic fervor, enhancing prestige abroad, advancing technology, projecting force over great distances.</p> <p>The early pioneers of aviation most have presumed it would not have been possible to fly at the speed we have achieved today. The PAK TA might be a gravitas ambition, the feasibilities doubtable but there are possibilities of a breakthrough.</p> <p>To achieve supersonic speeds a futuristic aircraft such as PAK TA would obviously embed stealth, flexibility and velocity. A Low Aspect Ratio wing design, sweep wing design, low drag to lift ratio and most importantly an engine capable of workable extremes will maintaining high fuel efficiency. In all the aerodynamics of this aircraft would be all encompassing.</p> <p>I believe in possibilities, the frontiers of research a bountiful....</p> <span class="strong">Peter Ukorebi</span> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="page-section"> <a name="comment-form"></a> <p class="h2 title-standout">Post a Comment</p> <div data-article="36693"> <form class="login-form js-login-form" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150705015516/http://www.gizmag.com/login/" method="post"> <p class="strong">Login with your Gizmag account:</p> <p class="js-login-error"></p> <input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="IoPYHR0QYDabASwXuJBKT2JZ50zNOvio"/> <input type="hidden" name="next" value="/russia-supersonic-cargo-plane-pak-ta/36693/"> <tr><th><label for="id_email">Email:</label></th><td><input id="id_email" maxlength="254" name="email" type="email"/></td></tr> <tr><th><label for="id_password">Password:</label></th><td><input id="id_password" name="password" type="password"/></td></tr> 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Is Russia working on a crazy supersonic cargo plane?