Aircraft MiG-1.42 "Raptor Killer"
Type Multifunctional Frontline Fighter
Similar Aircraft F-22, F-117, F-15, MiG-31, S-37, Mig-25,
Su-27
User Countries Russia
Max. speed Unknown
Range Unknown
Crew 1
Armament Unknown
Mikoyan article 1.42 also known as MFI (Mnogofunktsionalny Frontovoi Istrebitel - Multifunctional Frontline Fighter), and sometimes referred to in the
West as "ATFski" is a low-observable (LO) multirole fighter. The primary mission of the 1.42 is air-superiority as the primary mission, which makes
1.42 a direct Russian equivalent of the USAF F-22. The chief designer of MiG MAPO Mr. Belosvet stated that 1.42 would have a greater range than the
F-22 and would be more versatile. While F-22 primary task is achievement of the air superiority, the 1.42 will be as capable in strike mission as in
air combat. The 1.42, like the F-22, can carry weapons both internally and externally, will be capable of supercruise and powered by trust-vectored
control (TVC) engines.
One of the intermediate studies. Photograph depicts a model used in 100 meter magnetic take off strip experiments carried out jointly by MiG and
Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI). Note the inward canted fins, intake position and a wing reminiscent of F-15. One can clearly
see a basic Have Blue (F-117 prototype) layout which was significantly refined aerodynamically.
-Tekhnika Molodezhi, 1994, vol. 1, p. 15.
The Roots
In early 1980s the Soviet Design bureaus were to start development of replacements for the forth-generation MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker, capable
of challenging the future Advanced Tactical Fighter (AFT) planned as a successor of F-15 Eagle. Analysis of the scarce ATF data provided a set of
requirements for the Soviet
fifth-generation air-superiority fighter, materializing in MFI. The Mikoyan's entry, designated Istrebitel'90 (Fighter 90), was built around the
Soviet projections of ATF advances. After selection of the Mikoyan project over competing Sukhoi (very little known about Sukhoi's MFI), the MFI was
reshaped and assigned new index --
1.42. The first blow came with a cancellation of the related Project 7.01 (Project 701) in mid 1980s, a heavier and stealthier interceptor designed
along similar lines and intended as a replacement of MiG-31 and MiG-31M. The 7.01 was to become vPVO (Soviet air defence forces) new interceptor,
taking vPVO to new qualitative level the very same way as 1.42 was to change VVS (Soviet Air Force) potential. It is speculated that both 1.42 and
7.01 had similar origins, owning much to a MiG-31 Foxhound based canard-delta platform. Due to the lack of the performance required by VVS for its
fourth-generation fighter, this heavy twin-engined MiG-31 based project lost to Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker.Another early iterations of Mikoyan 1.42 and
7.01. MiG-25 influence is clearly seen in this wind tunnel scale model.
On again, Off again...
Although its schedule has apparently been slowed by shortage of funds as well as technical problems, the first airframe is reported to be already
complete, but problems with the engines have delayed the first flight. The 1.42 is one of the few Mikoyan projects which survived the multiple waves
of defence budget cuts from the Kremlin, up until late spring of 1997 when it was announced that the funding for the unspecified fighter program is
officially terminated. Many analysts suggested that this unspecified fighter program is Mikoyan's Project 1.42. However, at Le Bourge 97 MAPO MIG
officials made it clear that the project is far from being dead and it proceeds at affordable pace funded by MAPO. In a separate event another MAPO
official announced that the 1.42 (the fligh-test airframe(s) is often referred to as the 1.44) made its maiden flight at Zhukovsky and the aircraft
might be revealed to public at upcoming Moscow Aerospace in two month (MAKS 97) pending on the decision of the Genshtab. This news was quickly picked
by western aviation magazines and by the late summer 1997 it was believed that 1.42 (1.44) logged about 100 flight hours. However, several alternative
sources suggested that 1.44 never left its hanger at Zhukovsky where two prototypes are stored other than for the high speed taxi tests. Its
appearence at MAKS 97 as well as two years earlier at MAKS 95 failed to materialize, although it is known that the aircraft was shown to the
government officials on both occasions. According to some sources MAPO MIG printed a brochure about new fighter, to be distributed at MAKS 97, but
last moment changes kept both fighter
and fliers from daylight. It is anticipated that first flight of the rival Sukhoi S-37 will accelerate "declassification" of the 1.42. The 1.42
remains under the veil of secrecy but expected to made its first flight by the end of the 1997 piloted by Roman Taskayev. MAPO stated that the project
will became advanced technology demonstrator and testbed for further MAPO MIG project such as LFI (Legkii Frontovoij Istrebitel'). The T-203
low-speed wind tunnel located at Siberian Research Institute of Aviation (SibNIA). All-black scale model mounted in the working section of the tunnel
is a twin fin, delta winged aircraft. Note that fins are positioned atop of the twin booms.
-Aviastroenie Rossii,
The Canard Delta
The origins of the 1.42 aerodynamic configuration can be traced back to November 1945, when Mikoyan test pilot Grinchik took in the air ungainly
looking MiG-8 Utka (Duck, Canard). First flown just half year after the end of the war, MiG-8 was build to tests the canard-swept wing combination as
a potential future fighter configuration. Although build by a team of students with little or no interference from OKB MiG, Utka provided Mikoyan with
low-speed data of unusual layout. In spite of the success of the winged delta MiG-21 Fishbed, which proved to be an exceptional platform for the
second-generation Mach 2.0+ fighter, Mikoyan continued tests of destabilizing canard (Ye-6T/3, Ye-8, Ye-152M) and pure delta (MiG-21I Analog)
configurations. Another wind tunnel, another scale model. Although it has no connection with 1.42, the model displays some rudimentary stealth
features. Note that forward fuselage is triangular in crossection. TsAGI. By the start of the MFI project in 1983, Belyakov had sufficient data on
canard-delta aerodynamics. The intelligence sources suggesting that European new-generation fighters had a close coupled canard-delta layout,
triggered intense studies of the layout in wind tunnels of Central Aero- Hydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI). The aerodynamic benefits of unstable
canard-delta, its shear volume available for fuel and internal weapon storage, proved to be decisive in the choice of the 1.42 configuration. The
1.42's twin fins positioned at delta's trailing edge added to battle damage resistance and control of the aircraft at high angles of attack (AOA).
Western sources published number of ever evolving artists' impressions of the 1.42 which can be sorted in two groups. The first shows an aircraft
with two engines with vectored-thrust nozzles, inward-canted twin tails, slightly downturned wingtips, Rafale-like rounded intakes, and possibly
foreplanes. The second group describes a more conventionally looking delta-winged twin-engined aircraft with outward-canted twin tails and MiG-29
style intakes. Some of the impressions show the elements of the low observable technology - flattened front fuselage and nozzle shape. The impressions
evolved with the 1.42. Note the change of the 2D nozzle of original Al-41F (right) to 3D (left panel). Flight International. Another clue to a
possible appearence of the 1.42 was published in
the Flight International and Air Fleet Herald. The photograph taken at Fulkovo test range shows the mockup of the front end of the fighter aircraft
mounted on the high speed cart used in the ejection seat tests. From the picture it is clear that the fighter's forward fuselage is a triangular in
crossection with large sets of the canards behind the
cockpit line. No indication of the developed leading edge extension similar in appearence to that of the MiG-29 or Su-27 can be found.While it is
tempting to link this mockup to 1.42, Moscow sources indicate that it has little or no relevance at all. The forward section may also be one of the
evolutionary steps with eventually led to the
1.42. Nevertheless, all post-Fulkovo artist impressions of 1.42 show an aircraft with triangular cross section of the forward fuselage. Forward
section used in high speed ejection seat separation tests.
-Air FleetHerald
The Powerplant
Saturn-Lyulka was to develop an engine for the new fighter. This task turned out to be very demanding and Al-41F development experienced number
of the setback stalling the whole 1.42 program. The new engine had a higher combustion chamber temperature -- 250 degrees than that of Su-27
Flanker's Al-31F -- which provided
an outstanding performance. Although the original plans called for a 2D F-22 style trust-vectoring nozzles, the recent reports suggested that Al-41F
TVC was similar to Al-37FU powering the superagile Su-37. The secrecy and controversy surrounded 1.42 and its engines produced many speculations
about 1.42 TVC. The fuzziest comment was given in 1995 by RIA: "specially arranged nozzles to enable it [1.42] to hover over a target for pinpoint
strike accuracy." First officially released sketch of 1.42.
A Word from Inside
In the 1995, Alexander Velovich whose former position at Mikoyan OKB was "avionics engineer" (Ben Lambeth words) posted the message quoted below to
one of the military aviation newsgroups. After leaving MiG, Alexander used his English skills and industry connections and became a well known for his
articles in western and russian periodicals.
In March this year I talked with MAPO MIG general director Vladimir Kuzmin, asking him about the reasons
of delays of the programme. He said: "Not everything depends on us, much depends on Russia's ministry of
defence. If all problems with the ministry of defence would have been solved, I believe everything depends
on us, much depends on Russia's ministry of defence. If all problems with the ministry of defence would have
been solved, I believe we could take the MFI into the air in about six months". The MFI (object 1.42) stands in
Russian for Mnogofunktsionalny Frontovoi Istrebitel (Multifunctional Frontline Fighter).
One of the generals of the RusAF headquarters confirmed that there is no money to continue the
programme. For me it is absolutely obvious that even if the technology demonstrator called 1-44 and sitting in
a hangar at Zhukovsky would fly some day, and I have strong doubts even about that, Russia cannot afford a
30+ ton new generation combat jet with its current defence budget, it is extremely unlikely that the situation would change in the coming 10-15 years
regardless of any possible changes in political leadership, and there is no hope that this programme would ever reach squadron service.
The best the RusAF could get in the foreseeable future are modifications of the current Sukhoi Su-25s and
Su-27s, i.e. Su-39, Su-34 and Su-35, and MAPO
MiG-29M. And even these modernization programmes
have BIG question marks on them.
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No,
But at least i do know about all there is to know about this aircraft..
And also there are so many topics about this.. or what have talked about this..
That i think people are kinda tired of talking about these..
But it is a great plane..
And your post seems like OK.
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This is a good find. The MIG 1.42 seems so strange in many ways. My biggest question is why is there a decimal in the number?
Tim
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I'm assuming here, or am I, that this is the same aircraft also classified as MFI-1.44/42?
I am quite baffled by the "not normal" comment by Fulcrum/John.... 
The aircraft is a beautiful one. Awesome maneuverability, agile, layout, stealth capabilities....problem is: It was (as in past tense) planned
to be a Raptor killer......
I mean, it's just like what they say in the movie "Jurassic Park":
It goes something like this..
"They (Raptors) hunt in packs, one raptor will openly stalk you while the others wait in the distance to ambush you." 
Then "reality" sets in also.........
1) The MFI?MiG-1.44/42 was SCRAPPED. The MFI had a projected cost of $70 million dollars in Russia. 2-3 times as much as current fourth
generation fighters.
2) The Russian's have opted for the S-37 Berkut and have now dubbed it the Su-47 (from what I have gathered), and which is what was once known as the
S-32. It is Russia's forward swept wing supermaneuverable fighter (the Mig-1.44's main competition), we've all probably seen the pictures of it.
The designation seems to have changed to S-37 between the first and second information releases about it. The first article, in an Itar-Tass report,
mentioned the tests of the S-32. Just over two weeks later two newspapers released more information including a picture of the S-32, which was
reffered to as the S-37 Berkut. I dont know what caused the change in reported designation though.
One of the first articles:
"Flight Tests of 5th Generation Fighter Continue at Zhukovsky"
Link:
www.geocities.com...
One of the second articles:
"Report: new Russian stealth fighter mired in controversy"
Link:
www.geocities.com...
3) The two prototypes flew, and flew well, but it did not find any customers so it never saw the light of the day. But it was and is an actual
aircraft.
4) It's power plant consists of two Lyul'ka AL-41F turbojets each rated at approx. 39,950 lb st. (175.0 kN) with afterburning.
Performance? Maximum speed Mach 2.6 at altitude; maximum 'super cruise' capablity in region of Mach 1.6-1.8
Service ceiling of 65,620 ft.
Range: 2,796 miles.
The "sucker," if I may use the term, can, or maybe I should say COULD boogy at a speed of Mach 2.6.
5) Aerobatics wise, anyone can make an aerobatic airframe. It's not all that difficult. The Russians slapped TV Nozzles on an Su-27 'can' and
called it the Su-37.
We, the US, slapped some canards and TV nozzles on the F-15 'can' and called it the F-15 ACTIVE.
6) Of question here...in case someone mentions "this": Those Russian/Klingon active stealth plasma generators (you know, the "bolt-on"
type).......won't they be able to use the passive mode guide to jammer feature that some air to air missiles have to launch on them? They would be
emitting electromagnetic energy, wouldn't they? In other words, would not the RCS of the aircraft suffer? 
In conclusion, this aircraft may have been a projected "Raptor-killer," but who really will know?
regards
seekerof
[Edited on 6-10-2003 by Seekerof]
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you now that countries scrape project but they use the technology they gained to build a new Plane.
maybe there is something new on the table we dont know about. 
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MiG-MFI:
www.migalley.freeweb-hosting.org...
The plane's design began in the late 1980s to counter the development of the most advanced U.S. fighter, the F-22 Raptor. But the government cash
shortage that followed the Soviet collapse has thwarted its development and its maiden flight has been repeatedly postponed.An experimental MiG
fighter jet, conceived as a response to U.S. warplane developments, carried out its maiden flight on 03-01-2000 but its designer said that the plane
would never enter production. The aircraft, known as Project 1.44 or the MFI; the Russian acronym for the "multi-functional fighter'' took off from
the Zhukovsky air base near Moscow and flew for 18 minutes. Test pilot climbed to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) and flew two circles over the
airfield at a speed of 500-600 kilometers per hour (310-370 mph) before landing. Chief designer for the MiG corporation, said that there are no
production plans for the new plane. He argued that its tests would allow to check some design features for future projects.
external image
external image
external image
Technology Testbed aircraft.
Like US "Have Blue" or "Tacit Blue"..
*note*
Had to edit because no-show images..
[Edited on 6-10-2003 by FULCRUM]
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I kinda figured so Fulcrum/John.....
Be nice to see those pictures buddy......
BTW.....since this was a project designed as a "testbed" of sorts (as some are speculating and claiming here).......why the nominclature of
"Raptor-killer"?
Sounds like the Russian's ran into major issues, including financial and ceased the project or, at best, put it on hold....save the "something new
on the table" for someone who is not wise enough to discern a potato from an onion.......I "read" and "hear" otherwise.....
regards
seekerof
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Seeker,
It is all propaganda..
(But i really think that this was only a tech project..)
And really think that the name 'Raptor-killer' isnt anything official..
Btw, do those pics work now?
i hope..
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Yes....very sharp...superb.
I almost hate to degrade this beautiful RUssian aircraft but she looks like a EF-2000......
What you think?
regards
seekerof
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hmmmm... just curious... does it have a NATO code name?
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 Originally posted by solomon6777
hmmmm... just curious... does it have a NATO code name? 
there is no code name for this from NATO
this is all Nato code names for Russian planes:
Antonov
An-2/3 = "Colt"
An-8 = "Camp"
An-10 = "Cat"
An-12 = "Cub"
An-14 = "Clod"
An-22 = "Cock"
An-24 = "Coke"
An-26 = "Curl"
An-28 = "Cash"
An-30 = "Clank"
An-32 = "Cline"
An-72/74 = "Coaler"
An-74AEW = "Madcap"
An-124 = "Condor"
An-225 = "Cossack"
Beriev
Be-2 = "Mote"
Be-6 = "Madge"
Be-8 = "Mole"
Be-10 = "Mallow"
Be-12 = "Mail"
Be-30 = "Cuff"
Be-40/42/44 = "Mermaid"
Chetverikov
Che-2 = "Mug"
Ilyushin
Il-2 = "Bark"
Il-4 = "Bob"
Il-10 = "Beast"
Il-12 = "Coach"
Il-14 = "Crate"
Il-18/20/22 = "Coot"
Il-28 = "Beagle"
Il-28U = "Mascot"
Il-38 = "May"
Il-40 = "Brawny"
Il-54 = "Blowlamp"
Il-62 = "Classic"
Il-76 = "Candid"
Il-78 = "Midas"
Il-86 = "Camber"
Ilyushin/Beriev
A-50 = "Mainstay"
Kamov
Ka-10 = "Hat"
Ka-15 = "Hen"
Ka-18 = "Hog"
Ka-20 = "Harp"
Ka-22 = "Hoop"
Ka-25 = "Hormone"
Ka-26/126/128/226 = "Hoodlum"
Ka-27/28/29/32 = "Helix"
Ka-50 = "Hokum"
Lavochkin
La-7 = "Fin"
La-9 = "Fritz"
La-11 = "Fang"
La-15 = "Fantail"
Lisunov
Li-2 = "Cab"
Mikoyan-Gurevich
MiG-9 = "Fargo"
MiG-15 = "Fagot"
MiG-15U = "Midget"
MiG-17 = "Fresco"
MiG-19 = "Farmer"
MiG-21 = "Fishbed"
MiG-21U = "Mongol"
MiG-23/27 = "Flogger"
MiG-23-01 = "Faithless"
MiG-25 = "Foxbat"
MiG-29/30/33 = "Fulcrum"
MiG-31 = "Foxhound"
Ye-2A = "Faceplate"
Ye-152A = "Flipper"
Mil
Mi-1 = "Hare"
Mi-2 = "Hoplite"
Mi-4 = "Hound"
Mi-6/22 = "Hook"
Mi-8/9/17/171 = "Hip"
Mi-10 = "Harke"
Mi-12 = "Homer"
Mi-14 = "Haze"
Mi-24/25/35 = "Hind"
Mi-26 = "Halo"
Mi-28 = "Havoc"
Mi-34 = "Hermit"
Myasishchyev
M-3/4 = "Bison"
M-17/55 = "Mystic"
M-50/52 = "Bounder"
Petlyakov
Pe-2 = "Buck"
Polikarpov
Po-2 = "Mule"
Sukhoi
Su-7/17/20/22 = "Fitter"
Su-7U = "Moujik"
Su-9/11 = "Fishpot"
Su-11U = "Maiden"
Su-15 = "Flagon"
Su-24 = "Fencer"
Su-25/28 = "Frogfoot"
Su-27/30/33/34/35 = "Flanker"
Tupolev
Tu-2/6 = "Bat"
Tu-4/80 = "Bull"
Tu-10 = "Frosty"
Tu-14/89 = "Bosun"
Tu-16 = "Badger"
Tu-20/95/142 = "Bear"
Tu-22 = "Blinder"
Tu-22M = "Backfire"
Tu-70 = "Cart"
Tu-82 = "Butcher"
Tu-85 = "Barge"
Tu-91 = "Boot"
Tu-98 = "Backfin"
Tu-104 = "Camel"
Tu-110 = "Cooker"
Tu-114 = "Cleat"
Tu-124 = "Cookpot"
Tu-126 = "Moss"
Tu-128 = "Fiddler"
Tu-134 = "Crusty"
Tu-144 = "Charger"
Tu-154 = "Careless"
Tu-160 = "Blackjack"
Yakovlev
Yak-6/8 = "Crib"
Yak-7U = "Mark"
Yak-9 = "Frank"
Yak-10 = "Crow"
Yak-11 = "Moose"
Yak-12 = "Creek"
Yak-14 = "Mare"
Yak-15/17 = "Feather"
Yak-16 = "Cork"
Yak-17U = "Magnet"
Yak-18 = "Max"
Yak-23 = "Flora"
Yak-24 = "Horse"
Yak-25/27 = "Flashlight"
Yak-25RV = "Mandrake"
Yak-27R = "Mangrove"
Yak-28 = "Brewer"
Yak-28P = "Firebar"
Yak-28U = "Maestro"
Yak-30 = "Magnum"
Yak-32 = "Mantis"
Yak-36 = "Freehand"
Yak-38 = "Forger"
Yak-40 = "Codling"
Yak-41/141 = "Freestyle"
Yak-42 = "Clobber"
\
Links to code names
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cool... thx 4 info
mayb "Super Flanker"??? i heard about it somewhere...
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Raptor killer? I'd love to see a raptor and this MiG duke it out.
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