Su-47 Berkut

The Su-47 Berkut (Russian: Су-47 Беркут, or Firkin; English: Golden Eagle) is an experimental forward-swept wing fighter aircraft built for testing purposes. Only four examples currently exist. In mid-2014, the Head of the Russian Air Force said that Russia is still developing the Berkut and its more than likely it will enter service in the future.

History
The Su-47 Berkut is the pinnacle of forward-swept wing fighter technology. With a top speed close to Mach 2 and possessing a degree of maneuverability that makes similar aircraft seem sluggish by comparison, the Berkut would be the undisputed master in a one-on-one dogfight. Small canards and short elevators compliment its distinct outline and aid in making tight turns.

Conception
In the decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the most powerful Communist regime in the world at that time, events in the former Soviet bloc were rapidly spiraling downward. Economic ruin had left the Russian military years behind in technological advancement while the rest of the world surged ahead. Their most advanced military hardware was tied up in the aging T72 main battle tank, Mi-24 Hind assault transport helicopter and MiG-29A Fulcrum fighter aircraft, which couldn't compete with comparable combat vehicles, such as the British Challenger tank, the American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the Eurofighter Typhoon. To maintain its place on the world stage, the Russian government had to make radical cultural and ideological changes.

Once that was completed, work was begun on new military vehicles for sale on the the global market. Vehicles like the T80, Mi-28 Havoc and Ka-50 Black Shark were among the new additions for both domestic and foreign use. In the realm of fighter aircraft, the MiG-29 was still the key player, but was slowly being replaced by newer fighters like the Sukhoi line of aircraft, which included a revolutionary design called the Su-37. The aircraft utilized a three-surface design: Small canards, forward-swept main wings and cut-down elevators are arranged symetrically on each side increase the overall area of airflow controlled, giving the aircraft a degree of maneuverability unequaled by any other fighter aircraft.

Game analysis
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies=

"Unique forward-swept wings and canards provide unmatched turning ability. It also has some Stealth ability."

- Hangar description


 * AVAILABILITY
 * Complete "Siege of Farbanti". Costs $889,000.


 * STATISTICS
 * Speed: High
 * Air-to-Air: Maximum
 * Air-to-Ground: Medium-Low
 * Mobility: High
 * Stability: Medium-High
 * Defense: High


 * WEAPONS
 * GUN x900
 * MSSL x78
 * Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile x10
 * Unguided Bomb (Large) x18


 * COLORS
 * Color 1: Gray body.
 * Color 2: Bicolor desert camouflage.
 * Color 3: White camouflage body. Costs $1,560,000.

Gallery

Trivia

 * The Ace Combat 04 rendition of the Berkut is notable for being a transitional model. It has slightly different proportions and has several innacuraccies. Its overall appearance is a synthesis of the earlier Su-43 (from Ace Combat 3) and the real world Su-47. This is due to the fact that the real aircraft had very few references at the time. This discrepancy was remedied later in Ace Combat 5, where a more accurate model is used.
 * Despite being only a demonstrator in real life, it's been one of the most widely used enemy aircraft in the Ace Combat series from Shattered Skies to the Belkan War.
 * Surprisingly, there is not one Su-47 seen in the campaign missions of Assault Horizon, probably due to the game's real world setting and the fact that only four of them currently exist. This raises some questions as to how Task Force 108 was able to gain one for their arsenal and managed to get it combat worthy.
 * Using the Quick Turn skill with this aircraft results in ridiculously high maneuverability, which can be both a blessing and a curse. At best, it can allow players to get out of an enemy's sights and launch their own attack; at worst, it can disorient players to the point they can't tell ground from sky until it's too late. It comes at the cost of stability, however; the Berkut has trouble slowing down to countermaneuver speed without stalling. But even without this skill, it has the highest mobility of all available aircraft.
 * In Assault Horizon, during the briefing of the mission, Motherland, several photos of Ace Combat 6's Su-47 are on the walls.