俄羅斯中央空氣流體動力學院已經關注了前掠翼的發展很長時間，它的研究包括了Tsybin LL（前蘇聯第一種前掠翼飛機，時間遠在X-29之前，以火箭為動力）和虜獲的容克287轟炸機（Junkers Ju 287，納粹德國的前掠翼噴氣轟炸機，世界上第一種用於實戰的前掠翼飛機）。前掠翼提供了低波阻，減少了彎矩，而且和常規機翼比起來，它延遲了失速時間。不幸的是，前掠翼會產生很大的扭力，如果機翼是用常規材料製成，它很可能被撕裂。最近研發的複合材料才使前掠翼佈局成為可能。
The all-moving and small-area trapezoidal canards are connected to the leading-edge root extensions.
The downside of this wing design is that it produces strong rotational forces that try to twist the wings off, especially at high speeds. This twisting necessitates the use of a large amount of composites in order to increase the strength of the wing. Despite this, the plane was initially limited to Mach 1.6. Modifications have raised this limit, but the new limit has not been specified.
The pilot uses a side-mounted, low-travel control stick and a tensiometric throttle control.
特點:
一般規格
機組人員:
長度: 22.6 m (74 ft 2 in)
翼展: 15.16 m to 16.7 m (49 ft 9 in to 54 ft 9 in)
高度: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
空重: 24,000 kg (52,900 lb)
最大起飛重量: 34,000 kg (75,000 lb)
Thrust vectoring: -20° to +20° at 30° per second in pitch and yaw
性能:
最大速度: Mach 2.1
Sea level: Mach 1.1 (1,400 km/h, 870 mph)
Normal operating altitude: Mach 2 (2,500 km/h, 1,550 mph)
航距: 3,300 km (2,050 mi)
實用升限: 18,000 m (59,050 ft)
爬升速度: 230 m/s (45,300 ft/min)
翼負載: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
武器裝備:
航炮: 1× 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds
導彈: 14 hardpoints (2 翼尖, 6-8 翼下, 4-6 conformal under the fuselage)
空對空: R-77, R-77PD, R-73, K-74
空對地: X-29T, X-29L, X-59M, X-31P, X-31A, KAB-500, KAB-1500
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