This was posted to ausairpower net back in 1998 on how to make the i-44/42 stealthier.
A curious aspect of the various Russian reports are statements in which the aircraft is claimed to have RCS performance competitive with the F-22A. Even cursory analysis of the MFI design indicates that this cannot be the case. In particular the inlet and nose layout will be a major source of broadband wide angle RCS which the application of radar absorbers is unlikely to remedy. The beam aspect RCS will also be problematic, due to the vertical tails and keel surfaces, ventral wing stations and upper fuselage geometry. The absence of chining altogether on the nose will also contribute to beam and forward sector RCS.
The conclusion which can be drawn is that the MFI may outperform the Eurocanards for RCS performance if radar absorbent materials are used generously, the nose chined, the fuselage wing interface and spine blended, and internal weapons carried. It will never be competitive with the edge aligned, faceted, and chined F-22A design (or the chined and blended YF-23 ATF demonstrator).
1, The first picture is of the i-44 technology test aircraft.
2 The second picture is of the aircraft carrier fighter just shown in model form at MAKS it looks like mig had those particular RCS upgrades in mind already possibly for the i-42 production fighter from the 90's. Big question is do you think Mig would have stuck to the euro style air intake of the i-44? The new intakes look like they give more room for internal weapons bay. I see nose chines, better upper fuselage geometry, spine blending on the new design model .