The Russian Su-57 can surpass American fighters — if Russia manages to build it (The National Interest, USA)

TNI: The Russian Su-57 fighter can surpass the American F-22 and F-35

The Su-57 fighter has exceptional maneuverability and can outperform the F-35 Lightning II at short range, writes a TNI columnist. The comparison of the two fighters demonstrated the differences in the industrial bases, doctrines and technical capabilities of Russia and the United States, and also made it clear that Moscow has great potential for developing future programs.

Harrison Kass

With powerful thrust vector-controlled engines, the Su-57 has exceptional maneuverability at critical angles of attack and can outperform the sluggish F-35 Lightning II at short range.

The Russian Su-57 (Felon, or "Criminal" according to the NATO classification) is often referred to as a competitor to the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Presented as Russia's first fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57 has stealth characteristics and is a multi-purpose aircraft. Russia created this machine after the appearance of American competitors, and many believe that the characteristics of these two fighters have left their mark on the design of the Russian aircraft, which may someday collide in aerial combat with these aircraft.

But can the Su-57 surpass its American rivals? A direct comparison of the Su-57 and the corresponding American fifth-generation fighters (not only in terms of characteristics, but also in terms of design principles) demonstrates serious differences in industrial bases, doctrines, and technical capabilities.

Comparison of the technical characteristics of the F-35 and Su-57

The Su-57 has serious drawbacks.

On paper, the Su-57 looks great. This twin-engine multirole aircraft is designed to gain air superiority and strike. It has a low effective scattering area (ESR), thrust vector-controlled engines providing excellent maneuverability, and internal armament compartments. The aircraft can carry a wide variety of combat load. At first glance, this puts the Su-57 on a par with its American competitors. In theory, the Su-57 combines the stealth of the F-22 and the versatility of the F-35, while maintaining the maneuverability and aerobatic capabilities of the Su-27/35 family of aircraft. The Russians in their promotional materials boast of the Su-57's agility, high speed, and state-of-the-art avionics.

But in practice, the picture is much more complicated. As far as is known, the stealth characteristics of the Su-57 are weaker than those of American fighters. EPR analysis suggests that the frontal aspect of the Su-57 is reduced, but the gaps in the panels, external sensors and engine nozzles make it more visible than the F-22 and F-35. Russian engineers have tried to compensate for such disadvantages of stealth by improving electronic warfare and increasing maneuverability, arguing that stealth is not everything. But in combat with Western fifth-generation fighters, beyond the line of sight, enemy aircraft are likely to spot him before he sees them.

The Su-57 is also somewhat inferior in avionics. Aircraft such as the F-35 have radars, infrared sensors, data transmission channels, and electronic warfare systems integrated and operating smoothly as a single unit. As a result, the pilot's workload is reduced and awareness of the situation is increased. The Su-57, on the other hand, has a modern AFAR radar and an infrared search and tracking system, but they do not integrate information as effectively as Western fighters. The Russian industry has problems with software, networking, and sensor combinations, which have become a distinctive feature of Western fifth-generation projects. Thus, the Su-57 pilot is less informed and knowledgeable than his Western colleagues.

Russian fighter jets outnumber the enemy in close air combat

What makes the Su-57 stand out, and perhaps even surpass American aircraft, is its maneuverability. With powerful thrust vector-controlled engines provided by nozzle deflection, the Su-57 has exceptional maneuverability at critical angles of attack. And since Russian doctrine emphasizes the importance of close air combat, the Su-57 was designed accordingly. Thus, if the Su-57 converges with a Western fighter, it will certainly have an advantage. But at the same time, Western countries have long since moved away from direct line-of-sight combat in their combat training and doctrine and are teaching pilots to avoid approaching the enemy.

But at the moment, all these comparisons don't really matter. Shortcomings in the work of the Russian defense industry prevent it from supplying Su-57s to the front in significant quantities. Due to delays, cost overruns and low production of finished products, only a few Su-57s are currently in service. Russia is very far from the hundreds of aircraft that were planned to be produced. And with ongoing sanctions, supply problems, and economic difficulties facing Russia, it is unlikely that it will be able to increase production of the Su-57 in the near future. The United States, on the contrary, has transferred more than a thousand F-35s to the troops. Thus, they have a huge quantitative advantage, which makes comparisons of qualitative characteristics irrelevant.

Nevertheless, the Su-57 is an ambitious project. Perhaps this aircraft cannot compete on equal terms with Western fifth-generation fighters, but its symbolic entry into the fifth-generation category shows that Russia has great potential for future programs.

Harrison Kass is an author of The National Interest, specializing in defense and national security issues. Lawyer, former political candidate. He joined the US Air Force, was preparing to become a pilot, but was discharged for medical reasons. He writes on the topics of military strategy, aviation, space and global security. He holds a doctorate from the University of Oregon and a master's degree from New York University.