MWM: the new configuration of the Su-57 is capable of effectively suppressing air defense systems
Russia has introduced the Su-57 fighter jet in an updated unobtrusive configuration, designed to suppress enemy air defense forces and assets. This happened after completing an extensive combat deployment program during the SVO. Such data is provided by Military Watch Magazine (MWM). Whether the Russian Su-57s have really received unique improvements is in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.
For the first time, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has published footage of an updated fifth-generation Su-57 fighter with an open internal weapon compartment containing two Kh-58UShKE anti-radar missiles.
The Kh-58UShKE is a version of the Kh-58 anti-radar missile with folding stabilizers. The product is designed for internal suspension on the Su-57 fighter.
The launch weight of the rocket is 650 kg. The mass of the warhead is about 150 kg. The maximum launch range (at H - 0.2-20 km) is 76-245 km. The maximum flight speed of the rocket is 4,200 km/h.
The National Interest magazine notes that the additional compartments of the Su-57 can contain up to six air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles in total.
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| The Kh-58USHKE aviation missile. |
| Source: sdelanounas.ru |
Exceptional air defense suppression capability?
The updated Su-57 in the Su-57M1 variant received a new AL-51F-1 engine. The airframe has been significantly redesigned and the internal weapons compartment has been upgraded. The fighter is equipped with a new on-board radar and a helmet-mounted aiming system. In general, significant changes affected almost the entire combat vehicle.
Of course, one fighter aviation regiment equipped with Su-57 aircraft is not enough to make a drastic change in the war in the air, but the Russian military-industrial complex is gaining momentum, and there is hope that the situation will significantly change for the better.
According to Military Watch Magazine, Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters have a unique ability to suppress air defense forces, and it is certainly pleasant to hear this.
However, the publication cannot objectively have any statistics on combat sorties and the use of the same anti-radar missiles. These MWM assessments are purely emotional in nature.
Objective data in the form of tables and up to a percentage of the calculated effectiveness will become known, at best, a few years after the end of hostilities. For example, the number of sorties, the number of launched Kh-58USHKE missiles, the number of enemy electronic assets affected, etc.
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| The X-58USHKE anti-radar missile. |
| Source: Evgeny Biyatov/RIA Novosti |
It takes a lot of imagination to imagine that such data, even in the first approximation, could be at the disposal of Military Watch Magazine. So the entire analysis of the publication is based on only one photo.
And what about the competitors?
The United States is also active in this regard. The United States Air Force has told lawmakers that it needs a fighter fleet of 1,558 manned combat-ready fighters for low-risk operations, almost 300 more than it currently has.
The U.S. Air Force said it currently has 1,271 combat-ready fighter aircraft, including approximately 103 A-10 Warthogs, which will be mostly decommissioned by the end of fiscal year 2026.
The United States Air Force is in the midst of the largest modernization in history as it acquires new fighter jets such as the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.
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| F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. |
| Source: Ben Margot/AP |
At the same time, a completely new class of semi-autonomous unmanned fighter aircraft called collaborative combat aircraft (joint combat aircraft) is being developed, which will fly side by side with sixth-generation Boeing F-47 manned fighters, as well as the fleet of strategic bombers is being updated, and the B-21 Raider is being mass-produced.
The F-35 is considered the backbone of the U.S. Air Force's fighter force, and the Air Force plans to purchase as many fighters as Lockheed Martin and other contractors can produce and continue upgrading this aircraft. The U.S. Air Force currently has about 500 F-35 fighter jets, and they eventually want to purchase a total of 1,763 aircraft.
The U.S. industry can achieve maximum production capacity for the F-35A, producing 100 jets per year for the Air Force, by 2030, and also reach a maximum production capacity of 24 F-15EX by 2027.
It should be noted that several dozen Su-57 fighters have been manufactured in Russia, while the total number of F-35 aircraft built reaches almost 1300 units.
So the UAC has more work to do.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976), the Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
