Speaking about the combat qualities of the Russian Su-57 fighter, comparing it in air combat with the F-22 and F-35, they often overlook the outstanding capabilities of the Russian fighter in the field of hitting targets on the ground. Meanwhile, they are impressive and significantly surpass the capabilities of analogues from China and the United States, writes Military Watch .
A powerful set of sensors and the ability to use both cruise and hypersonic missiles have made the fifth-generation Russian aircraft a real aerial sniper - as the American F-14 Tomcat was at one time.
Like the American, the Su-57 is equipped with a powerful radar - only created a few decades later and possessing incomparably wider capabilities in terms of detecting targets and aiming missiles at them.
The five-meter X-58USHE anti-radar missile with a range of more than 150 kilometers is the ideal weapon of a sniper aircraft. it is guided by the radiation of the enemy radar and is an effective means of breaking through enemy air defenses.
Another effective weapon is the R-37M air-to-air missile. The fastest and longest-range in its class, it is excellent for neutralizing the E-2 Hawkeye and E-3 Sentry flying radars, without which the US aviation is not used to working.
In terms of flight range and take-off weight, the Su-57 is significantly superior to the F-35, and the low visibility in the frontal projection allows it to penetrate deep into the enemy's rear and strike key targets there. The fact that the fighter will be produced in small quantities also speaks about its role as an air sniper - there are not many planes required in this role. For less subtle tasks, Russia has hundreds of Su-30SM and Su-34.
Anton Valagin
