And how will the Su-57 aircraft change the combat capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces in a special military operation
On September 28, the UAC Aviation Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur handed over a batch of upgraded fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft and generation 4++ Su-35S fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces. According to Izvestia's sources in the military department, the Su-57 fighter fleet is taking part in a special military operation. There they work for particularly important purposes and in special conditions. Aircraft of this type are considered today to be the most advanced multifunctional fighters of the Russian military aviation. Izvestia, together with a military expert, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev, was looking into whether they could change the balance of forces in the SVO zone and what the Su-57 is now capable of.
Caught up with America
Back in the 1990s, Russia began work on creating its own fifth-generation fighter, which could compete with the American F-22 Raptor. It should be noted that it was in our country that, apparently, the world's best fourth—generation fighter, the Su-27, was created earlier.
Su-27 multi-purpose fighter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Nevar
But the domestic military—industrial complex sometimes moves along its original trajectory, and at a time when over the ocean they relied on radar invisibility and, let's say, "rhombic configurations" of the airframe of a promising aircraft, in the late USSR and in new Russia - on aerodynamically clean forms that were embodied in the experimental C-37 Berkut aircraft" with the reverse sweep of the wing and in an experienced front-line fighter MiG-1.44. Both machines had the potential to become rivals to the American Raptor, but in fact by the time of their first flights (1997-2000) they were obsolete and required serious investments for cardinal modernization. It is clear that in those years there were no such opportunities.
At the turn of the 2000s, it was decided to curtail work on the projects of the 1990s and begin a program to create an aircraft that was supposed to surpass the American F-22 Raptor. Superiority was planned to be achieved in many ways — super maneuverability, economy, versatility of weapons and capabilities of detection systems. Thus began the program for the creation of the PAK FA — a promising aviation complex of front—line aviation - this was the official name of the new project of the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
The first serial fighter of the fifth generation Su-57
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
In 2010, the first prototype of the T-50 of the PAK FA program made its first flight. The production of an experimental batch began with the launch of serial production of the aircraft, which was named Su-57. And in 2020, the Russian Aerospace Forces began to receive serial machines, which were called the Su-57. So we caught up with America.
Bigger than the Raptor
It turned out to be a very successful car with excellent aerodynamics and excellent performance. There is criticism, yes: the aircraft is waiting for a more advanced engine, with which, in all respects, it will meet the highest requirements for the fifth generation — a supersonic cruise flight will be provided without switching on the afterburner mode. New engines will appear on production cars in the coming years. But already today, the Su-57 is in the lead: the maximum speed is up to 2,600 km/ h and the flight range is up to 4,300 km without outboard fuel tanks — this is more than the Raptor. The maximum operational overload during active maneuvering can reach 10-11 G, which also exceeds the performance of most aircraft of this class in the world. At the same time, the Su-57 is somewhat lighter than the American, but carries a comparable set of weapons systems by weight.
The Su-57 multifunctional fighter is a versatile aircraft that can equally successfully solve both the tasks of gaining air superiority and intercepting small—sized targets, as well as performing strike missions against ground targets. The aircraft has all the features of the fifth generation: reduced radar visibility, a circular view of the radar complex, the ability to integrate into a single information space of air-ground operations, super maneuverability and intelligent board.
Multifunctional fighters of the fifth generation Su-57
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Andrey Kataev
The aircraft carries an on-board sighting and navigation system integrated into a single system for detecting air and ground targets, navigation and control of the aircraft and weapons systems — what is now called a "combat information and control system".
Of course, the latest Sh-121 radar complex has been created for the Su-57, which includes several radars with a phased array antenna. In addition to the nose radar, the complex includes two side-view radar stations, as well as two stations in the wing tips of the aircraft. Such a radar complex, taking into account the addition of an optoelectronic channel and with digital processing of the received information, allows the system and the pilot to provide an almost circular view. Information about targets is displayed both on multifunctional displays in the cockpit and on the indicator on the windshield of the aircraft, and can also be transmitted to other aircraft, headquarters, missiles, ground forces — to anyone who has access to the information battlefield.
The "far arm" of the Su-57 in aerial combat was the ultra-long—range rocket R-37M (range - about 300 km). It can be used on aerial targets that do not even suspect that they are at gunpoint. At shorter ranges for aerial targets, the aircraft can use missiles of the R-77 type, and in close combat it will use super-maneuverable RVV-MD2. But in the zone of a special military operation, there are few or almost no air opponents for the Su-57 today — anti-aircraft missile systems and simpler aircraft or even helicopters can perform the work of shooting drones.
The Su-57 fifth-generation multifunctional fighter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Andrey Kataev
Shock missions are a completely different matter. There is still a lot of room for the Su-57 in the SVO zone here. At long range, targets can be hit by modular cruise missiles of the X-69 type. At a range of 100-200 km, the Su-57 can use missiles such as the X-59M and X-31M — almost certainly their use from the new aircraft has been worked out earlier at landfills. At a range of less than 100 km in the arsenal of the Su-57, X-38 missiles and guided bombs of 500 to 1500 kg caliber will be used. By the way, laser illumination of targets for such ammunition can be performed by unmanned drones, including a heavy Hunter, which can work together with the Su—57 in a single tactical group.
And this will probably be the world's first combat use of the "drone plus airplane" bundle. In such a bundle, the Su-57 will carry out general attack control and provide cover for the strike drone from aerial targets. The UAV will destroy the air defense, and then strike together with the Su-57 at the objects opened after the destruction of the air defense. So far, no one in the world can boast of such use of drones, and such an application makes the Su-57 almost invulnerable to air defense.
Perhaps we will see the combat use of the Su-57 in various missions already in the winter season of 2023-2024. And the use of the Su-57 squadron will not go unnoticed by events in the zone of a special military operation. They will play their role as the first violin in air strikes against the enemy.
Dmitry Kornev