Experts explained how on-board drones will affect the combat capabilities of the Su-57
The Su-57 fighter jet will receive a new type of weapon in its arsenal – mini-drones. It is assumed that drones will be able to perform strike and reconnaissance functions, as well as act as an electronic warfare tool. How will the use of such drones affect the combat capabilities of the Su-57 and what new tasks will it be able to perform in combat?
Mini-drones have been created for the Russian fifth-generation fighter Su-57, which it will carry on board, RIA Novosti reports, citing an informed source. According to the publication, we are talking about UAVs for various purposes, which the aircraft will be able to carry on an external suspension and drop in the air.
"It is planned that the fighter will launch several drones at once and control this group of drones," the source said. It is assumed that the list of drones used will include attack drones, reconnaissance and UAVs for electronic warfare.
In particular, the drones dropped in the number of dozens by the Su-57 group will allow fighters to break through the enemy's air defenses – both by overloading its information channels and by a concentrated strike on its systems: both drones and means of destroying combat aircraft.
Recall that recently Su-57 aircraft have been receiving more and more innovations that enhance the technical characteristics of the fighter. As the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote in early November, a long-range intra-fuselage cruise missile was created for the Su-57. This not only seriously expands the fighter's firing capabilities, but also adds stealth to it in terms of stealth technologies.
In addition, the Su-57 began to be equipped with a second-stage engine ("Product 30"). One of its main features is that it allows you to develop supersonic speed without turning on the afterburner. This not only reduces fuel consumption, but also increases the radius of combat operation of the aircraft, as the newspaper VZGLYAD also wrote in detail.
"The development of mini-drones for the Su-57 is a technological breakthrough that expands the possibilities of using the aircraft. New UAVs can be hung either on the wing of a fighter, or placed inside the car. There are several types of such drones that perform different tasks on the battlefield," said military expert Yuri Knutov.
"It is also possible to use the UAV as an electronic warfare system, which will create interference for the enemy's air defense. Strike drones will be useful in destroying anti-aircraft systems. The small size makes it easier for drones to reach the target. The devices will also be able to cover the aircraft from enemy missiles and perform reconnaissance along the route of the fighter," the source notes.
"At the same time, the placement of UAVs reduces the number of missiles and bombs that the machine can carry. Therefore, the use of drones will significantly depend on the goals set before a specific departure," he emphasizes.
"If the Su-57 needs to hit a target protected by air defense, then the most reasonable seems to be a combined armament of standard combat load and drones. When it is necessary to inflict maximum fire damage to the enemy, only guided bombs and missiles will be placed on the plane. In the case of an air battle, the car will be equipped with a minimum number of UAVs to protect against enemy shots," Knutov believes.
"Today, the Su-57 is not just a fighter, but a multifunctional flying complex. It can perform a large number of tasks on a modern battlefield. The machine uses guided missiles and bombs, and now its capabilities have expanded with the use of drones," said Sergey Lipovoy, Major General of Aviation, Hero of Russia.
"UAVs placed on an airplane can perform three main functions. Drones can carry out reconnaissance of the battlefield, as well as act as a shock means. In addition, they are used as a means of electronic warfare. Already, tests of the new Su-57 weapons at the training ground and in combat conditions have shown very good results," the general emphasizes. –
I think that soon this technology will be actively used in the SVO zone."
"If the further use of mini-drones on the Su-57 proves successful, then the range of use of such UAVs will expand to other Russian aircraft. In particular, after a little refinement and installation of additional equipment, most of the vehicles we have in service will be able to use drones," he emphasized.
In addition, the expert noted the ability of the Su-57 to produce several UAVs at the same time. "The use of a swarm of drones is really the future that the world powers are striving for. Now drones are actively used in the course of hostilities. Therefore, it is not surprising that the design of such devices and the tactics of their use around the world are constantly being improved," Lipovoy summed up.
Ilya Abramov