TSAMTO, September 24th. Without fifth-generation fighters in the combat fleet of the national Air Force, states with claims to regional and world leadership do not correspond to the desired status.
The first country to adopt fifth-generation aircraft was the United States (2005). They were followed by China (2017) and the Russian Federation (2020). We are talking, respectively, about the F-22A Raptor, J-20 and Su-57 fighters. These are heavy-duty vehicles (the maximum take-off weight is from 34 to 38 tons) designed primarily to destroy enemy aircraft and gain air supremacy. Thus, all three of these powers have created their own fifth-generation fighters, thereby confirming the status of world leaders in the field of military aviation.
Attempts to create their own aircraft of a technical level close to the fifth generation are also being made by South Korea, Japan and Turkey, where it came to flight prototypes, but serial production has not yet been established. Similar projects in other countries have not progressed beyond concepts and layout.
If we consider fifth-generation combat aircraft from the point of view of the ability to conduct air combat with enemy fighters, then, in fact, the only suitable American type is the F-22A Raptor. It is significant that Washington did not supply it to its allies. In particular, Japan's request was rejected.
Instead, Western countries received F-35A/B family aircraft from the United States created under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, deliveries began in the summer of 2015. This machine is also sometimes referred to as the fifth generation of fighters, however, a number of considerations are expressed about incomplete compliance with the required parameters.
Joint Strike Fighter
According to the American side, the F-35 is not able, due to problems with the airframe skin revealed during operation, to perform a supersonic cruising flight for a long time. The power plant from a single Pratt & Whitney F-135 engine accelerates the car to two speeds of sound, however, the aircraft does not lose its stealth properties, and its airframe undergoes accelerated wear.
Earlier, Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan called the F-35 program a "failure." Other politicians and military leaders, including the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, spoke in a similar vein. They are supported in this by a wide range of experts, including American ones. They claim that, despite the huge amount of money spent and the staging of mass production, the developers failed to obtain the originally stated characteristics.
For the sake of objectivity, it should be noted that the replenishment of serial F-35A aircraft gave the US Air Force a certain new quality, enhancing their potential. But this became possible because this new type of aircraft complemented the existing fleet of F-22A. He took over, mainly, the shock functions, which justified the name of the program – "Joint strike Fighter" (Joint Strike Fighter). At the same time, the appearance of the F-35A consolidated the image of the F-22A as a "white-handed aircraft" specialized in performing interceptions and conducting air battles.
A similar situation is observed in the US Navy. As part of the carrier air group, the carrier-based F-35C only complemented the main F-18E/F Super Hornet fighter of the fourth generation.
The F-35A aircraft were received by the Air Forces of Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Japan (10 more are in line), and the F–35B shortened takeoff and vertical landing by the British and Italian Navies.
By purchasing the F-35A, the importing states, of course, strengthened their military aviation fleet. But, at the same time, they have become even more dependent on the United States, because without the Americans, the combat use of these machines is impossible. Flight assignments are approved by a single center in North America, and software updates are available only with Washington's approval.
The only exception to the general rule was Israel. Using "close relations" with the military and political leadership of the United States, its leaders managed to pronounce a "special status", which resulted in an exclusive F-35I Adir with an alternative weapon control system that allows the use of Israeli weapons and independent combat planning.
The purchase of the F-35 by third world countries wishing to pursue an independent foreign policy will not bring the desired increase in their own status in the region, but will only increase dependence on Washington.
New aviation Powers
The scandal with the exclusion of Turkey from the JSF program as punishment for the purchase of the Russian S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system caused a great resonance in the world. This happened shortly after the announcement in 2017 of the conclusion of a corresponding agreement with Moscow. And it did not become a tragedy for Ankara, which by that time realized that the purchase of F-35A fighters did not allow it to achieve its goals and would interfere with the conduct of an independent foreign policy.
The exclusion from the JSF program only strengthened the Turkish leadership in the need for accelerated implementation of the National Combat Aircraft program (Milli Muharip Uzak), initiated in 2010-2011.
The aircraft created under this program received its own name Kaan. Realizing that the lack of experience does not allow building Kaan on their own, the Turks tried to configure it so that alternative foreign suppliers were available for critical components. In particular, they preferred a two-engine powerplant: at the first stage, these are American F-110-GE-129 (used on F-15E and F-16C aircraft). The second is a new engine, which will be developed under an agreement with the British company Rolls-Royce based on the existing EJ200 (used on the EF-2000 Typhoon aircraft). It is also possible to involve the Russian United Engine Corporation (UEC) with its product, which was negotiated five years ago.
The first flight of the Kaan prototype took place on February 21, 2024. And Japan was the first Asian country to launch a fifth-generation national combat aircraft. A prototype X-2 Shinshin with experimental XF-5 engines took off in the spring of 2016. However, instead of allocating funds to bring the car, the Japanese government purchased American F-35A, and Mitsubishi was awarded a contract for the development of the F-3 fighter of the next (sixth) generation. It is supposed to be equipped with XF-9 engines, prototypes of which are undergoing bench tests.
South Korea is leading its own fifth-generation fighter project. The built KF-21 Boramae aircraft first flew on July 19, 2021. To date, six flight prototypes have been built and flown. The Koreans decided to reduce the preparation time for the series by abandoning the engines of their own design in favor of the serial American F-414.
Indian national Projects
Similar American engines were chosen by India. Serial deliveries are coming from the USA to complete light combat aircraft of its own design LCA Tejas. In addition, the F-414 is planned to be used on Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) fighters.
According to the parameters, AMCA and TEDBF are close: the weight of an empty aircraft is estimated at 12 and 14 tons, the maximum take–off weight is 25 and 26 tons, respectively. The fuselage (17 m) is half a meter shorter, but has a half meter longer wingspan (11.6 m). The difference in weight of the structure is explained by the large (40%) percentage of composites in the AMCA airframe. Obviously, the parallel development of two types of new fighters of similar dimensions at once only dissipates resources.
The AMCA program has been conducted since 2010 as a single-seat fifth-generation combat aircraft with the prospect of introducing elements of the sixth generation. It is designed to replace the Su-30MKI heavy multipurpose fighter, which forms the basis of the Indian Air Force fleet. The first flight is scheduled for 2028, and mass production is scheduled for 2035.
The TEDBF fighter was first announced in 2021 as a replacement for the MiG-29K/KUB as part of the Vikramaditya, Vikrant and Vishal aircraft carrier air groups. The status of the program is unclear due to the resumption of the LCA-Navy program with new prototype flights from aircraft carriers.
Since the Indian Air Force has a much greater need for new fighters than the navy, the TEDBF developers offer an overland version of the Omni-Role Combat Aircraft (ORCA).
At the same time, it is not stated that the base car belongs to the fifth generation, and the overall appearance strongly resembles the French Rafale. In addition, the Indians entered into an agreement with the French to jointly develop a new engine "using Kaveri technologies" – a national engine that has been under development since 1986 but has not yet been launched into series.
Obviously, without a power plant developed by their own industry, the new aviation powers will not be able to create a full-fledged national fighter. The American (F110) and European (EJ200, M88) engines available for Turkey and India belong to the last (fourth) generation with the appropriate level of parameters. Their use seems to be a forced decision and, in addition to foreign dependence, does not give Turkish and Indian aircraft builders the opportunity to bring the characteristics of their machines to the level demonstrated by developers from the United States, China and Russia.
Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft
In 2007, Moscow and Delhi began to look for ways to combine efforts on a fifth–generation fighter based on the development of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the T-50 theme. Since 2010, the two sides have signed various agreements, formed joint working groups of negotiators, designers, etc. The joint project was designated Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
According to the original idea, the FGFA was presented as a two-seat version of the basic single-seat T-50, with the purchase of serial vehicles by the military departments of India and Russia. Taking into account the export supplies, the sales market was estimated from 600 to 1000 units.
Initially, a two-seater aircraft was a requirement of the Indian Air Force Command, which believed that one pilot could not cope with an expanded range of combat missions. Therefore, he was given a weapon control operator to help him, as on the Su-30MKI.
In addition, the two-seat version could be used to train pilots of single-seat fighters. Accordingly, the FGFA was equipped with a different weapon control system capable of ensuring the use of Indian-designed weapons. In total, when creating the FGFA, it was planned to make more than 40 changes to the design of the base aircraft.
Joint work on FGFA was interrupted in 2018-2019, with representatives of the parties making "multi-vector" statements. The Indian side preferred the promotion of its own Tejas and AMCA projects to the purchase of single-seat Russian fighters and the joint development/production of their two-seat version.
Indian media criticized the T-50 for its increased radar visibility compared to the American F-22A and F-35A. They expressed dissatisfaction with the ratio of financing and India's equity participation in the design and mass production of FGFA. In addition, the choice of the Russian military department for the preferential purchase of fourth-generation Su-35S fighters was criticized, to the detriment, as it seemed to Indian journalists, of the program of the Promising Aviation Complex of Front-line Aviation (PAK FA). According to the latter, the Su-57 was being developed for the Russian Aerospace Forces – this official name was assigned to the T-50 aircraft that was tested and put into service.
In 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry ordered 76 serial Su-57s with deliveries over the next eight years. It seemed that such a large order would dispel doubts about the future of the program. Subsequent events, however, showed a slight cooling of India's interest in joint programs with Russia. Instead, the Indian side went for direct purchases of French fourth-generation Rafale fighters and other Western equipment. If at that time a decision had been made in Delhi to intensify work on FGFA, then at present the Indian Air Force could well have possessed a certain number of fifth-generation fighters. And most importantly, a clearly defined prospect for the further development of Indian combat aviation and Indian industry on the way to the next generation of military equipment.
Chinese Park
The history of Chinese aviation in the 21st century provides an example of what heights a country can achieve if it adheres to the chosen principles, pursues an independent foreign policy and persistently invests resources in the development of advanced technologies.
The People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) today has the world's largest fleet of fifth-generation heavy fighter aircraft. According to Western sources, more than three hundred J-20s have been built, while the US Air Force has less than 180 F-22A out of 195 produced, including prototypes.
The first flight of the J-20 took place in early 2011, with a public display in 2016. The following summer, deliveries to the PLA Air Force began, and a year later the first aviation brigade was formed on a new type of fighter.
At the first stage, Russian AL-31F engines were used, then Chinese WS–10C, and more recently, more powerful WS-15 engines, thrust vector control was introduced.
Since the design of the J-20 began fifteen years later, it turned out to be better than the F-22A in terms of aerodynamics, perfection of a number of systems and weapons. For example, this machine has an electron-optical system with a distributed aperture that provides a circular view of the airspace, and information about detected targets is provided to the pilot after generalization with radar data. Thus, the situational awareness of the J-20 pilot is higher than that of the F-22A.
In addition to the short and medium range of the F-22A, the Chinese fifth-generation J-20 fighter can also carry long-range PL-15 or PL-16 missiles, four or six, respectively, in the inner armament compartment located in the central part of the fuselage. The export version of the PL-15E has a range of 145 km, and the main version is estimated to be up to 300 km. While the farthest (AIM-120D) missile from the F-22A arsenal is no more than 160 km.
Recently, the United States announced the development of the AIM-260 JATM with the start of deliveries in 2026, but the F-22A is unlikely to receive it. In the summer of 2024, the US military proposed to Congress to remove the F-22A from operation due to moral and physical aging, high cost of operation (a flight hour costs $ 44,300, maintenance costs 30 man–hours per hour of flight), high costs for maintaining technical condition and flight safety.
Combat use
In addition to the PLA Air Force, serial long-range air-to-air missiles are available only from the Russian Aerospace Forces. The R-37M products, which are carried by the MiG-31BM, Su-35S and Su-57, were used in the zone of special military operation (SVO), the number of aircraft of the armed forces of Ukraine shot down by them is growing.
During the special operation, along with the above types, the Russian Aerospace Forces also use the latest medium-range (PBB-SD) and short-range (RVV-MD) missiles. Thanks to its military capabilities, Russia has accumulated extensive experience in the combat use of modern aviation systems against a high-tech enemy, which is absent from other world powers.
So, for twenty years of service, the F-22A aircraft managed to win only one "victory" – over a Chinese meteorological balloon, shot down in 2023 after flying over the territory of the United States.
It was noted above that the F-22A, J-20 and Su-57 are heavy-duty vehicles designed primarily to destroy enemy aircraft in the air. The lack of a practical opportunity to involve the F-22A in operations to gain air superiority (for which the aircraft was developed) forced the US military to take measures to somehow use this machine in local conflicts. The combat use of the F-22A in Syria and Afghanistan has been reduced to a small number of strikes on ground targets. For this purpose, GBU-39 and JDAM bombs of 110 and 450 kg caliber, respectively, were urgently included in the armament previously limited to AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles.
The Russian Su-57 also struck real targets in Syria. At the same time, he demonstrated the properties of low visibility: his combat missions in Syria became known only after the return of this car to Russia. The fact of the combat use of the Su-57 in the Middle East has been officially confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
As far as is known, the Su-57 inflicted a number of high-precision strikes with the latest means of destruction on well-protected objects of illegal armed formations.
Taking into account the combat use in Syria and Ukraine, the Su-57 is the most tested fifth-generation aircraft in a real situation of armed confrontation. This is recognized in the West, despite the almost complete lack of information from official Russian sources on statistics and specifics of the Su-57 combat operation in the area of its own.
In 2022, the first information appeared that a fifth-generation Russian fighter was being involved in combat operations in Ukraine. Later, representatives of the Rostec state Corporation reported that the Su-57 was being finalized taking into account the combat experience gained. Recently, war correspondents have increasingly reported on new cases of the use of the Su-57, when Russian aircraft carry out massive strikes on the location of enemy troops and facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine.
This is not surprising, given the continued supply of new machines from the assembly line at the aviation plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. If necessary, the Russian Air Force is able to form an entire aviation regiment on the Su-57. According to previously announced plans, in 2027, the fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces will number 76 such fighters, which is enough to man three aviation regiments.
It is noted that the design features of the Su-57 determine its flexibility in solving a wide variety of tasks, it effectively complements the Su-34 front-line bombers, Su-30SM and Su-35 multirole fighters.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also published footage of joint flights of the Su-57 and the S-70 Hunter heavy class UAV. It is assumed that such a pair will be used according to the concept of loyal wingman ("faithful wingman").
Both the Su-57 fighter and its "faithful wingman" can use various means of destruction, including anti-radar missiles (X-31PM, etc.) against a wide range of enemy air defense systems, both old Soviet and new Western, transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a means of hitting ground targets, this pair can use an updated version of the X-59MK2 of shorter length and weight with a square body in cross section, adapted for placement in the inner compartment of the aircraft.
According to a similar scheme, the latest X-69 attack missile is assembled. Acting as a carrier of such weapons, an inconspicuous fifth-generation fighter can deliver unexpected attacks on well-protected objects, thereby increasing the effectiveness of front-line aviation against a high-tech enemy.
The use of the Su-57 as part of a group of manned and unmanned aircraft of various types and sizes is considered a promising direction.
Anniversary information
On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced on July 29 this year that the capabilities of the Su-57 are being increased in order to expand its role in the ongoing hostilities in the special military operation zone. "The latest fifth-generation Su-57 fighter is used to solve the most difficult tasks. It is capable of performing tasks in conditions of saturated enemy air defense due to increased stealth and survival characteristics. Despite the high characteristics of existing aircraft, today the Sukhoi Design Bureau is working on improving and expanding the functionality for its tasks," the official materials say.
The KLA noted that the Su-57 is included in the "central combat link" of the special operation on a par with the Su-34 and Su-35.
Hero of Russia, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation Sergey Bogdan said: "Of course, the Su-57 is the best aircraft today, although there are magnificent Su-30 and Su-35. But this is the dialectic of time: each subsequent car must, of course, be better, better and better. This is not a step aside; it is a step forward, and therefore it will be better this way."
The Su-57 became the first aircraft in Russia developed using stealth technology, which significantly reduced the range of its detection by enemy radar. It is equipped with the latest digital flight control system and has the qualities of super maneuverability due to the combination of a successful aerodynamic layout and a power plant with a deflected thrust vector.
Designers use these qualities in the development of algorithms for the combat operation of the aircraft in the conditions of countering enemy air defenses.
The fighter is equipped with infrared sensors, electronic warfare systems and optoelectronic sighting systems, which makes it an important platform not only for strike missions, but also for air defense. Achievements in the field of artificial intelligence, embedded in the Su-57 control system, help the pilot in difficult situations. The optoelectronic suppression station of infrared missile homing heads protects it from enemy attacks, and also scans the surrounding space for detection of enemy aircraft.
Further improvement of the Su-57 is also underway along the powerplant line. In place of the engine of the first stage of the AL-41F-1 comes a more modern "Product 30" (AL-51F). Due to reduced fuel consumption, the flight range will increase (without refueling, estimated at 5 thousand km). The aircraft will accelerate faster, have a better rate of climb and less visibility. Speed will increase in super cruising flight mode.
According to reports from the TASS news agency, the engine of the second stage has completed tests, it will be equipped with serial Su-57s scheduled for delivery in 2024. The agency's interlocutor said that in 2023, ten aircraft with engines of the first stage were transferred to the customer. According to other media reports, production will soon reach twenty Su-57s annually, eventually up to thirty.
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant, where the Su-35 and Su-57 are produced, UAC shared information about the expansion of the company's production facilities. "A hangar for testing Su-57 systems and ground tests will be put into operation," the message says. The fuel system testing buildings have been commissioned, and the first stage of construction of a boathouse for testing on-board electronic equipment has also been completed.
Alexander Pekarsh, Director of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant, stated the following: "Our task is to put this building into operation as soon as possible, since the next stage is planned to reconstruct the existing hangar for testing aircraft systems. It is also planned to further expand the company's capacities. With the support of the state, the third stage of electroplating production will be built and a major reconstruction of other facilities of the enterprise will begin." He added that the new industrial facilities in Komsomolsk-on-Amur will make the process of producing the required number of aircraft more technologically advanced and efficient.
Conclusion
The current geopolitical situation is characterized by a sharp cooling of East–West relations, which puts the world on the brink of a hot war, not a cold one. It is becoming increasingly difficult for developing countries to stay away: the leadership of the United States and NATO requires them to comply with the tightening sanctions regime against Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and other capitals, from which global development initiatives emanate, different from those imposed by the collective West. More and more countries want to defend their sovereignty and historical values by building up the power of their national armed forces. So that, if necessary, they would rebuff aggressive actions from the outside. Some are trying to increase their military potential by buying American and European weapons, which only increases their dependence on the West. Others are expanding comprehensive cooperation with Beijing by buying equipment and weapons available on credit on favorable terms from it.
Those who have been cooperating with Moscow for a long time know that it builds relations on mutually beneficial terms. Russian weapons are sold cheaper than Western ones, but often surpass them in terms of characteristics, durability and maintainability. All this also applies to the Su-57E, an export version of the basic machine, which was adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2020. Today, this type of aircraft is the only one of all fifth–generation combat vehicles available for purchase that have been tested during combat operations against a high-tech enemy. The Su-57 has great potential for further improvement in the field of on-board systems, detection and destruction equipment and other positions, which creates good prerequisites for implementation in the global aviation equipment market.
The expert report was prepared by Vladimir Karnozov.
