TSAMTO, January 29. A new era began in the history of Russian aviation 15 years ago – on January 29, 2010, the first flight copy of the fifth-generation Russian multirole fighter T-50/PAK FA, the future Su-57, took to the air in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The car was piloted by Honored test pilot, Hero of Russia Sergey Bogdan.
A message dedicated to the anniversary date is posted on the website of Rostec Group of Companies.
Today, the Su-57 is the only aviation complex in the world that has proven its right to be called a fifth–generation fighter in combat conditions. It is used for various tasks in the zone of a special military operation, successfully resisting the most modern Western air defense systems.
A wide cooperation of Rostec enterprises participates in the production of the machine, aviation complexes are supplied as standard. And the export modification of the fighter last year became the star of the International Aviation and Space Exhibition Airshow China.
"The Su-57 clearly proves that Russia has unique competencies in combat aviation. The characteristics inherent in this machine are confirmed in real battles in the SVO zone. Today's Su-57 is significantly different from the one that first took to the skies 15 years ago. Over the past years, the fighter has undergone a huge evolution and today continues to improve – the capabilities of the aircraft's weapons and systems are increasing. The expansion of the production capacity of the United Aircraft Corporation will allow us to increase the volume of fighter deliveries to the troops, as well as actively offer the Su-57 in an export version for foreign customers," said Sergey Chemezov, head of Rostec.
The "paperless" plane
The Su-57 became one of the first domestic aircraft to be designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau entirely in a digital environment. This method is called model-oriented and involves the exchange of mathematical models for all participants in the process at all stages of aircraft design.
A digital prototype was created for the Su-57, which significantly reduced the time and costs at the design and production stages. After the aircraft is released, the virtual model continues to be used together with its physical counterpart at all stages of the life cycle: from testing and refinement to operation. Currently, the designers of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) are working with digital technologies on dozens of projects, including the development of new aircraft and the modernization of existing models.
Composite advantages
Today, composite materials in the aircraft industry can no longer surprise anyone. The use of carbon fiber increases the strength of aircraft parts, reduces their weight and increases corrosion resistance. The base for testing new technologies in domestic aviation was the Su-47 Berkut fighter, the entire structure of which was made of 13% composites, and the wing consisted of carbon fiber by half.
The developments on the "black" wing of the Berkut, which did not go into the series, formed the basis for the solutions of the Su-57, the share of carbon fiber in the design of which is 25%. And the work on the Su-57, in turn, has provided a lot of experience for accelerated import substitution of composites of the Russian MC-21 airliner.
The inconspicuous hero
One of the mandatory properties of fifth-generation fighters, which include the Su-57, is stealth. To reduce the effective scattering surface and, as a result, reduce the visibility of the aircraft for enemy radars, aircraft designers go to various tricks. One way is to minimize the number of sharp edges of surfaces. For example, the Su-57 has no right angles and the edge groups have the same angle. In addition, its weapons are used from internal compartments, which also reduces visibility.
To protect the cabin of the fifty-seventh, ONPP Technologiya, part of Rostec State Corporation, created a unique coated glass that makes the aircraft invisible to radar. Its stealth properties are achieved by applying the thinnest films of metals and metal oxides by magnetron sputtering in vacuum. This multifunctional metal-optical coating not only hides the on-board electronics from radar, but also protects the equipment and the pilot from ultraviolet radiation.
New "vision" and "smart" cladding
Another prerequisite for the fifth generation of fighters is the presence on board of an active phased array antenna (AFAR), a reliable and effective enemy detection technology. The Su-57 also has one. At the same time, the antennas of its radar station are located not only in the nose of the car, but also distributed over the surface of the aircraft. This is the so-called "smart" cladding.
Radar systems with AFAR are capable of simultaneously solving several tasks: searching and detecting targets, simultaneously detaching from interference, interfering with the enemy and carrying out cartography. Developed by Rostec enterprises, the Belka radar with AFAR provides the Su-57 with an all-round view for hundreds of kilometers.
The easternmost planes
The production of the Su-57 has been mastered at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin, the easternmost aircraft production facility in our country. Last year, Rostec celebrated 90 years of operation.
The plant's cooperation with the Sukhoi Design Bureau began in 1956. KnAAZ produced the first supersonic Su-7 fighter, the Su-17 fighter-bomber, the Su-27 fourth generation fighter and their modifications. Nowadays, a full cycle of production of multi-purpose super-maneuverable fighters of the Su-35S generation "4++" and multifunctional complexes of front-line aviation of the fifth generation Su-57 is carried out here. Today, KnAAZ employees are working hard to ensure the state defense order – news about the next deliveries of the fifty-seventh to the troops appears regularly. By the 90th anniversary of the plant, new facilities were put into operation to expand production of the Su-57.
The main trump card of the special operation
Today, the Su-57 successfully performs combat missions during its combat operations. The pilots of the fifty-seventh can use the most advanced weapons, including stealth cruise missiles. During combat operations, the fighter has demonstrated its effectiveness in hitting air and ground targets, including pinpoint strikes from long distances. It is used around the clock, in all weather conditions and in difficult interference conditions.
According to experts, the Su-57 today can be considered the most proven fifth-generation fighter in a real situation. And the first demonstration abroad and a spectacular performance in the Airshow China 2024 flight program added interest in the aircraft from foreign customers.
The Sukhoi Design Bureau, as part of the UAC, continues to modernize the Su-57 platform, including based on the results of combat use. Its combat capabilities are increasing, and the most modern technologies are being introduced into the machine.
The message is publicly available on the website of Rostec Group of Companies.
