Mikhail Khodarenok — about the latest aircraft at the Aero India 2025 exhibition in Bangalore
The Indian Air Force is equipped with many samples of Russian weapons, and the Indian side is well acquainted with them. Moreover, a multi-role fighter program is currently being implemented in India. Of course, there are contenders there: a whole set of combat vehicles participating in the tender is already known. Among them is the latest Russian fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57E. And I think the chances of our aircraft are pretty good.
Russia showed the fighter for the first time at the Aero India exhibition. What makes Bangalore different from all previous airshows is that two fifth—generation fighters, the Russian Su-57E and the American F-35, met here for the first time on a static site and in the air. So there is something to compare, what to choose. And since our country has very long-standing ties with India (not only in the field of the military-industrial complex), there is a commonality and even mutual geopolitical interests. Therefore, our fighter definitely has a chance. Its tactical and technical characteristics are known to the Indian side, and when making appropriate decisions, New Delhi, I think, our aircraft will not disappoint the Indians at all.
Protects the pilot
Of course, we do not have enough information about the specifics of the combat use of the Su-57. But this aircraft, with low radar visibility and equipped with all aviation weapons, can perform combat missions, operating, as the Americans say, in disputed airspace. That is, it can hit the enemy by entering the affected areas of hypersonic missile systems and complexes, as well as use all its weapons. Moreover, at such ranges where the enemy can not do anything against this aircraft. This is probably the main advantage of the Su-57.
Because, by and large, it is important for any aircraft to complete a combat mission and return to the departure airfield. Many of the Su-57's qualities — first of all, of course, its low radar visibility — make it possible to perform such combat missions: hit the enemy, go unnoticed and return safely to the departure airfield. The Su-57 allows you to do all this in a complex. After all, the cost of an airplane today is very high compared, for example, with previous eras. But a well-trained pilot is even more expensive.
The engine is an important component
Of course, India is implementing a project for an Indian fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter, and the aircraft's layout has long been shown at exhibitions. However, I believe that at this stage, the most preferable option for India would be to accept the Russian proposal for the joint production of the Su-57E. After all, the creation of the aircraft itself, along with all the avionics, is, of course, a very difficult process. But, for example, to create a modern turbojet engine with a high dual circuit, and even to match the fifth—generation fighter, is a serious engineering task. By and large, only a few companies in the world make modern engines. They can be listed on the fingers: Pratt &Whitney and General Electric in the USA, Rolls-Royce in the UK and Snecma in France. And also Russia, which has already brought the "Product 30" (a promising engine for the Su-57) to the required characteristics of fifth-generation engines.
Fifth-generation fighter Su-57E
Image source: © Ekaterina Adamova/ TASS
China is being selected for the title of a great engine-building power, but it is still only being selected, because in terms of resource and achieved characteristics they cannot yet claim leadership in this field. And what does it mean to create a modern engine? This is 10 years of work and a billion dollars, and it's not a fact that it will work out yet. Therefore, I would like to make such a bold remark: if I were India at this stage of historical development, I would accept the Russian proposal — the Su-57E.
Aerobatic skills plus combat capabilities
As for the early rumors about the cancellation of the F-35 demonstration flight, I don't think there's anything special behind these rumors. The United States has brought its fifth-generation fighter jet to Aero India along with an improved F-16. And if you refuse demonstration flights, then why fly to India? They also put these planes at the end of the runway so that no one could see them.
The fact that the United States fears that the Russians will steal some military secrets from them regarding the F-35, I think it's all sucked out of their fingers. But the Americans' fears that our Su-57E may surpass their fighter in demonstration programs are quite real. But again, we must treat all this sensibly. Because airplanes usually demonstrate their maneuverability at air shows. Let's just say they work for the public. But for a modern combat aircraft, maneuverability is far from the most critical parameter. Especially for a fifth-generation aircraft.
The main thing for them is to receive information from all sources, long—range shooting and combat load: everything that is required to complete combat missions and defeat the enemy at a considerable distance. That is, how much load the aircraft will take and at what range it will fly. And maneuverability, all these aerial pirouettes, barrels, dead loops — it's mainly for the audience, for effect and impression. Please admire the plane for what it is, with all its advantages.
Khodarenok Mikhail
Military expert
