{"id":982,"date":"2023-04-15T15:10:08","date_gmt":"2023-04-15T15:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=982"},"modified":"2023-04-15T15:10:08","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T15:10:08","slug":"sukhoi-su-57-felon-russias-stealth-fighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=982","title":{"rendered":"Sukhoi Su-57 \u201cFelon\u201d: Russia\u2019s Stealth Fighter?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Peter Suciu<\/a><\/p>\n

A<\/span> joke could likely be made that the stealth capabilities of Russia\u2019s Sukhoi Su-57 are so good that it is impossible to see it over the skies of Ukraine. The Kremlin has claimed on multiple occasions that the aircraft has been employed in a number of sorties, a fact that Kyiv disputes \u2014 while numerous experts have suggested that the fighter\u2019s role in the ongoing conflict has likely been limited.<\/p>\n

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The Su-57 is a Russian fighter aircraft with ground attack capabilities. A replacement for existing Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft, the plane is also known as the T-50. Image: Dmitry Zherdin\/CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regardless, the Su-57 is the first Russian-built aircraft designed with stealth technology, while it was also developed to serve as the basis for a family of stealth-based aerial combat systems that could include drones. As with many other Russian military platforms, the development of the Su-57 (NATO reporting name \u201cFelon\u201d) actually began during the Soviet era.<\/p>\n

The Soviet Future?<\/h2>\n

Beginning in the late 1970s, Moscow began to consider the capabilities of a multirole combat aircraft that would eventually replace the MiG-29 and Su-27. The efforts, which consisted of two programs, progressed through the 1980s but were then left to whither following the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991. Those programs were canceled in the 1990s due to funding issues \u2014 but it was in 1999 that the Russian Ministry of Defense began work on a new \u201cnext-generation\u201d fighter initially as the PAK FA program<\/p>\n

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The Su-57 is intended to replace several aircraft in Russia\u2019s current inventory including the Su-27 shown above. Image: Alan Wilson\/CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This led to the Su-57, which was seen as a significant leap forward in Russian aircraft design.<\/p>\n

The \u201cfifth-generation\u201d stealth, multirole fighter was developed to combine the functions of an attack plane with a fighter jet, and to be able to engage and destroy various land, airborne and maritime targets. It was noted for its use of composite materials and an aerodynamic configuration that includes a pair of internal weapons bays, which help provide a low level of radar and infrared signature, while the Su-57 is also capable of developing supersonic cruising speed.<\/p>\n

Each bay can carry up to four K-77M beyond visual range radar-guided missions, while it can also carry a pair of K-74M2 short-range infrared-guided missiles in underwing fairings \u2014 but at the expense of its stealth.<\/p>\n

\"k-77m\n<\/picture>
The new K-77M radar-guided missile is believed to be an evolution of the R-77 missile shown here. It is similar to the U.S. AIM-120 AMRAAM system. Image: Allocer\/CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The advanced fighter is reported to be equipped with an advanced onboard computer that can act as \u201csecond pilot,\u201d assisting the human operator during combat sorties.<\/p>\n

In 2020, the Sukhoi company, a subsidiary of the state-owned United Air Corporation (UAC), signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to deliver 76 Su-57 fighter jets. Serial production was set to begin at UAC\u2019s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.<\/p>\n

Moscow has continued to tout the capabilities of the Su-57, and some of it arguably borders on hyperbole rather than fact. It was in October 2021 that Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov told state media outlet Tass that the fighter was even more capable than the United States Air Force\u2019s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II \u2014 each of which is produced by aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n

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A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 477th Fighter Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, prepares for takeoff on Jan. 7, 2023. Image: Erica Webster\/U.S.A.F.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe Su-57 outshines them by now in terms of the amount and diversity of armament,\u201d Leonkov was quoted as saying. \u201cOn top of that, the latest solutions, such as the second pilot as a system that facilitates aircraft control and combat operations, a spherical all-around radar that \u2018sees\u2019 everything, and cutting-edge electronic warfare systems aboard the Su-57 leave the U.S. rival far behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

No Show in Ukraine?<\/h2>\n

The Russian Aerospace Force has been the primary operator of the fighter, and it was reportedly tested in combat conditions in Syria in 2018 \u2014 yet hasn\u2019t been widely employed over the skies of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

To date, there have only been a handful of reported cases where the Su-57 was utilized in combat operations in the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n

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This Sukhoi Su-57 performs at the International Military-Technical Forum \u201cArmy-2020\u201d, a Russian Federation event. Image: Andrei Shmatko\/CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe absence of the Su-57 in the war in Ukraine is most likely down to the very limited fleet size,\u201d explained Harry Boneham, aerospace analyst at international analytics firm GlobalData.<\/p>\n

One factor could be that despite the hype surrounding the aircraft, and repeated claims from the Kremlin that the fighter would enter \u201cserial production,\u201d fewer than 20 are believed to have been produced.<\/p>\n

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The Su-57 is arguably Russia\u2019s most advanced fighter. One unresolved question is how many do they actually have in service? Image: United Aircraft Corporation\/Rostec<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWestern officials have said that Russia only possesses 10 aircraft, and only has the capacity to field one at a time, in its own uncontested airspace,\u201d Boneham noted. \u201cIn such small numbers, it is unlikely that the Su-57 would have any appreciable impact on the air environment in Ukraine. Whilst the platform has been used in the war, it has only been deployed in long-range standoff missile launches whilst still in Russian airspace.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It has been further speculated that Russia may not have confidence in the capabilities of the platform, but there could be other factors at play, especially as some media sources have reported that the Su-57 has conducted successful strikes into Ukraine. The bigger issue may be that Moscow simply doesn\u2019t want to risk any of its advanced \u2014 and terribly expensive \u2014 fighters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Russians are confident in the aircraft, but I agree that a combat loss would definitely be a setback, especially for their export aspirations. Now that the U.S. is training Ukrainian troops on the Patriot systems at Ft. Sill, the Russians may not risk it anymore,\u201d suggested Brad Curran, aerospace & defense principal consultant at aviation research firm Frost & Sullivan.<\/p>\n

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Six Su-57 fighters escort Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s airplane as it approaches Chkalov State Flight Test Centre airfield on May 14, 2019. Image:\u00a0Kremlin.ru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It would certainly not be good for the Kremlin were the Su-57 to be shot down, which would be another propaganda coup for Kyiv.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe loss of an aircraft would however be a rhetorical win for the Ukrainians, could impact future export prospects, and would risk the exposure of sensitive technology,\u201d Boneham added. \u201cThus, the absence of the Su-57 is not due to a lack of confidence in the aircraft on the part of the Kremlin, but is instead due to low fleet numbers and a general risk-averse attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Numbers Game<\/h2>\n

According to statements made by UAC and the Kremlin, the Russian Aerospace Force will reportedly receive 22 Su-57 fighters by the end of next year, while that number is set to increase to 76 by 2028. It is worth noting that those goals were set before Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine a year ago.<\/p>\n

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Russian Su-57 fighters flying in formation for a demonstration orchestrated for Russian President Putin. Image:\u00a0Kremlin.ru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the issue of cost for the advanced aircraft, it remains unclear if Russia has the manufacturing capacity to actually produce the fighters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhilst the geopolitical incentives for a large acquisition of the Su-57 continue to persist, the capacity of the Russian defense industry to mass produce technologically advanced platforms is questionable, especially following the imposition of Ukraine-related sanctions,\u201d said Boneham.<\/p>\n

There is also the issue that Russia can\u2019t actually afford not to move forward with the Su-57. Though the Kremlin hasn\u2019t lost that many aircraft in Ukraine \u2014 at least when put in perspective with the number of military personnel and tanks \u2014 Russia continues to operate a fleet of aircraft dating back to the Cold War.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike the U.S., their air fleet is very old and needs replacements,\u201d explained Curran. \u201cThat would account for large production, I would not be optimistic on very many exports though.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A Su-57 lands on an airfield during the winter. Russia claims the fighter has the most advanced onboard electronics today. Image:\u00a0Sukhoi\u00a0Corp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is actually where the Sukhoi Su-75 \u201cCheckmate\u201d could come into play. The light tactical aircraft, which was officially unveiled at the 2021 MAKS air show outside of Moscow, was developed based on technology employed in the Su-57 for the export market. Aviation experts have suggested this was meant to help fund the developmental costs of the Su-57.<\/p>\n

However, to date, only static displays have been presented at air shows and the Su-75 won\u2019t likely take its first flight until at least some time in 2024 at the earliest. It further suggests that Russia is trying to leverage the Su-75 as much as possible, but the result could simply be a bargain-bin fifth-generation fighter instead of a truly capable warbird.<\/p>\n

The fact that the Su-57 isn\u2019t being used in combat likely isn\u2019t going to help sales of any export models, or the Su-75 for that matter. Given that Russia has been cautious about deploying the jet, and there is little reason to suggest that the United States would ever supply Kyiv with F-22 or F-35 fighters, we probably won\u2019t get a chance to see which is truly the best over the skies of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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