The Sukhoi Su-57 is a fifth-generation fighter jet developed by Sukhoi for the Russian Air Force. Previously this fighter jet was named PAK-FA in Russian. This aircraft has very advanced capabilities after complex upgrades, thus becoming the front line of the Russian air force. This fighter is also planned to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighter jets in the Russian air defense system. In addition, the Su-57 is also used as the basis for the Sukhoi HAL FGFA project which aims to develop fighter jets for the needs of the Indian Air Force. but the Sukhoi HAL FGFA project has ended after India was disappointed with Russia in this big project.
Sukhoi Su-57 has stealth jet technology using various combined materials. This aircraft is capable of reaching supersonic speeds and is equipped with the most sophisticated radio-electronic equipment that has ever existed. This aircraft is also equipped with a sophisticated computer installation which is generally called an electronic co-pilot.
Sukhoi Su-57 aircraft were involved in special military operations which were sent to Ukraine in many ways demonstrating their best qualities. said Slyusar quoted from TASS.
The Su-57 aircraft was deliberately designed to compete with the US’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets, which are Russia’s most serious rival countries in the field of weapons.
The first flight of the Su-57 prototype was carried out on January 29, 2010. Then followed by a second flight on February 12, 2010. And until August 31, 2010, the PAK FA Sukhoi T-50 has flown 17 times and carried out its first operations in the Air Force Russia on December 25, 2020.
The mass production of the Sukhoi Su-57 will supply the Russian Air Force with 22 additional jets by the end of 2024. The number is targeted to be 76 by the end of 2028.
Sukhoi Director, Mikhail Pogosyan, has projected the marketing of 1,000 units of Sukhoi Su-57 within the next four decades. The manufacture of this stealth fighter jet will be carried out based on the cooperation between Russia and India.
TASS news agency reported, Sukhoi is designed to destroy all targets whether in the air, ground or water. The Su-57’s radar system is said to spread throughout the fuselage. There are also innovations such as weapons placed in the fuselage. This Russian sixth-generation fighter is equipped with a laser weapon capable of igniting the warheads of enemy missiles that are attacking. The Sukhoi Su-57 was also tested for the first time in a real combat situation during the Syrian civil war in 2018.
In the beginning, the project was widely criticised, due to various problems that didn’t allow it to match fifth generation fighter jet requirements. One of the biggest problems was its engine. But after upgrading all the obstacles it turns into a very formidable force
The Sukhoi Su-57 was also designed as a fighter capable of carrying out various air to air superiority missions and air to ground attack missions without being detected by enemy defenses. With the upgraded capabilities, this aircraft is very feared by the opposing party.
One of the biggest challenges in fifth generation jets’ development in general was to conceal them from modern air defense systems.
In order to achieve that engineers had to hide all of the weaponry guided and unguided missiles, as well as bombs within the fuselage. They also had to use the latest and most expensive composite materials in the airframe construction.
The jet received a new generation jet engine that allows it to accelerate in non afterburner mode to supersonic speed and maintain it throughout the entire flight.
It flies at a speed of more than 2,000 km/h, while manoeuvring and performing aerobatics, thus being able to better evade enemies’ missiles and gun fire.
