‘Su-57 would be a world beating, game changing aircraft in 1985:’ USAF Avionics Technician explains why

Su-57 stealth fighters to take part in Victory Parade for first time

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Su-57: a world beating, game changing aircraft in 1985

The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi. It is the product of the PAK FA (”prospective aeronautical complex of front-line air forces”) programme, which was initiated in 1999 as a more modern and affordable alternative to the Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42. Sukhoi’s internal designation for the aircraft is T-50. The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service designed with stealth technology and is intended to be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft.

The configuration of the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon is an evolution of the Su-27’s shape adapted for the requirements of low visibility and supersonic speed and agility.

The aircraft is expected to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian military service and has also been marketed for export. The first prototype aircraft flew in 2010, but the program would experience a protracted development due to various structural and technical issues that emerged during trials, including the destruction of the first production aircraft in a crash before its delivery. After repeated delays, the first Su-57 entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in December 2020. The fighter is expected to have a service life of up to 35 years.

How does the Sukhoi Su-57 compare to the US’ F-22 and F-35?

Damien Leimbach, former USAF Avionics Technician, explains on Quora;

‘I think it’s safe to say that the Su-57 Felon is a world beating, game changing aircraft that is the most dominating fighter plane in the sky at the present time.

‘Assuming the present time is 1985.

‘Because in 2024? Not so much.

Su-57 Vs F-22 and F-35

‘First, Comrade Stalin himself said that quantity had a quality all its own. And in this regard, the quality of the Felon just does not measure up. Since the question specifically asks to compare the jet to the F-22 and the F-35, the numbers just aren’t even in the same ballpark.

‘The Felon was supposed to have 150 aircraft built by 2025. So far, they’ve only produced 20. Meanwhile, Lockheed delivered the last of the 180 production F-22’s, twelve years ago.

‘The F-35? Get out of here. Over 1000 have been produced so far, with a total of 3000 ordered that will be delivered by the end of 2045.

‘From an avionics standpoint, The Su-57 isn’t terrible. But it lacks the sensor fusion of the F-35, which inarguably is the best in the world. Even the F-22 doesn’t compare, and is being retro-fitted to make it more compatible and capable.

‘The issue really is money, not engineers. The west has a lot of it and Russia does not. Despite their size, Russia’s economy is about the size of Spain. They can’t afford to invent the best stuff, but the west can. So everyone wants to buy the F-35 and no one wants to buy the Su-57, which only makes the lack of money issue worse.

A re-skinned Su-35

‘The US has 17 countries currently approved to buy the F-35 and at least six more that want it. Russia had one partner on the Felon, India, who dropped out when the plane would not meet production targets.

‘There are deeper issues as well. The F-22 and F-35 were designed from the ground up with state-of-the-art computers and modeling to be top of the line stealth fighters.

‘The Su-57 was largely a re-skinned Su-35, which itself is an upgraded and modernized Su-27, first flown in the 1977. The reason this is important is that there is only so much you can do to reduce Radar Cross Section when your major structural components were designed in the 1970’s, before stealth was a design consideration. It’s the same issue with the F-15 Silent Eagle, a “stealtherized” version of the F-15. You can adapt the airframe to have stealthier components, but it will never have an RCS as small as an F-22 or F-35.’

Leimbach concludes;

‘In short, the F-22 and F-35 have frames designed for stealth, and the Su-57 has stealth adapted to a pre-existing 1970’s frame. Better than any 4th gen fighter to be sure, but it’s never going to be as good as a 5th gen that’s purpose built.

‘A perfect example of this is the rear aspect of the Felon. Half the engine is left exposed. There is no attempt at reducing radar or IR signatures at all.