According to a statement by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko, the first production Su-57 is ready for delivery to Russian forces. This delivery should take place before the end of 2019. 2020 will see the delivery of a new device, with production increasing in the following years. As a reminder, Russia passed order of 76 Su-57s for a total amount of 170 billion rubles, bringing the unit price of the device to a little over €31 million.
20 m long and 14 m wide, the Su-57, recently designated by NATO as the Felon, is a heavy fighter with an empty mass of 18 tonnes and a maximum take-off mass of 35 tonnes, like the Su-35. The production aircraft will be powered by two turbojets izdeliye 30 with vectored thrust, with a dry thrust of 108 KN, and 176 KN with post-combustion. The aircraft will maintain a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than or equal to 1, even when fully loaded on takeoff. It reaches a maximum speed of Mach 2 at high altitude, and a speed of super cruise (without afterburner) of Mach 1,6 at high altitude. The plane carries up to 7 tons of fuel internal, giving it a range of 3500 km without additional tank, and 1500 km in super-cruise.
Detection is ensured by a Sh121 radar AESA based on the N036 Byelka, capable of detecting targets up to 400 km according to the manufacturer Tikhomirov NIIP, to simultaneously track up to 60 targets, and engage 16. The radar is composed of a main antenna in the nose, and secondary side AESA antennas offering very large angle detection capability At the phone. It is also equipped with a system multi-spectral optronics 101Ks Atoll, covering the functions of IRST and alert detectors on the infrared and ultraviolet spectra, as well as concerning laser aiming, as well as a suite of electronic warfare L401 Himalaya.
The Felon can carry a wide range of missiles and ammunition, whether in its holds or on its 6 external hardpoints. In particular, it will be able to implement the R37M very long range air-to-air missile intended to eliminate support aircraft, such as Awacs or tanker aircraft. It can also use numerous Air-Ground munitions, are cruise missile Kh59, missiles anti-ship Kh35, or missiles anti-radar Kh-58.
The device is designed to evolve in concert with the S70 Okhotnik B combat drone, who must enter service by 2024 according to Russian authorities. The 20-ton stealth drone will carry out both remote effector/detector missions, like the Remote Carrier in the FCAS program, and Loyal Wingman missions, according to the concept developed by the United States. The Okhotnik-B was designed to have consistent performance with those of the Su-57, particularly in terms of range. According to the Russian authorities, the Su-57 presents a Radar Equivalent Area of the order of 0,5m2 in the frontal sector, i.e. much lower stealth in absolute terms than that of the F35 or the F22. The Russian aircraft will, however, be able to compensate for this handicap through the use of its long-range infrared detectors, and through native cooperation with the Okhotnik-B, which represents a significant advantage in the medium term.
The Su-57 program has often been judged so inadequate by the Anglo-Saxon defense press, which has several times announced its failure, and even its cessation. In reality, the Felon is a device designed by and for the Russian forces, and responds perfectly to the doctrines employment and commitment of them. Thus, the device did not neglect its maneuverability, nor his autonomy where survivability (twin-engine) on the altar of stealth, and the combination of these 3 criteria will allow the Russian forces to implement a powerfully armed aircraft, with significant fuel reserves even at great distances, without requiring external canisters. altering stealth, or in-flight refueling, deemed too vulnerable.
Regardless, the design of such a device, and its mass production, represents a tour de force for a country with the GDP of Italy. Far from being disarmed or disadvantaged against Western aircraft, the Su-57 brings a differentiated vision of the notion of air power, based on targeted strikes to eliminate the adversary's strongholds, while being implemented from remote bases. In this sense, the Su-57, certainly more rustic, could be qualified as "Anti-F35“, as the paradigms that gave birth to the two devices diverge. But if the unit price of the Felon is indeed €31 million as announced, and the performance is also at the level of the announcements, we can wonder what would, in fact, be the most successful device.