Chairman of the Committee on Defense of the Federation Council, former commander in chief of the VKS, Viktor Bondarev, said it was possible to re-equip the fifth-generation supersonic fighter of the fifth generation Su-57 into a shock UAV. According to him, the newest Russian aircraft "has all the makings to turn into a fully automatic unmanned version of a combat vehicle."
“Nothing like (and even better) has not been invented in the world today. Experts classify the Su-57 not just as a sample of the fifth generation, but as a 5+ generation aircraft. Moreover, the introduction of new technologies in this fighter continues. Some of them are considered by experts as sixth generation technologies, ”said Bondarev in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
At the same time, the senator urged not to run ahead, arguing about the prospects for the creation of a sixth generation aircraft, which "will become a transitional option between manned fighter jets and unmanned intelligent strike systems."
Bondaryov stressed the need to focus on mastering the modernization potential of the Su-57. Former Commander-in-Chief VKS considers that “opinions about the transition to the sixth generation often sound unprofessional.” According to him, without mastering the technology of the fifth generation, “it is impossible to go straight to the sixth”.
“I repeat: the Su-57 airline is needed, without it there is no progress. It is necessary for our armed forces to ensure effective counteraction to enemy troops and a guaranteed superiority over the air forces of any countries, ”said Bondarev.
"Almost unlimited possibilities"
At present, the Su-57 is at the stage of testing with the engine of the “second stage” (“product 30”), which corresponds to the characteristics of the fifth generation, that is, it is capable of developing supersonic speed in the driveless mode. At the same time, the aircraft retained the previous level of super-maneuverability.
It differs from the fourth generation Su-57 aircraft with an unusually small effective reflective surface, becoming almost invisible to radar stations (RLS). This quality was achieved by the Sukhoi Design Bureau specialists due to the special geometry of the airframe, the wing and the use of radio absorbing materials.
The Su-57 is equipped with the most modern onboard equipment. She allowed to automate management of a set of processes. In addition, the fifth generation fighter pilot receives information about what is happening in the theater of military operations from various sources (from ground vehicles, drones, other aircraft).
Also, the superiority of the Su-57 over its predecessors is ensured by using radar H036 with an active phased antenna array and a unique system of electronic jamming L402. The aircraft is capable of detecting targets at a range of up to 400 km and accompanying up to 62 objects.
- Training flight of a pair of Su-57
- © Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Su-57 can carry 14 types of weapons. In particular, these are conventional and adjustable bombs, guided missiles of various classes, including the X-59MK2 with a range of damage up to 300 km (passed a successful test in Syria in February 2018. - RT ). Moreover, the entire arsenal is located in the internal compartments, and not on the external sling.
Currently, the most modern combat aircraft of the VKS is the Su-35S generation 4 ++. Su-57 confidently surpasses this car in two critical indicators for aviation: the combat radius (5.5 thousand km versus 4.5) and the combat load (10 tons versus 8). According to Bondarev, the Su-57 gives the pilots "almost unlimited possibilities" in battle due to the high level of robotization.
"Su-57 is equipped with a full-fledged" electronic pilot. In the conditions of time deficiency, he can also give a person the right decision and take on a large number of routine operations, ”Bondarev described the car.
In pursuit of the sixth generation
In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev noted that the innovations implemented in the Su-57 allow Russia to create various air platforms, including the drone drone that Bondarev spoke about. However, the expert believes that the super-maneuverable UAVs need not be developed by retrofitting a fifth-generation aircraft.
“The fact is that the Su-57 has too large dimensions to“ reincarnate ”into a drone. In addition, UAVs around the world decided to create from scratch. For this reason, I think that in the future Russia will have a supersonic UAV, but based on the technologies that our fifth generation fighter is famous for, ”said Kornev.
According to the expert, a promising drone can get an aerodynamic configuration from the Su-57, ultra-maneuverability and stealth. The absence of the pilot will allow to install additional equipment and increase fuel reserves. In his opinion, these characteristics will have the next generation of fighters.
At the moment, the military keep secret the exact requirements for the sixth generation of jet aircraft. Work on projects of promising fighters allegedly started in the second half of the 2000s. Research and development work is carried out in Russia, the United States and China.
In June 2016, the head of the Directorate of Military Aviation Programs of the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UAC), former commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force Vladimir Mikhailov, said that a prototype of a sixth generation domestic aircraft would take off no earlier than 2025. It follows from his words that artificial intelligence will be able to control the combat vehicle on a par with the pilot.
“It will be hypersonic, with a speed of several Mach, single, invisible to the enemy, supermaneuverable, multifunctional, made of composite materials. The plane will have a cockpit, but at the same time it will be able to fly both with and without a pilot, that is, it will combine both the manned and unmanned version, ”Mikhailov explained.
- Su-57 on the runway
- © Vitaly V.Kuzmin
Experts of the Sukhoi Design Bureau (responsible for the airframe and the wing), the Radio Electronic Technologies concern (automated control systems and the electronic warfare complex), the RTI group (radio photo radar) and the OKB design bureau are working on the sixth generation aircraft. A. Lyulki (engine development).
Kornev assumes that in the coming years, Russia will complete the revision of the pilot version of the Su-57 and will make some progress in creating its unmanned version.
At the same time, as noted by the interlocutor of RT, it is still premature to talk about any dates for the appearance of the prototype of a shock supersonic UAV. The expert stated that the cycle of creating a new generation of technology has increased significantly and now lasts an average of 15-20 years before the launch of mass production.
“Probably, an experienced drone will be assembled after 2025, but it will be brought to mind for a long time. In any case, the efforts of engineers will not be in vain. Even if all the leading states of the world consider the sixth generation insufficiently effective, most of the developments will certainly find practical application, ”concluded Kornev.