State tests of the fifth-generation fighter Su-57 will end this year, after which their serial purchases are planned. This was announced by the commander of the Air Force, deputy commander of the Aerospace Forces, Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov. He also said that in 2021 the tests of the 4 ++ MiG-35 generation fighter will end.
“It is planned to complete the state tests of the MiG-35 at the end of 2021, and the Su-57 this year. Upon completion, serial purchases are provided. I want to remind you: according to the results of the meetings in Sochi, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Russian President Vladimir Putin. - RT ) was tasked with reequipping three regiments on Su-57 aircraft, ”he said in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
Dronov also spoke about the distinguishing features of the latest Russian aircraft. So, the Su-57, according to him, is distinguished by multifunctionality, super-maneuverability, a mode of long cruising flight at supersonic speeds and high automation of both fighter control and the use of its weapons. “In its capabilities, it surpasses the fifth generation aircraft of the foreign air force,” the Air Force commander emphasized.
In turn, the MiG-35 is a representative of the previous generation 4 ++. Aircraft with similar characteristics are already in service with Russia, including the Su-30SM and Su-35S. As noted by Dronov, the new fighter from the MiG corporation differs from its competitors in cost effectiveness.
“The main difference between the MiG-35 and the multifunctional aircraft of the 4 ++ Su-30SM and Su-35S generation already in service is profitability. The cost of his flight hour is about one and a half times lower than that of modern aircraft of the Sukhoi family, ”the lieutenant general explained.
Assessing the development of the air forces of Russia as a whole, Dronov noted that it is happening at the same pace as the "general modernization that is taking place in the army."
“The incoming aircraft models are equipped with the latest personal protection systems. Much attention is paid to improving air survival, reducing radar visibility, automating aircraft control processes and using weapons, ”the Air Force commander emphasized.
It is worth noting that the airborne forces are armed with some of the most modern types of weapons - the share of modern weapons in the airborne forces is 74%, and 68% in the rest of the army.
- MiG-35 fighter
- RIA News
- © Maxim Blinov
“Launched into mass production”
Recall, on July 30, Sukhoi Design Bureau issued a brochure dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the enterprise. It reported that serial production of the Su-57 fighter was launched in Russia. Until 2028, according to the state armament program, the Russian Aerospace Forces will receive 76 such aircraft.
“The fifth-generation multifunctional aviation complex, which has high intelligence on-board equipment, low visibility, large lines of interception of air and destruction of ground targets, was launched into serial production in 2019, and a long-term contract was signed with the Ministry of Defense for the supply of more than 70 aircraft,” the text says.
The development of this fighter itself began in the early 2000s. Initially, the project was called the “Advanced Aviation Complex of Frontline Aviation” (PAK FA), and the plant received the name T-50.
According to well-known characteristics, the aircraft will be able to fly at a speed of 1300 - 1800 km / h, and accelerate to a maximum of 2600 km / h. Such indicators should provide a new engine - "Product 30". However, while it is being tested and the first samples of the Su-57 are equipped with units of the "first stage" from the Su-35S. Later, all aircraft, including those already manufactured, will be transferred to a new model of engines.
The first flight of the Su-57 made in January 2010. Since then, the fighter has already received baptism of fire - in 2018, several copies were transferred to Syria, where they took part in the operations of the air forces against militants.
“A serious breakthrough on the MiG-35 program”
The MiG-35 is also already at the disposal of the Russian Aerospace Forces - two of these fighters have already been transferred to the Ministry of Defense, four more will be transferred before the end of this year. About this in an interview with RIA Novosti told the CEO of MiG Corporation Ilya Tarasenko.
“Over the past three years, we have made a major breakthrough in the MiG-35 program. As soon as possible, we launched the production of this aircraft, conducted its tests, in 2.5 years we went from development work to a contract with the Ministry of Defense, ”he said.
Serial production of these aircraft established at the plant named after P.A. Voronin in Lukhovitsy near Moscow, and separate units for the MiG-35 are manufactured at the Sokol aircraft plant in Nizhny Novgorod.
The aircraft was created on the basis of the MiG-29, but the depth of modernization is such that the manufacturer considers the aircraft a new model. So, the MiG-35 has a higher maximum take-off mass (23.5 tons versus 18.4), a longer flight range (1.8 thousand km versus 1.5 thousand km) and a maximum increase from 3 tons to 4.5 tons combat load.
A feature of the newest fighter is also considered to be the Zhuk-A radio-electronic station (BRLS) - it allows the pilot to detect objects at a distance of up to 200 km, maintain tracking of 30 targets and simultaneously fire at six targets.