On Victory Day, as part of an air parade over Moscow, a link of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft will fly by. In the frames of the rehearsal, it is easy to distinguish four cars that will become participants in the review of troops in the Russian capital in honor of the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Supersonic Flights
In an exclusive interview with RT, Russian military pilots called the Su-57 the only fifth-generation aircraft in the world capable of using rocket weapons at any speed and altitude. This quality is deprived, in particular, of the American fighter-bomber F-35 Lightning II, which is considered the main foreign competitor of the domestic aircraft.
“Many data on the Su-57 are classified, some characteristics are prohibited to disclose. But I can say for sure that there are no restrictions on the operation of our aircraft and combat use in various ranges of speeds and altitudes, ”Vladlen Rusanov, deputy commander of the Swifts aerobatic team, said in a conversation with RT.
As noted by the pilot, in the afterburner mode (characterized by high fuel consumption), the Su-57 is capable of accelerating to Mach 2.45, with a non-forced flight - to Mach 2, that is, twice the speed of sound. In this case, the F-35 has a lot of restrictions when flying on supersonic.
In particular, as the American edition of Defense News reported, when flying at supersonic speeds at extremely high altitudes, the B-C and F-35 fighter can destroy tail antennas, keels, and damage the radar absorbing coating.
“The Americans have not yet been able to achieve that their aircraft (F-35. - RT ) could accelerate to more than 1.4 Mach numbers and fly quietly at such speeds, that is, to fully carry out the combat tasks assigned to it in full. In this extremely important component, the Su-57 definitely surpasses the F-35, ”stated Rusanov.
According to the pilot, the speed limit of the American aircraft does not fit into the concept of air combat dominating today. It implies prompt detection of the enemy at distant approaches, an attack from the maximum permissible distance and subsequent withdrawal from the affected area. Speed qualities are one of the key success factors in such a battle. They allow the aircraft to quickly reach the line of target detection and missile launch, as well as perform defensive maneuvers. Su-57 is capable of performing such tasks more efficiently than the F-35.
According to Rusanov, the combat contact of two modern aircraft at close range and in range cannot be ruled out, but this scenario is unlikely given the current level of development of missile weapons, avionics and electronic warfare (EW).
Another advantage of the Su-57 in comparison with the American counterparts is a higher combat load. A Russian aircraft can lift 10 tons of ammunition into the air, F-35 - just over 8 tons.
In addition, the use of weapons on a domestic machine is almost imperceptible to enemy detection tools. This effect is achieved using special geometric structures and composite materials from which the launcher is made. It is used for the use of short-range missiles. The launch of medium and long-range missiles, according to Rusanov, occurs through a special catapult.
“The enormous advantage of the Su-57 is the viewing angle of the airborne radar station. It allows for safer use of missiles with a radar homing head (GOS), ”Rusanov said.
As explained by the interlocutor of RT, in all aircraft, the pilot must direct the missile from the radar seeker to the target using a radar beam. But in this case, he loses the ability to perform any maneuvers.
A Su-57 pilot must also conduct a missile, however, a unique radar station allows him to deviate from the launch line by tens of degrees. Such an opportunity for the F-35, according to Rusanov, is deprived and therefore forced to remain in the zone of hypothetical defeat until the end of the flight of the rocket.
“Operation F -35 is unsafe”
At the end of April, Defense News, citing a statement from the Pentagon’s F-35 focal point, said the maximum allowed time for high-speed flight on this machine was reduced. The reason was the aforementioned damage to the elements of the tail parts of aircraft that occur at high speeds.
According to reporters, the US Department of Defense refused to send the F-35 for revision, deciding instead to lower its performance.
“The operation of the F-35 at supersonic sound is unsafe for pilots due to the high probability of mechanical damage. However, I want to emphasize that this defect was detected much earlier (even when this aircraft was created), but it was not fixed, ”noted an instructor pilot, master of sports in aerobatics in jet aircraft, major VKS Andrey Krasnoperov .
He explains the ignoring of this problem by the rush of the defense industry of the USA and the Pentagon, caused by the desire to demonstrate to the world and Russia the power and "absolute technological superiority" of American aviation.
“The F-35 concept involves flying and performing combat missions at supersonic level: target detection, interception, striking, quick return to the place of basing safe and sound. There are big doubts that the American aircraft is capable of this, ”stated Krasnoperov.
According to the instructor pilot, now correcting the operational parameters of the F-35, the US Department of Defense de facto refuses to recognize and correct earlier mistakes. This approach does not allow the brainchild of Lockheed Martin to be considered a full-fledged fifth-generation aircraft, concludes Krasnopyorov.
“Take into account the negative experience of the United States”
Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation, Major General Vladimir Popov, in an interview with RT, noted that the F-35 in comparison with the Su-57 does have significant drawbacks, including in terms of speed. At the same time, Popov is sure that the American aircraft has a lot of advantages necessary in battle, primarily due to avionics and radio-absorbing materials.
“We from the USA have different design schools and, accordingly, views on the development of aviation. Russia relies heavily on maneuverability and speed; the United States focuses mainly on on-board equipment and low visibility. Here they achieved serious success. Although the quality of the equipment and materials of the Su-57 are not inferior to the American ones, ”Popov believes.
- Su-57 fulfills tasks during the flight
- RIA News
- © Mikhail Voskresensky
According to the expert, it is too early to draw final conclusions regarding the success of the fifth-generation American aircraft program. However, based on the available information, Popov believes that the Su-57 looks preferable to its American counterpart.
A similar point of view is shared by the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev. The analyst is convinced that the combat potential of both the Su-57 and F-35 has not yet been revealed. The expert recalled that the Russian car so far flies on the fourth-generation engine AL-41F1 - the newest engine (“product 30”) is in the process of testing.
In turn, overseas fighter-bomber, according to Kornev, suffers from a lack of reliability and whimsical software.
“Who is stronger always determines the real fight. But let's hope that the duel between the Su-57 and F-35 will occur only in the form of mathematical models. Both aircraft are extremely technologically sophisticated products. The main advantage of the Russian fighter lies in its youth - its refinement also dragged on, but it is obvious that our designers and the military took into account the negative experience of the USA and at least part of the Americans’ mistakes were not repeated, ”says Kornev.
According to the expert, the F-35 project was the victim of the United States' insatiable desire to create a unique combat aircraft, in which the best technological achievements would be embodied. However, the Americans underestimated the complexity of this task and made a mistake in planning the resources necessary for the implementation of the project.
“Because of the need to constantly refine and correct something, the States thwarted the plans for the supply of F-35s to the troops. What to do next is not very clear: invest in upgrading the aircraft, buying a fourth generation, or starting to develop a new car? Russian specialists looked at the situation more soberly and were able to create an airplane in which the key qualities that influence combat effectiveness are balanced, ”Kornev summarized.