On May 9, 77 aircraft and helicopters, including a group of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters, will take part in the air part of the military parade in Moscow.
The day before, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) posted a video of the preparation of these machines on its YouTube channel.
In particular, the footage shows that the keel of one of the fighters bears the image of a heavy strike drone S-70 Okhotnik.
Earlier, the corporation reported that the UAV would be able to work in conjunction with the Su-57.
“When used together, unmanned aerial vehicles will solve a full range of tasks, working on air and ground targets under the command of a leading manned vehicle as part of network-centric interaction,” the UAC said.
Image of the S-70 drone on the tail of the Su-57 fighter
© UAC Russia
The corporation emphasized that they are considering various concepts for the use of fifth-generation complexes, depending on the conditions and tasks of operations.
Invisible Su-57
The Su-57 is the latest Russian fifth-generation multifunctional fighter built on a fundamentally new platform.
This aircraft is designed to destroy all types of air targets, destroy enemy ground and surface targets with overcoming air defense systems, as well as to monitor airspace far from the base and disable the enemy’s action control system.
The first flight prototype of the Su-57 took off for the first time on January 29, 2010.
In 2013, small-scale production of test aircraft began at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ).
Until August 2017, the aircraft was called PAK FA (promising aviation complex of front-line aviation) and was designated by the factory code T-50.
The wingspan of the Su-57 is 14 m, the fuselage length is 19.7 m at a height of 4.8 m. The maximum take-off weight of the aircraft is 37 tons. at subsonic speed is 5.5 thousand km.
The Su-57 is equipped with a 30 mm 9-A1-4071K aircraft cannon and can carry a range of guided and unguided weapons: short, medium and long range air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles.
According to experts, the aircraft has a supersonic cruising speed, and due to the special geometry of the hull, intra-fuselage armament and radar-absorbing coating, it is hardly noticeable in the radar and infrared ranges.
The contract for the production of these fighters was signed during the Army-2018 international military-technical forum.
The first fighter entered the troops at the end of 2020.
By the end of 2024, the Aerospace Forces should receive 22 Su-57s, and by 2028 their number will be increased to 76.
The Su-57 fully embodies the capabilities that a combat aircraft needs in order to be ranked among the fifth generation, retired Major General Vladimir Popov, Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, said in an interview with RT.
“The fifth generation is distinguished by its low visibility, high degree of maneuverability and, at the same time, the ability to use the entire range of aviation weapons: old, modern and advanced models.
The capabilities of this aircraft in terms of combat potential, of course, are much higher than those of machines of previous generations, ”the expert noted.
Paired with "Hunter"
In September 2019, the Ministry of Defense announced the first joint flight of the Su-57 and the S-70 Okhotnik heavy drone.
The flight lasted 30 minutes.
During this test, the UAV automatically worked out interaction with the leader aircraft to expand the fighter's radar field, as well as target designation for the use of long-range weapons without the Su-57 entering the zone of conditional air defense countermeasures.
In 2021, the TASS agency, citing a source in the aircraft industry, reported that the Su-57 pilot would be able to simultaneously coordinate the actions of two to four Hunters.
Later, sources in the military-industrial complex said that a special two-seat "command" version of the Su-57 fighter would be created to interact with the attack drones.
It is worth noting that the KLA or the Sukhoi Design Bureau did not officially confirm this information.
Unmanned aerial vehicle "Hunter"
RIA News
The S-70 Okhotnik, like the Su-57, was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
This is the first heavy strike UAV of domestic production, the creation of which began in 2012.
The drone made its first test flight in August 2019.
It lasted more than 20 minutes - "Hunter" under the control of the operator performed several overflights of the airfield at an altitude of about 600 m and made a successful landing.
The S-70 is made according to the "flying wing" scheme.
Outwardly, it resembles a smaller version of the American B-2 Spirit bomber and the Northrop Grumman X-47B UAV.
The performance characteristics of the "Hunter" are not disclosed.
According to data from open sources, the maximum take-off weight of the UAV is 20 tons, the range is 3.5 thousand km, the maximum speed is about 1000 km/h, and the flight altitude is up to 10.5 km.
Without refueling, the "Hunter" can stay in the air for more than a day.
Vladimir Popov stressed that the S-70 is a jet drone, which allows it to interact with fighters.
“The S-70 will be comparable to fifth-generation aircraft in terms of speed, flight altitude and its maneuverability.
This is a jet machine, almost the same aircraft, only without a pilot and with a high degree of automation of control processes and flight tasks.
Among other things, it is integrated into the overall automated aviation control system.
This allows him to perform combat missions both independently and in conjunction with manned aircraft, ”said the interlocutor of RT.
The fighter-drone combination itself is the basis for the aviation systems of the future, which will subsequently form the sixth generation of fighter aircraft, Popov believes.
Military expert Yuri Knutov agrees with this assessment of the combined capabilities of the Su-57 and Okhotnik.
“The Su-57 is a unique vehicle, especially when combined with the Okhotnik drone.
In fact, they form a complex that can be attributed to the sixth generation.
The drone can overcome air defense systems at low altitudes, clearing space for the Su-57 to advance, ”the expert said in a conversation with RT.
The integration of a network-centric control system could turn the Su-57 into a command post that could increase the effectiveness of air combat, Knutov said.
“With such a system, the Su-57 will be able to control not only drones, but also Su-35 aircraft.
This is actually a small command post.
Moreover, it can interact with ground systems, transmitting information to them.
This is the basis for the future of our aviation, when there will be unified air and ground-based complexes capable of solving many tasks of destroying the enemy quickly and efficiently, ”the military expert emphasized.
Such a combination of a fighter and a drone will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Aerospace Forces, Knutov is sure.
“This program is very promising.
The supply of these aircraft to the troops will make it possible to solve the tasks of breaking through and overcoming enemy air defenses at a high level and with minimal losses.
In fact, these will be aircraft that clear the sky for the movement of other aircraft, destroying air defense systems, air defense systems, and conventional aviation will follow them, ”the expert concluded.