Russian military Su-57 fighter jet. (Source: TASS) |
Military expert, director of the Russian Air Defense Forces Museum, Colonel Yury Knutov talked about this fighter jet with Russian media.
“The Su-57 fighter is a truly unique machine. The Su-57 has some elements of sixth-generation aircraft, which is evident when it flies in remote control mode. The cabin is completely glazed and protected from electromagnetic radiation. Stealth technology is used in the main parts of the aircraft, making it discreet and undetectable. The aircraft has sensors that allow it to see all objects around it,” Knutov said.
“In addition, the Su-57 is equipped with extremely modern aiming devices and the co-pilot is a computer with artificial intelligence elements. Currently, the engines are also being perfected to allow the aircraft to fly at extremely low altitudes at supersonic speeds,” the expert added.
The maximum weapons load of the Su-57 is about 14 - 16 tons. For comparison, the maximum weapons load of the Su-35 is 12 tons, the Su-30 is 10.4 tons, the US F-22 Raptor is about 10 tons, and the F-35 is 8.1 tons.
The Su-57's combat load is much higher than that of previous-generation fighters. This was achieved thanks to the use of composite materials. For example, the Su-30SM and Su-35 use 25% non-metallic materials (composites, fiberglass, Kevlar, various plastics). On the Su-57, this proportion increases to 35%, thanks to which the aircraft will be lighter despite having the same dimensions as its predecessors. In addition, the new engine increases thrust by another 15%, which also contributes to the increase in weapons load.
With a record number of weapons, the Su-57 is fully capable of being equipped with the latest weapons, along with many large-sized support equipment, such as radar. The Su-57 fighter is not just an aircraft, but a combat complex, including the latest weapons launched from the aircraft. Enterprises of the Russian defense industry complex have developed about 15 new weapons models for this type of aircraft.
The Su-57 has four weapons bays built into the fuselage. The two main bays are large and take up most of the fuselage length, designed to accommodate large weapons, such as long-range air-to-air missiles (such as the Vympel R-37 with a range of 400 km, the Kh-59 anti-ship missile, large bombs of 1,500 kg...). On both sides, there are two additional small bays, which can only accommodate a small missile such as the RVV-MD short-range air-to-air missile (range of 40 km).
The Su-57 has 12 weapon hardpoints, some of which can carry weapons weighing up to 1.5 tons each. The Su-57's weapons bay system can accommodate up to four new-generation Vympel R-77 missiles, providing superior air-to-air capabilities. If equipped with larger missiles, such as the R-37 with a range of up to 400 km, the Su-57 can carry six of these missiles in two large internal bays.
Although it is a 5th generation fighter, the Su-57 is still equipped with a 30mm 9A1-4071K cannon with 150 rounds for close combat.
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