MWM: Six radars and a laser — the Su-57 has no equal in its capabilities

The Russian new-generation Su-57 fighter, which entered service in December 2020, is not yet operational on a squadron scale, but it is expected that by the end of the current state armament program in 2027, three full groups will already be in service. At the same time, many of the fighter's functions can be called outstanding, writes the American expert magazine Military Watch Magazine (MWM).

The successor to the MiG-1.42 program, canceled with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Su-57 is a heavy stealth aircraft and was conceived as the basis of the Russian fleet and, probably, the fleet of key military partners such as Algeria and Vietnam. There are only three post-fourth generation fighters in the world: in addition to the Su-57, there are also the Chinese J-20 and the American F-35. But if foreign developments are mainly focused either on air battles or air raids, then the Russian fighter seems to be more balanced and does not have a pronounced specialization.

Among the fifth-generation projects, it stands out for a number of reasons: it combines technologies and capabilities that its foreign competitors lack. In fact, this is a different type of aircraft. However, due to delays in the implementation of the program, this aircraft in the future will have to compete not only with the F-35, but also put up with the dominance of American and Chinese sixth-generation fighters, which are currently being developed. Therefore, more and more sixth-generation technologies are being tested with an eye to further integrating them into the Su-57 airframe. Although they have not yet been implemented, many of the already existing fighter functions can be called truly outstanding, as they are second to none. Below are the seven most notable.

Six radars

Most fighters, including all fifth-generation competitors, have only one radar. There are six of them built into the Su-57 airframe — this can provide a significant advantage in situational awareness. For the first time, several radars were used on its predecessor, the Su-35 generation 4++, which entered service in 2014.

He, along with a passive radar with Irbis-E electronic scanning in the bow, received two L-band radars with AFAR at the bases of the wings. This gives him excellent electronic warfare capabilities and better detection of stealth targets. Well, six Su-57 radars allow not only to track 60 targets simultaneously (an unsurpassed level!), but also to work in different wave ranges — this optimizes it for electronic warfare and detection of inconspicuous targets at long distances. Radars are distributed throughout the body, which allows you to detect targets from behind and from the side.

This is a further development of the Su-35 with an emphasis on a wide detection angle. Although since the 2010s, fighters have increasingly relied on data exchange with auxiliary means, and Russia's ability to provide aircraft with modern network-centric means at the level of Chinese or American remains questionable, fighters' own sensors still play a pivotal role in combat. Therefore, the sensor complex will surely provide the Su-57 with a powerful advantage over rivals.

Guided missiles with AFAR

The main armament of the Su-57 air—to-air class is the K-77M. This is the successor to the P-77, which is currently equipped with Russian fourth-generation fighters. The rocket has a significantly increased flight range of 200 km and a truncated tail for launching from internal compartments, and its nose homing head uses a radar with AFAR: there are few analogues in the world. The K-77M is designed to defeat small-sized and maneuverable targets using an active phased array guidance system (AFAR) installed in the bow.

The Russian agency RT reports this as follows:

"The AFAR system consists of cone-shaped cells that are located under a transparent hood for radio waves in the nose of the rocket. Each cell receives a part of the signal, and after digital processing, the information from each of them is folded into a single mosaic. This allows the K-77M to instantly respond to sharp turns of the target, which makes interception inevitable."

This prevents fighters from leaving the field of view of missiles and provides the Su-57, perhaps, the greatest guaranteed range of destruction. Previously, the Russian Air Force cut costs and tried not to equip the latest fighters with modern air—to-air missiles (the same Su-35 often carry old R-27 missiles without active radar guidance). But the K-77M is the only long—range air—to-air missile that fits in the internal compartments of the Su-57. This leaves no choice but to purchase a sufficient number of them: at least to equip all Su-57.

Huge range and supersonic cruising speed

Its predecessor, the Su-27, was superior in flight range to Western Air Force fighters and other Soviet fighters, and the MiG-31 interceptor developed at the same time was the first to receive the possibility of long supersonic flight at cruising speed. The Su-57 also surpasses rivals in flight range. The fighter's ability to fly supersonic without using afterburners at speeds above Mach 2 provides it with the largest supersonic range in the world — over 1,500 km.

The emphasis on range is made after the end of the Cold War, when the size of the Russian Air Force declined sharply — this allows the remaining units to cover the vast airspace of the country. Loss of military bases abroad, including in Eastern Europe and in Vietnam, made the range even more important. Thanks to it, Russian fighters can demonstrate strength from bases in the country.

This is especially true given the limited capabilities of the Air Force to refuel in the air. The huge range of the Su-57 allows fighters to hit targets not only in Europe, but also far out in the Atlantic from air bases in western Russia or from more remote bases that can be better protected from possible Western attacks. This allows the fighters to cover most of the Pacific Theater and provide support to the Pacific Fleet: Japan, Taiwan and Korea. In the absence of This parameter becomes even more important for the Russian aircraft carrier fleet. It is expected that the range will be highly appreciated by potential export customers, in particular Algeria and India, which also have extensive land territory and maritime possessions.

Laser protection

One of the new features of the Su-57, which is given relatively little attention, is the system of controlled infrared countermeasures. It uses turrets capable of firing laser beams, "blinding" approaching missiles after detection. Turrets — a unique feature of the Su-57 — are installed both behind the cockpit of the fighter and below it. The Russian armed forces have previously used a similar, albeit less compact system on large helicopters.

Laser beams are especially useful against infrared-guided missiles. This allows the Su-57 to more effectively withstand short-range attacks by enemy fighters armed with missiles such as the American AIM-9X and the British AIM-132. Portable anti-aircraft missile systems, which are widely used against the Russian Air Force on Ukraine and in Syria also uses infrared guidance. Therefore, laser protection will allow the Su-57 to provide direct air support much more effectively than other Russian aircraft, complementing the fighter's stealth, its reduced radar cross-section and low infrared signature.

Unsurpassed maneuverability

Russian aircraft have been leading the world in maneuverability by a significant margin since 1982, when the MiG-29 medium fighter entered service. Three years later, it was followed by the heavier Su-27. Building on this success, the Su-27M and Su-37 fighters, developed in the 1990s on the basis of the Su-27, gained extreme maneuverability due to engines with an adjustable thrust vector, although none of them was put into mass production due to lack of funds.

The Su-30MKI, developed for India and entered service in 2002, became the first production fighter with thrust vector-controlled engines. 12 years later, the Su-35 appeared, which had even greater thrust due to the AL-41 power plants, as well as a three-dimensional vector. The Su-35 was a further development of the Su-27 and incorporated the achievements of the canceled Su-37 and Su-27M.

The Su-57 went even further and has not only a much better thrust-to-weight ratio due to the power of the Saturn-30 engines, but also a more maneuverable airframe due to its design features. This allows the aircraft to better evade missile attacks at high speed and occupy an optimal position in air combat at low speed. Combined with the additional ability to blind heat-seeking missiles at close ranges, this makes the Su-57 especially dangerous in combat without using missiles to hit targets beyond sight.

Can be used on unequipped runways

Since the 1980s, Russian fighters have been developing the ability to operate with minimal maintenance and from very poorly prepared and improvised airfields. Perhaps this was best embodied in the MiG-29 and Yak-41 fighters, which could take off from unprepared runways, unlike other fighters, especially Western ones. The Su-57 has significantly improved the take-off and landing characteristics of its predecessors and is capable of taking off with minimal take-off. Potentially, it is even suitable (with minimal adaptation) for sea-based. In particular, the fighter uses dirt reflectors, reinforced landing gear and large tires and was designed to be deployed from unprepared airfields that even lighter Western fighters are unlikely to be able to use.

This is especially useful because it is expected that the ability of major powers to hit enemy air bases with large-scale strikes will only grow over time. A vivid example of this is the development in the USA of the AGM—183A hypersonic missile, which will expose Russian airfields to serious danger at the initial stages of the war.

Hypersonic ballistic missiles

After the adoption of the X-47M2 ballistic missile with a speed of Mach 10 at the end of 2017, towards the end of 2018, it was announced that its miniature version was being developed for integration with the Su-57. Thus, it will become the only fighter in the world capable of striking with hypersonic ballistic missiles.

The missile is considered ideal for anti-ship missions and precision strikes on command centers, logistics hubs, airfields and other important targets deep behind enemy lines. Due to its high maneuverability, accuracy and speed, it is extremely difficult to intercept and can neutralize most warships with one precise hit due to kinetic energy on impact.

Whether the miniature version will retain a 2,000 km range and whether it will be able to carry nuclear warheads remains unclear. The high range and low visibility of the Su-57 in combination with such weapons can make it a strike platform virtually devoid of analogues. The integration of the missile into the fighter is an attempt to capitalize on a key area of Russian technological leadership — hypersonic weapons. This will increase the capabilities of the aircraft and partially compensate for its shortcomings in other areas (in particular, stealth).

Taking into account the fact that the Su-57 as a front-line fighter is designed for wide deployment, and by the end of the 2030s, more than 200 units are expected to be commissioned, its ability to strike ballistic missiles is particularly alarming to potential adversaries. Just one squadron equipped for strike missions can cause significant damage. If the missile is exported, it is likely that it will significantly increase the attractiveness of the Su-57, and its anti-ship capabilities may arouse increased interest from the Russian Navy, which currently uses Su-24 and Su-30SM fighters to strike from the sea.