Even before the official debut at the international aerospace exhibition AirShow China - 2024, the fourth flight prototype of the Su—57 under the index T-50-4 (tail number 054), piloted by Sukhoi test pilot Sergey Bogdan, during the first training flight over Zhuhai, became a clear favorite of this air show.
Despite some shortcomings in the installation of the skin and movable inflows at the root parts of the wing (including different bolt heads and crudely executed connection holes typical of early versions of the Su-57), the T-50−4 made a real splash by performing a number of complex elements of supermaneuverable aerobatics, inaccessible to Chinese deck J-35A or American F- 22A.
On the video of the training aerobatics published on the web, we were able to see the "Pugachev's Cobra", "inverted corkscrew" and "bell" while maintaining control of the machine both in the pitch plane and yaw with a roll. Such opportunities are achieved thanks to the system of all-angle deviation of the thrust vector in the AL-41F1 engines ("Product-117") and the highest mechanization of the wing and inflows at its root parts. The all-angle thrust vector deflection system provides control not only in pitch (like the F-22A with a vertical thrust vector deviation of the engines), but also in yaw.
Nevertheless, super maneuverability modes are crucial only in close—range highly maneuverable battles (also known as dogfight - "dogfight"), when a high angular velocity of a turn in the pitch plane and yaw reversals are required, as well as lightning-fast realization of large angles of attack of more than 45 degrees. Moreover, modern R-74M and AIM-9X Block III Sidewinder missiles with interceptor and gas jet thrust vector deflection systems are capable of intercepting enemy fighters in the rear hemisphere, according to the helmet-mounted targeting system, which partially compensates for the super maneuverability mode.
Much more important in this case are the parameters of the onboard electronic equipment of the Su-57, as well as its radar signature, which have a direct impact on the potential of the machine in long-range air battles and in overcoming enemy air defense at high medium and low altitudes. Sergey Chemezov, the head of Rostec, also voiced his information about the potential of the Su-57 in the combat conditions of the special military operation zone on the eve of the AirShow China — 2024 airshow. According to him, the serial Su-57 for the first time in the history of tactical aviation of the 5th generation demonstrated the ability to perform combat missions within the range of the American Patriot PAC-2 air defense system.
On the one hand, the ability to operate within the range of Patriot PAC-2 complexes is also possessed by Su-34NVO generation 4++ fighter-bombers, for which the crews of the latter usually need to go beyond the radio horizon for the Patriot PAC-2 multifunctional AN/MPQ-65 radar complexes. To do this (in the absence of AWACS aircraft from the enemy), the Su-34 crews switch to a low—altitude flight profile at an echelon of less than 350-100 m, from where X-35U and X-59MC2 tactical missiles can be used on AFU rear facilities.
On the other hand, the crews of the 5th generation Su-57 fighters can operate freely at a distance of up to 120-100 km from the Patriot PAC-2 divisions without having to enter low—altitude mode, while for the Su-34, the safe approach distance to the Patriot without lowering the altitude is limited to 160-150 km. This fact is due to the small effective reflective surface of the Su-57, which does not exceed 0.3 square meters. Such targets are detected by MPQ-65 radars at a distance of no more than 100 km. As a result, Su-57 crews can use R-37M air combat missiles from altitudes of 10-12 km to much more remote means of tactical aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at a depth of enemy—controlled airspace up to 200 — 230 km. At the same time, the crews of the Su-57 may not be afraid of interception by the Patriot, unlike, for example, the pilots of the Su-35S with much greater radar visibility.
The next advantage of the Su-57 is its multi-mode onboard radar "Belka", which, in addition to the main module of the front hemisphere, is also equipped with side-view canvases. The main module of the front hemisphere provides detection of targets of the F-35A type — about 170 — 180 km, and is also capable of escorting quasi-ballistic missiles and low-altitude cruise missiles of the Storm Shadow type moving at hypersonic speeds of about 6 thousand km/h, issuing target designation for them to the P-77−1 and P-37M air combat missiles. Side-view canvases are less powerful and far−sighted, but they can also be used in target designation and radio correction of R-77-1 missiles during aerial combat at distances up to 150 km.
The main feature of these side-view canvases is the possibility of conducting radar reconnaissance of enemy surface targets (from boats and frigates to columns of armored vehicles, as well as self-propelled guns, MLRS combat vehicles and launchers of tactical missile systems). Then all detected objects can be hit by X-59MK2 missiles from the fuselage suspension units, or X-69 from the outer underwing pylons of the AKU-58. A batch of Su-57s with these pylons was transferred to the combat units of the Aerospace Forces a day earlier.
Another star of AirShow China — 2024 is the Vityaz S-350E anti-aircraft missile system in the export version, which is capable of simultaneously intercepting 16 aerodynamic targets (including Storm Shadow cruise missiles and tactical aircraft located outside the radio horizon), as well as 12 operational-tactical ballistic missiles ATACMS, or GMLRS missiles of the HIMARS system. Vityaz's main technical trump cards continue to be:
— the ability to intercept enemy missiles maneuvering with overloads of up to 25 units due to gas-dynamic control "belts";
— the ability to destroy targets by the method of kinetic destruction (hit-to-kill) due to active radar homing heads of the "Slate" type;
— and finally, the possibility of combat operation in passive mode with the 50N6A multifunctional radar turned off (in this case, the target designation of 9M96E2 anti-aircraft missiles is issued by remote radio intelligence posts 96L6-VP).
The latter option is currently not possessed by any of the known long-range air defense systems in the world. The range of the Vityaz in the export version can reach 120 km, the height of the targets hit is 35 km at target speeds up to 2000 m / s. Vityaz can also be equipped with short-range 9M100 missiles (up to 15 km). Their use is more relevant in countering enemy kamikaze UAVs attacking the C-350E battery directly, or nearby covered objects.
Iran and the DPRK may become potential customers of Vityaz.
Today, the regular ("full") version of the S-350A as part of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces, together with the Buk-M3A complexes, demonstrates its capabilities, covering the Donetsk and Mariupol-Volnovakha operational areas from attacks by HIMARS systems and SCALP-EG missiles.
No less interesting exhibit of the International Aerospace Salon in Zhuhai is the export version of the Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopter with the "E" index. At the request of customers, the vehicles can be equipped with the latest onboard radars based on active phased array "Cutter", as well as tactical missiles X-39 LMUR and "Whirlwind-1", the first of which are analogues of the American JAGM and can be used from closed firing positions at low altitudes at distances up to 14.5 km in the conventional version and up to 20 — in the upgraded version. A similar principle of using the X-39 ensures the safety of the Ka-52E crew from enemy air defense systems. The Cutter radar turns the Ka-52E into a multifunctional all-weather reconnaissance and strike platform, allowing the navigator-operator to detect enemy tanks and infantry fighting vehicles at a distance of up to 35 km. Also, these machines can be used for targeting rocket artillery and kamikaze drone operators.
In the export version, these rotorcraft will also be equipped with onboard defense systems of the L-370V52 Vitebsk line based on ultraviolet sensors and infrared optical-electronic countermeasures systems.
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