The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon is the only operational fifth-generation fighter jet in Russia. This type of aircraft features advanced aerodynamics, which allow it to fly supersonic without afterburners. It also includes canted thrust-vectoring nozzles that are designed to increase missile range. A single-barrel 30mm gun has a firing speed of 1500 rounds per minutes. The Su-57 also has a virtual co-pilot on its flight deck. This allows it to collect vital information from aircraft sensors.
The Su-57 Russian airplane is the first to have been built from scratch. The design and construction of the aircraft is largely based on titanium alloys and proprietary Russian metals. The aircraft has been produced in several variants. Some will be mass-produced. Others are being marketed to other countries to export potential.
Original plans for the Su-57 were to make it the first in a new generation Russian stealth fighters. But, the lack of funding as well as technical issues hampered development. While a few prototypes were produced, the project's progress has been challenging. There have been several setbacks to the program. One was the engines of the prototypes that were in their first stages cracking at a public demonstration and another when a test flight crashed. According to Lt.Col. Ilya Sizov of the Eastern Military District newspaper Suvorovsky Natisk Deputy Regiment commander, there is no official confirmation that there are a third batch Su-57s. However, two Su-57s were seen in an airbase near Novosibirsk.
Lack of funding is one major obstacle facing the Su-57. Since the Su-57's initial development in 2007, the Kremlin isn't always following through on its orders. The budgetary problems in Russia's defense apparatus have been exacerbated by global sanctions. India withdrew earlier this year from the program. This has resulted in a reduction of $7 billion in the Su-57’s development budget. Russia is continuing to look for partners in the project, despite the loss. South Korea, Turkey, and Brazil expressed interest in the aircraft.
The Su-57 was initially expected to arrive in the Russian Air Force around 2022. The United Aircraft Corporation, however, has announced expansion plans that will accelerate the production of this fighter. These plans include the addition of more production lines and a motor test station to support the Su-57 order. As of today, four aircraft have been manufactured.
Despite all the setbacks and challenges, the Su-57 remains a promising fifth-generation fighter. It can perform flat rotations at low altitudes and can be used for high angle attack maneuvers. Its artificial intelligence system is seen as a key component of future "sixth-generation" aircraft. A unique feature of the Su-57 aircraft is its onboard cluster computer, which turns it into a data center in space. Artificial intelligence can also gather data from the aircraft's sensors and provide essential information to the human operator.
Su-57 production's next phase will include the upgrading of its engines. The new "izdeliye30" engines will produce thrust of approximately 16 tonnes. They are expected to be operational by 2023.