Russia's only operational fifth-generation fighter-jet, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon. This aircraft boasts advanced aerodynamics which enable it to fly supersonic even without afterburners. It also features canted thrust vectoring jets which increase the range of its missiles. The single-barrel 30mm cannon fires 1500 rounds per minute. On the Su-57's flightdeck, there is a virtual co-pilot that can gather important information from the aircraft sensors.
The Su-57 Russian plane is the first one to be made from scratch. The aircraft was designed and constructed largely using titanium alloys as well as proprietary Russian metals. There have been several versions of this aircraft. Some versions are planned to be mass-produced while others will be sold to other countries as potential exports.
The Su-57 was originally intended to be the first of a new generation of Russian stealth fighters. The lack of funding and technical problems hampered the development of this jet. Although prototypes were made, the development of the project has been difficult. There have been many setbacks in the program. The engines of the first stage prototypes cracked during a public display and the test flight that 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 the biggest obstacle to Su-57's development. Since 2007, when the Su-57 was developed, the Kremlin didn't always follow through with its orders. Russian defense apparatus has been facing budgetary issues due to global sanctions. Earlier this year, India withdrew from the program, which has cut the Su-57's developmental budget by as much as $7 billion. Russia continues to search for partners for the project despite the loss. South Korea, Turkey, and Brazil expressed interest in the aircraft.
Initially, the Su-57 was expected to arrive in the Russian Air Force in 2022. The United Aircraft Corporation announced expansion plans to help accelerate production. These plans include adding more production lines and a motor testing station to support Su-57 orders. There are currently four aircraft in production.
Despite the numerous setbacks and challenges involved in the program, the Su-57 is still a promising fifth-generation fighter. It can perform flat rotations with minimal altitude loss and can be used to perform high angles of attack maneuvers. Its artificial intelligence system is seen as a key component of future "sixth-generation" aircraft. Another unique feature of the Su-57 is its onboard computer cluster, which transforms the aircraft into a data center in the sky. Artificial intelligence is also able to gather data from the aircraft’s sensors, providing crucial information for the human operator.
The engine upgrade will be part of the next phase of Su-57 production. The new "izdeliye30" engines will produce thrust of approximately 16 tonnes. They will be available for service in 2023.