Russia's only operational fifth-generation fighter-jet, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon. This aircraft can fly supersonic, without using afterburners, thanks to its advanced aerodynamics. It also has canted thrust vectoring nozzles, which are designed to increase the range of its missiles. The single-barrel 30mm cannon fires 1500 rounds per minute. A virtual co-pilot can also be found on the Su-57's Flight Deck, which allows it to gather crucial information from the aircraft sensors.
The Su-57 is the first Russian aircraft to be produced from scratch. The aircraft's design was largely built on titanium alloys. Multiple versions of the aircraft were developed. Some will be mass-produced. Others are being marketed to other countries to export potential.
The Su-57 was initially intended to be the first Russian stealth fighter. The jet's development was delayed by technical and financial issues as well as a lack of funds. While a few prototypes were produced, the project's progress has been challenging. 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. Lt. Col. Ilya Sizov, the Deputy Regiment Commander of the Eastern Military District newspaper Suvorovsky Natisk stated that while there is no official confirmation of a third Su-57 batch, two were spotted at an airbase near Novosibirsk.
Lack of funding is one major obstacle facing the Su-57. Since Su-57's creation in 2007, the Kremlin have not always honored orders. Russian defense has faced budgetary woes due to sanctions from the world. Earlier this year, India withdrew from the program, which has cut the Su-57's developmental budget by as much as $7 billion. Russia is continuing to look for partners in the project, despite the loss. Brazil, Turkey and South Korea have expressed interest in the jet.
In 2022, the Su-57 was originally expected to be delivered to the Russian Air Force. The United Aircraft Corporation announced expansion plans to help accelerate production. These plans include the creation of additional production lines as well as a motor-test station to help with the Su-57 order. There are currently four aircraft in production.
Despite numerous setbacks, the Su-57 is still 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 expected to be a key component in future "sixth-generation aircraft." The Su-57 also has an onboard computer cluster that transforms it into a data centre in the sky. Artificial intelligence is also able to gather data from the aircraft’s sensors, providing crucial information for the human operator.
The upgrade of the engines will be the next phase in Su-57 production. The new "izdeliye 30" engines will provide thrust of around 16 tonnes. They are expected be in service by 2023.