Former USAF Engineer’s Comments on the SU-57 Felon

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*Views presented are my own and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.*

[JohnDoe-uwbe]

Su-57 is a misunderstood air frame. Partially due to all the PR it got from both Russian and Foreign press.
When it came down to actual design specifications I am very confident that Russian Air Force and Sukhoi bureau had to make some compromises on Want vs. Can design/build/maintain.
To me the real value of Su-57 is in pushing the research and development beyond USSR designs like Su-27/30/35. Effectively it's a flying prototype/testbed that keeps the national industry moving. Lot of the technology/experience gained on program was applied to Su-35. I personally think it's still work in progress in terms avionics/engine and weapon systems. Hence the limited adoption. And that's smart - why burn money on 70% aircraft when you have reliable and well understood Su-30/35 for better price?
The close-up of rivets made some noise back in the day BUT there were talks of new RAM coating + most existing aircraft are hand build test prototypes. Last year KNAAZ plant were Sukhoi 30/35/57 are built made announcement about beginning of dedicated Su-57 assembly line construction.
There were also screenshot of new engine with flat or new engines with square nozzles on testbed from Saturn design bureau surfacing on Russian message board this year.
Bottom line is - real capability of Su-57 is unknown. It's definitely not as good as Russian propaganda makes it look, but also probably not as bad as Western arrogance suggests.

[Fox-Luck]

It is like that really expensive gun you have in your gun safe. It's a called a gun safe queen. They are so proud of them they would not use it against a real foe.

[jamesgornall]

If i was caught in a big, attritional war i wouldnt bother making advanced jets that'd be on the back burner for now

[Registered_Simp]

The Su-57 is an interesting bit to get into. While the avionics are no doubt capable; especially by Russian standards, the stealth is guaranteed to be pretty lacking compared to other 5th gen fighters. Granted, it's stealthy for a plane of its size, but that's not saying much when your frontal RCS is somewhat similar to an F/A-18E even if your ECM is doing some extra lifting. That's just what exposed turbines and a less advanced stealth coating get you. Kinetically, the plane is certainly going to be quick, and certainly would be capable of matching most aircraft operating nowadays for speed, with some extra supercruise to boot. It certainly would give anything it merged with a heart attack, but dogfight performance is largely irrelevant in a modern setting.

Bottom line is that it would be better to call the Su-57 a reduced-observability heavy 4.5th generation fighter that sports better systems and survivability than Russia's existing air fleet. But in no way would it stack up well against an F-35 or an F-22 due to the disparity in RCS. And this isn't even accounting for the increased maintenance usually required for Russian engines, which on average need to get sent back to the factory for overhaul twice as often as engines found on western contemporaries.

[slartybarfastb]

The super cruise claims are based on the imaginary engine it is yet to receive. Instead, it's fitted with the same engine used by Su-35 with added FADEC.

[davidabeyta]

By now, they should have integrated cassette tape players.

[arthurhenare]

Just making up ya story as ya go, and still stagnant stand still, well known high tailing it to safe space fly Zones.

[miguelhoyoscarbajal]

Pretty incredible to think how much money Sukhoi keeps invests just to build su 57 prototypes…. WOW!

[RussianThunderrr]

-- Yeah FYI, Gonky, metrics are actually French, and not "Commi" units... but I know it sounds cooler if you say its "Commi" units, so carry on...

[NokturnalFin]

man i cannot wait for the putin youth to get their hands on the Su-57

[stevepritchard]

'Commie units'? Great analysis.

[donovanjavierramirezjara]

Sukhoi Felon FlyByWire system dangerous it wish they never copied YF 23 project too much similarities