Russia's attempt to produce a fifth-generation fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57, has apparently not been too successful in technical terms; the aircraft is reputedly not nearly as "stealthy" as it needs to be when measured against the US F-22 Raptor. Also, Russia has announced that it won't put the aircraft into mass production, probably because it can't afford it in large numbers. Nevertheless, it's probably a pretty capable "Generation 4½" fighter, and a dozen will be built for the Russian Air Force.
Recently an air-to-air photo shoot was held for the Su-57. An Antonov An-12 transport (similar to the US C-130 Hercules) was the camera plane. It lowered its rear ramp, and photojournalists were able to film two Su-57's as they approached and passed beneath it. It's very interesting up-close-and-personal footage.
Looks like an interesting aircraft. I'd like to read an independent evaluation of its performance . . . but I guess that's unlikely to be available anytime soon.
Peter
5 comments:
So they didn't succeed this time in stealing all the tech...
Coming soon to Aviation Week.
In the Eighties, they published so much info on classified programs (ours and theirs) that we called them Aviation Leak & Space Technology.
beautiful looking aircraft.
The latest in a long line of 'fabulous new combat systems" from Russia that are never seen outside shows and videos, and never actually get fielded. The dreaded T-95 "black Eagle" tank and every attack helicopter model after the Hind are also examples of this type of techno-fraud.
After massive Russian hype - and an immediate buy-in from the Pentagon - the new systems prove to be less capable, more costly, and almost impossible to repair. They are brought in small numbers and are never actually fielded to line units, because the Russian Army is not insane [unlike the US Army was with R.S. MacNaMara in charge].
I'm at a loss as to why show the planes from that position.
Post a Comment