Russia's fifth-generation fighter plane, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon, is still in operation. This type of aircraft features advanced aerodynamics, which allow it to fly supersonic without afterburners. It also features canted thrust vectoring, which increases the missile's range. Its single-barrel 30mm cannon is capable of firing 1500 rounds per hour. 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 design and construction of the aircraft is largely based on titanium alloys and proprietary Russian metals. Multiple versions of the aircraft were developed. Some versions are planned to be mass-produced while others will be sold to other countries as potential exports.
The Su-57 was initially intended to be the first Russian stealth fighter. However, the jet's development was hampered due to a lack in funding and technical problems. The project's development was difficult despite the fact that a few prototypes had been built. The program has seen many setbacks, including engine cracking during the public showcase and an uncontrolled test flight that crashed. In a recent interview, Lt. Col. Ilya Sizov (Deputy Regiment Commander) stated that there is no official confirmation about a third batch. However, two Su-57s have been seen at an airbase close to Novosibirsk.
Lack of funding is one of the greatest obstacles 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. India pulled out of the program earlier this year. This has reduced the Su-57's development budget by up to $7 billion. Russia continues to search for partners for the project despite the loss. South Korea, Turkey, and Brazil expressed interest in the aircraft.
In 2022, the Su-57 was originally expected to be delivered to the Russian Air Force. The United Aircraft Corporation however announced expansion plans which will speed up production. These plans include additional production lines and the establishment of a motor test facility to support the Su-57 Order. Today, there are four manufactured aircraft.
Despite all the setbacks and challenges, the Su-57 remains 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 expected to be a key component in 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 be used to collect data from aircraft sensors and provide crucial information to human operators.
Su-57 production's next phase will include the upgrading of its engines. The new "izdeliye-30" engines will generate thrust of approximately 16 tonnes. They are expected to be operational by 2023.