Sukhoi Su-57

Sukhoi Su-57
Prototype T-50-1 at MAKS 2011
Type:	Multipurpose fighter
Design country:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Sukhoi
First flight:	January 29, 2010
Commissioning:	2020 (planned)
Production time:	In series production since July 2019
Number of pieces:	10 prototypes T-50 + 1 production aircraft Su-57 (as of February 2020)

The Sukhoi Su-57 ( Russian Сухой Су-57 , NATO code name : Felon ) is a Russian stealth - multi- role fighter aircraft . It was due to the requirements of the Russian Air Force for a twin-engine multipurpose fighter of the fifth generation in the context of "PAK-FA program" ( Russian Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации P erspektiwny A wiazionny K ompleks F rontowoi A wiazii , German , Perspective flight complex of frontal aviation ' ), which is to replace the Sukhoi Su-27 in the medium term . Until the official military designation Su-57 was issued in August 2017, the type was known under the factory prototype designation Suchoi T-50 .

On the basis of the " FGFA program ", a two-seater variant was also to be developed for the Indian air force . India withdrew from the project in spring 2018.

history

development

The development of the Su-57 goes back to the tactical-technical requirements ( Russian Тактико-техническое задание ; transcription : Taktiko-Technitscheskoje Sadanije, TTS) from 1998 after the MFI program was canceled in 1997 . At the end of 2000, the requirements for front-line aircraft were specified and in April 2001 the “PAK-FA program” was officially launched. On April 26, 2002, the state authorities transferred system leadership for the development of the new fighter aircraft to Sukhoi , in which OKBs Mikoyan-Gurevich and Yakovlev are also involved. After completion of the preliminary design phase at the end of 2004, the program was officially launched as the T-50 with chief designer Alexander Dawidenko. In 2007 the Indian Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) entered into a 50:50 financial partnership with Sukhoi, which aimed to modify an Indian variant of the T-50, which was called the FGFA Project . In contrast to the Russian, the Indian version was planned as a two-seater, which corresponded to a specific requirement of the Indian air force . Although India contributed half of the cost, it did not get the construction details it originally promised and the division of labor was also reduced. According to the Indian military not named by name, India wanted to purchase just under 70 aircraft instead of the originally planned 127 aircraft to reduce the import quota. Finally, India dropped out of the project in spring 2018 after repeated budget and deadline overruns. According to a report by Izvestia in June 2016, Russia would also sell the aircraft to Algeria and Vietnam in order to reduce manufacturing costs in this way.

The stealth fighter was first presented to a wider public in August 2011 at the MAKS international aviation trade fair in Zhukovsky near Moscow. The two prototypes presented there showed constructive differences (for example on the rear radar). One of the flights of the T-50-1 had to be canceled due to engine problems.

The delivery of 52 aircraft, originally planned between 2016 and 2020, has been reduced to 12 orders for the time being. These 12 aircraft are to be tested by the Air Force, further orders will depend on the financial possibilities. In May 2017, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the Su-57 would not enter service until 2019 and in July 2018 the order for 12 machines was confirmed. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov stated that production in large numbers would not be necessary as long as the capabilities of the other aircraft in the Air Force were sufficient and there was no rush to introduce the Su-57. Russian media reported in April 2019 that the first plane was slated to join a yet-to-be-determined Southern Defense District regiment in 2019, followed by a second plane in 2020.

On May 15, 2019, the procurement of 76 aircraft instead of just 16 was announced by 2028, which Kommersant rated as the largest procurement business in Russian aviation. The second series copy is to be delivered in mid-2020.

Test program

On January 29, 2010, the T-50-1 (tactical number 51) took off from Dsyomgi airfield in Komsomolsk on the Amur with Sukhoi test pilot Sergei Bogdan on its maiden flight originally planned for 2006. In addition to the prototype T-50-1, three non-flying specimens are used for soil and strength tests. These are the fracture cells T-50-0 and T-50-KPO and the full-scale dummy T-50-KNS. On March 3, 2011, the second prototype T-50-2 ( 52) took off on its maiden flight from KnAAPO in Komsomolsk am Amur. When tested in the week leading up to March 14, 2011, the T-50 reached supersonic speed. On November 22, 2011, the third prototype T-50-3 ( 53) took off from KnAAPO in Komsomolsk on the Amur for its maiden flight. The fourth prototype T-50-4 ( 054) followed on December 12, 2012 . The fifth prototype took to the air for the first time on October 28, 2013. On February 21, 2014, a prototype was handed over to the Air Force State Flight Test Center in Akhtubinsk . The ninth prototype began its flight program around October 20, 2016. On December 5, 2017, the second prototype “052” completed a seventeen-minute flight with the future standard engine of the Su-57, the “Isdelije 30”. During this flight, one of the two Saturn 117 engines had been replaced with the new one.

The Indian Air Force had expected the delivery of the first machine for testing in 2014. However, the schedule for this could not be kept.

On February 21, 2018, two Su-57s arrived at the Hmeimim military airfield in Syria. On March 1, 2018, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the two Su-57s had completed two-day tests and combat missions. According to this announcement, the two Su-57s had already returned to Russia in February.

Prototype overview

Test aircraft	Tactical number	First flight	annotation
T-50-0	-	-	Break cell for static tests on the ground
T-50 KPO	-	-	Break cell for static tests on the ground
T-50-KNS	-	-	Dummy for integration tests
T-50-1	051	January 29, 2010	1. A flyable prototype, optically differs from the successor versions by a two-part cockpit hood, and in the course of the testing, the rear was extended with an additional panel (radar?).
T-50-2	052	March 3, 2011	2. Airworthy prototype. On December 5, 2017, it was the first T-50 to complete a test flight with one of the new Isdelije 30 engines.
T-50-3	053	November 22, 2011	3. Airworthy prototype. Was the first T-50 to be equipped with the AESA-N050 radar in 2012. Made the first test flight with the radar on August 8, 2012.
T-50-4	054	December 12, 2012	4. Airworthy prototype. First test aircraft with complete avionics equipment.
T-50-5 / T-50-5R	055	October 27, 2013	5. Airworthy prototype. Was badly damaged in a fire on June 10, 2014 (see incidents ). Was repaired with parts of the unfinished prototype T-50-6. Resumed flight testing on October 16, 2015 under the designation T-50-5R.
T-50-6	-	-	Not completed; used to repair the T-50-5.
T-50-6-1	-	-	Break cell for static tests on the ground. Corresponds to the airframe of the second generation of test aircraft.
T-50-6-2	056	April 27, 2016	6. Airworthy prototype. First test aircraft of the second series of T-50 prototypes with a new airframe.
T-50-8	058	17th November 2016	7. Airworthy prototype.
T-50-9	509	April 24, 2017	8. Airworthy prototype. Tried the final avionics equipment for series production.
T-50-11	511	August 6, 2017	9. Airworthy prototype. Tried the final airframe for series production.
T-50-10	510	23rd December 2017	10th and last flyable prototype, pre-production version

construction

The AESA-N050 radar at MAKS 2009

AL-41F1

As there is currently no reliable information about the specifications of the Su-57, only certain requirements are known. The aircraft is designed as a blended wing body . In contrast to the MiG 1.44 , canards were dispensed with and a classic configuration of delta wings with elevators was selected instead. Movable leading edge flaps are integrated into the protruding wing roots to increase the maximum angle of attack. The rudders are in V-position and are designed as pendulum vertical tail units analogous to those of the Lockheed F-117 , as can be seen without a doubt from the photographs published so far. Part of the armament is carried internally in two 4.6 × 1.1 m weapon shafts in order to reduce the radar cross-section (RCS) and air resistance of the machine. Modern for the use of air-to-surface missiles and anti-ship missiles that are not found in the internal weapons bays Up, are obviously two under-wing stations. The suspension points are clearly visible in the published crack drawings. External weapon guidance increases the radar signature. According to official information, this is 0.5 m².

Originally for the Su-57 an engine with about 170 kN shear, such as that already in the Mig 1.44 used -41 AL Saturn provided F (with thrust vector control). However, this had to be discarded because the engine was too big. There were other reasons against the AL-41F. The Ministry of Defense wanted the new fighter jet to have an engine with a significantly longer service life and plasma ignition. At the MAKS 2009, Alexander Nikolajewitsch Selin , the commander in chief of the Russian Air Force, said on August 20, 2009 that the Su-57 was suffering from engine problems. Therefore, the Saturn 117 engine (also known as Isdelije 117 or Saturn AL-41F1) will be installed, which is already used as a simplified version for the Su-35S "Flanker-E" (Saturn-117S or AL-41F1A). Soyuz and NPO Saturn were to develop new engines with up to 190 kN thrust for later series machines , possibly based on the AL-31FM3 engine. Due to the use of the smaller and therefore less powerful engine compared to the AL-41, the Su-57 cannot utilize its full performance potential for the time being. This would only change with the new engine, which should be available from 2020. Ultimately, NPO Saturn has been developing the new “Isdelije 30” (product 30) engine since 2011. Although it is slightly longer than the Saturn AL-41F1, it should still be lighter and easier to maintain, and it should be able to be installed in the Su-57 without major adjustments to the airframe. It consists of a three-stage low-pressure compressor, a five-stage high-pressure compressor and only one stage each for the high and low-pressure turbines. The thrust without an afterburner is 118 kN, that with an afterburner is 168 kN (older sources give 107/176 kN). The new engine completed its first test run in November 2016, followed by the first test flight in the T-50-2 prototype on December 5.

Little is known about avionics so far. The radar of the Su-57 was shown for the first time at the MAKS 2009. This is the AESA -N050 radar consisting of around 1500 transmitter / receiver modules . It is the second Russian-made AESA radar. All other specifications are still unknown. Antennas operating in the L-band (1-2 GHz) in the wing leading edges are said to belong to the complex . Most radar absorbing materials are less effective at frequencies below 2 GHz .

Technical specifications

T-50-1

T-50 at the MAKS 2011

Ascent of the T-50-2

3-side view of the T-50

The data is forecast as the performance data has not yet been published

Parameter	Data
Type	Multipurpose fighter
length	19.7 m (1)
span	14.0 m (1)
Wing area	78.80 m²
Wing extension	2.56
Wing loading	minimum (empty weight): 235 kg / m² nominal (normal takeoff weight): 330 kg / m² maximum (maximum take-off weight): 470 kg / m²
height	4.8 m (1)
Empty mass	18,500 kg
normal takeoff mass	26,000 kg
maximum take-off mass	35,480 kg
Load factor	−3 / + 9 g
Top speed	Mach 2+ (at optimal altitude)
Marching speed	Mach 1.22 (at optimal altitude)
Service ceiling	approx. 20,000 m
Use radius	approx. 1200 km
Transfer range	approx. 5500 km
crew	1
Radar signature	0.5 m²
maximum weapon load	approx. 10,000 kg
Engine	two NPO-Saturn -117 / AL-41F1- turbofan engines
Thrust	with afterburner: 2 × 147.09 kN without afterburner: 2 × 86.29 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio	maximum (empty weight): 1.62 nominal (normal take-off mass): 1.15 minimum (maximum take-off mass): 0.81

⁽¹⁾ : Preliminary data from AIR International , February 2011, p. 39

Armament

As cannon is an evolution of the 30-mm automatic cannon 301 GSh-Grjasew-Schipunow used. It is installed on the starboard side, weighs only 50 kg and has the GRAY index 9-A1-4071K. Their rate of fire is 1800 rounds / min.

With a weapon load of 7500 kg in two weapon bays for short-range air-to-air guided weapons at the LEREX / wing transition, plus two internal main weapon bays with an unknown number of internal and six external suspension points, the following armament can be assumed:

Weapon bays

Air-to-air guided missile

• 4 × start rails or ejector device for 1 × Wympel R-77 or RWW-AE (AA-12 "Adder") - radar-guided for long distances
• 2 × start rails or ejector device for 1 × Wympel R-74 or RWW-MD (AA-11 "Archer") - infrared-controlled for short distances
• 2 × start rails or ejector device for 1 × Wympel R-73 E (AA-11 "Archer") each - infrared-controlled for short distances
• 2 × start rails or ejection device for 1 × Type 810 each - radar-guided for long distances

Air-to-surface guided missile

• 4 × start rails or ejector for 1 × Ch-38 ME each - modular standoff weapon
• 4 × launch rails or ejection device for 1 × Zvezda Ch-35UE "Uran" (3M24E / AS-20 "Kajak") - cruise missiles for anti-ship combat
• 4 × AKU-58 launch rails for 1 × Ch-58 USchKE (AS-11 "Kilter") each - anti-radar guided missile

Guided bombs

• 4 × BD-3U suspension for 1 × region JSC KAB-500 L (laser-guided 500 kg bomb)

Planned weapon loading at external suspension points

The Su-57 has two external suspension points per wing and one suspension point on each engine duct.

Air-to-air guided missile

• 4 × Wympel R-73E - infrared controlled for short distances
• 4 × Wympel R-77 - radar-guided for long distances

Air-to-surface guided missile

• 4 × Ch-31 P - anti-radar guided missile

Bombs

• 6 × 250 kg bombs

Additional tanks

• 2 × (possibly 4) additional tanks

variants

The export variant Su-57E was presented at MAKS 2019.

Incidents

On June 10, 2014, the right air intake of the prototype T-50-5 caught fire during the approach, which was quickly extinguished after landing. People were not harmed. The aircraft was later repaired with parts of the prototype T-50-6 that had been started, but was not used. This test aircraft was fully equipped.

On December 24, 2019, the first production machine crashed during the acceptance test, and the pilot was able to save himself with the ejection seat. Control failure and subsequent transition to flat spin was reported as the probable cause, and the flight recorders were recovered.

Web links

Commons : Sukhoi Su-57  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Sukhoi Company launches flight tests of PAK FA advanced tactical frontline fighter. Suchoi, January 29, 2010, accessed on September 22, 2017 (English, press release on the official start of the test flights). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Russia launches serial production of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. In: nrussian news agency. July 18, 2019, accessed August 20, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Piotr Butowski: Felon down . In: Combat Aircraft Journal March 2020, p. 21
3. ↑ Tom Demerly: NATO Code Name “FELON”: Russian Su-57 Gets Its Reporting Name, And It Couldn't Be Better. The Aviationist, November 1, 2019, accessed November 1, 2019 . 
4. ↑ ^{a b} Rahul Bedi & Reuben F Johnson: India withdraws from FGFA project, leaving Russia to go it alone. (No longer available online.) In: Janes.com. Jane's 360, April 20, 2018, archived from the original on May 23, 2018 ; accessed on July 16, 2018 . 
5. ↑ Farce Generation Fighter Aircraft ( Memento from July 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ), livefistdefence.com, October 20, 2007.
6. ^ Indian Air Force unhappy at the progress of PAK-FA fifth-gen fighter ; Jane's, September 4, 2014.
7. ↑ Can't keep waiting for stealth fighter, India tells Russia. In: Times of India. November 25, 2014; " India is already upset with Russia for not giving its experts" full technological access "to the FGFA project despite being an equal funding partner. ”
8. ↑ ^{a b} Russia’s T-50 aircraft struggling to take flight, but older Su-35 surging RBTH, August 12, 2015.
9. ↑ Russia can request Algeria to finance Pak-Fa , algeriesolidaire.net, June 18, 2016.
10. ↑ The delivery of the aircraft to the troops will begin in 2017 , Izvestia , June 15, 2016.
11. ↑ Russia presents stealth aircraft. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 17th August 2011.
12. ↑ T-50 fighter jet aborts due to engine defect (correction). RIANOVOSTI, August 21, 2011, accessed August 21, 2011 . 
13. ↑ Ivan Safronov: Russian Air Force to buy fewer PAK FA fighter aircraft. (No longer available online.) In: in.rbth.com. March 25, 2015, archived from the original on July 27, 2015 ; accessed on August 25, 2015 . 
14. ↑ T-50 is delayed: New Russian fighter jet will not enter the troops until 2019. In: de.sputniknews.com. May 24, 2017, accessed August 3, 2017 . 
15. ↑ Russia signs contract for first 12 Su-57 multirole fighters , Jane's July 3, 2018
16. ↑ The Ministry of Defense entered into a contract for the supply of Su-57 fighter aircraft , RBK, June 30, 2018; "It is likely that the Su-57 does not have a particularly promising future."
17. ↑ Russia Will Not Mass-Produce 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Jet. In: The Diplomat. July 12, 2018.
18. ↑ Russia's 'stealth-killer' fighter project has been abandoned , newscom.au, July 16, 2018.
19. ↑ The first Su-57 could be sent to the Crimea , Regnum.ru, April 9, 2019.
20. ↑ Putin announced accelerated purchase of fifth generation Su-57 fighter jets , Vedomosti, May 16, 2019.
21. ↑ The President submitted the "Sukhoi" for the military , Kommersant, May 16, 2019.
22. ↑ Suchoi PAK-FA takes off for the first flight. Flugrevue, January 29, 2010, accessed on September 14, 2010 . 
23. ↑ Second fifth generation Russian fighter jet completes maiden flight. RIA Novosti, March 3, 2010, accessed March 7, 2011 . 
24. ↑ Fifth-gen fighter PAK FA goes supersonic. March 14, 2011, accessed August 19, 2011 . 
25. ↑ RIA Novosti: Russia is testing the third experimental copy of the fifth generation fighter jet (November 22, 2011). Retrieved November 23, 2011.
26. ^ Rainer Göpfert: Suchois Stealth-Jäger (1). In: Fliegerrevue No. 03/2013, p. 23.
27. ↑ flightglobal.com
28. ↑ de.ria.ru
29. ↑ The ninth prototype fighter began testing. RIA, October 20, 2016.
30. ↑ Russia's Su-57 fifth-generation fighter makes first flight with new engine. In: tass.com. December 6, 2017, accessed December 7, 2017 . 
31. ↑ ^{a b c} T-50 prototype flies with a new engine. In: FLIGHT REVIEW. December 6, 2017, accessed December 12, 2017 .  
32. ↑ Will India Purchase 154 Fighter Jets From Russia? 4th November 2015.
33. ↑ Tim Ripley: Russian Su-57 fifth-gen fighter prototypes touch down in Syria. www.janes.com, February 23, 2018, accessed on February 23, 2018 . 
34. ↑ Shoigu confirmed the Su-57 test in Syria , Novaya Gazeta, March 1, 2018
35. ↑ 5th-gen Russian Su-57 fighters performed 2 days of combat tests in Syria. www.rt.com, March 1, 2018, accessed on March 1, 2018 . 
36. ↑ Совершил первый полет последний Су-57. news.rambler.ru, December 25, 2017, accessed January 3, 2018 (Russian, first flight of the last Su-57 prototype). 
37. ↑ ^{a b} India, Russia close to PACT on next generation fighter. Business Standard, January 5, 2010, accessed September 14, 2010 . 
38. ↑ ^{a b c} Russia unveils AESA radar for PAK FA fighter. Flight Global, August 28, 2009, accessed September 14, 2010 . 
39. ↑ «СУ» ДАРЬ РАСПРАВЛЯЕТ КРЫЛЬЯ. (No longer available online.) Krasnaya Zvezda , March 24, 2010, archived from the original on April 23, 2010 ; Retrieved September 14, 2010 (Russian). 
40. ↑ ^{a b c} Russia's new all-purpose fighter (part 2). In: FLIGHT REVIEW. February 28, 2015, accessed December 12, 2017 .  
41. ↑ The testing of a new engine intended for PAK FA will be started in 2014. Russian Aviation, November 15, 2012, accessed on December 12, 2017 (English). 
42. ↑ "Сатурн" просит работы. Aviaport, March 16, 2010, accessed September 14, 2010 (Russian). 
43. ↑ Fighter Order rekindles Russian Air Force. (No longer available online.) Aviation Week, August 26, 2010, archived from the original on September 29, 2011 ; accessed on September 14, 2010 (English). 
44. ↑ FlugRevue March 2010, pp. 8-14, Russia's new superfighter
45. ↑ On-board cannon tested for the first time for Russia's newest fighter jet. In: de.sputniknews.com. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017 . 
46. ↑ defpost.com
47. ↑ R-73E / R-73EL Air-to-Air Guided Missiles. (No longer available online.) In: eng.ktrv.ru. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012 ; accessed on August 28, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
48. ↑ Missiles for Russia's newest fighter jet ready by 2014. In: de.sputniknews.com. January 31, 2012, accessed August 28, 2017 . 
49. ↑ theaviationist.com
50. ↑ Rahul Udoshi: MAKS 2019: Russia unveils export variant of Su-57. (No longer available online.) In: Jane's Defense Weekly. www.janes.com, August 30, 2019, archived from the original on September 2, 2019 ; accessed on September 2, 2019 . 
51. ^ Karl Schwarz: Suchoi T-50: Prototype badly damaged. www.aero.de, June 11, 2014, accessed May 5, 2020 . 
52. ↑ Nicholas de Larrinaga: Russian T-50 PAK FA fighter prototype catches fire. (No longer available online.) Jane's Information Group , June 9, 2014, archived from the original June 14, 2014 ; accessed on August 9, 2014 . 
53. ↑ Control system failure behind Russian fifth-generation Su-57's crash in Far East. In: tass.com. December 24, 2019, accessed December 24, 2019 . 
54. ↑ ТАСС: Су-57 перед падением самопроизвольно вошел в спираль. www.kommersant.ru, December 25, 2019, accessed May 5, 2020 (Russian). 
55. ↑ Karl Schwarz: Suchoi Su-57 crashed. www.flugrevue.de, December 25, 2019, accessed on May 5, 2020 .