Sukhoi Su-57
The Sukhoi Su-57 (Russian: Сухой Су-57; NATO reporting name: Felon)[3][4] is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi.[5] It is the product of the PAK FA (Russian: ПАК ФА, prospective aeronautical complex of front-line aviation) programme, which was initiated in 1999 as a more modern and affordable alternative to the MFI (Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42). Sukhoi's internal designation for the aircraft is T-50. The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service designed with stealth technology and is intended to be the basis for a family of stealth combat aircraft.
"SU-57" redirects here. For other uses, see SU-57 (disambiguation).
A multirole fighter capable of aerial combat as well as ground and maritime strike, the Su-57 incorporates stealth, supermaneuverability, supercruise, integrated avionics and large payload capacity.[6] The aircraft is expected to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian military service and has also been marketed for export. The first prototype aircraft flew in 2010, but the program experienced a protracted development due to various structural and technical issues that emerged during trials, including the destruction of the first production aircraft in a crash before its delivery.
After repeated delays, the first Su-57 entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS)[N 1] in December 2020.[7]
Variants
Su-57
Su-57 is the first production variant for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Flight testing began with the T-50 prototype in 2010, and serial production began in 2019. A total of three regiments, 76 aircraft, are planned with the first aircraft delivered in December 2020.
Su-57E
Su-57E is the export version of Su-57.[233] On 28 March 2019, the aircraft was first promoted to international customers during the 2019 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition.[234] The aircraft was officially unveiled at the MAKS-2019 air show on 28 March 2019.[235] Rosoboronexport is marketing the aircraft as Perspective multirole fighter (PMF).[233]
Su-57M
Su-57M is an upgraded variant of the base Su-57 under the program name Megapolis, and incorporates improved mission systems, reliability and maintenance enhancements, new flight control actuators, and the Saturn AL-51F-1 engines. Flight testing is planned to begin in 2022, and serial production is planned for the mid-2020s.[236][72]
Accidents
On 10 June 2014, the fifth flying prototype, aircraft T-50-5, was severely damaged by an engine fire after landing. The pilot managed to escape unharmed. The aircraft was subsequently written off, and its salvageable parts were cannibalized to finish the sixth "first stage" prototype, which was then given the fifth prototype's bort number and its designation changed from T-50-6-1 to T-50-5R. However, official accounting still considers the two aircraft to be the "same" one.[44]
On 24 December 2019, the first serial Su-57 (bort number "01 blue") crashed 110–120 km away from the Dzyomgi Airport, Khabarovsk Krai, during the final stage of its factory trials due to a control system malfunction. The pilot ejected and was recovered by helicopter.[253][254][255][256] According to TASS, the test flight took place at an altitude of 8,000 meters when the malfunction occurred, causing the airplane to enter a rapid spiral descent. When all attempts to stabilize the airplane into a horizontal flight using the manual flight control system failed, the pilot ejected at an altitude of 2,000 meters.[257]
Data from Aviation Week,[258] Key Aero,[259] Crecy Publishing[260]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists