Officially revealing the fifth generation of Sukhoi-57 supersonic stealth fighter aircraft, Russia has made a statement that it is in the game of stealth warfare. The Sukhoi-57 is designed to compete with the American F-22 Raptor and the Chinese Shenyang J-31 Falcon Hawk, claimed the official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence.
“T-50 was created for qualitative superiority over predecessors, opponents and competitors,” says MIA’s Alexander Khrolenko. “This is the answer to the US aircraft of the fifth generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.”
A T-50 prototype for the Su-57 flies at the MAKS 2011 air show.
During its prototype days, it was named the PAK FA T-50. However, the new Sukhoi-57, which is Russia’s first stealth fighter, has been now given an official name: the Su-57.
The Su-57 has more than 365 days of vigorous testing. According to Yuri Slusar, chair of United Aircraft Corporation, the multi-role stealth jet fighter is expected to enter the military service in 2019.
The Su-57 flying upside down.
Colonel General Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev, head of the Russian Air Force, says the Su-57 is a wonderful machine, adding “”every country probably wants planes such as this, and we have them”.
Medium-range, active radar homing air-to-air missile.
According to the reports, the Su-57 will be able to carry R-77 or RVV-AE missiles that can travel to a range of 124.274 miles versus the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile), which is made in the United States and can only be fired at a target under 99.4194 miles.
The Daily Mail reports:
“In 2015, it was reported that it will be able to fly at a maximum altitude of 20 kilometers with top speeds of 2,600 kilometers per hour. Russia’s state military aviation manufacturer has previously claimed the jet will be cheaper to produce than its US equivalent with units costing less than £120million. The country’s armed forces will receive an initial batch of 12 of the aircraft.”
T-50 aerodynamic condensation at MAKS Air Show in 2015.