Russian Su-57 Aircraft Thread (PAK-FA and IAF FGFA)
- Thread starter A Bar Brother
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There is speculation that the side-bays have no mechanisms per-se and merely eject the covers when the missiles are fired.
If the Su-57 can't carry short range missiles internally, then it can't leverage its superior subsonic maneuverability in a dogfight situation (arguably one of its advantages over the F-35 and J-20). I am pretty sure that the Russian designers intended those bumps to be side-bays.
They are indeed side bays, and they will each carry a short range missile! really guys, lets get a life here?? The Russians have designed two of the most prolific aircraft on the planet in the Mig-29 and the SU-27 Flanker family,,,, they are each one very effective at what they were designed to do...
My ONLY complaint with the SU-57 is that its likely not nearly as stealthy or more correctly as L/O as the J-20, F-35, B-2, or F-22 for example, also it does have "smallish" weapons bays...
So lets get back to reality, the Indians may yet buy it?? (they still haven't taken delivery of their first Rafale either have they??
In the mean while the Chinese have bought and are indeed flying the SU-35, they understand the principle of "staying ahead of the ball"!
So the SU-57 may even be modified to be an L/O follow on to the J-15,,, Krap, China may build it under license to fly it off the carrier??? believe it or not, Russia and China have a strategic partnership!
Thanks in part to the rabidly hateful US media and "opposition party" who are pushing the Bad Russian, Bad Chinese narrative, and making it impossible for President Trump to make amends and reach an understanding, to at least restore our relationships to friendly trade partners...
I don't hate Russians, I don't hate Chinese, I see each of you as a brother, we may or may not agree on everything, but we each can and do treat one another with due respect!
It may have superior WVR kinematic abilities and i'm not rubbishing Russian designers at all. I only find it extraordinary that those bumps can be used to house any sized short range missiles. Perhaps the speculation on drop away sheaths are correct. There is no other way missiles can be stored there. It has central bays for short range missiles so the assertion that sraams can't be carried if those two bumps aren't bays, is not correct at all. It is entirely possible those bumps are not bays and stealthy load means a very small capacity. They may just use these as very limited force multipliers. RuAF only ordered a small handful of su-57s as they currently stand. This is not promising for this platform at all. They may upgrade it in the future though. IAF also reduced its order. It's a barely LO limited "5th gen" fighter. Until they find serious time and funds to develop upgrades, it is basically an improved su-35. Good start for a 5th gen though and they get to test stealth designs along with next gen engines and electronics in limited numbers. I don't doubt the russians can do as well as the americans but they don't see as much promise in the hype behind fifth gen as PLAAF or USAF and allies behind F-35. Funding is another issue.
F-22 remains as the benchmark fifth gen air superiority fighter. It carries more than J-20 and Su-57 internally. Also still has the greatest thrust to weight until WS-15 and project 30 engines come out. By then, USAF will have very experienced practice in integrating fifth gen into its arsenal and likely developing technologies for the next generation and upgrades.
F-22 remains as the benchmark fifth gen air superiority fighter. It carries more than J-20 and Su-57 internally. Also still has the greatest thrust to weight until WS-15 and project 30 engines come out. By then, USAF will have very experienced practice in integrating fifth gen into its arsenal and likely developing technologies for the next generation and upgrades.
There has been zero evidence to suggest they are weapons bays. Nothing official from Sukhoi and no real images to point towards that. Not saying they are not but we can't keep repeating this unproven fact. Do you have a Sukhoi source confirming this is true or any non-psed images?
Look at how the area tapers in at the extremes of its length. Most missiles have control surfaces at the tip and end. Even if that sheath is designed to drop away before sraams are fired, they can't be using current sraams. Even if they have new Sraams with folded or pop-out wings, this limits what missiles those bays can carry and even then, it is unlikely.