Russian Su-57 Aircraft Thread (PAK-FA and IAF FGFA)
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Dizasta1
Senior Member
Shouldn't this "high valued" aircraft be in a hardened aircraft shelter?
Maybe it does have its own shelter and this was just parked temporarily. But then again, it's unlikely this fighter has the weather sensitive stealth coating like J-20, F-22, and F-35. Also Russian methods are different. They demand their military equipment to be very rugged and most of them are designed to deal with this sort of treatment.
PiSigma
"the engineer"
So I guess the rumours that the su-57 is not stealthy are mostly true. No real stealth fighter would be deployed into an area that potential adversaries like the USAF and IAF can get all the signal intelligence info they want.
Dizasta1
Senior Member
Umm ... the Su-57s are about to commence LRIP if I'm not mistaken. The serial production aircraft will have stealth features applied, at least that's the logical approach. From the first look at Su-57, one can immediately distinguish the aircraft to be highly agile, with formidable air-frame build, design for intense air combat. In actual war, such sensitive equipment, precise upkeep and stealth coatings would appear to be a little difficult to afford time or money to. Russia doesn't have that kind of money to burn or throw away. Nor is Russia looking to ruin itself, drowning in $21 trillion in National Debt unlike America. So I would agree with Russians having a balanced approach in designing the Su-57s. Not all war zones would have the cool air of Europe or North America. Fight in the Middle East and you would know that it's near impossible to keep the sand from seeping into subsystems of aircraft. Maintenance becomes more demanding and time consuming. I doubt that an F-22 would ever be let out the hanger if there is an approaching sandstorm or even in the aftermath of one. And reports have suggested in the past (at least the ones that manage to get through the firewall of the state department) that the F-22s are weather sensitive. Operating from Qatar or wherever the heck they are in one of the Sheikhdoms. It's not easy to keep these machines at optimum performance. Qatar offers some respite, since it's an island in the Persian Gulf. However Saudi Arabia or Emirates are different kettle of fish.
Humidity, sand, dust and other real world environmental factors play a very serious role in determining whether a weapons' platform would be able to perform as stated or otherwise.
Humidity, sand, dust and other real world environmental factors play a very serious role in determining whether a weapons' platform would be able to perform as stated or otherwise.
That's what some of us think anyway. Myself included. Doesn't seem like they are final versions either so maybe they're just testing subsystems like others have stated. The prototypes certainly are not VLO in the league of F-22 to F-35. That's obvious from the surface treatment, paint, attention to detail, and protruding non stealthy components and structures. Who knows what the LRIP versions will be like. It has the makings of a VLO fighter with the overall shaping and internal bay, but it's not there yet.
Hyperwarp
Captain
Personally I don't thinks so. I think it is too risky. Besides the Su-35, Su-34, Su-30SM can do all the weapons delivery. The fact that the Su-57 is using luneburg lenses show this is not about stealth.
Let me throw out some speculation. Quite possible the Su-35 was clueless to where the F-22 was until it came withiin visual range. Maybe they were actually shocked at how close the F-22 got to the Su-35 without getting detected. So maybe they are now testing if the Su-57 can detect the F-22 and at the same time relay that information to the Su-35. They could use some other aerial and ground based system but this is an excellent oppotunity to test the advance passive sensors on the Su-57. US has deplyed the F-22 in combat operations in Syria and I think Israelis are testing the F-35 too. So thats a gold mine!
Pictures of Su-57 landing in Syria with luneburg lenses doesn't tell us much about their mission there. They would need to cross some sensitive and well observed airspaces to get there so it makes total sense to see luneburg lenses. Even if radars don't can pick them up without exaggerated RCS.