Russian Su-57 Aircraft Thread (PAK-FA and IAF FGFA)

[ChineseToTheBone]

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Why do you suppose the United States Air Force chose the F-16 for imitating the Su-57 in war games?
I assumed using an F-15 would be the closer analogy in terms of kinematics given both fighter jets have twin engines.
Maybe it could be due to an F-15 having too large of a radar cross section while an F-16 would be less detectable similar to a Su-57?

 

[Xizor]

There is also composite body covering / cowl for the previously exposed engines.
A welcome addition.

 

[Tirdent]

There is also composite body covering / cowl for the previously exposed engines.
A welcome addition.

This has been the case since the 6th prototype IIRC. Also, it is a misconception to think metal skin is inferior to composite if the shaping is designed for LO - CFRP is not RF absorbing (hence why it needs a RAM coating). The vast majority of the F-117 airframe surface was conventional aluminium:



Wish I had that diagram handy when somebody tried to argue to me a few years ago that Typhoon had lower RCS than Rafale on the basis that its composite material percentage was a minuscule fraction higher Similarly, this is what RCS test models typically look like:


(BAE ASTOVL design)

All metal, in other words.

So the composite engine nacelles on the Su-57 will most likely have been introduced for weight saving, not RCS improvement.

 

[Deino]

Strange ... any explanation?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1293812673465987072

 

[e46m3]

Looks like the BAE Tempest nose now, interesting indeed.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Strange ... any explanation?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1293812673465987072

Guys, should that refilling probe be retractable? Thanks

 

[panzerfeist1]

Strange ... any explanation?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1293812673465987072

Probably a new radar since new computers and navigation systems were changed on it before, or going from a 240 to 360 degree radar coverage claim from a 2019 article. But a new radar upgrade is probably with the new avionics upgrade for the Su-57 to be tested early in 2022 to end of 2024 besides new weapons and engines. If there were supposedly no changes (which I doubt because the F-22 was equipped a 3rd gen radar in 1998 and 4th gen radar in 2005) done with the radar for that kind of radome appearance than we all can await what the beginning of 2022 will bring.

 

[FangYuan]

The Su-57 is an excellent aircraft. It will help China fill the gap between the J-20 and J-10

 

[ougoah]

The Su-57 is an excellent aircraft. It will help China fill the gap between the J-20 and J-10

What does that mean? It's more like a Russian take on how to deal with F-22s and F-35s. For it to fit in the PLAAF in numbers, there are a lot of things to consider. Even if the Su-57 can be modified to use Chinese weapons and can be integrated with the rest of the networked PLAAF, maybe we can make a case for it being an alternative 5th gen strategy and a dedicated distance closing, dogfighter with still superior stealth than 4.5 gens.

What is the gap between the J-20 and J-10? How many Su-57 additional imports do you propose? Wouldn't those funds be much better off spent buying the minimum number just to evaluate and train against in case India buys some? PLAAF doesn't need yet another fighter doing the same thing as pretty much the other fighters. It's missing a stealth attack plane, a stealth bomber, dedicated next gen EW planes (J-15D and J-16D not even in service yet), and maybe even a missile truck like the new F-15... something that can carry ≥18x PL-12 or PL-15s.

 

[panzerfeist1]

Some Su-57 photos are confusing here is my shitty red line drawings.



I feel like radar antenna changes might have been done, because the radar antennas on their aircrafts always have some kind of distance in front of their IRST bulbs, to me the wider the U shape the wider the antenna but the more closer the U shape is the less wider it is but probably a taller shape. To me I wonder what other reasons they would want to change the nose shape other than this being my only possible option.