By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
(Washington D.C.) Much of the F-35’s superiority over the Russian Su-57 may reside in its mission systems, long-range, high-resolution sensors and targeting, computing, weapons range and guidance systems.
Su-57 vs F-35
There are a few reasons to think that the Russian Su-57 could be a little behind the U.S. F-35, F-22 and whatever innovations might be being built into the emerging 6th-generation aircraft
Why? There are several key areas which jump out for consideration, relating to stealth configuration, hypersonics and manned-unmanned teaming.
Well obviously many details about the Su-57 are not likely to be available, perhaps apart from what gets mentioned in the Russian press.
However, a few recent articles in Russian-backed newspapers indicate the country may be behind the U.S. when it comes to manned-unmanned teaming or a “loyal wingman” capability when it comes to the F-35.
For example, for many years now the Pentagon, Air Force and other military services have been advancing a “loyal wingman” concept with the F-35, meaning drone flight paths, sensor payload and data analysis can happen it the cockpit of a 5th-generation aircraft.
The means operational effectiveness and tactical ability is exponentially improved because drone video and data feeds do not first need to go through a ground control station before reaching the aircraft.
Video Above Air War 2050: 5th & 6th Gen Stealth Fighter Attacks to Continue
This technology, which has now already been demonstrated by the Air Force through programs such as the “Valkyrie” drone which has flown with an F-35, was being worked on by Air Force Scientists nearly 10 years ago.
In 2014, I spoke with former Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Gregory Zacharais who specialized in autonomy. At the time, he envisioned that U.S. F-35 manned-unmanned teaming was moving along and likely to emerge in coming years. It appears he anticipated correctly.
This capability also brings virtually unprecedented operational advantages such as an ability for an F-35 to send a forward drone into hostile territory to test enemy air defenses, blanket an area with ISR or even fire weapons when directed by a human. Perhaps most of all, the “loyal wingman” concept greatly reduces latency and sensor-to-shooter time for air attack.
Su-57 & US F-35: Weapons & Speed
The Russians however, based upon a report last year in a Russian publication called Izvestia, appears to be working to network its S-70 Okhotnik-B drone with the Su-57 in a potential effort to match or parallel U.S. manned-unmanned teaming initiatives.
While details may not be known, it appears at least in a cursory fashion that they may be behind, given the Air Force is already beginning to demonstrate direct data link connectivity between drones and 5th-generation aircraft.
Secondly, while many attributes of stealth are not visible to the eye persay, especially when it comes to internally buried engines, thermal management or radar absorbent coating materials, the Su-57 simply does not look as stealthy as an F-35.
Looks like the Su-57 is likely to have an internal weapons bay, and appears to have an F-22-like dual engine configuration, yet it does look a little less rounded, blended and smoothed over when compared to the F-35.
That being said, certainly the shape of the Su-57 is indeed stealthy as it does appear to blend wing and body and operate with horizontal structures.
The Su-57 is listed as being able to reach Mach 2 speeds, which is not as fast as a U.S. 5th-generation F-22 which is reported to be able to reach Mach 2.25. This is not even considering the possible speed of the emerging 6th-generation aircraft.
Despite a comparison of each aircraft’s apparent stealth properties, much of the F-35’s superiority may reside in its mission systems, long-range, high-resolution sensors and targeting, computing, weapons range and guidance systems.
These variables, particularly when it comes to the F-35s ability to outrange enemy targeting sensors and use “sensor fusion” to rapidly integrate and analyze otherwise disparate pools of incoming data, are likely to be the factors which cause the F-35 to be superior in capability and combat performance.
It is not at all clear that the Su-57 will operate with an AI-enabled computing system anywhere comparable to the F-35 or be able to fire weapons with paradigm-changing levels of guidance technology such as the AIM-9X’s “off-boresight” targeting. Little may be known when it comes to the F-35s EW suite, however it is known to be extremely advanced.
This could be quite impactful as it could detect and jam enemy weapons guidance systems or intercept communications. Industry has also been working with Pentagon and Air Force engineers to build in countermeasures to enemy countermeasures essentially, meaning seeking to integrate technologies which can withstand or overcome enemy attempt to jam weapons guidance systems. Should an enemy attempt to jam RF or infrared targeting mechanisms guiding F-35 launched weapons, there may be EW countermeasure or various communications hardening techniques such as frequency hopping.
Video Above: Air Force 6th-Gen Stealth Fighters Control Attack Drones
How far along is the Su-57 when it comes to course-correction air launched weapons? Weapons guidance systems and resistance to jamming? While Russia did demonstrate advanced EW tactics during its attacks on Ukraine, the Su-57 simply may not be able to compete.
On the weaponry front, however, the Russian papers have reported that the Su-57 has carrying “prototype” hypersonic air-to-ground missiles.
Quoting unnamed sources, a report last year in Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti newspaper says the missiles used in Su-57 tests were “functional, full-size mock ups,” but not yet launched. The RIA Novosti essay adds that the “dummy missiles lack a propulsion system, fuel and warhead but are otherwise identical to the real weapon in terms of weight and dimensions.”
The source cited in the Russia paper also says that test versions of the weapon include “seeker heads and electrical circuits.” The paper adds even more detail about the new weapon, describing it as “a compact, air-to-surface weapon intended to destroy adversary air and missile defense systems, and cruise and ballistic missile launchers.
Su-57 in Ukraine?
The Pentagon says the airspace above Ukraine in the Russia Ukraine war is still contested several months into the war, likely leading many to wonder why? A simple look at global firepower will show the Russians ope
rate more than 770 fighter jets, compared to Ukraine 69 or so. That’s a glaring, massive deficit.
So why aren’t the Russians able to achieve air superiority? A number of key variables to look at, with one is simply the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defenses.
“We know the air defenses are having an impact because of the kinds of flight profiles they are flying. Most of their sorties never leave Russian airspace,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Ukraine reportedly operates SA-15 Gauntlet Soviet-era air defense systems as well as Russian built S-300s. The Pentagon says these air defenses are being used in a very tactically adept and effective way. Modern air defenses these days have digital processors, better networking, longer range, they can connect with other systems across a wider envelope of defensive area. They also can detect a wider sphere of frequencies, making them more effective.
This might be part of the story because Russia pretty much operates a fourth generation fleet, which is Su-30s Su-35 and MIGs. However sophisticated these aircraft are, they may still be vulnerable to air defenses in part because they lack stealth.
One of the things that springs to mind is Russia’s fleet of Su-57s, their fifth generation stealth fighter jets intended to rival the F-35. Are they being used? Well, according to TASS, Russia’s news agency, only a handful of them exist and there is a current contract to acquire as many as 70 in coming years.
Video Above: Air Force Research Lab Breaks Through With Networked Attacks
The US Air Force already operates roughly 300 F 35s, so there’s already a discrepancy there. In terms of just Ukraine, Russia’s inability to operate highlights the prospect that perhaps some measure of stealth is needed against modern air defenses.
Simply put, fourth generation aircraft are too easy to detect and take out. With something like an Su-57, depending on how stealthy it is, surveillance radar may be able to detect that something is there, but may lack the technical capacity to execute what’s called engagement radar or targeting to actually develop a track and take out that aircraft. That’s the advantage of something like an F-35 or an F-22. An enemy air defense system, however sophisticated, might be able to detect that something is there.
However, being able to target an aircraft takes a much more narrow, much more narrowly configured radar beam and an ability to sustain the track on a moving target. That is much more difficult, especially in the case of stealth aircraft. Simply put, the lack of stealth appears to be quite possibly a major reason why Russia cannot dominate the sky despite this disparity in numbers
Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19 FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
