“As early as Soviet times, this concept was formed when our armed forces simultaneously used front-line fighters of both heavy and light.” “If in the fourth generation, the MiG-29 plays the role of a twin-engine light fighter and the corresponding heavy is the Su-27, in the fifth generation we have the same twin-engine Su-57. for expensive”. “Until recently we did not have an aircraft of another light weight class,” said AviaPort’s head of analysis, expert Oleg Panteleev. At the same time, light and heavy fighters are designed to solve different problems. “Heavy fighters are needed to cover large areas, which means they have to fly a long enough distance before completing the mission,” the expert explained. “For light fighters, aircraft with fuel reserves and a smaller combat range, another mission has been determined. Figuratively speaking, it would fight over a protected object and tackle an equivalent range of missions in terms of versatility, including aerial combat and assault against ground and water targets, but at a shorter distance from its base,” added Panteleev. Concept graphics of a new generation of Russian single-engine light fighter This expert considers the idea of ​​​​building a single-engine fighter to be right. “Common sense, a single-engine aircraft will always be cheaper than a two-engine aircraft if we consider comparable performance,” he said. “However, in the event of one engine failure, the plane is likely to crash, while a twin-engine aircraft can continue to fly thanks to the other engine.” “But with the progress being made in improving the engines and increasing their reliability, situations where engine failure leads to the loss of an aircraft are quite rare. Second, rescue work has developed well enough to ensure guarantee the rescue of the pilot,” Panteleev said. The expert also pointed out that at the test stage, Al-31FN series 3 and 4 engines can be used. In addition, during aircraft construction, flight tests can be performed on existing engines to check the operation of systems independent of the dynamometer. Of course it does not match the full range of engine characteristics that are the target of the aircraft. “We also know that the AL-31 and its modifications are a well-run and mass-produced engine with high reliability due to the modernization carried out. So at the experimental stage, its use proved to be quite reasonable,” said Panteleev. At the same time, the expert noted that the construction of engines that can be used in the light version of the fifth-generation aircraft has been taking place in Russia for a long time. “We remember that the new engine for the Su-57 was used and the T-50 prototype of the Su-57 fighter even flew with this engine. So there will certainly be no delay in creating a new engine,” Panteleev said. As for the difficulties that need to be solved when building a fifth-generation light fighter, the expert notes a large number of requirements for it. Often these requirements conflict – “compact, low reflectivity and high payload, long flight time and, if possible, supersonic cruise; deployment of concealed weapons and an increase in the range of weapons carried, including relatively large long-range missiles”. “So the main difficulty is how to achieve the optimal combination of requirements, and at the same time to compete on price so that the aircraft does not burden the Russian budget and is attractive for export.” Mr. Panteleev concluded.

The Eurasian Times has just published a graphic image of a single-engine fighter, believed to be of a future design, built by Russia based on the Su-57 fighter, in order to overcome the biggest weakness of this aircraft. , which is the lack of stealth. Accordingly, Sukhoi Corporation has embarked on the design of a new fighter, based on the original design of the Su-57, but enhancing stealth to a new level. Information from the Eurasian Times also said that it is likely that the next design of this new fighter jet will be equipped with only one engine. So far, the Russian Su-57 fighter has always been praised for its excellent maneuverability and speed, but to achieve speed and maneuverability, the Su-57 at the expense of invisibility. Although Russia has never acknowledged it, many military experts believe that the 3D vector engine design on the Su-57 is the fighter’s fatal weakness in front of enemy radars. Unlike the engine design hidden inside the stealth cover of the aircraft like the US F-22 Raptor, the engine of the Su-57 fighter is almost completely exposed. The radar-absorbing shell of the Su-57 fighter does not cover the aircraft’s engine parts, which means that, even though the entire Su-57 is invisible, its engine will still be targeted by enemy radars. side caught. The difficulty of Russia is that the engine of the Su-57 has too good performance, generates a lot of heat and is a 3D vector engine. All of these factors will make the Su-57’s engine impossible to fit inside the aircraft, nor can it be covered with a radar-absorbing shell on the outer surface. The US itself has admitted to trading the maneuverability, as well as the speed of the F-22 Raptor and F-35 fighters in exchange for superior stealth, but with the Su-57 everything is different. does not appear to be going in this direction. In addition, information about Russia’s next 5th generation fighter model will be equipped with an engine, also making many people curious and excited. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has not built any single-engine light fighter. Russia’s lightest fighter today, probably the MiG-29 – is also equipped with two engines, and can be considered a medium fighter. The single-engine fighter, in theory, is not much inferior to the twin-engine fighter in terms of weapon carrying capacity and aerial range. Not to mention, single-engine fighters will have lower production costs, shorter assembly times, and lower usage and depreciation costs. Currently, on the world market, the US F-16 single-engine fighter is still “hegemonic” and has almost no rival. Despite having only one engine, the US F-16 fighter is still capable of carrying up to 7.7 tons of weapons – only 300 kg less than the maximum weapon load of the Su-30. This is currently also the backbone of the US, with 1,300 in service, the most numerous fighter in the world at the moment. The test pilot pushed the Su-57 fighter to the limit of its maneuverability with a series of unbelievable flight maneuvers. Source: Sukoi.