Why Su-57 is not an good option for Indian Air force's fifth generation fighter requirement ?

Why Su-57 is not an good option for Indian Air force's fifth generation fighter requirement?

 Introduction

Stealthy air frame and low radar cross section is supposed to be the important futuristic capability of an fifth generation fighter jet.

 For example an American F16 falcon and Russian Su-35 is an fourth generation fighter aircraft whereas american F-22 raptor and F-35 are considered to be true fifth generation fighter aircraft.

There are many other features which make an fifth generation fighter jet superior to fourth gen fighters like an advanced radar for example active electronically scanned array radar, new generation engines and network centric warfare capability along with sensor fusion and digitally automated control system.

So let's look at the certain reasons why SU-57 will not be a good option for India.

1. Design

As stated earlier Stealth is an important feature in modern day war fares and new generation fighter aircrafts.

 The design of the Su -57 is very attractive and does appeal an stealthy look to its air frame. But there is something more when it comes to making the fighter aircraft smaller than its real dimensions on the radar. 

Image-Sukhoi SU-57

 For example the surface of the fighter must be such that it must not reflect the radar beams back to its sources. Also the body of the aircraft must be smooth and must not 

contain gaps or uneven surfaces on its body. Presence of such surfaces might lead in giving up the aircraft's stealthy features.

Manufacturing and developing an smooth body surface makes it extremely difficult in case of an aircraft and it requires modern machining process to achieve an seamless design.

 Russian Su-57 though considered stealthy is not as per the standards of American engineering or technology as we see it in F35 or F22 raptor.

Image-Su-57 Under view

Also the inlet design of Su-57 through which the air is supposed to enter the engines is also very important since they are an very easy giveaway for the radar 

and bounce back a severe amount of radar waves. The  engine inlet on the Su-57 is almost aligned perfectly to the engines and this is an big disadvantage according to military experts.

Also Indian experts have also stated that the Su-57 design did not meet the Indian requirements and it is nearly impossible to increase the stealthiness of Su-57 even  after major upgrades.

2. Engines

 Engine technology is very sophisticated when it comes to fighter jets and in an fifth gen fighter the engines must have the capability to super cruise without the after burners.

 When the after burners are deployed the engine consumes fuel at an faster rate which proves to be highly efficient.

Russia is having problems with the engines used in SU-57 with respect to supercruise.

Sukhoi had initially planned to use the Saturn  Al-41 engines which is an upgraded version of the Al-31 engines used in the  Su-27 flanker family.

Image-Saturn  Al-41 engine

The Al-41 produces 93.1 kN of dry thrust and 147.1 kN with after burners and weigh around 1600 kg. Also Su-57 has 3d thrust vectoring capability which even the F-22 or F35 fighter jets doesn't posses.

In 2011 Moscow air show the Al-41 engine stalled and the Su-57 had to abort the take off.

Image- Al-41 engine stall on Su-57

 And in 2014 India had expressed concerns over the enigne with regards to its performance and super cruise capabilities.

However in the new production models Russia is claiming to integrate more advanced Izdeliye 30 engines with more dry thrust and efficiency.The new engine will be capable of producing 107 kN of dry thrust and 176 kN in afterburners.

But India is skeptical as this is an new engine and its performance will only be validated once Russia completely inducts Su-57 in large numbers in to its air force.

3. Serviceability issue

India already operates a large number of Russian made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter along with Mig -29 and Mig 21 bison.

And apparently Indian Air force is not happy with the serviceability of these air crafts and availability of the spare parts.

Reports have surfaced where the number of Sukhoi Su -30 jets in  available in service were almost 50 percent of the number of jets acquired in the Indian inventory.

India also operates the Mig 29 K the naval version of Mig-29 and have also seem to have problems with its engines.

Image-Indian Navy Mig-29 K

So it is viable for India to step back and observe the developments happening in the Su -57 program and study before going into any deal with Russia.

4. China 

Although Russia is an old friend and very close to India China has an more deep military and strategic relationship with Russia than India. the military equipment export of China From Russia is

also considerably high when compared to India. Also India is now looking to buy some western made platforms like Rafale and MH 60 R submarine hunting helicopters.

As the defense ties with USA is increasing China seems to be having more stronger ties with Russia.

And viewers must note that China has been the first customer for Russian Su35 fighter jets and S-400 Air defense systems.

Even though China has claimed that its J-20 is an fifth generation fighter jet many aviation experts don't believe so and China had acquired Su 35 in limited number in spite of J -20 in Chinese air force. Also India have claimed that the J-20 is not an stealthy aircraft since the Sukhoi- Su 30 MKI of India detected Chinese air crafts from a much longer distance.

Image-Chinese J-20 fighter jet

So there is an very good possibility of china acquiring these fighter jets from Russia and Russia selling to them since Su-57 program is facing economic crisis after India  walked out of the program in late 2018.

5. Indigenous fifth generation fighter jets.

India is looking to increase its capability to locally design and produce military weapons and equipment. And since 2018 India has started to focus immensely on its fifth generation fighter air craft.

The program is known as AMCA or advanced medium combat aircraft.It is show cased as an 5.5 generation aircraft.

It is now know that the design phase is complete and India is in development of key sensors and technology for the fifth generation fighter.

Image-HAL AMCA design

India is looking to use General Electric engines or might develop an indigenous engine for Mk 2 version of AMCA  along with Rolls Royce and India will have the intellectual property rights to the same.

The first flight of the prototype is expected to take place in 2026.

And it will go into serial production by 2030.

In addition to that last year Indian Air force chief said that India is not looking to acquire any foreign fifth generation fighter jets and will build one indigenously.