Military Watch, citing sources from Russian state media, said that small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been developed to equip and operate with the fifth generation fighter Su-57. .
” Mini UAVs used for various purposes have been created for the Su-57, this fifth generation aircraft will be able to carry UAVs on pylons outside and inside the fuselage and release them. them from the air. According to the plan, the Su-57 will launch drones at the same time and control this group of aircraft to perform missions ,” the source said.
The source also revealed that the small drones will be able to carry out air strikes, conduct electronic warfare and reconnaissance, and will be released in groups by Su-57 units. to penetrate the enemy’s air defense system.
This tactic is expected to maximize the Su-57’s stealth capabilities and high durability. Because each Su-57 fighter can carry a large number of small UAVs and transport them to very remote locations, it is also important that the Su-57 does not have to directly fight in the area. danger.
The Russian Air Force is expected to establish the first combat-ready Su-57 squadron in 2024, on the basis that the production rate of this aircraft doubled in 2023, to about 12 airframes. fly every year.
Russian Su-57 fighter.
Analysts say that it is still impossible to confirm whether the drones carried by the Su-57 will be “kamikaze” assets – one-time use, or whether they are designed to be able to rotate. Return to base to carry out further operations.
Serving as an “aerial aircraft carrier” would make the Su-57 completely unique among fighter aircraft around the world today. Although, the US military has proposed similar ideas many times before, by modifying transport aircraft such as the C-130 to be able to launch drones from the air.
Compared to Chinese and American fifth-generation fighters, the Su-57’s stealth capabilities are considered more limited. This forces Russian engineers to focus more on equipping the Su-57 with beyond-visual-range attack weapons, to limit the need for the aircraft to operate too far outside the protection of the Russian air force.
Equipping drones to suppress enemy air defense systems is considered the latest development in military aviation technology. This solution significantly enhances the air defense suppression capabilities of Su-57 units, while also helping to reduce operational risks for the aircraft itself.
Another notable example is the integration of the R-37M missile into the Su-57 fighter aircraft. This allows the Su-57 to attack enemy aircraft within a combat range of up to 400km, double that of current Western fighter classes.
Military observers said that the Su-57 has been deployed by Russia in a special military campaign since March 2022 with many roles, including attack, air defense suppression, and operational support. electronic warfare and even aerial combat beyond visual range.
Su-57 carries R-37M missiles.
Operations in Ukraine have helped the Russian Air Force become the only force in the world with practical experience in operating fifth-generation fighters in high-intensity combat.
The ability to act as an “aircraft carrier” is the latest in a series of newly announced features of the Su-57. Previously in August 2023, a report said that the Su-57 was equipped with a new communication and data link system secured by artificial intelligence, in addition to absorbing fire glass technology. Radar absorption was also reported in the first half of this year.
In the first week of November 2023, some sources said that the Su-57 had been integrated with a new type of radar-avoiding cruise missile based on the design of the Kh-101/102 missile. The new missile is more compact in size but provides a combat range of up to 3,500km, and can also carry both nuclear or conventional warheads.
