Amid a tense sky, Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighter spreads its wings, displaying air power that has yet to be fully tested.
A fierce predator lurks in the sky.
Russia’s aerial beast, the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter, has raised concerns among military analysts. Rumors spread like the wind about its possible use in the Ukrainian conflict. With its mighty Mach 2 roar, this winged cat glides through the skies like an invisible hunter, and its range of up to 3,000 kilometers makes it a potential threat to Ukraine and the West.
The riddles of the Su-57 Felon
Its predatory shape, flat fuselage, rounded wings, and mixed bodywork reveals a stealthy design. But what secrets does this winged feline hide? Answers about the quality of your computer systems, sensors, and weapons will determine whether you can take on an F-35 and emerge victorious.
Battle of Titans: Su-57 vs. F-35
Do the Su-57’s sensors have the range and resolution to compete with the F-35? The latter has demonstrated its ability to detect and destroy many enemy fighters from undetected distances in combat simulations.
The key to the Su-57 lies in its active electronic and phased array radar and infrared search and track (IRST) technology. Will it be enough to take on an F-35 in a battle of the titans?
The numerical disadvantage of the Su-57
Beyond its abilities, the Su-57 faces a bigger challenge: numbers. With only 4 to 15 operational aircraft, according to public reports, it is no match for the 300 F-35s in American hands, not counting allied European forces. Russia plans to acquire 76 Su-57s in the next five years, but the numerical advantage clearly favors the West.
The manned-unmanned operations race
Another area where Russia could lag behind is in the integration of manned-unmanned team operations, known as “loyal wingman.” While the United States has already demonstrated the ability to network an F-35 with its Valkyrie drone, Russia is still working on connecting the Su-57 and the S-70 Okhotnik B drone.
The uncertain future of the Su-57
Although the extent of Russian advances in this field is still unknown, it remains to be seen whether the Su-57 will be able to operate with the ability to control drones in real-time. For now, the Su-57 Felon lurks in the shadows, and only time will tell whether it will become the hunter or the hunted in global aerial chess.
