Production nightmare: why in the Russian Federation cannot establish a large-scale release of SU-57

To spread: the Russian Fifth Generation Su-57 fighter, designed for competition with F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, remains an important element of the PCS Modernization Program of Russia. However, its serial production is slow, and the difficult economic and technological situation is asked to question its mass deployment. This is stated in the material of the military observer 19Fotyfive Aisek Seitz, where he examines the features of the fighter and the challenges that Russia faced.

The expert acknowledges that the Su-57 fighter combines developed stealth technologies, maneuverability and modern avionic. The aircraft is capable of fulfilling missions to conquer the preference in the air, strike for land purposes and intelligence. It was already used in Syria and Ukraine, which made it possible to evaluate its real combat capabilities. One of the main characteristics of the SU-57 is supermannation.

Two products "product 30" provide a maximum speed up to 2 Mach and a flight range of about 3500 km. The aircraft is equipped with a radar with an active phased antenna lattice (AFFA), an infrared target search system (IRST) and a complex of electronic warfare. Weapons SU-57 include: despite the stated characteristics, the mass production of the SU-57 is slow. According to Seitz, the main problem is the lack of experience and capacity in Russia for the serial release of stealth flowers.

The production of such machines require complex technologies and specialized infrastructure, the development of which in the Russian Federation is just beginning. "For example, the Su-57 engines were a significant narrow place in the production process. With constant refinement of the control of the control vector and the overall complexity of devices, the production of these engines was a difficult task for the Russian Federation," the analyst said. Another factor is the cost.

According to various estimates, the price of Su-57 is about $ 35 million per unit. Although it is much cheaper than the F-22 or F-35, Su-57 remains the most expensive Russian fighter. And limited military budget and sanctions that interfere with access to modern materials and electronics complicate the production process. In addition, Russia faces a lag from the US and China, which has already formed full fleet of fifth generation fighters.

While the Americans continue to increase the f-35 release, and China is actively unfolding the J-20, Moscow is not yet able to adjust the Su-57 release in sufficient quantities. However, despite the difficulties, the Russian military continues the Su-57 program, modernizing the fighter and increasing its combat capabilities. At the same time, the future of the aircraft depends on the solution of production problems, accessibility of components and financing.

If these issues are not settled, the SO-57 risks remaining not a mass plane, but a niche platform, which is not able to change the balance of power in the air. "If Su-57 should become the basis of Russian PKS, then the Russians need to bring their industrial base to order," the Seitc summed up. Earlier it was reported that at the Aero India 2025 exhibition, the Russian Su-57 fighter took off from a short runway only in 11-12 seconds.