Su-57 Felon » The Su-57 is the only stealth fighter on the planet
today to utilise 3D thrust vectoring controls. These allow
the pilot to direct the outflow of thrust from the engines
independent of the direction the aircraft is pointed, so the Su-57
can execute dramatic rolls and loops at low speeds, as well as
orient itself in unique positions for attack (for example, pointing
the fighter’s nose down towards enemy aircraft while the
engines’ outlets keep the plane travelling in a forward direction).
J-20 Mighty Dragon » The first J-20s did not incorporate
thrust vector controls, but China has announced that their latest
iteration of the fighter, the J-20B, will include the capability.
Some experts think the J-20’s length and aerodynamic profile
make it poorly suited for the acrobatics of an air superiority
fighter, but J-20 test pilots have said the aircraft is comparable
in agility to China’s fourth-generation fighter, the J-10. Analysis
from Chinese aeronautical engineer Song Wencong, PhD, also
suggested the jet could be more agile than what many experts
predicted, but the plane’s acrobatic chops remain in question.
NGAD » The F-22 Raptor offers similar, but inferior, thrust
vector controls to those of the Su-57, suggesting the US Air
Force prefers a sharpshooter fighter that can maintain the ability
to scrap in close quarters. However, recent air force renderings
of the NGAD programme depict an aircraft without a vertical
tail like those found on the F-35 and F-22. While not without
precedent on a stealth fighter, this absence could indicate
a stealth-heavy platform that sacrifices greater control surface
on the tail, and thus acrobatic performance, for a lower profile.
NGAD’s design
can lean into
specificity while
its competitors are
forced to balance
disparate capabilities.
As depicted
by Boeing, the
NGAD’s engine
intakes are
shielded from
radar below.The Su-57 has an
expected service
life of 35 years.While the Su-57 is acrobatic and built for
close-up dogfi ghts, the J-20 emphasises
avionics and weapon performance to
engage at longer distances. The US
favours the latter approach, thanks to their weapons
with over-the-horizon reach, though the F-22 demon-
strated surprising agility for this leaning. That could
indicate the NGAD will invest in high manoeuvrability,
even if its offensive systems continue the US Air Force’s
long-range legacy.
4
MANOEUVRABILITY
46 MAY / JUNE 2022