development. The Atoll suite provides full
control of the space around the aircraft in
the optical range.
The Su-57 carries its basic ordnance
load in two tandem internal weapon
bays that occupy the entire length of the
ventral surface of the fuselage. Typical
loads include up to four medium-range
K-77M or long-range izdeliye 810 AAMs,
Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missiles, and
Kh-38M or KAB-250 electro-optical air-
to-ground munitions. Additionally, one
K-74M2 close-air combat AAM can be
fitted in each of two oblong underwing
bays. For missions not requiring stealth,
more weapons and stores may be carried
on external pylons. The fighter has a fixed
30mm single-barrel cannon.
Eight years have passed since the T-50’s
first flight on January 29, 2010. Ten flying
prototypes are currently undergoing tests
(T-50-1 to -6, and -8, -9 and 10-11); T-50-11
first flew on August 6, 2017, followed
by T-50-10 on December 23, 2017. The
later examples, completed since 2016,
differ from the first five aircraft in having
a reinforced inner airframe structure.
The aft fuselage section (housing theelectronic warfare equipment) is longer,
and the circumferences of the aft lower
fuselage, some doors and hatches, and
wingtips, have been modified. Apart from
the industry test center at Zhukovsky, the
aircraft have been under evaluation with
the Ministry of Defense’s test center at
Akhtubinsk since February 2014.
Russia declared that in early 2018 the
Ministry of Defense would order the
first batch of production Su-57 fighters
(reportedly 12) in their current form, which
will be delivered to the Air Force during
2018-20. The first two are expected to
be deployed to Akhtubinsk in May 2018.
Full-scale production will be launched
in around two years, when the izdeliye
30 engine is ready. The program is
progressing slowly, but when the Su-57
is finished, it will become Russia’s primary
multirole fighter and the Su-27’s successor
for decades to come.
On February 21, 2018 two Su-57
prototypes were deployed to Hmeimin air
base in Syria (together with four additional
Su-35S fighters and four Su-25 attack
aircraft). The Su-57s returned to Russia
three days later.Below: T-50-9
was the first in
the ‘pixelated’
scheme. T-50-10,
which made its
maiden flight
on December
23, 2017, was
the third Su-57
to take to the
sky in 2017 and
it wears a new
darker ‘pixelated’
scheme.
Piotr Butowski
Bottom: ‘055’ was
the fifth flying
prototype and it
made its first flight
on October 27,- Seriously
damaged on
June 10, 2014, as
consequence of
starboard engine
fire. Overhauled
at Komsomolsk-
on-Amur and
now designated
T-50-5R, resumed
flight tests after
repair on October
16, 2015. Max S
http://www.combataircraft.net // May 2018 93
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