The Russian Su-57 and U.S. Air Force’s F-35 stealth aircraft have arrived in India! This is the first time both stealth fighters have been captured in one frame. 

The F-35A visited Bangalore for the Aero India Airshow 2023. This is the stealth fighter’s second visit to the airshow. For Su-57, it is its debut appearance in India and second overall after the Zhuhai Air Show in China.

The Su-57, Russia’s most advanced combat jet, is produced at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant in the Russian Far East. Moscow has offered its stealth fighter to the Indian Air Force as China amasses stealth fighters (J-20), while another foe, Pakistan, could have its own fleet of China-supplied J-35 stealth aircraft.

This creates a massive “stealth gap” for the Indian Air Force.

The timing of Su-57’s debut in the air show is likely to be juxtaposed with the much-awaited visit of President Putin to India. President Putin could officially make a renewed pitch to PM Modi for Su-57 fighters under the “Make in India” initiative.

The Su-57 is a supersonic, twin-engine, fifth-gen aircraft designed to counter U.S. air superiority. Despite its advanced design, the Felon has failed to match the success of the F-35, which boasts superior stealth, computing, and sensor capabilities.

The Sukhoi Su-57 is designed to destroy air, ground, and naval targets. It has increased stealth due to the broad use of composite materials and can reach supersonic cruising speed.

It is said to have cutting-edge onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a potent onboard computer. Its radar system is spread across its body, and its armament is placed inside its fuselage.

The Su-57 AI system assumes some of the pilot’s functions, including piloting and preparations for the use of weapons. The Su-57 will be armed with beyond-visual-range missiles and two short-range missiles for air-to-air combat missions.

The fighter’s primary medium-range missile is the active radar-homing K-77M (Izdeliye 180). An upgraded version of the R-77 medium-range missile, the K-77M is a radar-guided missile beyond visual range (BVR) equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar seeker. Moscow could also add the new R-37M long-range hypersonic missiles to boost aircraft’s firepower.

Russia also plans to employ S-70 Okhotnik drones alongside the Su-57 as a ‘loyal wingman.’ UAC CEO Yury Slyusar said earlier that the 5th-gen Su-57 was a step toward the sixth-generation aircraft.

Is F-35 Better Than Su-57?

The F-35 is considered superior to the Su-57 not only for its stealth capabilities but also for its widespread production and popularity.

In contrast to the limited number of Su-57s, the F-35 has been constructed in massive quantities. Over 1,000 F-35s have been built for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and global customers, and various European and Asian countries have already acquired the stealth jet.

It remains an aspiration for many others, including some rich nations in the Middle East.

The F-35 also stands out for its state-of-the-art computing, weapons range, mission systems, and long-range, high-resolution sensors, which are reportedly even better than the F-22 Raptors.

Often referred to as a “flying computer,” the F-35’s advanced performance is primarily due to its central computer system, which controls all aspects of the stealth jet. This aspect of the F-35 is crucial but usually neglected compared to its other visible features.

General David Goldfein, former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, once described the F-35 not as a traditional fighter but as “a computer that happens to fly.”

This advanced computing technology enables many of the F-35’s missions and operations, particularly for precision targeting. Software upgrades have significantly enhanced the performance of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons like the AIM-120 and AIM-9X through enhanced flight path and guidance technology.

The F-35 is continually improving with ongoing software upgrades and modernization efforts facilitated by its “open architecture” and interoperable IP Protocol standards. This design enables rapid integration of new technologies without requiring an overhaul of the jet’s computing infrastructure.

Additionally, the F-35 stands out as the world’s only fifth-gen fighter jet capable of carrying nuclear weapons, surpassing other warplanes like the F-22, J-20, and Su-57.

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