It’s in this light that the capabilities of modern fighter jets came to the fore since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukraine War. While Ukraine waits on its Western allies for F-16 Fighting Falcons, attention now turns to Russia’s most advanced offering: its fifth-generation Su-57 “Felon” fighter jet whose deployment numbers are less than a handful in the conflict.
While boasting impressive design features, it has nonetheless chalked up considerable production delays and tech issues.
Only 32 were delivered to the Russian Air Force since the maiden flight in 2010, and production was only just starting in 2019, indicating considerable development and industrial bottlenecks.
To be sure, the jet has been plagued by issues with its engines-it still uses the Al-41F1 engines that power the Su-35S-and its sensor suite remains incomplete, probably due to international sanctions following Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.
Controversy surrounds the Su-57 radar cross-section too. Independent estimates have pegged it around 0.5 square meters, rivaling a ‘clean’ fourth-generation F/A-18 Super Hornet, but significantly larger than the F-22 Raptor. That would have the Su-57 at a considerable disadvantage in stealth capability vs US fifth-generation fighters.
These notwithstanding, the Su-57 is still a good fighter. In this regard, defense analyst Christian Orr claims no pilot flying the F-22 or F-35-and indeed those flying fourth-generation fighters-can take for granted the Su-57. Equipped with 360-degree thrust vectoring that enables sophisticated maneuverability, even hitting Mach 2 is possible with this aircraft.
The Russian Defense Ministry has demanded that the production in 2024 has to be double that of the year before.
United Aircraft Corporation Chief Executive Officer Yuri Slyusar stated that the volume of orders increased considerably, therefore, more work has to go into production. UAC delivered 12 Su-57s in 2023, which is over double what was recorded in 2022.
It is projected that UAC will be able to hand over more than 20 Su-57 in 2024 but 76 units by the year 2028.
Acquiring F-16s from NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium would mean a serious upgrading of the air force for Ukraine.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an aircraft legendary for its versatility, maneuverability, and long history of success in combat, being originally designed as a lightweight air superiority day fighter but evolved into an all-weather multirole aircraft.
The F-16 can exceed Mach 2 and can attain 50,000 feet; the Su-57 boasts an even more loftier ceiling. It also comes with a combat radius of about 340 miles, a feature of using only internal fuel, and a ferry range of more than 2,000 miles with external tanks. Armat The AN/APG-66 quite advanced radar systems included in this aircraft enabled it to detect both air and ground targets over 60 miles.
It can carry more and a greater variety of weapons than its Soviet counterpart, the MiG-29, or its latest Russian challenger, the Su-57; underneath and on its belly racks, it can carry missiles, bombs, and anti-radar weapons.
On the other hand, the F-16 has brought its maintenance headaches. A U.S. study last year by the General Accounting Office listed the F-16 as among the most difficult Air Force planes to maintain.
Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. The F-16s will be usable to the extent Ukraine can build out comprehensive support and logistics infrastructure that will include training pilots and fielding the systems required for maintenance, fueling, and munitions supply, said Marine Colonel and senior adviser with the Center for Strategic & International Studies Security Program.
Ukraine, therefore, hopes that the integration of F-16s into its air force would find utility in achieving parity with the aerial capabilities of Russia. For one, the Su-57 is fraught with production and performance issues.