Sukhoi Su-57 / T-50 / PAK FA - flight testing and development Part II [2012-current]

[TR1]

 

[Deino]

Фотография самолёта · Сухой · Су-57 (Т-50С) · 01 · Россия (СССР) - ВВС ✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация

Фотография самолёта. Разработчик: Сухой, модификация: Су-57 (Т-50С), бортовой номер: 01, оператор: Россия (СССР) - ВВС, место съёмки: Новосибирск - Толмачёво, фотограф: Андрей Захаренко (c)

russianplanes.net

 

[Dr.Snufflebug]

Well, it's only technically a serial and only technically delivered to the VKS. The blue logotype behind the bort number is that of the Chkalov state flight test center, it doesn't have the final engines or nozzles, some skin-related things aren't present, the OLS is still a placeholder (and probably several other electro-optical apertures aren't housed the way envisaged), and there are multiple other things that are subject to change still.

But it does show that they got the base manufacturing down properly. Huge, smooth composite panels cover the entire thing, it's just a huge step for Russian military aircraft manufacture, quite unlike the rather crude Soviet-reminiscent prototype series or the products of other Russian bureaus. Sukhoi is now miles ahead. Still, this aircraft isn't finished.

 

[Gablu]

Well, it's only technically a serial and only technically delivered to the VKS. The blue logotype behind the bort number is that of the Chkalov state flight test center, it doesn't have the final engines or nozzles, some skin-related things aren't present, the OLS is still a placeholder (and probably several other electro-optical apertures aren't housed the way envisaged), and there are multiple other things that are subject to change still.

But it does show that they got the base manufacturing down properly. Huge, smooth composite panels cover the entire thing, it's just a huge step for Russian military aircraft manufacture, quite unlike the rather crude Soviet-reminiscent prototype series or the products of other Russian bureaus. Sukhoi is now miles ahead. Still, this aircraft isn't finished.

Will you pls be more specific as to what you meant by some skin related things aren't present , electro optical apertures aren't housed the way envisaged and multiple other things that are subject to change.

Will you pls briefly elaborate the skin related changes . And the apertures have always been housed in this fashion since the last few prototypes .

 

[Acatomic]

@Dr.Snufflebug

OLS turns around when not in use.



First production Su-57 to be at State Flight Test Center (GLIC) where it will be used to test Hypersonic weapons.

Первый серийный Су-57 используют для испытаний гиперзвуковых средств поражения

Разработку ведет корпорация "Тактическое ракетное вооружение", сообщил источник в оборонно-промышленном комплексе

tass.ru

 

[GARGEAN]

some skin-related things aren't present

Like?

the OLS is still a placeholder

Why?

and probably several other electro-optical apertures aren't housed the way envisaged

Which ones?

and there are multiple other things that are subject to change still.

Like?

It has full set of expected changes in surface threatment it was expected to get. It has full set of 101KS systems, including 101KS-V OLS, 101KS-U MAWS, 101KS-O DIRCM, 101KS-P "landing assistance system"... There is nothing listed/expected/claimed to be a subject to change, let alone multiple things. Only properly mentioned thing is engines, and it was NEVER expected to go into serial with second stage engines from the get-go. How on earth it is "isn't finished"?

 

[Ejajjs]

The winner of the youth competition "The Future of Aviation" held by PJSC UAC was the project of the branch of PJSC Sukhoi Company "KnAAZ im. Yu.A. Gagarin "Implementation of Augmented Reality in Aircraft Industry", presented by Lead Programmer Valery Timokhin, Software Engineers Roman Zalata and Valentina Nikitina.


and serial number:52201

 

[AGS-1787]

I don't get it; the top is pretty smooth with little paneling but the bottom looks rougher, my only theory is that they don't mind it much or they will address it once the new engines are around. This is still an initial batch, I imagine they will make some updates later.

 

[sferrin]

Wut?

 

[TR1]

Those small new triangular exhausts on the engine nacelles top and bottom are interesting.

Also, was it ever confirmed what the three white panels are, right over the nose (In front of the IRST)?

 

[AGS-1787]

The top looked super smooth on the factory photos, not a lot of pannels showing at all. This airplane certainly looks better, but some access panels Sukhoi just made them square or round and others have tooth edges, so I'm confused why. I still think that the aerodynamic layout of this jet seems pretty awesome, lots of wing area, adjustable lerx on the front, full moving tails, very thin design especially on the sides, there is not a lot of airplane visually and provably for the radar to pick up.
All that wing area allows the Su-57 to take off and land at small distances. In the last display from this video, the airplane looked like it had an excellent climb rate; the pilot appeared to pull more g's this time. Seems like it would be pretty good up high, flying fast giving its missiles extra boost by flying fast, then if needed could outmaneuver any other jet just by having more wing area and speed. Regarding the su-57 controlling drones, I think they might end up making a two-seater as it happened with the k-50. The workload might turn out to be too much, not by the lack of computing power but by human factors. How effective is the camo? It seems to be more to look cool than to be less visible, how effective is the blue camo on the Flankers? Gray seems to be the hardest color to see visually. I'm not bashing the su-57 I'm actually a fan of the Russian jets when it comes to aerodynamics, but so far they have lacked the sophistication in avionics, at least until the introduction of the Su-30, Su,35 and Mig-35. Sometimes I feel that the Russians could go the extra mile to make their airplane over the top, but they choose practicality instead. A philosophy that is more in line with the teachings from WWII.

 

[QuadroFX]

Also, was it ever confirmed what the three white panels are, right over the nose (In front of the IRST)?

ESA antennas of S-111-N system - analogue of MADL.

 

[LMFS]

This airplane certainly looks better, but some access panels Sukhoi just made them square or round and others have tooth edges, so I'm confused why.

Panels that cannot be sealed on the ground are serrated, the others are not. We can argue why or how, but it is like that. It is hard to say this was "overlooked" when you see pictures like the one below, where internal serrated edges are perfectly apparent right in front of the nose radome joint oriented right to the front. For some reason those joints do not generate the level of return some expect, probably because there is no electrical discontinuity, maybe edges are treated too, I don't know. It simply does not make sense to have that level of attention at some point as Sukhoi shows, "forgetting" the rest of the panels in the plane and then cheating to yourself at the RCS measurements...

 

[stealthflanker]

This airplane certainly looks better, but some access panels Sukhoi just made them square or round and others have tooth edges, so I'm confused why.

Panels that cannot be sealed on the ground are serrated, the others are not. We can argue why or how, but it is like that. It is hard to say this was "overlooked" when you see pictures like the one below, where internal serrated edges are perfectly apparent right in front of the nose radome joint oriented right to the front. For some reason those joints do not generate the level of return some expect, probably because there is no electrical discontinuity, maybe edges are treated too, I don't know. It simply does not make sense to have that level of attention at some point as Sukhoi shows, "forgetting" the rest of the panels in the plane and then cheating to yourself at the RCS measurements...

This is nice. I think i can see the radome edge treatment, angled. showing the main nose array are in tilted position.

 

[haavarla]

View: https://youtu.be/8ifZ3BYPtM0


I do like the latest Su☆♡

 

[FighterJock]

View: https://youtu.be/8ifZ3BYPtM0


I do like the latest Su☆♡

You are not alone haavarla, I have a soft spot for the Su-57 as well, but then again I like all Sukhoi aircraft.

 

[flateric]

internet articles about the round IRST/KS-0 bad and poor panel work will never school actual professionals.

i.e. who? those, who are trying to use JSF CDAs photos to prove that they 'are not stealthy'?

 

[Dr.Snufflebug]

some skin-related things aren't present

Like?

Loads of RAM, especially in the frontal portion. We've seen it on the individual they tested at the RCS testing grounds in Voronezh, and on T-50-2 (before it was repurposed as an LL), and on the KNS itself. Oh, and on one of the later flying ones as well, can't recall. Super-apparent and very thick indeed RAM coating on one of them.

the OLS is still a placeholder

Why?

Because it's the same placeholder seen earlier, with that conspicuous knob on top of the spherical portion. You're not going to swivel that around, and yeah, that's it.

and probably several other electro-optical apertures aren't housed the way envisaged

Which ones?

Half of the 101 suite.

and there are multiple other things that are subject to change still.

Like?

It has full set of expected changes in surface threatment it was expected to get. It has full set of 101KS systems, including 101KS-V OLS, 101KS-U MAWS, 101KS-O DIRCM, 101KS-P "landing assistance system"... There is nothing listed/expected/claimed to be a subject to change, let alone multiple things. Only properly mentioned thing is engines, and it was NEVER expected to go into serial with second stage engines from the get-go. How on earth it is "isn't finished"?

It so doesn't. And now they're gonna fly it at GITs, where the earlier prototypes have flown (albeit "unofficially"), and reportedly the focus according to Russian news reports is to do even more weapons testing now. so hopefully we'll soon finally see some better footage of how all of that functions, but that I never had any doubts about anyway. I'm just saying, the "serial" bit about this airframe is serial in name only, as is its "VKS introduction". What is apparent is that the basic airframe is done and ready for mass production, with its impressively large and smooth panels etc, yet they have additional things to be applied to this "serial" machine.

PS correct me if I'm wrong but even disregarding the first and way simpler X-35, the first 2006-ish "production" F-35(A) didn't have the obvious serrated "tape" all over each and every fuselage panel edge that we see on production F-35s today, right?

 

[GARGEAN]

Because it's the same placeholder seen earlier, with that conspicuous knob on top of the spherical portion. You're not going to swivel that around, and yeah, that's it.

You mean this knob?

Half of the 101 suite.

101KS-P - check.
101KS-U - check.
101KS-O - check.
101KS-V - check (even if doubted).
101KS-N - not present, which is expectable for ground pounding pod.
Am I missing something?

 

[Trident]

Also, was it ever confirmed what the three white panels are, right over the nose (In front of the IRST)?

ESA antennas of S-111-N system - analogue of MADL.

Is that confirmed? It totally makes sense, but so would RNAV aerials (e.g. TACANski and/or ILS).

This is nice. I think i can see the radome edge treatment, angled. showing the main nose array are in tilted position.

The production solution is slightly different (non-serrated):

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/sukhoi-su-57-t-50-pak-fa-flight-testing-and-development-part-ii.15626/page-34#post-385037

As for the surface finish, it was fine all along really. I get the impression most of the people criticizing it simply had a knee-jerk reaction to something Russian-made or were comparing apples to oranges (fully coated production Western 5th gens against untreated early Su-57s). There was significant overlap with the crowd who went crazy about the presence of rivets (completely oblivious to the fact that F-22 & F-35 construction is the same) or felt the original titanium engine nacelle skin was a huge problem (ignoring conveniently that the *vast* majority of the F-117's surface area was metallic). In other words, they were clueless on the subject.

 

[Trident]

Seems my account over at paralay's forum has lapsed (not a big surprise, my last post appears to have been in 2012...), but there's a discussion going on about what the highlighted panel in the fist attachment is. Well, I think I happen to know the answer - it should be the UV-50 countermeasures dispenser, the top pair is also visible on one of the other photos.

 

[Saber]

There probably will be some improvements slipstreamed into the production line as we grow closer to the Su-57M with Izd 30 and electric actuators. I've read there will also be ROFAR but I don't know how true that is.

Also regarding the 4 triangle shapes on each nacelle, do we have any info if they are exhausts or perhaps some aerodynamic flow device? Maybe an aerosol dispenser for IR masking?

 

[Ejajjs]

Seems my account over at paralay's forum has lapsed (not a big surprise, my last post appears to have been in 2012...), but there's a discussion going on about what the highlighted panel in the fist attachment is. Well, I think I happen to know the answer - it should be the UV-50 countermeasures dispenser, the top pair is also visible on one of the other photos.

1-4:052-509: old style,just like Su-35

5-7:510-511:new style

8-9:Su-35

 

[haavarla]

I think its Chaff or Flare dispensers, most likely Flares.

 

[QuadroFX]

Because it's the same placeholder seen earlier, with that conspicuous knob on top of the spherical portion. You're not going to swivel that around, and yeah, that's it.

OLS sphere rotates around its axis. Guess why.


thanks Fedor Ushakov for this photos:

 

[helmutkohl]

i dont follow the Su-57 well
but is it just me or does this version's APU? inlet at the tail look different now. its angled forward

 

[QuadroFX]

i dont follow the Su-57 well
but is it just me or does this version's APU? inlet at the tail look different now. its angled forward

It changed several times and this is final configuration. For now at least.

 

[flanker]

i dont follow the Su-57 well
but is it just me or does this version's APU? inlet at the tail look different now. its angled forward

It has been discussed previously in the thread. Basically T-50-8 was modified with an inlet like that and both S1 (RIP) and S2 has it like so, so it is the production standard.

 

[haavarla]

Su-57 is here | Russian 5th gen jet enters service - YouTube

Most of the footage here is from earlier segments. But i do like the interview of the pilots.
The Narretive reporter is annoying with her smeared on Bravado, but far more pleasing to whatch than the "COMBAT APPROVED" Person.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Is deception a possibility? A case of opposition researchers scratching their heads and asking "What the hell are they doing now"? Cheaper than actual research?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Moved Stealth related posts here to avoid derailing topic.

 

[tntdz]

 

[TR1]

https://sun9-48.userapi.com/impf/1N9EXE5lF1uLCLrmefw8EklyffPuYJZXHDOuAQ/XwkR3UP52ZQ.jpg?size=2560x1920&quality=96&proxy=1&sign=2d3cd0bd7ba15ccf90b738f7b49d6885&type=album

 

[Samoderzhets]

Frazor Felon (origin of the picture) claimed that to be a serial frame, but it is not. It is T-50-8. One clue is the lack of KS-U sensor, but that one could be explained away by the unfinished state of the frame. However the old style shape of the rear landing gear door (and the matching shape at the side of the air duct) is dead giveaway. Later prototypes and serial frames have a "double tooth" serration there. Even T-50-8 itself was later modified to that standard.

 

[AGS-1787]

View attachment 647524

Is this a photoshop or another aircraft?

 

[QuadroFX]

View attachment 647524

Is this a photoshop or another aircraft?

Very old PS'ed photo.

***

Frazor Felon (origin of the picture) claimed that to be a serial frame, but it is not. It is T-50-8

Yes, it is 058 indisputably.

Both Frazor Felon's photos in higher res:

 

[Cannonfodder43]

Another good video of the wailing produced by the Radar Blocker. Definitely adds a signature unique character to the aircraft.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zid1Nv-FfyQ&ab_channel=AltTimofey

 

[helmutkohl]

makes me think of those ww2 dive bombers

 

[medal64]

Any news about if HMD system ready for the first serial Su-57 or still at development stage?

 

[tequilashooter]

old news not posted here but worth noting. От ракеты до «Кометы»: самые знаковые проекты «Технологии» (rostec.ru)

"In Russia, the Obnin enterprise was the first to use polycarbonate in aviation. In the world before that only two countries had such an opportunity - the United States and China. But here it is worth noting the very technology of obtaining the product. Americans and Chinese get polycarbonate glazing products by casting under pressure, which is a fairly laborious and energy-intensive production. Our "Technology" has learned to form a sheet of optical polycarbonate, that is directly from the sheet of polycarbonate to make the right product. It is clear that there were no ready machines for this, and it was necessary to come up with from scratch. As a result, the company developed and implemented unique equipment, which does not exist.

Polycarbonate glass is one and a half times stronger than silicate, which is traditionally used in aviation, while polycarbonate is one and a half times lighter. Another positive thing is that such glass does not give cracks and shrapnel in a collision. Today, polycarbonate glasses from ONPP "Technology" are equipped with the most modern aircraft. They are already on the Su-57 fighter, work is underway on the glazing of the Ka-62 helicopter. The new glazing technology helps to significantly improve the safety of not only aircraft. Polycarbonate glass is used on new passenger ships on the underwater wings of Comet 120M. In July 2018, the ship began to cruise the Black Sea routes."