Russian and American fighter jets are among the most advanced military aircraft in the world. Both countries have a long history of producing powerful and capable fighter jets, and both continue to invest heavily in their development.
Both Russian and American fighter jets are highly advanced and capable aircraft, with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-57 are known for their long range and impressive manoeuvrability, while the F-15 Eagle, F-22 and F-35 are known for their ability to establish air dominance. The F-35 is considered one of the most advanced multirole fifth generation stealth fighters jet in the world, with the Russian’s Su-57 being considered a close rival.
Lockheed Martin F-35
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is a multirole fighter, designed to perform a variety of missions including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. The F-35 is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, which was launched in the 1990s as a way to replace a variety of aging fighter jets used by the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as a number of allied countries.
The F-35 program began in the early 1990s, when the US Department of Defense issued a request for proposal for a new multirole fighter jet. Lockheed Martin’s design, then known as the X-35, was chosen as the winner in 2001, and the F-35 program officially began.
The first F-35, the F-35A variant, made its first flight on December 15, 2006. It was followed by the F-35B (short take-off and vertical landing) and F-35C (carrier variant) versions.
The F-35 program has faced many challenges throughout its development. The program has been beset by cost overruns, schedule delays, and technical problems, which led to criticism and scrutiny by government officials and the media.
In spite of the challenges, the F-35 program has continued to progress, and the aircraft has undergone several rounds of testing and evaluation. As of 2021, the F-35 Lightning II is in service with the United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as a number of allied countries including the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, Japan and South Korea.
The F-35 continues to receive upgrades and modifications in order to improve its performance and capabilities. These include new software and hardware that improves its stealth characteristics, weapons capability, and electronic warfare systems.
The F-35 Lightning II is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine. The F135 is a development of the F119 engine that powers the F-22 Raptor, but with significant modifications to meet the specific requirements of the F-35.
The F135 is a highly advanced engine that is designed to provide the F-35 with the performance and capabilities it needs to perform a wide range of missions. It has several key features that enable the F-35 to fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburner, and to perform advanced manoeuvres such as super-cruise and vertical take-off and landing.
The F135 is a turbofan engine that generates more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the F-35 to reach speeds of up to 1.6 Mach (1,200 mph) in level flight. The engine’s fan blades are made of composite materials, which makes them much more durable than traditional metal blades and allows them to withstand the high temperatures generated by supersonic flight. The engine also features thrust vectoring, which allows the F-35 to perform advanced manoeuvres.
The F135 also features advanced stealth technology which includes the use of an inlet spike, which helps to reduce the engine’s radar signature, and the use of special radar absorbant coatings and materials that help to reduce its infrared and visual signatures.
The F-35 Lightning II 5th generation aircraft has a significant payload capacity. It is designed to be a multirole aircraft, capable of carrying a wide range of weapons and equipment. The aircraft has nine weapon stations, including two on the wingtips, four under the wings, and three internally in the weapons bay.
The F-35A Lightning II variant can carry up to 18,000 pounds (8,165 kg) of weapons and equipment on its external stations, while the F-35B and F-35C variants can carry up to 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg) and 17,000 pounds (7,711 kg) respectively.
The internal weapons bay of the F-35 is designed to carry a variety of weapons including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and precision-guided munitions. The bay is large enough to carry up to 2 GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), or 2 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and 2 AIM-9X Sidewinder Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SRAAMs).
In addition to the weapons and equipment carried on its external stations and in its weapons bay, the F-35 can also carry a variety of sensors and electronic warfare equipment. These include radar, electronic warfare pods, and targeting pods.
Sukhoi Su-57
The development of the Su-57, originally known as the PAK FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) began in the early 2000s. The first prototype of the aircraft made its maiden flight on January 29, 2010. The aircraft was publicly revealed at the MAKS Airshow in Moscow in 2011.
The Su-57 has undergone several rounds of testing and evaluation, and a number of prototypes and experimental aircraft have been built. In 2017, the Russian Air Force announced that it had officially accepted the first batch of Su-57 fighters into service.
The Su-57 has been plagued by several production issues and delays, however, the Russian government has announced plans to field an upgraded version of the aircraft in the future, with enhanced stealth and avionics capabilities. Additionally, some experts have raised concerns about the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, and the potential vulnerability of its engines to damage in high-G manoeuvres.
The Sukhoi Su-35 is powered by two Saturn AL-41F1S turbofan engines, also known as the 117S. This engine provides a maximum thrust of 34,500 kg (76,000 lb) with afterburner, with thrust vectoring technology which provides the Su-35 with enhanced manoeuvrability, allowing it to perform advanced manoeuvres. The engine is designed for easy maintenance and high reliability, with built-in health monitoring systems.
The Sukhoi Su-57 5th generation stealth aircraft has a payload capacity of up to 8,000 kg (17,637 lb), which can be carried on its 12 external hardpoints, and has an internal weapons bay that can carry a variety of weapons. It’s equipped with advanced avionics and sensor systems, such as an AESA radar, advanced electronic warfare systems, and a data link, allowing for high level of situational awareness and coordination with friendly forces, making it capable of network-centric warfare.
Conclusion: Su 57 vs F 35
Both the 5th generation fighters have yet to be fully operational and both countries will continue updating and refining them. The F-35 program is considered to be more advanced because it’s already in use in multiple countries and the U.S is still updating the F-35 fleet with new software. While the Su-57 is still being tested, and Russia is planning to field an upgraded version in the future.
In general, the Sukhoi Su-57 is felon considered to have more advanced maneuverability and air-to-air capabilities, while the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is considered to have more advanced stealth technology and avionics systems, as well as multirole capabilities.
Ultimately, the choice between the two aircraft would depend on the specific requirements of the mission and the capabilities of the air force that’s using it.