Russia and Turkey Building Su-57 Stealth Fighters Jointly?

The ground may be ripe for Turkish-Russian aerospace cooperation, particularly in regard to stealth platforms. Both countries would, in theory, benefit from much of the program. Turkey could use the engine expertise and Russia could use the influx of cash for developing a fighter.

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is touted as Russia’s most advanced, technical problems and funding issues have plagued the program—though it is moving forward. Several countries might want to buy fighters in the future, or perhaps buy into the program itself.

Out with the Old, In with the New

In a tweet, United Aircraft Corporation, a Russian aerospace and defense corporation, posted a photo of at least one Su-57 being assembled at the company’s aviation plant at Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, not far from Japan and China.

These latest airframes are part of a larger seventy-six-plane order that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced last year. If production goes according to schedule, the airframes will be delivered by 2027. Interestingly, there was a one year discrepancy between Putin’s public announcement and what the United Aircraft Corporation stated as delivery dates. Possibly just human error, or perhaps another chapter in the saga of Russia’s ever-shifting military equipment delivery dates.

The Specs

The Su-57 is Russia’s most advanced fighter to date. Touted as fifth-generation, the large two-engine fighter has several advanced features, including a stealthy design, very high maneuverability thanks to thrust vectoring, and internally stored weapons for better flight characteristics and a reduced radar cross-section. Despite the stealth fighter’s not-informidable design, the Su-57 program has not escaped mishaps.

Just last year, a Su-57 fighter crashed during a test flight due to a “technical failure of the aircraft control system,” according to the Russian TASS news agency. A source told TASS that a tail control surface failure was at fault. It was the Su-57 program’s first crash.

Check Engine Light

Despite being Russia’s premier fighter, the Su-57 program is far from perfect. One of the most notable factors holding the program back are the platform’s engines. Rather than using advanced engines, the Su-57 relies on older, less capable engines. Engine trouble could be one reason why India dropped out of the program. Though New Delhi had been an early program partner, the Su-57 ceased to meet India’s particular requirements, and India withdrew.

Several countries have been considered as future partners in the stealth project, namely China and Turkey. Indeed, Ankara in particular would appear to be particularly inclined to partner with Moscow on the Su-57 project, considering both Turkey’s recent S-400 anti-aircraft system acquisition, and subsequent boot from the United States’ F-35 stealth fighter program.

As I’ve previously written, the ground may be ripe for Turkish-Russian aerospace cooperation, particularly in regard to stealth platforms. Both countries would, in theory, benefit from much of the program—Turkey could use the engine expertise and Russia could use the influx of cash for developing a fighter.

On Track

Despite the previous mishaps—and missed production dates—the Su-57 appears to be on track to finally enter slightly more expanded service with the Russian Armed Forces. Time will tell if this is the case, and who Russia ends up partnering with or selling airframes to. Watch this topic closely for further future developments.

Source: nationalinterest.org

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