Sukhoi Su-57 Armament

The Sukhoi Su-57, Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, combines cutting-edge technology and high-end weaponry to provide unmatched superiority in the modern battlefield. Designed to counter the evolving threats in air combat, the Su-57 is equipped with a range of sophisticated armament systems that make it an ideal platform for both offensive and defensive operations. In this article, we will delve into the various weapons systems that equip the Su-57, examining the specifics of its guns, missiles, bombs, and its payload capacity.

Overview of the Sukhoi Su-57 Stealth Fighter

Before diving into the armament specifics, it is essential to understand the overall design and capabilities of the Su-57. This multirole aircraft is built to dominate in air superiority, ground attack, and electronic warfare operations. With its advanced stealth features, the Su-57 can effectively evade radar detection, allowing it to engage in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with reduced risk. The aircraft’s design, with its supercruise capabilities, ensures it can fly at high speeds without the need to constantly rely on afterburners, enhancing fuel efficiency and operational range.

General Characteristics of the Su-57

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 20.1 meters (65 feet 11 inches)
• Wingspan: 14.1 meters (46 feet 3 inches)
• Height: 4.6 meters (15 feet 1 inch)
• Empty Weight: 18,500 kg (40,786 lb)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 35,000 kg (77,162 lb)
• Fuel Capacity: 10,300 kg (22,700 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Saturn AL-41F1 afterburning turbofan engines, providing 32,000 lbf thrust each with afterburner, enabling the aircraft to reach speeds of up to Mach 2.

These features combine to create a platform that is not only versatile in its mission sets but also exceptionally lethal when it comes to its arsenal. Now, let us break down the armament system in detail.

The Su-57’s Gun System: Precision and Power

The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon is the primary gun system of the Su-57, a potent 30mm weapon capable of delivering high rates of fire and precision strikes. This autocannon is highly effective for close-range combat and air-to-air engagements, particularly when dealing with enemy aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Key Specifications of the GSh-30-1 Autocannon:

• Caliber: 30mm
• Rate of Fire: Approximately 1,500 rounds per minute
• Ammunition Capacity: 150 rounds
• Muzzle Velocity: 850 meters per second

This gun, housed within the internal weapons bay, provides the Su-57 with a versatile close combat capability, allowing the fighter to defend itself when missiles are not viable. The high muzzle velocity and rate of fire make it a formidable weapon against both aerial targets and ground-based systems, ensuring the Su-57 retains combat flexibility in dynamic environments.

Missile Armament: Long-Range Precision and Multi-Role Capability

The Sukhoi Su-57’s versatility in weaponry comes to the forefront when we examine its missile capabilities. The fighter is capable of deploying an extensive range of missiles, both air-to-air and air-to-surface, ensuring that it can tackle any aerial or terrestrial threat with precision and power.

Air-to-Air Missiles: Dominating the Skies

Air superiority is a key focus of the Su-57, and its air-to-air missile arsenal allows it to engage enemy aircraft at extended ranges. Some of the notable air-to-air missiles included in the Su-57’s armament are:

• R-77M: An advanced medium-range missile designed for target interception at distances of up to 110 kilometers. The missile uses an active radar seeker for high accuracy, making it highly effective against both maneuvering targets and low-flying aircraft.
• R-74M2: A highly agile short-range missile with an infrared homing system. It is primarily used for close combat engagements and can lock onto targets within visual range, making it a crucial tool for dogfights.
• R-37: This long-range missile is capable of reaching distances up to 300 kilometers, making it one of the longest-range air-to-air missiles in existence. It is designed to engage high-value targets such as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) or tankers, making it an essential tool for anti-jamming and strategic air superiority operations.

The combination of these missiles equips the Su-57 with the ability to engage aerial threats over vast distances while maintaining exceptional accuracy and agility in close-range combat.

Air-to-Surface Missiles: Precision Strike Capability

For ground attack and precision strike operations, the Su-57 carries a potent suite of air-to-surface missiles, providing it with the flexibility to strike both hard targets and soft targets on the battlefield.

• Kh-38M: A medium-range air-to-surface missile with a range of up to 40 kilometers, designed to destroy enemy radar systems, communications centers, and other critical infrastructure.
• Kh-59MK2: This missile is designed for precision strikes against high-value ground targets, including command centers and military installations. It offers a range of 285 kilometers, making it suitable for deep strike missions behind enemy lines.
• Kh-69: A precision-guided missile designed to engage high-value targets with pinpoint accuracy. Its warhead is designed to neutralize hardened targets, and its low radar signature ensures it can strike effectively without being detected by enemy defenses.

These missiles ensure that the Su-57 is not only a dominant air superiority fighter but also a highly effective ground strike platform.

Anti-Ship and Anti-Radiation Missiles: Flexibility in Naval and Electronic Warfare

The Su-57’s anti-ship and anti-radiation missiles further enhance its versatility, making it an ideal platform for both naval warfare and electronic warfare operations.

• Kh-35U: A subsonic anti-ship missile capable of engaging surface vessels at ranges of up to 260 kilometers. With its low radar cross-section, it is designed to evade detection and effectively strike high-value naval targets.
• Kh-31: An anti-ship missile capable of supersonic speeds, designed for rapid engagements against enemy warships. Its high-speed trajectory and stealth capabilities make it particularly effective in anti-ship combat.
• Kh-58UShK: This missile is designed to target and destroy enemy radar systems and electronic jamming equipment. It plays a crucial role in electronic warfare, neutralizing the enemy’s radar capabilities and ensuring the Su-57 can operate with impunity in contested airspaces.

Bombing Capabilities: Strategic and Tactical Airstrike Precision

In addition to its missile arsenal, the Su-57 can also carry an array of guided bombs. These provide the aircraft with the ability to conduct both strategic and tactical airstrikes, including strikes on enemy fortifications, military infrastructure, and soft targets.

• KAB-250: A small guided bomb, highly effective against tactical targets like radar systems, command posts, and ground vehicles. Its precise targeting system allows for minimal collateral damage.
• KAB-500: A larger guided bomb designed for deep strike missions. It is particularly effective against hardened targets such as bunkers and fortifications, with a precision strike capability that ensures minimal deviation from the target.
• Drill Anti-Tank Cluster Bomb: Weighing 500 kg, this cluster bomb is specifically designed to destroy enemy armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery positions. Its active homing system ensures high accuracy in target acquisition and destruction.

These bombs, combined with the aircraft’s long-range missile capabilities, ensure that the Su-57 is equally effective in air-to-surface missions as it is in air-to-air combat.

Hardpoints and Payload Capacity: Flexibility and Strength

The Su-57 is equipped with 12 hardpoints, of which 6 are internal and 6 are external, allowing it to carry a diverse array of weaponry. This extensive payload capacity of up to 7,500 kilograms (16,500 pounds) ensures that the Su-57 can carry an optimal combination of missiles, bombs, and other munitions for any mission profile.

The internal weapons bays help maintain the aircraft’s stealth profile, ensuring that radar detection is minimized even when carrying heavy payloads. This feature is crucial for carrying out precision strikes while maintaining the element of surprise.

Conclusion: The Unmatched Power of the Su-57 Armament

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a highly advanced fifth-generation stealth fighter, equipped with an array of lethal weapons systems that make it an unparalleled asset in modern warfare. From its GSh-30-1 autocannon to its extensive range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles, the Su-57 is capable of engaging any threat across air, sea, and land domains. Its bombing capabilities, combined with advanced targeting systems and payload flexibility, further enhance its effectiveness in both tactical and strategic operations.

As Russia’s premier fighter aircraft, the Su-57 armament ensures that it is prepared for a wide variety of missions, from defensive operations to offensive strikes, making it a critical component in the nation’s air combat strategy.