Try reading the article before bringing your usual bias propaganda and trolling against anything Russian which you have a history of.
You are angry; feeling insecure?
No, I have nothing against Russian hardware at personal capacity. I believe that Russians can develop high quality hardware, and I admire Russian accomplishments in general. I think highly of SU-57 in person (a decent product by any measure), but should I cloud my judgement to appease Russian audience in a discussion?
Problem is that Americans have the upperhand in defense applications, and R&D on a broader scale. Just draw a comparison between R&D output of US and Russia, and you might get the memo. Here:
http://uis.unesco.org/apps/visualisations/research-and-development-spending/
"There are no exact data on the F-22’s RCS: it varies from 0.3 to 0.0001 sq. m., according to various sources. The data of Russian specialists suggest that the F-22A’s RCS ranges between 0.5 and 0.1 sq. m."
More:
http://tass.com/defense/866381
The entire article is a masturbatory exercise towards promoting SU-57, and filled with blanket assertions about VLO of other aircraft.
Take a good look at the front of SU-57. Here is a closer shot:
Three problems visible: [1] protruding object (101KS-V IRST sensor system) ahead of canopy; [2] protruding antenna. These protrusions increase RCS of aircraft (significant impact); and [3] cockpit window type. Even with protruding antenna removed, [1] and [2] are still a big problem.
VLO experts have pointed out additional problems:
[1] The seams between the flaps on the aircraft are too big.
Taking the F-22 stealth jet from the US, the flaps on the end of the wing have very tight seams that don’t scatter radar waves and therefore maintain a low profile.
[2] The vertical rear tails of SU-57 have a wide gap where they stray from the fuselage.
It is essential that a stealth keeps a tight profile. Looking at the F35’s rear tails, for example, and they touch the whole way.
[3] The nose of SU-57 is problematic as it has noticeable seams around the canopy, which eliminates stealth.
F-35 and F-22 feature a smooth, sloped appearance.
[4] The underside of SU-57 has rivets and sharp edges throughout.
Source:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...hter-jet-features-su-57-photos-radars-beaming
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Now, shall we talk about the quality of RAM coatings?
"Details of the Sukhoi Design Bureau's work on the stealthy aspects of the T-50 PAK FA fighter aircraft emerged in late December 2013, when the company's patents were published.
According to the patent paperwork, taken together, all of the stealthy measures offer significant improvements over legacy fighter designs. The papers claim that the radar cross-section (RCS) of an Su-27 was in the order of 10 - 15 m^2 , with the intention being to reduce the size of the RCS in the T-50 to an "average figure of 0.1 - 1 m^2 ".
In common with other low observable aircraft designs, this reduction is achieved through the use of radar-absorbing and radar-shielding materials and coatings, panel shaping (especially around the air intakes) and in the design of the junctions between moving elements, such as flaps and hatches."
Source:
http://archive.is/ZHbOH
For comparison:
Absolute match, right?
Now clearly you weren't upset about the fact that some random article claims the SU-57 had a RCS of 0.35sq M. No you got your panties in a bunch over the F-22 figures.
When Americans throw out figures you gush into complete euphoria and agree with everything. When Lockheed goes on to advertises the F-35 as the most advanced and lethal aircraft ever built in the world you simply agree and repeat their talking points. When Sukhoi or any other Russian arms manufacturers advertise their products (which is rare compared to Lockheed) you call it propaganda.
See above.
And CRY ME A RIVER.
As for F-22 and it's magic RCS, the Rafale locked onto it many times, this not to knock the aircraft because it is an amazing engineered machine but nevertheless it was locked into, granted it may have had a luneburg lens but most radar locks occurred from the top out hemisphere where the lens was hidden.
View attachment 523751
From where you got the "many times" part? From your rear-end, I suppose.
This is a one-time score for a French Rafale in a mock dogfight with an F-22A in 2009. Exact scenario is unclear (not disclosed), but this engagement was 100% WVR in nature.
Please keep in mind that Rafale feature the very best of European standards in its sensor suite and TRACK CORRELATION (DATA FUSION) capabilities. Rafale's AESA radar system and frontal IRST system were able to combine their tracks to achieve a lock on F-22A in a close-quarters engagement scenario.
People are unnecessarily hyping this mock dogfight, and creating a false sense of hope for the operators of 4.5th generation aircraft around the world. F-22A will be able to detect any 4.5th generation aircraft (even an SU-57) much earlier than the other, and let its BVR armaments do the talking afterwards.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words at times.
CLICK:
https://www.f-22raptor.com/pix/illustrations/af_radar_capabilities.gif
The AN/APG-77(v)1 radar system have close to 2000 T/R modules, and is Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) [Side Info], Non-Coperative Target Recognition (NCTR) – Narrow Beam Interleaved Search and Track [Class Info], Continous Tracking Capability [Phased Array Radar], Track While Scan (TWS), Low Probability of Intercept (LPI), Pulse Doppler Radar (Full LDSD Capability), and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), by design.
F-22A is not at a disadvantage even in WVR engagement scenarios:
CLICK:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ahlw2C9pF58/U-y4UmCYmgI/AAAAAAAISFw/IievqXgk9bU/w626-h335/f22.gif
"The Raptor’s relaxed stability and powerful thrust vectoring powerplants enable the aircraft to turn tightly and perform very high alpha (angle of attack) maneuvers such as the Herbst maneuver (J-turn) and Pugachev’s Cobra. The aircraft is also capable of maintaining over 60° alpha while having some roll control." - Thai Military
F-22A have so many features onboard that it won't be fair to expand on them in order to explain how this aircraft will eat others for breakfast in a real-time combat scenario.
Of all the bashing F-22/35 fanboys dish out again the SU-57, the F-22 has far more discontinuities in the rear hemisphere then the SU-57, it has exposed 90 degrees corners, it has 8 moving parts for the nozzles.
View attachment 523752View attachment 523753
The same area of the SU-57 have nothing comparableto the F-22, there are only about 6-8 discontinuities (gaps) compared to the F-22s 30+ discontinuities not to mention the tighter tolerances around the nozzles.
View attachment 523755
Impact of 3D thrust vectoring nozzles during the course of operation:
Ouch.
Do you understand this stuff in personal capacity? Do you think that those who have designed F-22A need to take lessons from Russia in VLO sciences?
"Pratt & Whitney incorporated a number of IR signature-suppression techniques into the F119 engines that power Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor. Aft of the low-pressure turbine are thick, curved vanes that, when looking up the tailpipe, block any direct view of the hot, rotating turbine components. Fuel injectors are integrated into these vanes, replacing the conventional afterburner spray bars and flame holders. The vanes mask the turbine and contain minute holes that introduce cooler air. The exhaust then passes through the F119’s “non-axisymmetric,” or 2D, thrust-vectoring nozzles, which have upper and lower surfaces ending in wedges with blended central edges. These nozzles further mask the engine hot parts while flattening the exhaust plume and generating vortices. Minute holes are evident on their inner surfaces, likely providing bypass air for enhanced cooling."
Source:
http://aviationweek.com/program-management-corner/closer-look-stealth-part-5-nozzles-and-exhausts
"Supplied as part of the twin F119 engines, the F-22 nozzle features a stealth-compliant, 2-D, convergent-divergent, thrust vectoring design. The nozzles are highly tailored to the F-22’s requirement for optimum performance (net installed propulsive thrust (Fnet)) at minimum weight. In-flight thrust vectoring enables an enormous Mach/angle-or-attack/angle-of-sideslip operating range, which in turn creates a maneuver compatibility requirement for the engine inlet system. With the mechanism in place for thrust vectoring, added capability for thrust reversing was also studied early in the program, but this feature did not trade favorably with cost and weight impacts, and thus is not present on the production system."
Source:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470686652.eae490
Informative responses to a related question in here:
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-F-...-a-rectangular-nozzle-is-indeed-most-stealthy
Shall we talk about engine inlets as well?
"The F-22 inlet system features twin side-mounted inlet apertures, each feeding a single engine through a long (L/D∼6), full-obscuration S-duct. The apertures are highly swept for stealth compatibility and utilize a two-dimensional, external compression “Caret” design (see Section 4.1.1). Boundary layer control is provided with a classic boundary layer diverter and bleed system. The inlet design provides an inherent angle-of-attack shielding function, enabling full engine/inlet compatibility across a wide range of operating conditions. Due to stealth, weight, and mechanical reliability (i.e., maintenance cost) considerations, the F-22 inlet geometry is fully fixed, and does not have the variable geometry features of previous air superiority systems such as the F-14 and F-15.
F-22 inlet development was aided by significant advancements in wind tunnel test data processing, specifically, the
ability to produce near-real-time analysis of dynamic distortion data. Prior to the F-22 time frame, dynamic distortion data was recorded during the test but processed and analyzed post test. With improvements in computer power, by the late 1980s hardware was available to acquire and analyze dynamic data at the test site, allowing engineers the ability to make design decisions based on this data in near-real time. While CFD analysis was used on F-22, solution throughput in the late 1980s/early 1990s had not yet reached the rate required to base major decisions on CFD-produced information (in the absence of supporting test data). The role of CFD was to add information to a knowledge base derived primarily from test data."
Source:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470686652.eae490
There is talk about SU-57 engine inlets not up to the mark in terms of VLO either. Some pointers in here:
https://www.quora.com/Does-the-PAK-FA-T-50-have-stealthy-air-intake-Why-or-why-not-Whats-the-reality
The Rafale must have one hell of a radar if it can lock onto a target that is taunted as being the size of a marble....Russian propaganda indeed. When you count frontal RCS figures, side, top, bottom, rear and every angle in between the overall RCS of the F-22 is probably roughly close to the figures put out--there is no questions about it unless you prescribe to propaganda of 0.000001 figures unless that take only frontal figures under ideal circumstances which are not realistic in warfare.
See above.
Russia is more then capable of developing VLO aircraft, the more capabilities in terms of maneuverability and sensors the less stealthy it will be because extra flight control surfaces, and sensors increase RCS due to more discontinuities and corner reflectors. If Russia wanted to it could have built a flying wing but It would have poor performance. A Russian scientist working on the SU-57 basically said that much recently, I have been saying it for years.
As for RCS, Russian intelligence/Sukhoi engineers can use anechoic chambers to test aircraft RCS under EM radiation. They obviously used it in the development of the SU-57 and more likely then not built very close dummy replicas of foreign aircraft for testing, I recall that they tested an F-117 mock up long ago.
View attachment 523768
Even simple specular rcs simulation can give a very rough idea of the type of RCS an aircraft can potentially have. Granted this doesn't take into account a lot of factors other then overall shape.
View attachment 523767
It's also no secret that Russia and China have informants that leak information, sometimes they may even hack sensitive military information. Lastly Russia gathers intelligence on US aircraft such as F-35s and F-22s when they operate over the Middle East, Eastern Europe or off the coast of Alaska, and even if the aircraft use luneburg lenses or drop tanks they can still learn something about their IR signatures to improve their passive sensors and weapons.
Russian military experts and not random unanimous sources probably have close estimates of enemy aircraft RCS.
So true.
SU-57 is the role model for any aircraft with its unrivaled VLO characteristics in the world. MY SARCASM METER = 100%
Potential informants get caught from time-to-time, and there is a limit to what you can extract from hacking initiatives. Secondly, developing something remarkable can be a cost-prohibitive task [US does not have this issue], and - in certain cases - the 'production infrastructure' is not up to the task. Even if you know much about a product in theory, this does not imply that you have the necessary tools and amount of money to develop a perfect clone of it (or even close). To make my point clear: you cannot just roll out an F-22A from the 'production infrastructure' for SU-35S or even SU-57. These matters are not so cut and dry.
"We don't know the exact quality and level of integration of the Su-57's sensors and mission systems, but on paper at least, no, the Su-57 isn't 'junk' at all. It represents a rather clever mix of capabilities that are tailored to Russia's more austere, less networked, air-battle doctrine, and it's more than capable of taking on enemies it's more likely to fight than some Armageddon war with the United States. That being said, with tight rules of engagement, like those over Syria, many of even its most capable opponent's abilities are rendered neutral anyway. So if Russia can continue to finance it and sort out its engine issues, the Su-57 is set to become a capable highly valued fighter that is better than anything else in the Russian Air Force's inventory.
But is it an F-22? No, it isn't.
And that's the problem—clearly it isn't meant to be. Yet it seems Russian officials and the Russian press constantly make claims otherwise. That's like claiming a Super Hornet is as capable in certain respects as an F-35, it simply isn't accurate and it's not really a fair comparison to make in the first place." - Tyler Rogoway
I believe that deep down, Russian officials and experts understand the asymmetry between [what they can do] and [what the Americans can do], but this recognition is not for public consumption. An admission of this nature out in the public, is a rare sight from Russian circles (I know about a case). Russia have its own manufacturing industry to cater to, and promote its products in the best possible light [in the public domain], because REVENUES > LOGIC in the end.
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MOD EDIT: Do not want to spoil an excellent post by the insults and personal attack.