Regarding this kind of "infighting" among fifth-generation fighters, some experts believe that the battle process is most likely not the duel between the two heroes that most people imagined, but a one-sided massacre.

What will happen when the classic American stealth fighter F-22 encounters the latest Russian developed Su-57? Regarding this kind of "infighting" between fifth-generation fighters, some experts believe that the battle process is most likely not the duel between the two heroes that most people imagined, but a one-sided massacre of by .

F-22: The sword is still young

Judging from the development years, the Su-57 is still "green" and is a new model developed in the past ten years, while the F-22 was already a model developed 40 years ago. .

In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force proposed three major goals for future fighter aircraft : super maneuverability, beyond visual range, and low reflection. In the end, Lockheed's YF-22 plan won the favor of the U.S. Air Force and eventually became The production version of the F-22.

In terms of shell design, the F-22 has almost achieved a perfect balance of aerodynamic layout and stealth effect . The R&D staff used supercomputer simulations to calculate more than 2,000 layout plans in advance, and finally the F-22 determined the current layout. look. Moreover, the F-22's mounting design is also very reasonable. Even if all hidden internal magazines are used, it can still carry 8 air-to-air missiles and a 20mm cannon .

F-22 has a maximum speed of Mach 2.25. This number is much better than the F-35 later developed by the United States. The F-35 only has a speed of Mach 2. Moreover, the F-35's fuselage is too bulky, and its aerial maneuverability cannot be compared with the graceful F-22. Therefore, although the F-22 is an older model, it is the most powerful fighter in the United States so far.

In the field of fighter aircraft, the F-22's overwhelming advantage over other aircraft models is unquestionable. In 2006, the US military held an internal military exercise called "Northern Edge 2006" in Alaska, allowing the F-22 to conduct simulated combat with the US military's own F-15 "Eagle" heavy fighter.

In the end, the F-22 won 144:0 battle loss ratio , and there was no record of being shot down from beginning to end. At that time, the F-15 was already among the best in the world's fighter jets. This shows how terrifying the F-22's suppression of fighter jets from all over the world was. Even if it is placed today, it is still a "treasure sword that is not old".

Su-57: a rising star

While the United States has the upper hand with its stealth fighter F-22, Russian fighter jets are in a very embarrassing situation. From the Su-27 to the Su-35, Russian fighter aircraft are the best among fourth-generation aircraft. However, under the attack of and by stealth fighters, even the peak-level fourth-generation aircraft are also vulnerable.

Therefore, Russia has been holding its breath for more than two decades and is bound to come up with its own fifth-generation machine . Finally, in 2007, the Su-57 project was completed, and Russia obtained its own fifth-generation aircraft.

The Su-57 inherits the lineage of Soviet fighter jets that are proficient in air combat. It is equipped with two AL-41 F high-power vector engines, each with a thrust of more than 15 tons, so it can not only easily complete various difficult maneuvers , such as the "Aerial Cobra", can also complete takeoff on an ultra-short runway, and the deployment is quite flexible. It is worth mentioning that this short-distance takeoff and landing capability is still an exclusive technology of among fifth-generation aircraft in various countries.

Large bomb load is also a unique style of Russian fighter aircraft. The Su-57 has two magazine compartments, and these two magazine compartments account for almost 1/3 of the aircraft's capacity and can load 8 Russian-made K-77M air-to-air missiles. In addition, it is uniquely equipped with 6 missile attachment points under its wings. It is said that Russian engineers used it to add ammunition to the fighter aircraft when it was "unnecessary to perform stealth missions."

I don’t care whether this idea makes sense, but at least it can be seen that when Russia was developing the Su-57, it did not actually put stealthiness first, but focused more on the firepower intensity of the fighter itself.So, if the Su-57, which adheres to the principle of "firepower supremacy", encounters the F-22, known as the ghost in the sky, who will be better?

One-sided results

Regarding this issue, US military expert John Bullock said that although they are also fifth-generation fighters, it does not mean that their air combat capabilities are on the same level. If the two confront each other, it is likely that the F-22 will carry out a one-sided massacre of the Su-57.

The biggest problem with the Su-57 is its shortcomings in stealth performance and . Not to mention its huge and protruding "built-in magazine", the missile mounting points on the wings alone will cause the Su-57's radar reflection area to suddenly increase. As for the Su-57, the expert said that it seems more like a "stealth-improved Su-27" rather than a true fifth-generation fighter with a disruptive design.

In actual combat, the Su-57's weak stealth shortcoming will make it a fifth-generation aircraft that "bullies the weak and fears the strong" . If faced with some ordinary fourth-generation aircraft, the Su-57 can play with them with stealth that far exceeds that of the fourth-generation aircraft, maintaining an excellent exchange ratio, and may even achieve an exchange ratio as disparate as the F-22.

But if it comes to a civil war between fifth-generation machines, the two will be like warriors fighting in a dark room. Whoever finds out the opponent's position first will be more likely to win. Under such circumstances, the Su-57's excessive radar reflection area is like having a bunch of bells tied to its body. Its weak stealth will always expose it first.

Under such circumstances, the F-22 can always strike first and control the initiative on the battlefield. It can be said that has the upper hand. Therefore, the result of the confrontation between the two is likely to be unilateral suppression by the F-22. It will be difficult for the Su-57 to defeat the F-22 in the civil war between fifth-generation aircraft.

But this also reflects the helplessness of the Russian military industry. In the case of Russia's weak economy, their R&D funding is only equivalent to one-tenth of the US scientific research funding, and the budget is tight. Therefore, they can only choose the more conservative technical route of and . Naturally, it is difficult for the final product to take advantage of the technology. This is an iron rule in the military industry, and even Russia, which has Soviet technology, is no exception.