What is known about weapons for the Su-57
Big plans
A few months ago, a contract was signed for the serial production of Su-57 aircraft for the Russian aerospace forces. Around the same time appeared news on the production of aviation weapons for this technique. Some of the necessary work in this direction has already been completed, while others will be carried out in the near future.
In mid-June, Krasnaya Zvezda published important statements by the head of the Main Directorate of Arms of the Russian Army, Lieutenant General Anatoly Gulyaev. He said that for the Su-57 aircraft various ASPs will be acquired, including intended for use from internal cargo compartments. The volumes of purchases of such products correspond to the size of the order for fighter jets.
Already there are a number of contracts for the supply of part of the TSA for promising fighters. Other products will have to undergo state tests next year, after which they will also become the subject of a contract. Part of the ammunition stock from the PAK FA was tested not only at the landfills, but also during the Syrian operation.
Soon, General Director of the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation Boris Obnosov confirmed that new contracts for the production of aircraft weapons specifically for the Su-57 would soon appear.
Thus, by the time of the transfer of the first production Su-57 to the VKS, new means of destruction for such equipment will appear. However, the details of such deliveries remain unknown. The latest news, as before, did not feature specific indices, volumes of purchases and their cost. However, recent news allows us to roughly represent part of the TSA nomenclature for the latest fighters.
Airborne facilities
Su-57 has built-in weapons. In this capacity, the new 30-mm automatic gun 9A1-4071K is used - an upgraded version of the well-known and deserved GSh-30-1. The main tactical and technical characteristics of the gun during the modernization did not change. The gun uses tape power and shows the rate of fire in 1500 rds / min. With its help, you can attack ground and air targets.
In connection with the need to reduce radar visibility, the Su-57 received internal weapons bays. The main volumes for weapons located in the central and rear parts of the fuselage and covered with wings. According to various sources, in two compartments there is a place for suspension of 8 weapons. For the use of weapons, a short-term opening of the “bomb gate” is required, which does not significantly affect the visibility of the aircraft.
If necessary, TSA can be placed on an external sling. For this, removable holders are provided under the wing and fuselage. With their help, the total number of suspension points doubles.
Compatible weapons
In the past, domestic media reported that within the framework of the PAK FA, 14 of new types of TSA of various types and for different purposes is being created. This number included short-to-long-range air-to-air missiles, as well as air-to-surface missiles and guided bombs. Some of these projects have already gained fame, while the status of others is not specified.
According to various sources, the bulk of the TSA will be transported in internal compartments. Perhaps some missiles, which are large in size, will have to be carried only on external sling.
Su-57 is considered as a multi-role fighter-bomber, which leads to the need to use a wide range of TSA. With the help of suspended weapons, the aircraft will be able to attack air targets in a wide range of ranges, as well as attack ground or surface objects.
Famous rockets
Apparently, the Su-57 will be able to use air-to-air guided missiles R-73, R-77 and R-37, already in service. A new 810 long-range missile is expected. For the first time, an ultra-long-range missile can enter the ammunition of a domestic fighter. The KS-172 product, capable of flying at 400 km, is still at the development stage.
For the PAK FA and other aircraft, the X-38M air-to-surface missile family has been developed. The family is based on a common platform with a unified glider, propulsion system and controls. Four missiles of this line differ in homing heads and combat load. All GOS have inertial navigation, and semi-active laser, active radar, television or satellite systems are used for final guidance. A missile in the latest configuration (X-38MK) carries a cluster warhead, all the rest - high-explosive or penetrating.
The maximum range of X-38M missiles reaches 80 km. Trajectory speed - up to M = 2,2. Chance to hit the target is 0,8. All missiles have a length of 4,2 m and a starting weight of 520 kg. X-38M products will be able to use not only the Su-57, but also other modern aircraft and tactical aviation helicopters.
In May of this year, it became known about the development of a new anti-ship missile for the Su-57. Her appearance and characteristics are unknown. It was reported only that a new ARGSN was being developed for it. Probably, the fighter will be able to use older anti-ship missiles, such as the X-35U.
At the level of the most general ideas, in the recent past, the possibility of equipping the Su-57 with a promising hypersonic missile system was mentioned. However, such a project belongs to the distant future, and its real prospects will remain unclear for a long time.
Promising bombs
In the arsenals of the Russian Aerospace Forces there are unguided and adjustable bombs of a large number of types and different calibers. Obviously, the Su-57 multipurpose fighter will be able to carry and use at least a part of these products. However, so far officially in the context of the PAK FA program, only one specific example of bomb weapons has been mentioned.
In May, the GNPP Region (part of KTRV) announced that the KAB-57 guided bomb will replenish the nomenclature of Su-250 TSA. Such a product has already passed all the necessary tests and is preparing for mass production. KAB-250 for Su-57 differs from other bombs in an elongated shape and meets the limitations of the internal cargo compartment of the aircraft. The product has a length of 3,2 m, weighs 250 kg and carries 127 kg of explosive. The bomb is equipped with inertial and satellite navigation systems and a thermal seeker.
Airplane and weapons
Flight tests of Su-57 fighters continued from 2010. Over the past time, photo and video materials have been repeatedly published, but missile launches or bomb drop have not yet been demonstrated. Moreover, the bulk of information about weapons is still unknown, and the available data is fragmentary.
In the past, the media mentioned plans to create 14 samples of new ASPs specifically for the PAK FA program. How much of these plans have been completed is unknown. It is also unclear how the army’s plans could change over the years. It cannot be ruled out that the planned nomenclature of Su-57 weapons has changed in the direction of reduction or increase.
However, the observance of the necessary secrecy and lack of information in the public domain does not interfere with the continuation of work. In recent months, several contracts for the supply of new weapons have appeared, and soon serial production will go to the VKS. After this, we can expect the emergence of new open information of great interest.
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