What a "fifth generation" you have!
Yes, it is hard to imagine today's world without a certain set of gadgets, the main feature of which is to demonstrate the power of their owner. In our case, the state. And the more elements from the mandatory list a country has at its disposal, the cooler it seems to be than others.
Nuclear weapon, intercontinental ballistic missiles missiles, strategic bombers, aircraft carriers - that's what's on this list. And it turns out that such, to put it mildly, economically unadvanced countries as Pakistan and North Korea are, due to their entry into the "nuclear club", seemingly laying claim to something.
In fact, nothing special, but they have to be taken into account. The situation, as they say, obliges. And the same Japanese, although they grimace when something like that starts from the territory of the DPRK in their direction, grumble, but they can do nothing except improve their system Defense in case something meaningful suddenly flies.
Well, now fifth generation fighters have been added to this list.
What the fifth generation actually is, the debates are still ongoing. The distinctive features are somehow not all sorted out on the shelves, and therefore this includes stealth, and internal bays for weapons, and "supercruise", that is, supersonic flight without afterburner, and super maneuverability. In general, there are no clear definitions, everyone really wants to build something like the fifth generation.
A fighter is simply a minimum expenditure with maximum return. It is significantly cheaper than a strategic bomber and an aircraft carrier, and we won't even mention nuclear weapons, here we need science in conjunction with industry.
So a fifth-generation fighter is the minimum that some countries can afford. Status…
The first was, naturally, the United States. They sawed up their F-22 in 2005. China was second, the J-20 flew in 2017, Russia was third, the Su-57 finally entered service in 2020.
And what can we say? Well, only that these are completely different machines. Perhaps the only similarities are in their weight and size characteristics, and even then, the takeoff run is decent, from 34 to 38 tons. So yes, these are heavy fighters (in every sense), designed to gain air superiority by destroying enemy aircraft. The set also includes modern materials, radars with AFAR and "supercruise".
The second in line were South Korea, Japan and Turkey, which created their fifth-generation aircraft at least at the prototype level. And this is already a decent step forward, since in Europe they have not yet advanced beyond mock-ups. And while European aircraft manufacturers are creating various combinations of alliances, countries that act alone are already getting ahead.
If we talk about the combat capability of already created fifth-generation aircraft, then only the American F-22A looks complete. Unlike the Chinese and Russian aircraft, the Raptor is theoretically completely complete as a combat vehicle and can (again, theoretically) fight enemy aircraft. In practice, everything is much sadder and the F-22A has carried out one fight with an air target in 10 years - an unarmed reconnaissance balloon of China.
In addition, the complete unwillingness of the United States to provide the aircraft to its allies under any conditions was particularly alarming. Even the loyal Japanese were refused, despite numerous requests. Instead, the allies received the F-35. But many experts deny this aircraft, the deliveries of which began in the summer of 2015, belonging to the fifth generation as not fully meeting the required parameters.
Moreover, the F-35 constantly reveals problems as it is used. For example, an unpleasant surprise was the impossibility of long-term supersonic flight due to skin defects. Yes, one F-135 engine from Pratt & Whitney accelerates the F-35 to a speed of 2M, and the aircraft does not lose its stealth, but the airframe and skin are subject to significant wear.
Interestingly, judging by the statements from the US, the F-35 program is considered more of a failure there than the F-22 program. And although the F-22 received the very controversial nickname "the lazy plane" with a hint at the limited number of functions (interception and air combat), the F-35 did nothing more than complement it, taking on strike functions when working with ground targets.
Yes, the Americans failed to produce a single universal fifth-generation aircraft, but there is no tragedy in this. We also have highly specialized aircraft such as the Su-27 and MiG-31, and this is normal for a country that can afford it.
But those who can’t, operate with a single aircraft like the Rafale or Typhoon.
And by the way, in aviation The US Navy has not experienced a qualitative leap either. The F-35Cs entering service with aircraft carrier wings complement the existing fourth-generation F/A-18s, taking on reconnaissance and coordination functions first and foremost, and only then strike functions. And here it is not that the F-35 is somehow bad, it is just that the F/A-18 is good.
And here is the result: the F-35A was received by the Air Forces of Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Japan, and a number of other countries, including Germany, are next in line. The F-35B with short takeoff and vertical landing should be received by Great Britain and Italy.
By acquiring the F-35A, the importing countries have certainly strengthened their military aviation fleet. But at the same time, they have become even more dependent on the United States, since without the Americans, the combat use of these machines is impossible. Flight assignments are approved by a single center in North America, and software updates are available only with Washington's approval.
And now we are watching how, within the framework of their own programs, Germany, France and Spain are starting to develop their fifth-generation aircraft, and Great Britain and Italy are starting to develop their own. And Japan and South Korea are already taking to the skies with their prototypes. After all, combat independence is a very big deal.
NGAF program aircraft demonstrator mockup
And here, small but very unyielding Israel, which so successfully holds the entire Arab world by the throat, somehow managed to wring its own status in the F-35 program from the US. As a result, the exclusive F-35I "Adir" with an alternative weapon control system, Israeli avionics, and Israeli weapons allows, among other things, to pursue a completely independent policy in terms of planning and conducting operations.
It is clear from the examples given that purchasing such a complex type of weapon as aircraft, especially modern aircraft, is nothing more than becoming dependent on the supplier.
And this is understood in a number of countries, where they are trying their best to build their own planes. This is how new aviation powers appear, and not because they have nowhere to put their resources, but on the contrary, from a desire to gain a certain independence.
For example, Turkey. It was punished by abandoning the F-35 program for purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system. It seemed that the country's defense capability would be weakened, but here it is worth assessing the situation that developed after the purchase of the S-400, today definitely one of the best air defense systems in the world. Turkey has more than enough aircraft, so abandoning the JSF program for the F-35A was not something significant. On the contrary, the Turks intensified work on their own aircraft within the framework of the Milli Muharip Uzak program, which began in 2010.
The result was an aircraft that was given the name Kaan.
Something far from perfect, and on imported engines. At the first stage, these are American F-110-GE-129 from F-15E and F-16C, at the second stage – a new engine from Rolls-Royce based on the existing EJ200 from Eurofighter Typhoon. However, it is not worth excluding the participation of Russian manufacturers in the project.
An interesting passage came out in Japan. The Japanese were the first to lift their fifth-generation aircraft, the experimental X-2016 Shinshin, into the air in 2, but for some reason they did not produce it.
Instead, American F-35A were purchased, and the Mitsubishi concern received the task of developing the sixth-generation fighter X-3, for which, however, there are already XF-9 engines, prototypes of which are undergoing bench testing.
South Korea is also trying to build its own fifth-generation fighter, and prototypes are flying successfully.
The KF-21 Boramae first flew in 2021, and six prototypes have already been built for testing. But the Koreans cheated a little and did not develop their own engine, limiting the project to buying American F-414 engines.
Indian dances are also around this engine. We have already written many times about what the Indian military wanted from their domestic project of the Tejas aircraft and what they got. It didn't turn out very well, but the road is mastered by the one who walks, and therefore in India two projects of promising combat aircraft on F-414 engines are being developed in parallel: Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF).
In general, the two programs look crazy: the planes are almost identical in terms of weight and dimensions, the length-width-wingspan fluctuate within 0,5 meters, the mass of empty planes, as well as the maximum takeoff weight, are approximately the same, in fact, the only difference is that the AMSA project has more composite materials in its design.
The AMCA program aircraft is intended to replace our Su-2035MKI sometime there (in 30), and the TEDBF will replace the MiG-29K/KUB in the air groups of the Vikramaditya, Vikrant and Vishal aircraft carriers.
In general, it's quite a dance, especially since the French joined in, wanting to "help" with the engines. We remember how the epic with the SaM-146 for the Superjet ended, in general the idea is so-so, there can be no talk of any independence. Well, the Indians have not been able to finish their domestic Kaveri engine since 1986.
The engine is the heart of any aircraft and, strangely enough, an aircraft is created around the engine. Without its own engine, one can only dream of an aircraft. For India, for Turkey, which have ambitions but no design school, of course, engines will be found. American F110 and F414, European EJ200 and M88. No problem, especially if for money.
But these will be engines of the previous generation. And of course, when using them, Turkish, Korean, Indian engineers will never be able to achieve the level of aircraft characteristics that products from the USA, China and Russia demonstrate. We are simply silent about technological dependence here. The only ones who will really be able to show something will be the Japanese precisely because they have their own engine for the new aircraft.
Meanwhile, there was a very sensible Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft program, which could have been crowned with the same success as the joint work of Russian-Indian designers on the BrahMos missile. A mountain of various agreements, protocols, and contracts on joint work were signed.
And the FGFA fighter, created on the basis of the T-50, had every chance to see the sky. And the sales prospects were estimated at up to 1000 aircraft, which in financial terms should have warmed the hearts no worse than curry.
But no. The Indians started their usual dances around the plane and danced the project to death. For starters, the FGFA demanded that it be made a two-seater. Yes, one cannot disagree with this, the quality of training of Indian pilots is such that it is better not to risk it and give the pilot a weapons operator to help. One flies, the other shoots. It will do. And the Su-30MKI operators, of whom there are already quite a few trained, also need to be put somewhere, they can’t be forced into retirement because of the aircraft replacement?
Naturally, as is customary in India, the aircraft had to be able to use Indian weapons and be assembled at local enterprises.
In general, the project was not liked, and the visibility is higher than that of American aircraft, and the avionics are worse than the Israeli ones... As a result, India rejected the FGFA in favor of its own AMSA and Tejas knockoffs, receiving as a result two very light quasi-fighters, in no way similar to the Su-57, which was eventually created in Russia.
Not "Mirage" but "Tejas"
Something strange happened in the final: instead of its own fifth-generation fighter, albeit with Israeli guts, India is buying French Rafales and Russian Su-30MKIs, which are in no way fifth generation. And it’s even funny to talk about local knockoffs in terms of their belonging to the “fives”.
But the main thing that the Indian military has lost is a clear perspective for the future development of aviation. Since AMCA and all other projects are very small aircraft of the Yak-130 class, then the heavy aircraft class will include imported aircraft. And this, as you understand, is not in favor of the Indian Air Force.
And here it makes sense to look towards India’s opponent/rival, that is, China.
China can serve as an excellent example of how to have nothing and end up with everything. If a country tries to pursue an independent policy in terms of developing military equipment and invests resources in the development of advanced technologies, sooner or later it will bear fruit. The principle of "What we can't make - we'll buy" - as Russian practice shows, is vicious to the point of ugliness and sooner or later leads to the complete degradation of individual industries. And those, no worse than a stone around the neck, drag everything else down.
In China, they did not focus on “production at home”, in the style of India, but instead focused on “we produce our own”. As a result, today the PLA Air Force is the owner of the world’s largest fleet of fifth-generation fighters, more than 300 J-20 fighters have already been built, and this is almost half as many as the US has F-22s left in service (about 180 units). F-35, you say? Well, I can’t bring myself to call it a “five”.
Yes, the first J-20 Black Eagles flew on Russian AL-31Fs according to the Indian scenario. Then they were replaced by WS-10Cs, and not long ago WS-15s came into play, which are more powerful and also equipped with a controlled thrust vector.
Are WS-15 better than Russian engines? Of course not. But the path of development of Chinese aircraft manufacturers is more fruitful than the path of Indian designers, who are ready to buy from outside everything that they are not able to produce. As a result, China will have complete independence from external sources of aviation equipment supplies, which is very useful in today's political instability.
It is worth noting another fact: the J-20 was developed much later than the F-22. About 15 years of difference is a lot, but the US had a century-old design school on its side, and China had only persistence and the ability to copy and draw conclusions from what was copied.
There is an opinion that in certain respects the J-20 is a more advanced aircraft than the F-22. The Black Eagle provides its pilot with much greater situational awareness of the tactical situation thanks to its electro-optical system, the sensors of which are distributed throughout the fuselage and provide a virtually XNUMX-degree view of the airspace. The Raptor does not have this, but we will add that information about detected targets is provided to the pilot after generalization with radar data.
Aerodynamics is not all that simple either. The Chinese fighter is much longer than the American one, by almost five meters. This affects the amount of payload, and although the planes have approximately the same takeoff weight (37-38 tons), the fuel supply in the internal tanks of the Chinese plane is almost twice as much as the Raptor. Two engines are not one, so the J-20 has a longer flight range than the F-22, but according to various sources, from 1000 to 2000 km. Not twice as much.
Five meters in length, according to American experts, is what gives the F-22 a big advantage in maneuverable combat. Plus the F-22's slight advantage in speed (about 300 km/h), this will also be in favor of the American in maneuverable combat. But the "Black Eagle" takes much more ammunition. Moreover, modern Chinese PL-15 missiles have a range of up to 300 km, while American AIM-120 - no more than 160 km.
Many may rightly note that it is still unknown how accurately Chinese missiles will fly and how far. Yes, there will be quite a lot of rational distrust in this, but: it is worth remembering that 100 years ago China was an agrarian backwater. 50 years ago, the whole world laughed good-naturedly at the Chinese weapons crafts. 25 years ago, there was no laughter, there were skeptical grins. And today China has nuclear weapons, builds aircraft carriers (and we no longer build them), creates 5th generation aircraft in simply terrifying quantities. We are silent about the Chinese auto industry. And this quantity will sooner or later turn into quality.
And what about the third ones? That is, us?
The Su-57 was the first aircraft in Russia developed using stealth technologies, and these technologies seem to work. Combat tests first in Syria and now in Ukraine have confirmed this. The Su-57 is equipped with the most effective digital flight control system and has super-maneuverability qualities due to a very successful combination of aerodynamic configuration and a power plant with all-aspect thrust vectoring.
The UHT of Russian aircraft is not subject to any criticism at all, because so far no one in the world has been able to create engines like those used by Russian aircraft designers.
And I think that further development of the Su-57 will go precisely along the engine line, because sooner or later, the AL-41F-1 will replace the AL-51F, that is, the very same "Product 30" that the A. Lyulka Design Bureau has been struggling with for so long. The aircraft will fly faster, and the payload will possibly increase.
The "Second Stage Engine" or AL-51F, the name is not as important as its essence - it is a promising improvement of the Su-57, which will make the Russian aircraft an even more dangerous opponent.
Many point to the frankly small batches of aircraft transferred to the Air Force, and this is true. However, it is worth looking at the question from this side: is it worth producing in large batches an aircraft that will soon have to be radically redesigned? Changing an engine is a very difficult moment, it is necessary to take into account and balance many factors. It would be quite frivolous to begin large-scale assembly of the Su-57 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in order to recall the aircraft and finish them later.
And, by the way, while the final stage of testing of the AL-51F (let's call it that) is underway, reconstruction and expansion of the plant complex is underway in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. I think it's clear to everyone why. The Superjet will definitely not be assembled in the new workshops.
In conclusion.
The monopolar world has somehow died out over the last 10 years. But a multipolar world has not yet emerged: there is a small group of states that other states are trying to put in their place. For now, through economic sanctions, but it is hard to say how it will go. BUT any cold war has every chance of becoming hot sooner or later.
Therefore, looking at everything that is happening, many countries in the world prefer to invest in the security of tomorrow - in their armed forces. Russia today is somewhat knocked out of the world arms market by those very sanctions, so the world is truly bipolar: one part buys its security by acquiring American and European weapons, the other trades with China. But everyone is increasing their military potential to the best of their ability.
Who knows how things will turn out tomorrow, but absolutely all countries in the world are trying to forge their shields and swords. Some by buying used fourth-generation aircraft, some by upgrading their third-generation aircraft, and some by creating new machines.
It is clear that all these "fives" are more of a show for the public and a demonstration of their own power. It is not for nothing that all the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan for the Americans were solved by F-15 and F/A-18, for Russia in Syria and Ukraine - Su-35 and Su-34, China on the border with Taiwan tenderly flies Su-30MKK... And where are the "fives"? Where are the F-22, J-20, Su-57?
And they are there, in the background. You could say, behind the backs of their cheaper and better-developed fourth-generation brothers. And this is the clearest indicator that the time for the "fives" has not yet come. Yes, that's how it turned out, for the F-22 it is, frankly speaking, already passing, and for the J-20 and Su-57 it really has not come yet. We won't even talk about all the other contenders, the Japanese have a chance to create something decent in the near future, and the Europeans will be able to come up with something very far away.
But in reality, this is not necessary. The fifth-generation fighter is still essentially the same object of admiration as a strategic bomber. There is no reason to use it, and it is expensive. But the fact is that the club of “fives” will expand over time. Aircraft carriers have been built.
But when the time comes for the “fives” to go into battle – I think it’s not a question of five years.
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