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USE OF STEALTH FIGHTER JET IN RECENT COMBAT HISTORY
AN AERIAL CONFLICT WATCHED CLOSELY BY SUB CONTINENT AERIAL POWERS
--------------------------------------
".. ...Given the sweeping impact of today’s technology, air power has unquestionably taken a position of dominance in changing the very nature of warfare. Hence, any nation that aspires to enhance its influence beyond its frontiers; ought to have a strong and a viable Air Force.
What modern fighter jet platform strives for is the effective utilisation of 4.0 / 4.0+ generation assets by Enabling Joint All Domain Operations
Delivering vast amounts of information to accelerate critical decisions and win the fight.
The Indian Sub - continent houses world's 02 of the powerful airforces with host of latest 4.5 generation assets , French Rafale vs China's J-1OC or MICA / Meteor vs PL-15 / AIM-120C .
The French canard delta Omni role Rafale aircraft are the latest fighters to have been inducted into the Indian Air Force and along with Chinese J-20 & J-10C are considered to be the most potent in the entire Asian region.
The 36 Rafales with Meteor & Hammer capabilities have been completely inducted in IAF and they have played a significant role in improving the country’s operational preparedness along both the borders with Pakistan and China.
The next order for 26 Carrier based Rafale -M fighter jets would further boast Indian Aerial capability [Airforce & Navy combined] with a depleting squadron capability owing to retirement of MiG-21s.
On the other side - The Pakistan Airforce in 1990s to 2022 were dependent upon the US Made Falcons or Viper The F-16s for attaining aerial dominance versus the Su-30 MKIs of Indian airforce.
The scenario changed with Rafale induction for IAF - which forced an equalizer from PAF inform of J-10C.
Going forward - PAF would ideally want to increase its most advanced fighter jet - the latest acquired 4.5 omni role Low RCS J-10C fleet to 70 - 90 number ,
along with potential upgrades to its F-16 fleet (such as AESA Radar . New version of AIM - 120 BVR & Airframe hours increase]
and having the Stand off plus PL-15E BVR Capable AESA laden JF-17Cs available in numbers within the next 3 - 4 years.
Stealth technology or Low Observable (LO) technology is the Key :-
The drive to remain unseen - To have element of surprise is not new in Military Warfare.
The idea is to gain element of Surprise or minimum Reaction time for a counter operation (First Detect - Firs Shoot advantage). Stealth doesn’t mean Vanishing into thin air. It means to achieve a state of Less Probability of Detectability in a contested airspace.
[Below KF-21 A 4.5+ Generation fighter jet aiming to transform into 5.0th Generation]
Fighter aircraft are continuously evolving and there is already talk of ‘sixth-generation’, though they may not be up in the skies until the 2030s. Meanwhile, ‘fifth-generation’ aircraft are going strong, including those in the development stages.
The Leader in this category was Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor which entered service as Premium Air Superiority Fighter with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 2005,
Raptor was later followed by a Multi role Strike jet - The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, which entered service with the US Marine Corps in 2015.
Its another variant - the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, which entered service with the USAF in 2016
and the Chinese Chengdu Mighty Dragon J-20 which entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) , are already showing their prowess in different kinds of deployment.
A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet taxis during the Aero India 2023 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Samuel Rajkumar/File Photo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Currently Both operators are now planning to induct a 5.0th Generation fighter jet into their fleet in next decade.Indian Airforce in the past got involved in Su-57 development with Russia, eventually to back down from it.
The future plans include AMCA indigenous development plus looking for limited induction of F-35s to counter Chinese threat as the Geo Politics change.
www.reuters.com
Pakistan Airfoce with limited resources has the options to induct a Chinese J-35 version as a partner to its J-10C fleet to replace aging F-16s in next decade.
The second option is developing its fighter jet with Turkish TUSAS assistance - basically an ITAR Free engine KAAN in essence.
In this context both operators are observing closely the performance of Su-57 in Ukraine conflict.
---------------------------------------------------
bulgarianmilitary.com
---------------------------------------------------
A major surprise since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is the relatively poor showing of its air force, which is apparently unable to secure aerial supremacy against a far smaller foe. It has also proven ineffective at providing close air support to Russian forces, and has largely restricted itself to attacking fixed civilian targets at extended ranges.
The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a Quasi stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jet fighter being developed since 2002 for air superiority and attack operations. The aircraft is the product of the PAK FA, a fifth-generation fighter programme of the Russian Air Force. Sukhoi’s internal name for the aircraft is T-50.
The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service to use stealth technology. The fighter is designed to have supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics to overcome the prior generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defences. The Su-57 is intended to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force.
The Su-57 prototype has two tandem main internal weapon bays each approximately 4.6 m (15.1 ft) long and 1.0 m (3.3 ft) wide and two small triangular section weapon bays that protrude under the fuselage near the wing root. Internal carriage of weapons preserves the aircraft’s stealth and significantly reduces aerodynamic drag, thus preserving kinematic performance compared to performance with external stores.
For air-to-air combat, the Su-57 can carry four beyond-visual-range missiles in its two main weapons bays and two short-range missiles in the wing root weapons bays. For missions that do not require stealth, the Su-57 can carry stores on its six external hardpoints.
eurasiantimes.com
Previously the Russian MiG-31K fighters on duty in the Russian Southern Military District are carriers of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM). It has a claimed range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 10 speed, and an ability to perform evasive maneuvers at every stage of its flight.
Kinzhal can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be launched from Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K fighters. It has been deployed at airbases in Russia’s Southern Military District. The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and is one of the six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 March 2018.
Russia’s most advanced fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57, has conducted combat operations against targets in Ukraine – albeit from considerable ranges.
According to UK Defence Intelligence, Moscow has “almost certainly” operated the stealthy type against Ukraine since at least June 2022.
It contends, however, that Russian Aerospace Forces have used the aircraft mainly for long-range, stand-off strikes, apparently out of concern for an Su-57 getting shot down over Ukrainian territory.
It also provided an open-source satellite image showing Su-57s at Akhtubinsk air base, where the 929th Flight Test Centre is located.
“Russia is highly likely prioritising avoiding the reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology which would come from any loss of [an Su-57] over Ukraine,” says Defence Intelligence.
“This is symptomatic of Russia’s continued risk-averse approach to employing its air force in the war.”
Any Russian fears about losing a stealthy Su-57 – which in theory is capable of penetrating air defences – are probably warranted given the West’s equipment support for Ukraine.
On 6 January, the US government announced a $3 billion arms package, which it said will include a range of equipment for ground forces, as well as “anti-aircraft capabilities including RIM-7 missiles and 4,000 Zuni rockets”.
In December, the USA confirmed that Ukraine will also receive one Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. In addition to legacy Russian SAMs, Kyiv also operates the NASAMS air defence system, which provides medium-range defences.
Ukraine claims to have downed 283 fixed-wing aircraft and 270 helicopters since Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022.While this is likely an exaggeration, Russian losses have been significant.
According to a November report by the Royal United Services Institute, Russian airpower has been stymied by the resilience of Kyiv’s air defence network.
In September 2022, US Air Force General James Hecker reportedly said that up until that month Russia had lost 55 aircraft.
Coming back to the lessons from Ukraine conflict for both arch rivals -
Unlike the previous aerial battles of sub continent, the Swift retort operation saw the first effective & widely discussed use of BVR in the region with discussion shifting from Platform Kinematics to Capabilities such as BVR & EW.
In future aerial combats of sub continent - Any fifth-generation aircraft in sub continent will surely not mean to get into a classic dogfight scenario of 1970s / 80s / 90s,
The effectiveness of Internal Weapons storage in Low RCS airframe with stand off capability to detroy Air Defences and First Detect First See First Shoot advantage is what IAF & PAF would be aiming for in the coming decade."
----------------------------------------------------
www.thedrive.com
AN AERIAL CONFLICT WATCHED CLOSELY BY SUB CONTINENT AERIAL POWERS
--------------------------------------
".. ...Given the sweeping impact of today’s technology, air power has unquestionably taken a position of dominance in changing the very nature of warfare. Hence, any nation that aspires to enhance its influence beyond its frontiers; ought to have a strong and a viable Air Force.
What modern fighter jet platform strives for is the effective utilisation of 4.0 / 4.0+ generation assets by Enabling Joint All Domain Operations
- Sensor fusion Connects Systems
- Multi-role Capabilities
- Unmatched Data Sharing
Delivering vast amounts of information to accelerate critical decisions and win the fight.
The Indian Sub - continent houses world's 02 of the powerful airforces with host of latest 4.5 generation assets , French Rafale vs China's J-1OC or MICA / Meteor vs PL-15 / AIM-120C .
The French canard delta Omni role Rafale aircraft are the latest fighters to have been inducted into the Indian Air Force and along with Chinese J-20 & J-10C are considered to be the most potent in the entire Asian region.
The 36 Rafales with Meteor & Hammer capabilities have been completely inducted in IAF and they have played a significant role in improving the country’s operational preparedness along both the borders with Pakistan and China.
The next order for 26 Carrier based Rafale -M fighter jets would further boast Indian Aerial capability [Airforce & Navy combined] with a depleting squadron capability owing to retirement of MiG-21s.
On the other side - The Pakistan Airforce in 1990s to 2022 were dependent upon the US Made Falcons or Viper The F-16s for attaining aerial dominance versus the Su-30 MKIs of Indian airforce.
The scenario changed with Rafale induction for IAF - which forced an equalizer from PAF inform of J-10C.
Going forward - PAF would ideally want to increase its most advanced fighter jet - the latest acquired 4.5 omni role Low RCS J-10C fleet to 70 - 90 number ,
along with potential upgrades to its F-16 fleet (such as AESA Radar . New version of AIM - 120 BVR & Airframe hours increase]
and having the Stand off plus PL-15E BVR Capable AESA laden JF-17Cs available in numbers within the next 3 - 4 years.
Stealth technology or Low Observable (LO) technology is the Key :-
The drive to remain unseen - To have element of surprise is not new in Military Warfare.
The idea is to gain element of Surprise or minimum Reaction time for a counter operation (First Detect - Firs Shoot advantage). Stealth doesn’t mean Vanishing into thin air. It means to achieve a state of Less Probability of Detectability in a contested airspace.
[Below KF-21 A 4.5+ Generation fighter jet aiming to transform into 5.0th Generation]
Fighter aircraft are continuously evolving and there is already talk of ‘sixth-generation’, though they may not be up in the skies until the 2030s. Meanwhile, ‘fifth-generation’ aircraft are going strong, including those in the development stages.
The Leader in this category was Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor which entered service as Premium Air Superiority Fighter with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 2005,
Raptor was later followed by a Multi role Strike jet - The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, which entered service with the US Marine Corps in 2015.
Its another variant - the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, which entered service with the USAF in 2016
and the Chinese Chengdu Mighty Dragon J-20 which entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) , are already showing their prowess in different kinds of deployment.
A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet taxis during the Aero India 2023 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Samuel Rajkumar/File Photo
-----------------------------------------------------------
Currently Both operators are now planning to induct a 5.0th Generation fighter jet into their fleet in next decade.Indian Airforce in the past got involved in Su-57 development with Russia, eventually to back down from it.
The future plans include AMCA indigenous development plus looking for limited induction of F-35s to counter Chinese threat as the Geo Politics change.
U.S. tries to woo India away from Russia with display of F-35s, bombers
The United States brought its most advanced fighter jet, the F-35, to India for the first time this week alongside F-16s, Super Hornets and B-1B bombers as Washington looks to woo New Delhi away from its traditional military supplier, Russia.
Pakistan Airfoce with limited resources has the options to induct a Chinese J-35 version as a partner to its J-10C fleet to replace aging F-16s in next decade.
The second option is developing its fighter jet with Turkish TUSAS assistance - basically an ITAR Free engine KAAN in essence.
In this context both operators are observing closely the performance of Su-57 in Ukraine conflict.
---------------------------------------------------
Su-57 Felon sends up to four S-70 UCAVs at a distance of 1,500 km
The Russian Su-57 will be capable of dispatching and controlling 4 UCAVs. They will be the S-70 Okhotnik model. Su-57 will control them over to 1500 km distance
bulgarianmilitary.com
---------------------------------------------------
A major surprise since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is the relatively poor showing of its air force, which is apparently unable to secure aerial supremacy against a far smaller foe. It has also proven ineffective at providing close air support to Russian forces, and has largely restricted itself to attacking fixed civilian targets at extended ranges.
The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name: Felon) is a Quasi stealth, single-seat, twin-engine multirole fifth-generation jet fighter being developed since 2002 for air superiority and attack operations. The aircraft is the product of the PAK FA, a fifth-generation fighter programme of the Russian Air Force. Sukhoi’s internal name for the aircraft is T-50.
The Su-57 is the first aircraft in Russian military service to use stealth technology. The fighter is designed to have supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and advanced avionics to overcome the prior generation fighter aircraft as well as ground and naval defences. The Su-57 is intended to succeed the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force.
The Su-57 prototype has two tandem main internal weapon bays each approximately 4.6 m (15.1 ft) long and 1.0 m (3.3 ft) wide and two small triangular section weapon bays that protrude under the fuselage near the wing root. Internal carriage of weapons preserves the aircraft’s stealth and significantly reduces aerodynamic drag, thus preserving kinematic performance compared to performance with external stores.
For air-to-air combat, the Su-57 can carry four beyond-visual-range missiles in its two main weapons bays and two short-range missiles in the wing root weapons bays. For missions that do not require stealth, the Su-57 can carry stores on its six external hardpoints.
Ukraine Seizes 'Scary' Russian R-37M Missile Wreckage Used To Launch Deadly Strikes From Su-35, MiG-31 Fighters
As Russia continues to rain missiles on Ukrainian cities amid a fresh offensive launched last week, images of a long-range Russian R-37M air-to-air missile wreckage have surfaced online. 1st Time In 30 Years, Russian Warships Sail With Tactical Nuclear Missiles Amid War With Ukraine – Norway...
eurasiantimes.com
Previously the Russian MiG-31K fighters on duty in the Russian Southern Military District are carriers of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal Nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM). It has a claimed range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi), Mach 10 speed, and an ability to perform evasive maneuvers at every stage of its flight.
Kinzhal can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be launched from Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31K fighters. It has been deployed at airbases in Russia’s Southern Military District. The Kinzhal entered service in December 2017 and is one of the six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 March 2018.
Russia’s most advanced fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57, has conducted combat operations against targets in Ukraine – albeit from considerable ranges.
According to UK Defence Intelligence, Moscow has “almost certainly” operated the stealthy type against Ukraine since at least June 2022.
It contends, however, that Russian Aerospace Forces have used the aircraft mainly for long-range, stand-off strikes, apparently out of concern for an Su-57 getting shot down over Ukrainian territory.
It also provided an open-source satellite image showing Su-57s at Akhtubinsk air base, where the 929th Flight Test Centre is located.
“Russia is highly likely prioritising avoiding the reputational damage, reduced export prospects, and the compromise of sensitive technology which would come from any loss of [an Su-57] over Ukraine,” says Defence Intelligence.
“This is symptomatic of Russia’s continued risk-averse approach to employing its air force in the war.”
Any Russian fears about losing a stealthy Su-57 – which in theory is capable of penetrating air defences – are probably warranted given the West’s equipment support for Ukraine.
On 6 January, the US government announced a $3 billion arms package, which it said will include a range of equipment for ground forces, as well as “anti-aircraft capabilities including RIM-7 missiles and 4,000 Zuni rockets”.
In December, the USA confirmed that Ukraine will also receive one Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. In addition to legacy Russian SAMs, Kyiv also operates the NASAMS air defence system, which provides medium-range defences.
Ukraine claims to have downed 283 fixed-wing aircraft and 270 helicopters since Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022.While this is likely an exaggeration, Russian losses have been significant.
According to a November report by the Royal United Services Institute, Russian airpower has been stymied by the resilience of Kyiv’s air defence network.
In September 2022, US Air Force General James Hecker reportedly said that up until that month Russia had lost 55 aircraft.
Coming back to the lessons from Ukraine conflict for both arch rivals -
Unlike the previous aerial battles of sub continent, the Swift retort operation saw the first effective & widely discussed use of BVR in the region with discussion shifting from Platform Kinematics to Capabilities such as BVR & EW.
In future aerial combats of sub continent - Any fifth-generation aircraft in sub continent will surely not mean to get into a classic dogfight scenario of 1970s / 80s / 90s,
The effectiveness of Internal Weapons storage in Low RCS airframe with stand off capability to detroy Air Defences and First Detect First See First Shoot advantage is what IAF & PAF would be aiming for in the coming decade."
----------------------------------------------------
Su-57 Felon Fighters Are Flying Ukraine Combat Missions: U.K. Intel
The U.K. Ministry of Defense claims Russia’s Su-57 Felon fighter is being used against Ukraine, but it’s keeping its distance while doing so.
www.thedrive.com
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