They tried to make MAKS-2019 as effective as possible: as much as possible in conditions of actual isolation, when it is not worth waiting for crowds of foreign guests and overseas exhibits. The audience, for example, was shown the experimental C-37 on a static site for the first time. The once promising "palubnik", which exists in one flight copy and was useful for testing the technologies of the Su-57 fighter.
It was the latter that became the main hit of the air show: few could imagine that Russia would dare to show a fifth generation fighter on a static site to a wide range of people. On the plate proudly flaunted "Su-57e", where the letter "e" stands for the export orientation of the machine. This is, of course, just a publicity stunt. De facto, we were not shown a new version of the aircraft, not a pre-production sample, and not even one of the flying prototypes. "Su-57e" is nothing more than a complex full-scale stand (SPS) for ground tests, which has existed for quite a long time.
It is unreasonable to reproach the organizers of the salon: no country in the world, most likely, will exhibit the newest, stealthy fifth-generation fighter on public display: if you want to see an F-35, Su-57 or J-20, watch flight performances. The logic is simple. The real capabilities of a real export Su-57 will largely depend on the wishes of the customer. So far, it is difficult to say what exactly he wants.
For the sake of fairness, we note: now there are fairly high-quality photos of the latest flight prototypes of the Su-57 - the T-50-10 (tail number 510) and T-50-11 (tail number 511). They give a good idea of what the production aircraft will be like, which we are promised will be ready this year. Of course, with the so-called first stage engine, that is, the AL-41F1. Which is nothing more than a deep modernization of the Soviet AL-31F engine installed on the Su-27 fighter.
The above facts are especially important considering that foreign customers will also receive exactly this configuration: a new engine, Type 30, will be ready in the second half of the 2020s. And maybe at the end of the next decade.
With the current engines, the potential of the platform is not fully revealed, but here one more important point must be taken into account: engines are certainly important, but stealth is much more important for a fifth generation fighter. It is its experts who consider one of the main reasons for India's refusal to participate in the project to create an export version of the Su-57, previously known as the FGFA. Allegedly, the plane does not meet the standards of stealth in the form in which it takes place on overseas cars. Judging by the photo, where the engine compressor blades were clearly visible on the prototype, this is most likely true. But we need to wait for the serial version of the car, while it is too early to draw conclusions.
"E" stands for Erdogan
Now the main candidate for the purchase of the Su-57 is Turkey, paradoxical as it may sound in connection with the story of the downed Su-24 bomber. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was able to examine the new aircraft during the Moscow air show.
"Is this a Su-57?.. Is it already flying?" - Erdogan asked Vladimir Putin while inspecting the exposition of the air show.
“It flies,” the Russian president said.
"Can you buy it?" - Erdogan asked.
“You can buy,” Putin replied with a smile.
Why not? We didn’t come in vain. After we find out the final decision of the United States (on the F-35.- Approx. author), we will take our own steps. The market where we can provide ourselves with what we need is large,”the Turkish leader told reporters.
All this very eloquently shows the seriousness of intentions. However, one more thing can be understood from Erdogan's answer: even after the Americans gave Turkey a turn around the gates regarding the purchase of the F-35, the Turks still do not want to abandon the project. So the fate of the Turkish Su-57 directly depends on the determination of Uncle Sam, who is still unshakable.
Recall that back in 2018, the US Congress officially banned the supply of F-35 fighters to Turkey due to Ankara's purchases of Russian C-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. The latter are increasingly seen as a formality, since the political contradictions between the West and Turkey have accumulated in recent years so much that the problem of buying the C-400 simply fades against this background. Anti-aircraft missile systems are just an excuse to cool Erdogan's fervor. In turn, the warming of relations between Turkey and the Russian Federation, as well as the need for Turkey to re-equip its army, makes Erdogan the main potential buyer of the Su-57.
Su-57 vs J-20
Against the background of Russian-Turkish negotiations on the Su-57, other interesting information emerged. The Chinese state publication Huangqiu Shibao recently wrote about the possibility of China acquiring Russian fighters, but only after a detailed comparison with Chinese J-20s. Experts from the PRC noted that the Su-57 is probably superior in thrust-to-weight ratio and maneuverability. “From the video of the demonstration flight alone, any aviation specialist already understands that the Su-57 engines are superior in quality to the engines of our J-20 fighters. At the same time, the Russians say that these are also engines of the first stage (the first stage. - Author's note). And there they are also preparing the second stage, - noted the Chinese experts in the discussion of the demonstration performances of the Su-57 at MAKS-2019.
However, the thesis about the possible purchase by China of the Su-57 looks far-fetched. The Chinese have already received the technology of new Russian engines in the person of the AL-41F1C: together with a batch of 24 Su-35S fighters. The AL-41F1C engines and the AL-41F1 installed on the Su-57 are different products. However, neither one nor the other meets the requirements of the fifth generation, which means that China is unlikely to be of interest.
From the point of view of increasing the combat capability of the Chinese Air Force, it is incorrect to consider the issue in principle. China is already mass-producing the fifth generation J-20 fighters, and the J-31 is on its way, which experts consider to be a deck stealth for promising Chinese aircraft carriers. China may be interested only in issues related to stealth. However, it seems that the PRC itself does not doubt the superiority of the J-20 over the Russian fighter in this sense.
In general, the Su-57 is facing difficult times, which will show whether the aircraft is competitive in the global market. Now the developers will not be able to blame the failures on "secrecy" or "the need to provide for the native Air Force."
Interest from foreign customers is a direct demonstration of the potential of a combat aircraft. If the car really has outstanding capabilities, then there will always be a customer for it. If not, then no.
