There are 4 yes 4 light fighters. Most SMT's were purchased almost 8 years ago. In total Russia has less light fighters than Turkey FFS (about 120). It more than compensates with the SU-27 family (over 300) but the need for a point fighter is clear. Local troublions like Turkey don't need to get taken head on by the PAK FA or SU-30/35.
Think you are confusing light with light... the MiG-29 is not a light plane, it is a cheaper plane, yet it is not MiG-29M2s on order, it is MiG-35s as the "cheap" light, to operate with the expensive "heavies".
Then you check the Quack of Doom (Su-34) numbers and you see that the replacement of the Su-24 is not possible (they're at the same level). Russia needs a ~300 strike fleet to spread through military regions.
Just like the fighter role will be spread across various aircraft... Su-57, Su-35, Su-30 (which is turning into a two seat Su-35) and the MiG-35, effectively the air to ground capacity of the Su-57 and future MiG stealth fighter will also compliment the Su-34 in the strike mission along with S-70 drones and long range hypersonic missiles.
If it was a single engine aircraft like the MiG-21 then it might make sense.
You mean single engined and cheap like F-35?
I don't think an aircraft is possible that includes the terms cheap and 5th gen and single engined. That ship has sailed. except a single engined semi 5th gen drone... but even then it will cost more than a MiG-21.
But if it is another twin engine aircraft it will be nearly as expensive as Su-57 without the same performance.
The idea of only having one engine is to reduce performance and operating costs with commonality and numbers... a simplified medium fighter has more potential for better performance and less costs than any light weight fighter or souped up LIFT.
Agree. At this point I don't sure if the VKS still need lighter tier 5th gen fighter.
It's unlike the TPFI-LPFI time, today's technological enable the tactical requirement of both tier could be met with one plane.
If Su-57 and LMFS will be comparable advancement in avionic and design, I doubt the latter will cheaper (to procure and to operate) enough for VKS to bother operate two different planes for similar role.
Especially with lastest information suggest it will be twin engines, not single.
It's also easier to maintenance planes with similar design, similar subsystems, similar suppliers.
Which will be increased combat readiness of the whole fleet.
Even if they don't buy a lot of LMFS aircraft the technology and systems developed for it will make the MiG-35s they do buy rather more capable and useful, but I agree they may find stealth is not as useful as so many seem to think in many situations and the extra cost of the LMFS is simply not worth it when you can get the same avionics and systems in a more conventional and cheaper aircraft (MiG-35).
Precision strikes don't change the problem. With a typical rotation and attrition you need those 300 SU-34 (Current is 250 AC between SU-24 and Su-34). Russia is a large country. You got two issues. Air time and coverage.
To be fair they also will have 60 odd Tu-22M3Ms as well...
The idea as explained in the thread is that until the new engine is released, the Su-57 will be a great fighter but not really the machine it is intended to be, with its main combat mode being blocked by an engine design intended for subsonic flight. I think this is highly relevant, to the point of actually being the enabler of a complete change in tactics and concept of operations.
That is OK, you could argue that it will never be a potent fighter till they have 300 in service anyway, so 300 by 2022 is unreasonable, but by 2026 or so is not that far fetched if all things go well...
[quote]The idea as explained in the thread is that until the new engine is released, the Su-57 will be a great fighter but not really the machine it is intended to be, with its main combat mode being blocked by an engine design intended for subsonic flight. I think this is highly relevant, to the point of actually being the enabler of a complete change in tactics and concept of operations./quote]
At its core being stealthy and being able to supercruise are easily enough to counter any eurocanards which are currently the main enemy... by the time they get the new engine HATO will have a lot more F-35s which should finish them off by my calculations....
I just wanted to share an image comparing the side drawings of the su 57 and YF-23 that I found. It sorta puts home the point about why the YF-23 had better all aspect stealth than the F-22. Its flat blend wing design. And it also puts home the point in my humble opinion, that the su 57's stealth is under estimated.
Not to mention how pretty it is....
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