Five Key Features of the Su-57M1 Fighter with the AL-51F Super Engine Revealed: Will Become the King of the Air

A deeply modernized version of the Su-57M1 fighter will enter service with the Russian Aerospace Forces before the end of 2026. The fifth-generation combat aircraft will operate completely differently from other fighters.

Below is an assessment of the five most outstanding characteristics of the aircraft that make it much more effective than the basic Su-57:

AL-51F Engine

The Su-57 fighters that entered service from the end of 2020 were equipped with AL-41F-1 engines - variants of the AL-41F-1S, which are fitted on the \"4++\" generation Su-35 fighters.

The Su-57M1 will receive the AL-51F-1 - the first engine developed in Russia for a fighter from scratch in more than 40 years. The engine will significantly improve all flight characteristics of the fighter, increase its stealth, and reduce operating costs, while increasing power.

Redesigned Airframe with Emphasis on Speed and Stealth

It is expected that the Su-57M1 will be very different from the basic version even visually due to significant changes made to the airframe design. In particular, it has been confirmed that the fuselage has been widened to provide greater aerodynamic lift and stability at supersonic speeds.

The airframe will fully unlock the flight performance potential inherent in the AL-51F, and will also increase stealth by reducing the radar cross-section.

New Radar

The Su-57 was the first Russian fighter to receive an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar in the nose cone. Although little is known about the N036 radar so far, the Su-57M1 will be equipped with a more advanced basic sensor.

New Helmet-Mounted Sight System

In December 2024, Rostec presented a new helmet-mounted sighting system developed specifically for the Su-57. It displays flight data and target designation on the glass of the protective visor, providing a much more complete picture of the operational situation.

Long-Range Missile "Product 810"

It is expected that the "Product 810" missile will be developed for the Su-57M1, as a miniature version of the R-37M, for placement in the internal compartments of the fighter. It is expected that its commissioning will almost coincide with the launch of the Su-57M1 itself, providing it with the largest engagement range in air combat of analogues of its generation.

Earlier www1.ru reported that detailed shots of the Russian UMPC aerial bomb for the Su-34 and Su-57 have appeared.

Read also materials:

"Black Hole" with "Calibers" returned from a long voyage

Hunting for evil spirits: Russian snipers have come up with a new way to destroy "Baba Yaga"

The military installed a new 107-mm MLRS on the chassis from the "Loaf" UAZ-3303