When it comes to fifth-generation fighters, stealth, speed, or weaponry are usually discussed. However, the Russian Su-57 has a feature that sets it apart even from the most advanced foreign aircraft.
"Pervyy Tekhnicheskiy" talks about the so-called "side vision" – the Su-57's ability to detect targets not only in front of it but also to the sides. This solution has become one of the most unusual in the design of the Russian fighter.
Radar looks not only forward
On most modern combat aircraft, the main radar station (RLS) is located in the nose. It provides excellent forward visibility in a sector of about 120 degrees, but the ability to control lateral directions is severely limited.
The Su-57 uses the unique N036 "Belka" radar complex. It includes not one, but 5 main active phased array antenna modules (AFAR) and two additional X-band side antennas located near the air intakes.
Thanks to this, the total radar coverage area has expanded to 240–270 degrees. In fact, the pilot gains control over a huge space to the left and right of the aircraft without the need to constantly change course.
Tactical focus
21st-century aerial combat is increasingly becoming a competition of sensors and computing systems. Whoever detects the enemy first gains a serious advantage even before launching a missile.
Side radars allow the Su-57 to use an important tactical maneuver – "breakaway pass". After launching a long-range missile, the fighter can sharply turn aside at an angle of up to 90 degrees to evade a retaliatory strike.
At the same time, the side antennas continue to "illuminate" the target for the incoming missile. An aircraft with a conventional nose radar would simply lose sight of the enemy during such a maneuver. In addition, "Belka" is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 62 targets, which is extremely important in group combat.
How Russia's and USA's approaches differ
The American F-22 Raptor is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in the world, but its concept was built differently. At the design stage, engineers in the USA also considered installing side radars.
However, in the end, they deliberately abandoned this idea for the sake of maximum stealth. The fact is that the integration of additional radar canvases on the sides of the fuselage inevitably increases the effective scattering area.
The Su-57 was created with an emphasis on high autonomy in conditions where communication with the outside world and satellites can be completely jammed by electronic warfare systems. Therefore, Russian designers decided to maximize the aircraft's own "eyes".