SIZING UP THE COMPETITION

In 2011, China revealed the Chengdu J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ as its first fifthgeneration stealth fighter. The fighter has flat, angular surfaces to minimise its radar signature, large forward canards for enhanced manoeuvrability, and an estimated top speed of Mach 2.

The J-20 packs two engines, internal weapons bays, electro-optical sensors, and an advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. It’s hefty enough that it could act as either a long-range fighter or a fighter bomber. And it can target American airborne tankers, intelligence, and early warning aircraft with the new PL-15 long-range, radar-guided missile, forcing American fighters to fight without critical support aircraft.

The Su-57 fighter – NATO classification name ‘FELON’ – is the first stealthy Russian design, with angled surfaces to reduce radar returns and a radarabsorbing paint coating.

The Su-57 features two AL-41F1 thrust vectoring engines, giving it the ability to fly at speeds greater than Mach 1 without employing afterburners. It has a belly-mounted internal weapons bay, AESA radar, and infrared search-and-track sensors. Armament consists of an internal 30 mm gun, precision air-to-ground bombs and missiles, and long-range air-toair missiles. FELON is designed as a multi-role fighter capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and can fly in concert with the S-70 Okhotnik ‘Hunter’, an uncrewed aerial combat drone.