4 MANOEUVRABILITY

While the Su-57 is acrobatic and built for close-up dogfights, the J-20 emphasises avionics and weapon performance to engage at longer distances. The US favours the latter approach, thanks to their weapons with over-the-horizon reach, though the F-22 demonstrated surprising agility for this leaning. That could indicate the NGAD will invest in high manoeuvrability, even if its offensive systems continue the US Air Force’s long-range legacy.

Su-57 Felon » The Su-57 is the only stealth fighter on the planet today to utilise 3D thrust vectoring controls. These allow the pilot to direct the outflow of thrust from the engines independent of the direction the aircraft is pointed, so the Su-57 can execute dramatic rolls and loops at low speeds, as well as orient itself in unique positions for attack (for example, pointing the fighter’s nose down towards enemy aircraft while the engines’ outlets keep the plane travelling in a forward direction). J-20 Mighty Dragon » The first J-20s did not incorporate thrust vector controls, but China has announced that their latest iteration of the fighter, the J-20B, will include the capability. Some experts think the J-20’s length and aerodynamic profile make it poorly suited for the acrobatics of an air superiority fighter, but J-20 test pilots have said the aircraft is comparable in agility to China’s fourth-generation fighter, the J-10. Analysis from Chinese aeronautical engineer Song Wencong, PhD, also suggested the jet could be more agile than what many experts predicted, but the plane’s acrobatic chops remain in question. NGAD » The F-22 Raptor offers similar, but inferior, thrust vector controls to those of the Su-57, suggesting the US Air Force prefers a sharpshooter fighter that can maintain the ability to scrap in close quarters. However, recent air force renderings of the NGAD programme depict an aircraft without a vertical tail like those found on the F-35 and F-22. While not without precedent on a stealth fighter, this absence could indicate a stealth-heavy platform that sacrifices greater control surface on the tail, and thus acrobatic performance, for a lower profile.

The Su-57 has an expected service life of 35 years.