Russian Su-57 fighter disgraced at international air show in China (video)

Having seen the plane up close, the Chinese ridicule the Russian production.

The first participation of the Russian Su-57 fighter at the international air show Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai (China) demonstrated the significant lag of Russian aviation technology behind modern standards, in particular, the requirements of the fifth generation.

As Defence Express writes , it turned out that despite Russia’s claims of cutting-edge technology, the aircraft does not live up to high expectations, as demonstrated by numerous videos taken by Chinese viewers from close range. The “exposure” occurred because the Russian side failed to provide a restricted access zone, which allowed Chinese observers to examine the aircraft’s fuselage in detail.

“The very first participation of the Su-57 at the international air show Airshow China marked the final destruction of the myth that this aircraft is in any way related to the fifth generation. And it also became proof that all Russian aircraft manufacturing technologies remained in the 20th century. The only thing was that the Russians were unable to provide a no-access zone for spectators and the Chinese freely filmed the Su-57 at an unprecedentedly close distance,” the publication reports.

The point is that, first of all, the large number of bolts on the hull panels attract attention, which contradicts the general principles of reducing radar visibility. Although these shortcomings have been discussed before, the released video shows the low quality of the joining of the elements, which has caused confusion among experts and critics.

“The huge number of bolts holding the fuselage panels is striking, but this was known before. Another thing is that the quality of the joining of the elements does not stand up to any criticism,” the experts note.

The footage of the tail section of the aircraft, which was first leaked online, deserves special attention. In particular, fasteners with different types of splines are recorded – Phillips, straight and hexagonal. According to experts, this approach to connections, including the joining of the internal weapons bay flaps with other fuselage elements, indicates an uneven level of technology, as well as the general culture of production.

Such videos are quickly spreading on Chinese social networks, where local users laugh at the level of Russian equipment. At the same time, experts note that the aircraft presented at the exhibition is not a serial one, but a prototype. Given its number – 054, it is the T-50-4 model, the fourth test sample, which should represent the highest standard.

For comparison, Chinese commentators cite their own Chengdu J-20 fighter, which is positioned as a representative of the fifth generation, but is also not shown at such close range.

Experts are certain that, given its design and technological features, the Su-57, which Russia continues to call the fifth generation, does not meet these characteristics. Of its stealth technologies, only the general contours of the fuselage can be distinguished, while the similar American F-35 has implemented significantly more advanced solutions for hiding from radars.

The Chinese have filmed the Su-57 up close for the first time in detail

It should be noted that Airshow China is the largest aerospace exhibition in China, where the latest technologies in the field of military and civil aviation, as well as astronautics are presented. The exhibition demonstrates not only aircraft, but also unmanned aerial vehicles, security systems and technological innovations in aviation.

Western media reported that Chinese users and experts criticized the Russian Su-57 after seeing it at Airshow China 2024, mainly due to its poor build quality and questionable level of stealth technology. Chinese viewers noted that the Su-57 fuselage had many bolts, uneven panel seams, and different types of fasteners, which was striking for its low technology. Some important components, such as the infrared detection system, were missing, which also raised doubts about its full functionality and compliance with the fifth generation of fighters.

Russian Su-57 aircraft

Let us recall that the Russian Su-57 was first spotted in China . The Su-57 made a demonstration flight during preparations for the Airshow China 2024 aerospace exhibition in Zhuhai. Russian propagandists say that this could be a pre-production T-50-4 fighter with the tail number 054. In the Russian Federation, the Su-57 is called a fifth-generation fighter, but the occupiers use it to launch X-59 missiles, which do not fit into the internal compartments.

(C)UNIAN 2024