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- With Russia and China beginning to field stealth jets, Business Insider sat down with Michael Kofman, a military analyst, to get his impressions on how they match up with the US's stealth planes.
- Kofman said Russia's Su-57 didn't match the stealth capabilities of the US's F-22 or F-35 but would be a capable platform.
- He also said that while China's J-20 had good avionics and software, it was inferior to the Su-57 because of its older engine model and large surface.
There have been a few developments in the stealth world in the past month, with Russia deploying its Su-57 to Syria and China announcing its J-20 is combat ready.
With more countries now fielding and trying to market stealth jets, Business Insider spoke to Michael Kofman, a senior research scientist at the think tank CNA and fellow at the Wilson Center focusing on Russia's military and defense, about how the Su-57 and the J-20 match up with the US's stealth planes.
The partial transcript below has been edited for length and clarity.
Daniel Brown: What are your general thoughts on the recent deployment of the Su-57 to Syria?
Michael Kofman: They deployed them to Syria really for two reasons. One is to change the narrative that's been going on in Syria for the last couple weeks and take a lot of media attention to the Su-57. And second is to actually demo it in the hope that there might be interested buyers, as they have deployed a number of weapons systems to Syria.
They're always looking for more investors in that technology. Fifth-generation aircraft are expensive.
Brown: What do you think overall of the Su-57?
Kofman: I think it's a stealthier aircraft than your typical fourth-generation design. I don't think it matches the stealth capability of the F-22 or F-35, nor does it match the price tag of them. I think it's a poor man's stealth aircraft. I think it'll be a very capable platform. I don't think it'll match or compete the low-observation parameters of US aircraft.
On the other hand, it will definitely be a step above a fourth-generation aircraft — in terms of how maneuverable it is, Russian aircraft are always quite capable, very maneuverable.
The F-22 is actually really good in maneuverability too. The F-35 not so much, but the F-22 is actually a brilliant aircraft. We still have a lot of them. But the Su-57 is not meant to be a direct competitor to the F-22 or F-35.
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Brown: That's how Russia seems to be marketing it.
Kofman: Yeah, I'm sure someone thinks their Honda Civic is better than a BMW.
Here's the thing you got to understand: Is there a fifth-generation market out there? Where can you go to get a fifth-generation aircraft? The US is very tight on technology with the F-35. The only other people that have one in development is the Chinese.
So here's the real question: Is the Su-57 better than the J-20?
Brown: Is the Su-57 better than the J-20?
Kofman: Well, it's certainly far — if not further — along in technology design.
Here's what it's important: At the core of every plane is the engine — it's all about the engine. Everything else may be interesting, but it's all about the engine.
The Su-57 is not in serial production because they've not finished the engine for it. It is flying on an upgraded engine from the Su-35S, so it cannot be considered a fifth-generation aircraft yet even by Russian standards.
Now, is it low-observable relative to the Su-35? Yes. Is it low-observable relative to F-35? Doubtful. But you know what, if it was, probably no one would be able to afford it, least of all Russia. Don't let the best be the enemy of the affordable.
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Kofman: I suspect that the J-20 probably has great avionics and software but, as always, has terrible engine design. In fact, Chinese low-observation aircraft designs like J-31 are flying on older Russian Klimov engines because the Chinese can't make an engine. Others are Russian saturn engines, or Chinese engines based on western designs.
That's where I think it stands. In terms of observation, when I look at it, I suspect it also has a lot of stealth issues.
Brown: They recently said it was combat ready, didn't they?
Kofman: Yeah, I'm very skeptical.
I'm also puzzled by its design. You see how large it is? It's got so many surfaces, and a lot of them look pretty reflective from the sides too. I'm pretty skeptical of the stealth on that aircraft.
Brown: So you'd take the Su-57 over the J-20?
Kofman: I'd take any Russian-designed plane with Russian-designed engines in it over any Chinese-designed plane with older Russian engines in it.
I would not get into any Chinese plane with Chinese engines in it.
By Daniel Brown
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