Russia Commences Sixth-gen Jet Technologies Test Aboard Su-57 Fighter

Russia has commenced tests of certain technologies of the yet-to-be-named sixth-generation manned-unmanned combat jet being developed as a follow on to the Su-57 fifth generation fighter aircraft.

The tests involve control and navigation equipment besides weapons systems, TASS news agency said on Monday quoting an unnamed source from the plane's manufacturer, United Aircraft Corp.

"There are no plans to create the unmanned version of the Su-57. It is currently being used to test some systems of the future sixth-generation fighter jet, which will be a drone in its baseline version and only optionally piloted," the source said.

The systems undergoing trials involve "control and navigation equipment and weapon systems," the source said.

The Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of maintaining supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage, the agency report stated.

These planes are expected to arrive for the troops in 2019. The pilot batch will comprise 12 Sy-57 planes.