Russian Su-57 With Fifth-gen Engine Expected Beyond 2025

The much anticipated fifth-generation engine for the Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jet will be introduced after 2025, Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko has said.

“The deliveries of fifth-generation Su-57 fighters to the Russian Air Force are planned in two stages: until the mid-2020s with a fourth-generation engine, after - with a fifth-generation engine,” he said during the course of an interview with US based publication.

 “A significant event for us will be the start of serial supply of Su-57 aircraft. At the first stage, the aircraft will be purchased with fourth-generation engines, the delivery of which is planned  until the mid-2020s."

"And in the second stage, after the completion of the tests, supplies with the engine and fifth-generation power plants, which have increased fuel efficiency and lower life cycle costs, will already begin," Krivoruchko said.

The late introduction of the second-stage engine which was first  tested on the Su-57 in  December 2017  should be a matter of concern for the international sales effort of the aircraft. The export verson, dubbed Su-57E was launched at the MAKS 2019 show in Moscow and was first shown to Turkish President Erodgan.

The second stage engine (internally called Project 30) offers higher power to weight ratio and super-cruise  ability as compared to the current Project 117 engine.

The contract for the supply of 76 Su-57 fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces was signed at the Army 2019 forum. Currently, tests of this aircraft are ongoing, during which the functioning of its systems is checked, as well as the operation modes of the second stage engine. The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly stated that the Su-57 was successfully tested in Syria.

The first serially-produced aircraft, which was supposed to be delivered by the Ministry of Defense at the end of December 2019, crashed near Khabarovsk during a test flight on December 24, the pilot managed to eject and survived.

After the incident, the Director General of the United Aircraft Corporation, Yuri Slyusar , told RIA Novosti that the results of the Su-57 crash commission would be used to improve this aircraft.