Russian Su-57 Test-flies Hypersonic Missile Mock-up in Internal Bay

Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter jet flew mock-up of new hypersonic missiles lodged in its internal weapons bay signalling a new dimension in air warfare.

Carrying hypersonic weapons in the internal bay will enable the Su-57 to approach its target without being detected by enemy radar. It can drop a missile, which travels at 5-7 times the speed of sound, closer to its target giving the enemy little chance of taking evasive action, RIA Novosti report citing a source in the military-industrial complex, said.

"As part of the tests, the experienced Su-57 fighter performed several flights with functional mass-dimensional models of the new Russian intra-fuselage hypersonic missile. Prior to that, the new product was tested in the internal compartment of the fighter on the ground," the source said.

One of the weapons appears to be smaller than the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile that has been launched from the underbelly of the MiG-31 fighter and Tu-22M3M bomber.

The source clarified that the mock-ups differ from the standard ammunition in the absence of engines, rocket fuel and warheads, but fully correspond to them in size, shape and weight. “At the same time, homing heads and electric circuits are installed on functional analogs to check the interface of the ammunition electronics with the onboard equipment of the carrier aircraft."