Russian Su-57 Test-flies Hypersonic Missile Mock-up – The Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter performed test flights with functional mockups of a new hypersonic missile.
Russian Su-57 Test-flies Hypersonic Missile Mock-up
MilitaryEzyInfo.com | “The experimental Su-57 fighter jet performed several flights with functional mass-size mockups of the new Russian intra-fuselage hypersonic missile as part of the tests. Before that, there was a fitting of mockups of the new product into the fighter’s inner compartment on the ground,” the agency’s interlocutor said.
He specified that the mock-ups differ from the standard ammunition in the absence of engines, rocket fuel, and the warhead but fully correspond to them in size, shape, and weight.
“At the same time, the functional analogs have homing heads and electrical circuits for checking the interface of the munition electronics with the onboard equipment of the carrier aircraft,” the source added.
The interlocutor noted that in the near future, the first launch tests of the new missiles are planned using the Su-57.
The source did not disclose the characteristics of the munitions but noted that they are small-sized. According to the interlocutor, these missiles provide maneuverable flight at hypersonic speed for a long time.
The new weapon belongs to the “air-to-surface” class and is designed to destroy such priority targets as enemy air and missile defense facilities, radar stations, launchers of cruise and tactical ballistic missiles.
The Tactical Missile Arms Corporation (TMAA) could not provide RIA Novosti with a comment. The United Aircraft Corporation also did not respond to the agency’s request.
The Su-57 (advanced frontline aviation system, PAK FA) is a Russian fifth-generation multirole fighter developed by Sukhoi Design Bureau. The first production Su-57 fighter was handed over to the military at the end of December 2020, a year late: it was planned to happen back in 2019, but then the first production Su-57 crashed during tests.
According to the latest information, four more Su-57s are expected to be delivered to the troops in 2021. Meanwhile, the state contract concluded in 2019, assumes that by 2028, 76 Su-57 fighters should be put into service.