Posted on 12/24/2019 9:17:57 AM PST by tlozo
A Russian Su-57 has crashed roughly 68 miles from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant in Russia's Far East. The jet belonged to Sukhoi and was executing a flight test at the time of the incident. The pilot ejected and was recovered alive by an Mi-8 search and rescue helicopter not long after the crash. It is the first total loss of a Su-57, although one of the type's T-50 prototypes was badly damaged due to an engine fire in 2014.
Just over a dozen T-50/Su-57s have been delivered since the type first flew nearly a decade ago. For a time, it looked as if production was in doubt, especially as an export partner for the jet remains elusive, but the Russian Ministry of Defense announced it would order 76 of the advanced fighters last May. Specialized weapons continue to be developed for the jet and the advanced fighter is being used to test interoperability with the country's "Hunter" unmanned combat air vehicles. You can read more about the Su-57's unique strengths and weaknesses in this past feature of ours.
Update: 2:38 AM PST—
TASS reports that a flight control system failure caused the crash, with one source stating it had to do with the aircraft's tail control surfaces. Interfax reports the aircraft was the first production Su-57 ever and it was supposed to be delivered to the Russian Air Force by year's end. If this is the case, it would be a significant blow to the program on a number of levels.
Update: 6:40 AM PST—
TV Zvezda, an official outlet of the Russian Ministry of Defense, says that Su-57 exploded when it hit the ground and was totally destroyed. Multiple outlets are also now reporting that aircraft was indeed the first serial production example.
State-run media outlet RIA Novosti has reported that the mishap occurred during an engine test, but it remains unclear if engine trouble was the actual cause of the accident. Some Russian media reports have pointed to a potential failure in the Su-57's engine control system, but TASS continues to report that its sources say the issue was in the flight control system.
Well, it sorta looks like an assault weapon.
Russia’s military hardware are not having a good year.
The real Felons are the ones who gave away our military secrets to foreign powers allowing them to steal our stealth tech.
Just because you make it look like the Amerikanski F22, Comrade, doesn’t make it a F22.
As things become more complex, quality control becomes critical. As Boeing has learned, you don’t get quality hiring off shore software engineers at $12.00/hr.
I guess it’s an ex-felon now.
OOPS. Putin will send someone to the Gulag for this
Democrats had hoped it would immigrate to a deep blue state in the USA, where it would have been the right to vote like other felons.
The other problem is when managers refuse to listen to bad news coming from the engineers.
Is that a Raptorisky?
I read a recent article that pegged Boeing's downward slide to the move of their HQ to Chicago. That, combined with the problem that you noted all combined to cripple an aerospace giant.
“Even when they copy or steal or technology they fail is why I do not fear China, they make a bad move they can kiss their asses goodbye”
China is not Russia. I do fear China they are outspending us in every area of tech and engineers. 200:1 in AI research for instance
I’m sure the same thing was said about the Japanese in the 50’s and 60’s.
Does that make the felon a parolee?
Yeah, that'll usually do it.
Can we assume the flight test was a failure?
Maybe there’s a rivet shortage in Russia and the duct tape is from Cold War era storage depots...
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