Russia takes a risk by sending Su-57 fighters to Syria

Video and satellite images show that Russia has deployed at least four Su-57 stealth fighters to Syria, as the country's air force has stepped up airstrikes against targets held by the Syrian opposition in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta. Experts say the arrival of the Su-57 will help Moscow perfect the aircraft, but it is also a dangerous gamble as it is not yet combat-ready and could be damaged by rebel attacks, according toWar Is Boring.

An anonymous source from the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Su-57 squadron in Syria will not directly participate in combat, but only to test the radar complex and electronic warfare system. The experimental prototypes of the Su-57 fighter use the 101KS Atoll and electro-optical sensors.Sh121 integrated multi-purpose radio-electronic complex (MIRES), including the N036 Byelka radar and the L402 Himalayas electronic warfare system.

Russia can use the Sh121 and 101KS complexes to receive identification signals of the F-22 stealth fighter that is also being deployed by the US in the skies over Syria, thereby developing solutions to detect this type of aircraft from a long distance, neutralizing its stealth advantage. In addition to testing in real conditions, the Su-57 squadron also contributes to promoting the power of Russian weapons, helping to attract orders from foreign customers.

However, military expert Tom Cooper said that the Su-57 program has been repeatedly delayed, causing these fighters to not be fully equipped with sensors as designed.

According to the original design, the N036 radar cluster on the Su-57 fighter includes the N036-1-01 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar mounted on the nose of the aircraft, along with 4 N036B-1-01 and N036L-1-01 radar clusters on the two sides and the leading edge of the wings of the Su-57 fighter.

However, by 2016, the Tikhomirov Design Institute had only produced 7 sets of N036 radars for installation on prototypes numbered T-50-3, T-50-4 and T-50-5. This batch of radars is said to be a limited edition, with only the clusterN036-1-01in the nose and lack of antennaeN036B-1-01 and N036L-1-01. In addition, the missiles have not been fully tested with the fire control system on the T-50 prototype.

The lack of radar clusters on the flanks and wing tips will seriously affect the purpose of testing the Sh121 and L402 complexes, as well as prevent the Russian Air Force from recording signals from the US F-22 stealth fighters. On the contrary, the US can still spy on the basic combat characteristics of the Su-57 such as the radar cross section (RCS), unless Russia installs RCS-enhancing equipment to hide the aircraft's true parameters.

Another threat to the lives of pilots and Su-57 fighters is mortar attacks by Syrian rebels. Satellite images show that only one Su-57 at the Hmeymim base is located in a fortified area, while the other two are located in an open parking lot next to the Su-35S squadron.

Syrian rebels carried out a daring raid on the Hmeymim base in late 2017, damaging several Russian aircraft there. The attack highlighted the dangers of surprise attacks by rebels on Russian forces in Syria, especially on expensive equipment deployed in open terrain.

Any Su-57 prototype that is damaged would be a major loss for the Russian military and would make the country lose face in front of its international partners. Therefore, deploying Su-57 fighters to Syria can be considered a risky gamble for Moscow at the present time, said Cooper.