FGFA vs F-35: The Indian Air Force must decide whether it's a budget air force or a great economic power Air Force
- In Military & Strategic Affairs
- 05:44 AM, Feb 27, 2018
- Vijainder K Thakur
There have been a spate of media reports saying that the IAF is formally requesting a classified briefing by Lockheed Martin (LM) on its F-35A Lightning 2 5th generation stealth fighter.
The IAF's interest in the F-35 follows persistent press reports that the IAF is not impressed by the Russian proposal to co-produce with India a FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) based on the Su-57, contract negotiations for which have been underway for over a decade now.
India and Russia signed a preliminary agreement to jointly develop the FGFA in October 2007. In early 2010 the two countries agreed to base the FGFA on the prototype T-50 design (now Su-57). The formal agreement signed on December 21, 2010 included a Preliminary Design (PD) Contract worth $295 million. Under the PD contract, Indian engineers underwent 20 courses to familiarize themselves with the aircraft. The training was completed in July, 2011. Thereafter the project stalled as a result of differences over costs, desired FGFA capabilities, and Indian workshare in the project. Starting end 2014, sporadic press reports suggested that the IAF had serious reservations over the performance and capabilities of the Su-57, extent of the ToT associated with the project, costs, delivery schedules, etc. The IAF reportedly sought technical clarifications and test flights.
In July 2016, there were press reports that India and Russia had resolved all technical and cost issues; and Russia had agreed to test flights by IAF pilots. A 650 page detailed plan that specified the extent of ToT was drawn up and readied for signatures. But the project unraveled once again.
MoD bureaucrats reportedly scuttled the project on the grounds that it might duplicate, or hinder, the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
In February 2017 a panel headed by Air Marshal S Varthaman (Retd.) was convened to examine different aspects of the FGFA project and the technology it brings into the country to meet the IAF's requirements.
In July 2017, Air Marshal S Varthaman (Retd.) submitted a report to the MoD stating that the FGFA project would be beneficial to India. Alas! No one in the MoD appeared to take note.
F-35 vs Su-57
Ten years after the IAF's quest for a 5th generation fighter began we seem to be back at square one. So it’s pertinent to ask ourselves the question - which of the two 5th generation fighters, F-35 or Su-57, is better suited to IAF needs.
The question is difficult to answer, because the two aircraft were conceived for differing roles and were shaped by vastly differing economic and industrial-base imperatives. The Su-57 is best suited to Russian needs and the F-35 to US needs.
So the best answer to the Su-57 vs F-35 question may well be the question - Are Indian operational requirements and, economic and industrial-base similar to those of the US or Russia.
The US defense strategy pivots around the paradigm that offense is the best defense. Russia, a lesser economic power, relies purely on asymmetric defense.
In the following paragraphs, I will attempt to present information that explains why and how the Su-57 and F-35 differ. Hopefully, the information would allow you to determine for yourself as to which aircraft is better suited to IAF requirements.
Contested Airspace Operations
Contested airspace refers to airspace that is well defended by IADS (Integrated Air Defense System). The airspace over peer adversary states (For example, China and Pakistan in the context of India) is generally referred to as contested airspace.
Airspace not defended by adversary AD systems is referred to as permissive airspace. Typically, anti-terrorist air operations, such as those in Syria and Afghanistan are conducted in permissive airspace.
Both the Su-57 and the F-35 are designed to operate safely in contested airspace.
The F-35 relies primarily on its low (radar) observability (LO) to operate in contested airspace. Its primary role is of a forward sensor - It can sneak into contested airspace undetected to locate and identify enemy targets, which can then be engaged by 4th gen fighters flying clear of contested airspace using standoff weapons. The F-35 has a limited ability to engage ground targets in contested airspace using air-to-ground weapons carried within its two internal bomb bays.
The Su-57 relies on a combination of LO, powerful EW capability, and super maneuverability to operate within contested airspace. It was developed to prevent stealth fighters like the F-35 from sneaking into defended airspace and to engage ground targets in contested airspace. The Su-57 lacks the stealth and advanced electronics required to operate as a forward sensor.
The Su-57 is almost as stealthy as the F-35 from the front aspect, but has a much greater radar signature along its sides and rear aspects.
To prevent enemy stealth fighters from ingressing into airspace that it's defending, the Su-57 relies on its good front aspect LO. Operating out of AWACS cover, using radar and optical search, the Su-57 will detect an oncoming F-35 almost at the same time as the F-35 will detect the Su-57. Thereafter, the Su-57 will enjoy an advantage on account of its larger air-to-air missile weapon load and super-maneuverability.
To engage ground targets in contested airspace, the Su-57 relies on a combination of stealth and EW. Compared to the F-35, the Su-57 can be easily detected and engaged by ground based AD system but that doesn't mean it can be more easily shot down. The Su-57 features powerful EW capability and self-protection suite which allow it to jam, blind, seduce away or even kinetically destroy surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles aimed at it. In the attack role, the Su-57 scores over the F-35 with its larger air-to-ground weapon load.
Suitability to IAF Considerations
As a forward sensor - because of its superior stealth, situational awareness through DAS (Distributed Aperture System), and sensor fusion - the F-35 is a formidable weapon system that far outclasses the Su-57.
The F-35 eminently addresses the needs of the air forces of the US and its NATO allies which are highly networked and equipped with stand-off missiles. In the future, the F-35 is likely to become even more useful as the concept of arsenal fighters evolves. (A discussion on arsenal fighters is beyond the scope of this article.)
The IAF is currently neither well networked, nor is it equipped with stand-off weapons compatible with F-35 operations.
Networking IAF assets to an extent where they could fully leverage the F-35's ability to sniff out targets in highly contested airspace will take many years and very large infrastructure investments, something that India's economic prowess would not be able to support for many years.
Press Criticism of FGFA
Press criticism of the Su-57, usually quoting unnamed IAF sources, has largely focused on the aircraft's greater radar signature and inability of super cruise (Fly above the speed of sound without using fuel guzzling afterburners).
The Su-57's inability to super cruise is likely to be addressed by 2025 when its stage 2 Product 30 engine, which is already under flight testing, becomes widely available. Even if a procurement / joint manufacture contract for the FGFA with Russia were to be signed today, it's unlikely that supplies of the aircraft would start before 2025. The criticism over the Su-57's inability to super cruise is dubious for other reasons too. The ability to super cruise enables a fighter to reach its target area faster and with greater reserve of fuel. Super cruise is a very useful concept for nations such as the US, with adversaries spread all over the world, and Russia, a country of phenomenal geographical extent with adversaries on all sides. For a country like India, which can base and operate its fighter from close proximity of adversary borders, supercruise is largely of academic interest.
The Su-57's radar cross section (rcs) value of 0.1-0.5m is significantly higher than the F-22 (0.0001) and the F-35 (0.0015). We have already discussed how the Su-57 compensates for its limited stealth with powerful EW capability and super maneuverability. Additionally, the Su-57 features a more powerful radar sensor suite. The aircraft has five radars: 3 X-band AESA, one in the nose and two on the sides, and 2 L-band in the leading edge root (LEX) extension of the wings.
L-Band radars are more effective against VLO targets, such as the F-22 and F-35, which are optimized only against X-Band frequencies, but their longer wavelengths reduce their resolution.
By fusing the sensor outputs of the 3 X-band AESA and the 2 L-band AESA radars with the output from its IRST (Infrared search and track), the Su-57 can track the F-22 and the F-35 at greater ranges than would be possible using just a single X-band AESA.
The US has honed the F-22 and F-35 to evade ground radar and attack adversary targets in keeping with the US offense is best defense strategy. The Russians have honed the Su-57 to detect the F-22 and F-35 attempting to penetrate Russian controlled airspace.
Operating Costs
By not focusing overwhelmingly on LO, Russia managed to reduce development and operating costs, while also hedging their bets on continued effectiveness of radar LO in the future.
Highly stealthy fighters like the F-35 and F-22 are likely to have a much greater turnaround time than limited stealth fighters like the Su-57. Which would mean that a Su-57 would be able to fly more sorties per day than a Raptor or Lightning, which would further improve the cost effectiveness of the Su-57.
Transfer of Technology
Any comparison (performance or suitability) between the Su-57 and F-35 can be debated. What cannot be debated is that the F-35 will come with no ToT. Here, it will be pertinent to point out that the alleged high cost of the FGFA deal is attributable to ToT and the desire for equal partnership in local manufacture. Russian willingness to part with strategic technology for a price should be more important to India, than the perceived reasonableness or otherwise of the price.
The F-35 would also come with many strings attached, one of which (explicit or implicit) could well be to limit our defense collaboration with Russia. Whether that is good or bad for the country is for the reader to decide.
Conclusion
The Su-57 is a budget 5th generation fighter, the F-35, a weapon system for the rich. The IAF must decide whether it's a budget air force or a great economic power air force.
The IAF can be happy with the Su-57's superior ability to operate in contested airspace when compared to any fighter in the IAF's current or near future inventory. Alternatively, the IAF can rue the much higher RCS of the Su-57 when compared with the F-22 and F-35. What the IAF must remember, however, is that the PAF and PLAAF would be equipped with the F-20, not the F-22 or F-35. So what it really needs is an aircraft that could take on the F-20, something that the Su-57 would be able to do effectively.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. MyIndMakers is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of MyindMakers and it does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
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