Su-57 Felon - Electronics
The new fighter's control systems, avionics and cockpit will be designed on the basis of the Su-35BM's systems, but not the radar. The N035 Irbis radar, a passive electronic scanning design derived from the Bars radar on the Su-30MKI, is being developed by the Tikhomirov Niip institute for the Su-35. The Tikhomirov Institute of Instrument Design, which developed the Irbis radar for the Su-35BM Flanker, has been working on the T-50 radar, which will feature an active antenna system, including three X-band radars (forward and side-looking), in addition to a ventral Ku-band radar including IFF and electronic warfare subsystems. The technical design was approved in December 2005, so that the radar will probably be ready before series production gets under way.
The aircraft of the fifth generation is equipped with the fundamentally new complex of avionics, that integrates the function "electronic pilot", and by promising phased-array radar. This to a considerable degree reduces load on the pilot and makes it possible to be concentrated on the fulfillment of tactical missions. Onboard equipment of new aircraft permits implementation of the exchange of data in the regime of real time both with the ground-based systems for control and inside the air group. The application of composite materials and innovation technologies, the aerodynamic layout of aircraft, measure for reduction in distinctness of engine ensure the unprecedented low level of radar, optical and infrared distinctness. This makes it possible to considerably increase combat effectiveness in the work both along the air and ground targets, at any time twenty-four hours, in the simple and adverse weather conditions.
The most important element of the on-board electronic equipment of the Su-57 - the radar - is unique. It is radically different from the airborne airborne radar in the traditional sense. The X-band AFAR (Active Phased Antenna Array) radar element is located not only in the front of the fuselage, but on the sides of the aircraft and even on the deflected wing socks. True, there is an L-band AFAR. It allows you to see space, both air and ground, for many hundreds of kilometers. There is no such radar on any fifth-generation multi-functional fighter - neither on the F-22, nor on the F-35, nor on the J-20. And the law of air combat is known: the first to see - the first to shoot, the first winner.
The angle of the T-50's active phased array is installed on an incline. Because of this, the aircraft's rcs is reduced. Going with this design, which also makes possible a reduction in power usage during operation, was made possible thanks to the excellent characteristics of the N036 Belka radar, developed to replace the N035 Irbis passive phased array antenna system.
The N036 is more effective than the N035, but even the earlier system “remains very convincing when compared with the US AN/APG-77 radar. The Russian system finds targets with an rcs of 1 square meter at distances up to 300 km. The American radar, meanwhile, does the same up to 225 km. For targets with an rcs of 0.01 square meters, the Russian radar’s range is 90 km. For the US system these figures are not available.”
Altogether, the T-50 has six radars onboard – including one on the plane’s nose, two on its sides, two on the wings and one in the aft section. They are capable of monitoring up to 60 targets at once, and targeting up to 15. In addition to the radar-based visibility, the T-50 features the OLS-50M optic-electronic sensor system, which includes a thermal scanner using a QWIP-matrix with unique resolution and range characteristics. In this area, Russia is considered to be a absolute world leader. A similar system, which enables the pilot to detect targets which have their radar systems turned off, is fitted on the F-35, albeit the US design has a smaller range. The F-22 does not have this technology.
The pilot will perform all tasks as intended due to the integrated provision of information. This was made possible through the use of a different architecture of aviation systems. On aircraft of the previous generation, the so-called federal system of the aviation complex was used, now - integrated. Previously, each system had its own individual controls, indicators. Now the control of the systems is displayed on the ENG (aircraft control knob) and throttle control (engine control lever), and the display is displayed on two monitors.
If necessary, the pilot can control various systems with the help of sensors on the monitor panels, to which information on piloting, navigation, weapons use and the state of the systems is displayed. All information is called by the pilot as necessary, and does not loom in front of him constantly and does not distract attention. Work is underway to create a promising system that allows you to display information on the glass of a pilot's protective headset. The T-50 provides intelligent crew support. The board is computerized. The existing information system allows you to solve all the problems in the complex. It simultaneously processes all information, controls the systems, gives the pilot the necessary visual and audible indication. He can make changes to the program and receive messages in a sequence more convenient for him.
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