Russia Is Secretly Developing A Single-Engine Hypersonic Stealth Fighter

Testing of the Russian Sukhoi SU-57 stealth fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna Zvereva)

JAKARTA - Not yet finished admiring the Sukhoi SU-47 and SU-57 fighter jet projects, as well as the absence of competitors for the SU-30 and Su-35 fighter jets, Russia is said to be developing a future fighter jet.

Launching TASS Saturday, May 29, Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi (part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia's Rostec) is said to be developing a new fighter aircraft.

A Russian aircraft industry source said the fighter aircraft being developed is part of a future fighter project that is tactical, lightweight, single-engine but has hypersonic capabilities.

"Sukhoi company is developing a single-engine light tactical aircraft with a take-off weight of up to 18 tons. The maximum speed of the aircraft will be above Mach 2," the source said.

Testing of the Russian Sukhoi SU-57 stealth fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna Zvereva)

"The company is working on the concept and operational requirements for it. a platform. We are doing this on our own initiative so far, without any (federal) budget funds," he concluded.

"This (aircraft) will also have super maneuverability, as well as improved takeoff and landing performance, thanks to the thrust vector control engine. The thrust to weight ratio of the aircraft will be above 1," the source said.

Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov told reporters in December 2020 that the company was working on a piloted and unmanned light and medium class fighter jet concept.

"Work is underway to develop a future combat flight system in light and medium classes. Under design, this may be a universal platform in manned and unmanned versions," explained Sergei Chemezov at the time.

To note, launching the Eurasiantimes, until now the backbone of the Russian Air Force is a twin-engine fighter jet. Including Russia's first stealth fighter jet, the Sukhoi Su-57 which is a fifth-generation fighter jet, to face the United States' F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.