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At the recent 15th China Airshow, Russia showcased its latest fifth-generation fighter jet, the Su-57, touted as stealth technology capable of evading radar detection. However, detailed images from the event suggest that the aircraft might not live up to this claim. Photos reveal visible panel gaps and exposed screw heads, features that experts say could significantly increase its radar signature.
In a widely shared video on X, the fighter was humorously described: “So many screws. A close look at Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 at the Zhuhai Airshow.” Social media platforms, including TikTok, saw comparisons between the Su-57 and China’s own fifth-generation fighter, the J-20 “Mighty Dragon.” Critics went as far as to joke that the Russian jet looked “five generations old” rather than a modern fifth-generation aircraft.
Unlike the smooth, seamless design typical of American stealth fighters like the F-35, the Su-57’s structure is far from radar-invisible. Screws of varying types—hex, cross, and even slotted heads—are visible on the panels, with wide gaps between them. Moreover, an exposed Venturi tube, used to measure speed and pressure, protrudes beneath the cockpit, further increasing the aircraft’s radar reflection. True stealth technology hinges on minimizing radar reflections; the aim is for radar waves to deflect away from the source, often upward, instead of back toward the radar. The Su-57’s visible screws and panel gaps stand in stark contrast to stealth design principles.
Chinese media has highlighted the Su-57’s flaws, comparing it to their own J-20 fighter, where visible screws and gaps are absent. The J-20 also features radar-absorbing paint similar to that used on the American F-22 and F-35, further improving its stealth capabilities—something lacking in the Su-57.
Aerospace analyst Roger Entnes from Recon Analytics shared his insights with Forbes, explaining that Chinese social media often reflects nationalist sentiment. “China has now developed its own fighters and is convinced they are superior to Russia’s,” he said.
However, it’s worth noting that the Su-57 showcased in China was reportedly a prototype, identifiable by its number “054.” Ukrainian experts at Defence Express pointed out that production models of the Su-57 may have fewer exposed screws and raised surfaces, though even these models reveal design elements that compromise stealth, such as visible canopy edges and pronounced leading-edge slats.
The J-20, while a source of pride in China, faces its own technical challenges. Its WS-15 engine only recently entered production, with prior models powered by the less advanced WS-10 engines, a modified copy of the American CFM56, originally intended for commercial jets like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Some J-20s even utilized Russian-built Saturn AL-31 engines. With improvements, the WS-10C version finally allows sustained supersonic speeds, a key feature for a fifth-generation jet.
Professor Matthew Schmidt of the University of New Haven noted that Russian aircraft design, while fundamentally sound, often lags in materials and production technology compared to Western standards. “Chinese commentators on social media may still feel a sense of inadequacy in the face of rapid advancements in modern fighter jet development,” he observed, “as their progress has relied heavily on acquiring or replicating foreign technologies.”
Source: Open sources, Edited: Katerina Urbanova
Photo credit: Wikipedia: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Sukhoi Design Bureau, 054, Sukhoi Su-57