Zircon missiles on SU-57: Russia improves weapons of changed fighters (photo)
Initially, the observers made a recent statement by the first deputy commander-in-chief of the PCS of Russia, Lieutenant General Alexander Maksimtsev. The military said that Su-57 received hypersonic missiles. In 2023, a prototype of a small-sized air-top class for this aircraft was introduced in Russia. Experts are convinced that the projectile was created on the basis of a hypersonic rocket "Zircon", which is used on ships and submarines.
Weapons at the SU-57 can develop speeds of up to 9 strokes at a flight range up to 1000 kilometers. Such characteristics are far superior to Western analogues, including the most powerful Western supersonic anti-ship anti-ship Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). The latter has a range of targets up to 450 kilometers and flies at a rate of 3. 5 mach. Zircon integration with the Su-57 fighter will significantly increase the threat to the fleet and goals on Earth.
Russia plans to increase the park of these fighters to several hundred to the end of the 2030s. Another candidate for the use of new hypersonic weapons is the MiG-31 fighter, which launches aerobalist missiles X-47M2 "dagger". The aircraft is designed to launch the Zircon missile, and its much smaller dimensions will allow you to run a few missiles in one departure. Journalists report the development of a number of promising missiles for the SU-57.
In October 2023, data on the integration of surprising cruise missiles on the basis of X-101/102 for strategic bombers. The rocket is smaller than the original X-101/102, but retains the same flight range at about 3500 kilometers. This projectile will provide the Su-57 most of the lesions among all fighters in the world. There is currently no detailed information about this missile program. The likelihood that compact hypersonic missiles for the SU-57 will be widespread.