Sukhoi Su-57-OP/HS: Famous Russian Aircraft Hardcover – February 23, 2022

The first full coverage look at Russia’s newish air superiority fighter. Think of it as Moscow’s F-22. Except that Russia’s bird has been having a lot of problems that are still keeping it from being truly combat-ready and fully operational. Its deployment to Syria was purely for propaganda purposes to help sell the “Felon” to foreign buyers like India. This book is superb. Clearly the author had great access to records of its earliest conceptual genesis and development. And photo coverage is outstanding. Color photo reproduction is excellent. While the author has little to say about its non existent operational usage he has been able to keep this reader enthralled with the Su-57 story up to this point. No doubt there will be an expanded edition in a few more years, unless an angry Putin a new Iron Curtain of secrecy around Russia. This book is a big, heavy masterpiece. Thanks to the author and publisher Crecy. Well Done. Very highly recommended.

In depth insights and historical context for Russian aviation history and aircraft development. Great illustrations and airframe, engines, systems stats in this book as well as for the other featured aircraft books from these authors in their series. Should consider opening up a civil aircraft series of books.

As usual, this volume is full of great photos and the entire development of this Russian Aircraft.I'm sure it will gain value in the future.

I have posted reviews on most of the Famous Russian Aircraft books going back to Book #1, the MiG-31, in 2005. I use a scorecard that is at the bottom of this review. Note that this book has a severe problem in that it does not follow the form/factor of previous Famous Russian Aircraft books. Every other book covered a production aircraft, long in service with multiple variants. This book covers an Aircraft that is JUST entering production and has not achieved operational capability with the Russian Air Force yet. Thus I have artificially reduced my score. If this were on an aircraft that had been in service for even five years, the score would have been a 5.This Book, Sukhoi Su-57, has done something that none of the previous books gave more than a few pages to. It describes the competitors to the Su-57, starting with the MiG 1.42/1.44, working its way through the Sukhoi S-32/S-37 to the Su-57. The book even covers a potential new aircraft on the Horizon for the Russian Air Forces in the guise of the potential Su-75 "Checkmate."Pros: This book probably has the most detail of any aircraft development program covered by Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov. There is a detailed history for each prototype / early production aircraft for the Su-57 Fellon. Beyond the Su-57, an exhaustive look over the MiG 1.42/1.44 development program and the Sukhoi S-32/S-37. Add the initial comments on the potentially forthcoming Su-75 "Checkmate" Light fighter and details on the Russian / Indian developments for 5th Generation fighter technology, and you have a lot of new information in this bookCons: SO here is the big one; this is a "Famous Russian Aircraft" book about an aircraft that has barely entered service or has not even entered service yet. YES, some prototypes flew combat missions over Syria, which is covered, but the actual production aircraft JUST began rolling off the assembly line.As stated above, we get a BONUS with the coverage of the MiG 1.42/1.44, the Sukhoi S-32/S-37 and the proposed Su-75. However, following the rest of the Famous Russian Aircraft standards, this book is lacking.I am amending all my FRA reviews with the below datasheet:I weight the last three far heavier than the first three for my overall scoreTranslation errors (lower score for more errors) 5.0 *Best seen in the series*On topic Data (Better is higher) 4.5Pertinent comparisons to similar aircraft 4.5 *but questionable quality*Data errors from table to text (Lower for more errors) 5.0Aircraft Sub-Variant data breakdown 0 *There are no sub-variants, so this did not average in*Specific data on Weapons carried 4.5 *although much of the data on these read like a sales brochure and not factual*

Sukhoi's newest fighter - Su-57 - conducted some limited operations over the Syrian front in March 2018, when two T-50 prototypes (including T-50-9) were deployed to Russian-controlled, Syrian Khmeimim air base. Minister of Defense, Army General Shoigu made a formal announcement of it on the 1st of the month - clearly wanting to publicize the new fighters arrival with the armed forces.Historically, the Russian have deployed early prototypes to existing combat zones, from the Spanish Civil War to Afghanistan - the latter, when two prototype Sukhoi Su-25 (Frogfoot) attack aircraft were deployed under Operation Bomb (Rombus / diamond).This latest volume of author's Gordon and Komissarov follows the pattern of excellence of earlier books.Chapters begin with an Introduction, followed by:- Mikoyan's misadventures- Sukhoi's strange 'bird of prey'- PAK-FA: Round Two - Sukhoi Wins- The T-50 flies: Testing and Redesigning- State Acceptance trials and combat debut (p. 245)- The Su-57 in production- Time to display and time to serve- Comparisons and prospects (Su-57, F-22A, J-20) (p. 359)- The "Checkmatte" and other projects- Appendix I Line Drawings (p. 388)The Index follows (p. 398).As with all other books of the series, photography and line drawings are of the highest quality,HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !