MOSCOW, January 20. /TASS/. Russian Su-57 fifth generation fighter jet should be able to win over the US-made F-35 in case of a one-on-one dogfight, thanks to its maneuverability, says Magomed Tolboyev, a renowned test pilot who celebrates his 70th anniversary Wednesday.
"Su-57 will kill [a F-35] easily, should they meet one on one. The F-35 cannot maneuver, it’s simply incapable. But it does has electronic might," Tolboyev said, adding that electronics could be disrupted even by Solar flares.
"This is why I oppose everything electronic," the pilot disclosed.
Tolboyev characterized the Su-57 as a "brilliant plane," but underscore that the times of one-on-one dogfights are long over.
"Today, you no longer fight one on one. Everything depends on your support. There is electronic warfare today. This is no longer a sparring tatami, but a complex approach to tactical issues," the pilot.
Su-57 and F-35
The Su-57 fifth generation fighter jet is designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The plane features supersonic cruising, internal weapon bay, radio absorptive coating and the newest avionics complex.
F-35 is a multipurpose combat machine, designed over low radio visibility principles. It was developed by the US and eight other countries: Australia, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey. However, last year Washington excluded Ankara from the program in retaliation for purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
On January 20, retired Major General Tolboyev got 70. He is an Honored test pilot of Russia and was awarded a title of the Hero of Russia. During his service, he piloted over 50 types and modifications of planes, including MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-24 and Su-27. In mid-1980s, Tolboyev participated in the Energia-Buran space program and underwent a full training course for manned space flights on multiple-use spacecraft.