Which one is better F-35 or the Su-57?

F-35 Lightning II

The thing is that the development of new concepts is not a very easy mission. At least, if that concept travels over Mach 2. The problem with jet fighters or multi-role jet fighters is that they are much more than some aerodynamic bodies. Things like computers, computer programs, and other kinds of things must operate in a very highly complicated entirety. 

If there are some kind of errors in those systems and their cooperation. That thing can cause destruction. The artificial intelligence that controls weapon systems and avionics should make these kinds of things more complicated than ever before. 

In manned aircraft, artificial intelligence can deny the aircraft touch ground in low-level flight. The radar- or lidar-based altimeter, along with the AI-boosted computer keeps the aircraft over the ground. If the flight altitude is only a couple of meters. So the AI fixes errors that the pilot can make. It can detect incoming missiles and start counter-actions if the pilot doesn't notice them. 

When we think of the Su-57, it can be very capable against old fashion jetfighters like F-16, Panavia Tornado, or F/A-18. But the thing is that those old-fashion-looking aircraft can also have updates like AI-based avionics or fire control. 

The reality is that capacity of the Su-57 will be seen only when it faces some jet fighter in air combat. And another thing that means in those situations is the pilot's skills and also how the jetfighter can operate with its support teams like air defense.

Su-57

"Black Swan" in air combat. When extremely extraordinary situations give wrong signals. 

When we look at history. The first British aircraft that dropped Messerschmitt Bf-109 in air combat was the Fairey Battle. The Fairey Battle was not a very big success. And maybe that was the only case when that aircraft dropped another aircraft. 

The detail of that case was that the rear-gunner of Fairey Battle dropped that Messerschmitt. But that victory was the first RAF air victory in WWII. If we look only at that case we might believe that Fairey Battle was a good combat aircraft. It was not a good plane at all. It served as a training aircraft and target tug in WWII. 

If we want to compare that case with something ordinary we can take a case where the goalkeeper of the ice-hockey team makes the goal. We always remember that kind of goal because they are extraordinary.  We don't even remember, was that team won or lose that match, or who made other goals. Those other goals are ordinary things. But that only goal that the goalkeeper made is what we remember. And the reason for that is that goal was extraordinary. 

Fairey Battle had been withdrawn from service in 1940. But that case shows that we should not make generalizations by using one example. That means that the "Black Swans" or extremely good luck can give false signals from the aircraft's capacities or some other equipment. 

There are billions of things that can go wrong in combat between two aircraft. The pilot can simply make mistakes and fly straight to the front of other aircraft or impact the ground. Or some hydraulic tubes can come off. Because somebody forgot tight the connector.

https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/333685-su-57-vs-f-35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Battle

Images: https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/333685-su-57-vs-f-35

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