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DUBAI—Russia is showing off a potential stealth upgrade for the Su-57’s radar-exposed engine nozzles inside the country's pavilion on the static display here as part of a wider propulsion update on behalf of the Sukhoi fighter.
The Su-57 debuted in 2010 with non-stealthy, axi-symmetric nozzles behind a pair of AL-41F turbofan engines. This comparatively outdated configuration remained unchanged even as the fighter, codenamed by NATO as Felon, entered service in 2020.
But Russian industry has been working to update the propulsion system to modern standards. Pictures appeared on social media channels last year of a Su-57 prototype equipped with a pair of canted, 2D thrust-vectoring nozzles.
Less than a year later, a model of the Su-57E export version, which is on display in the Russian pavilion here, highlights the updated nozzle design. A three-panel telescoping feature extends longitudinally from the front of the nozzle to the back. The nozzle feature is supported by a pair of triangular side panels.
The model offers the first indication that the type's manufacturer United Aircraft Corp. is offering the stealthy nozzle upgrade for potential export clients of the Su-57, which are known to now include Algeria.
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