Absolutely.
The Su-57 is faster, possibly a little more maneuverable, and it’s also going to come with a powerful radar and avionics suite to increase its chance at catching an F-35. However, the F-35’s avionics, sensors, and datalink capabilities are still far superior than what Russia has to offer. The F-35 is also much stealthier than the Su-57. The F-35 utilizes 21st century cost-cutting stealth techniques that drastically reduce maintenance down time and eliminates the need for climate-controlled hangars.
Yes, an F-35 is actually more rugged and stronger than an F-22. It can actually take on the elements, even extreme ones. While the F-35 uses conventional afterburner-pedals on the exhaust, the F-35’s pedals are in a stealthy shape and the pedals have heat-absorbing materials to reduce IR signature, AND on top of that the F-35 also uses similar cooling techniques the F-117 used, where it draws cold air to the rear afterburner to reduce IR signature.
Meanwhile the Su-57’s exhaust is completely exposed, however it does have the benefit of 3D thrust vectoring. However the Su-57 is still in the prototype phase and isn’t mass produced. So when the production version of the Su-57 comes along they could very well implement stealthier exhaust techniques.
Don’t buy into the BS that the F-35 “can’t turn, can’t run, can’t fight, or can’t hide”. The F-35 is the last thing you want to go against in battle. Your best chance of survival is to be in an F-22, Su-57, or a J-20. I mean, even if it still has it’s problems (which the F-35C variant is the only one left with major problems and bugs), look at what its going to become when all bugs are fixed. The F-35 is going to become the baddest thing in the air.
The F-35’s maneuverability is comparable to a mix of the F-16 and F/A-18’s maneuverability, even better. The F-35 can turn like the Viper but it can point it’s nose like the Hornet. While the F-35 can’t top Mach 2, it doesn’t need to when it will be armed with possibly up to 6x Mach 5+ missiles. AND on top of that, the F-35 can actually paint targets for other missiles, or essentially control friendly-launched missiles and use them against it’s foe. So, lets say a B-52 or B-1 is packed with AIM-120’s (or some future long-ranged missile) and is at a distance away from the engagement.
The B-1/B-52 or “arsenal truck” would launch the missiles and then the F-35 would control the missiles after launch. This could essentially give the F-35 another x10 missiles. Not to mention Lockheed Martin is developing a laser turret that could be mounted potentially be mounted in an F-35.
Like I said, it will be the baddest thing in the air.
