Miloch
January 4th 19, 06:21 PM
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/video-russia-showing-its-su-57-stealth-fighter-interesting-new-feature-40567
But does it matter?
While the Su-57’s paint scheme is unlikely to make a significant operational
difference, it serves another purpose: It looks good.
Russia has aggressively marketed the development of its flagship,
fifth-generation stealth fighter over the past few months. Every new sighting of
the Su-57 introduces features and changes that, when considered in their
totality, give observers a sense of where the much-anticipated jet fighter’s
production is headed.
Recently released video footage of two Su-57’s in Russia confirms earlier
reports that the jet fighter is using a new, pixelated white/dark grey
camouflage scheme. One of the showcased aircraft is darker than the other,
suggesting that the Russian Air Force is still experimenting with the final
tone.
Russian state news asserts that the new pixelated camouflage provides a “low
optical signature,” but what exactly does this mean?
There are several ways in which camouflage can affect aerial performance. Its
traditional purpose is to blend into the background, with lighter sky above and
darker terrain colors below.
Background camouflage is most effective when precisely coordinated with the
operating theater, such as using shades of brown or leopard patterns in the
desert. While paint camouflage has also been used to distinguish friend from
foe, there are now much more sophisticated, signal-based ways of doing this in
modern aerial warfare.
The Su-57’s light accents are somewhat reminiscent of background camouflage, but
the chassis’ combination of light tones with darker pixelation presents a
jarring contrast with virtually any kind of terrain. Another factor is at play:
the Su-57’s dark grey strip with pixelated edges is a type of digital
multi-scale camouflage, which can serve a wide range of tactical purposes.
On a jet fighter, a conspicuous dark inner coat and sky-colored outer coat can
create the illusion of a smaller target. The aggressive pixelation separating
these two colors makes it harder to determine the shape and size of the Su-57
from a distance, supposedly obstructing target acquisition in dogfights.
But whatever the merits of aerial digital camouflage as used throughout the 20th
century, it is now rapidly being rendered obsolete. While the human eye may be
fooled by irregular patterns at large distances, modern air-to-air and
surface-to-air systems incorporate automated target acquisition technology like
active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and infrared homing weapons.
Conflicts involving strategic fighters such as the Su-57 are likely to be
resolved by automated systems long before paint camouflage can become tactically
relevant.
also
https://theaviationist.com/2018/11/08/check-out-this-new-video-of-russias-sukhoi-su-57-doing-a-low-level-photo-shoot/
*
But does it matter?
While the Su-57’s paint scheme is unlikely to make a significant operational
difference, it serves another purpose: It looks good.
Russia has aggressively marketed the development of its flagship,
fifth-generation stealth fighter over the past few months. Every new sighting of
the Su-57 introduces features and changes that, when considered in their
totality, give observers a sense of where the much-anticipated jet fighter’s
production is headed.
Recently released video footage of two Su-57’s in Russia confirms earlier
reports that the jet fighter is using a new, pixelated white/dark grey
camouflage scheme. One of the showcased aircraft is darker than the other,
suggesting that the Russian Air Force is still experimenting with the final
tone.
Russian state news asserts that the new pixelated camouflage provides a “low
optical signature,” but what exactly does this mean?
There are several ways in which camouflage can affect aerial performance. Its
traditional purpose is to blend into the background, with lighter sky above and
darker terrain colors below.
Background camouflage is most effective when precisely coordinated with the
operating theater, such as using shades of brown or leopard patterns in the
desert. While paint camouflage has also been used to distinguish friend from
foe, there are now much more sophisticated, signal-based ways of doing this in
modern aerial warfare.
The Su-57’s light accents are somewhat reminiscent of background camouflage, but
the chassis’ combination of light tones with darker pixelation presents a
jarring contrast with virtually any kind of terrain. Another factor is at play:
the Su-57’s dark grey strip with pixelated edges is a type of digital
multi-scale camouflage, which can serve a wide range of tactical purposes.
On a jet fighter, a conspicuous dark inner coat and sky-colored outer coat can
create the illusion of a smaller target. The aggressive pixelation separating
these two colors makes it harder to determine the shape and size of the Su-57
from a distance, supposedly obstructing target acquisition in dogfights.
But whatever the merits of aerial digital camouflage as used throughout the 20th
century, it is now rapidly being rendered obsolete. While the human eye may be
fooled by irregular patterns at large distances, modern air-to-air and
surface-to-air systems incorporate automated target acquisition technology like
active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and infrared homing weapons.
Conflicts involving strategic fighters such as the Su-57 are likely to be
resolved by automated systems long before paint camouflage can become tactically
relevant.
also
https://theaviationist.com/2018/11/08/check-out-this-new-video-of-russias-sukhoi-su-57-doing-a-low-level-photo-shoot/
*