"Russia's Su-57 Stealth Fighter Has Problems:..." Topic

… Engines, Oil, and Weak Adversaries

"All the cards are stacked against the Su-57 — the price of oil is low, it's engines are no better than its predecessors, and the current airframes it would replace are doing just fine.

Russia depends on oil and gas for revenue. If these energy exports would slow to a trickle — or when the price for these exports is low, less money flows into Russian state coffers.

The disagreement between Saudi Arabia and Russian to put a price floor under crude prices by cutting oil production has caused the price of oil to fall dramatically. Increased Saudi production has flooded the market with a glut of cheap Saudi Arabian crude, which is designed to undercut Russian exports of the black gold…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Ah, a pity, since it is a nice looking jet, but good for our side, so I'm not too distraught.

It's biggest problem is that it was designed and built by Russians. :-)

Not really.

Those big, lovely Sukhois are nothing to trifle with. An excellent design with very long legs, innovative tech, and the ability to be upgraded well over the last 40 – 50 years, or so.

The West could learn from those.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

While I was joking a little, I have noticed several reports that some users of old Soviet aircraft have stopped using the more modern designs and are staying with older, more dependable planes such as the Mig-21.

I think that's more of an economical decision than an issue of serviceability, or quality.

A Yugo may get you there just as well as a Ferrari, but when it hits the fan and a high performance vehicle is needed, I suspect some will regret the decision to opt for the cheap alternative.