
Corsair1963 wrote:southerncross wrote:IMHO a domestic price of $40-45 million is indeed a possibility, mainly because the ruble lost half of its value vs the dollar in recent years. A normal market price for a plane in this segment would be clearly above $100 million (see latest contracts, i.e. F-35 for Poland), but in a sale to China it would ultimately depend on how far they take their increasing military cooperation and if it reaches the point of a proper military alliance. After the drills came the joint bombers patrols and joint aerospace developments, then rumours are being heard about Russia lending their AD cover and even strategic early warning expertise to China, which is essentially a priceless asset for a superpower. So I don't think it can be dismissed that Russia may sell the Su-57 at very reduced prices, if the conditions are right, even when now I admit it doesn't seem likely.
Absurd Russia isn't going build Su-57's for $40-50 Million. When they're building 8 per year....
It depends on who wants to get in on it; if the Chinese put in a 200 unit contract for skeet planes at 50 million for unit cost and 100-150mn for spares / support, all of a sudden, the Russians have export volume subsidizing their production when the RuAF itself is broke.
As for the Su-57's maneuverability, its wing area is slightly greater than the F-22's, with Izdeliye 30 it has greater total thrust than the F-22, it has off-axis 3D TVC, and it has LEVCONs. I think it's correct to say that the Su-57 has yet to demonstrate better maneuverability than the F-22, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Su-57 was eventually more agile than the F-22, given that the F-22 is now out of production. The F-22s could be re-engined for better performance, true, but the F-22 would need extensive and cost-prohibitive modification to get the EODAS of the F-35, although its MLU is finally giving it a EO sensor.