I’m not even going to reply to all the slander about the Su-57. It’s not a perfect plane, nor is the F-22, EFT, and especially not the F-35 lmao. But to think that it’s the equivalent of an aluminum-foil-ducktape-balsa-wood-model with two R-5 rockets for engines and a TV-tube radar with a single channel and bottle rockets for missiles is basically how you all sound describing it.
No, it doesn’t have the RCS of a bus. Yes, from most angles, it has a higher RCS than any other Gen 5 fighter. Yes, it’s larger dimensionally and heavier too. If it was meant to be a Western fighter, it would be hot trash.
It’s not. It’s meant to be a Russian fighter. It functions differently within the RUAF’s doctrine as a fighter. It has unique capabilities that Western fighters still struggle to match such as integrated weapons networks, IRST acquisition abilities, integrated EW complexes that are unparalleled by the West (and yes, I’m talking about what’s in the plane, not ground based stations for which the West has zero analogue) to name some of the most prominent.
We’re on the English forum, it’s easy to dunk on the perceived Russian bias that so many of you won’t explicitly just say because it will get your comments deleted.
War Thunder is not a simulation game, even when you play Sim mode (looking at you @Morvran ;) ), it’s a semi-realistic (mostly) third-person vehicle combat game. Games are supposed to be fun. The devs are doing their best to create a balanced product that engages the maximum amount of people possible for the economic benefit of the company.
If War Thunder was a bit more realistic, just speaking from some cursory knowledge of Russian equipment here, but GPS jamming would compromise the guidance of most weapons on the map, it wouldn’t prevent utilization of course, just reduce it. Theatre level AD would keep most F-15’s and other high fliers present in the current form of top-tier from sitting up high and SPAMRAAMING like they have. Staying within the proper envelopes, Su-57’s and MiG-31’s would coordinate to engage with ultra-long-range missiles such as the R-37 and R-37M, targeting AWACS and anyone else remaining at specific elevations. Merges would occur for anything that escapes the canopies of MRAD and SHORAD, at which Fox-3’s would become basically fatal for everyone.
But that’s a lot of detail, and a lot extra “stuff” to model in, and frankly makes the game not “fun”. If you like true BVR jousting, you should try DCS. Instead, the devs try to create competitive models of these planes so that they maintain some semblance of character to their actual models, while still being balanced and fun.
Is the game ever done being balanced? No. Balance is constant. Anyone playing this game knows that. If you think the Su-57 will have unrealistic characteristics because of biased devs or unreliable sourcing or “Russian propaganda” you’re missing the picture. If you recognize the Su-57 will be embellished to some degree to create a more fun and balanced experience for everybody, then you’re picking up what the intention of the devs are.