Russia’s Su-47 Golden Eagle is a Hot Mess
The plane never entered serial production, but it did contribute mightily to the overall design and development of future Russian aircraft.
Like a cancer patient getting a final burst of energy before the end, the Soviet Union was in the midst of designing several radical and innovative warplanes just before it collapsed under the weight of its own internal contradictions. One such warplane, the Su-47 Berkut, was itself a bit of a contradiction. With its forward-swept wings and black body, the plane was named the “Golden Eagle” (“Berkut” in Russian). It represented the apotheosis of many Soviet military aerospace theories.
The Sukhoi Design Bureau initiated the design of the Su-47 in 1983 as part of a larger effort to develop a new generation of warplanes that could counter America’s growing stealth capabilities. Interestingly, this plane had a different designation at the start of its long life. It was known first as the S-32, then as the S-37, before finally being renamed to the Su-47 in 2002, long after the USSR’s demise.
Sukhoi found its unique Su-47 project in development hell in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War’s end and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Funding was scarce. Despite this, the engineers at Sukhoi wanted to continue this project. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Sukhoi sought out potential private investors to continue funding the plane by displaying the Su-47 at various airshows.
Ultimately, the plane never entered serial production, but it did contribute mightily to the overall design and development of future Russian military airspace programs. For instance, the Su-47 tested all manner of concepts that today are found in the most advanced Russian warplanes. Its use of forward-swept wing aerodynamics helped further Russia’s understanding of the technology, too. And because Sukhoi designed the Su-47 to counter the American stealth capabilities of its era, the Russians utilized composite materials in the hull and imbued the bird with advanced avionics.
An Experiment Whose Time Ran Out
The Berkut was an experimental plane, and a fascinating proof of concept: the plane ultimately became one of the most important modern warplanes that came out of Russia to have never been mass-produced.
Forward-swept wings gave a number of advantages to pilots of the Su-47. Among those advantages were enhanced maneuverability. Because the forward-swept wings allowed for increased lift at high angles of attack, the aircraft was extremely agile in dogfights. What’s more, the Su-47 had superior takeoff and landing capabilities, meaning that if the Soviets had survived long enough to take their aircraft carrier program more seriously, the Su-47 could have been easily adapted to land and takeoff from Soviet carriers.
The unique wing shape was also believed to enhance the overall stealth characteristics of the Su-47, even though the Su-47 was not designed to be a true stealth plane.
Russia’s Su-47 was powered by two Soloviev D-30F11 afterburning fan engines, each providing a significant amount of thrust, putting the official speed at around Mach 1.65 (or around 1,265 miles per hour). Though this speed was impressive, Sukhoi had initially claimed that the plane was able to reach Mach 2. And while the Su-47 was very agile at subsonic speeds, the aircraft consistently struggled to maintain reliable performance as it approached its top speed.
A Transformative Plane
Even with all the problems listed, the Su-47 Golden Eagle represents the end of the Soviet Union and the rebirth of the Russian Federation out of the ashes of the Soviet Union. The Su-47 may not be fighting above the skies of Ukraine today, But certainly its memory flies with all modern Russian pilots, and its innovations influenced the designs of planes that do.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
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