SU47s

The Sukhoi Su-47, also known by its development name S-37 Berkut (Golden Eagle), is a Russian twin-engine, single-seat, supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi. It is a technology demonstrator that explored the capabilities of canard-pusher, tandem-wing, and trapezoidal wing designs in advanced fighter aircraft. The most striking feature of the Su-47 is its forward-swept wing configuration, which was a rarity in modern military aircraft design.

This unique wing design offers several advantages, including improved maneuverability at high angles of attack and in post-stall regimes. It also contributes to better acceleration and braking characteristics. The Su-47 incorporates advanced composite materials to reduce weight and improve structural integrity. Its avionics and weapons systems were intended to be highly advanced, though as a demonstrator, not all intended features were fully implemented.

The Su-47 program began in the early 1990s, with the first prototype making its maiden flight in 1997. The aircraft was designed to serve as a potential next-generation fighter, exploring concepts that could influence future Russian combat aircraft. While the Su-47 itself did not enter mass production, the technologies and aerodynamic principles it investigated have been incorporated into subsequent Russian aircraft designs, notably the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter. The program's primary goal was to validate new design approaches and advanced technologies, rather than to produce an operational combat platform for immediate deployment.