The new fighter jets—the 4++ generation Su-35 or fifth-generation Su-57—are strikingly different from previous combat aircraft in terms of maneuverability and stability. Sukhoi Design Bureau Chief Pilot and Hero of Russia Sergei Bogdan explained the technical details using the example of performing a Nesterov loop.

According to the pilot, to perform a Nesterov loop in an Su-17, it must be performed within strict parameters: the speed must be 950 km/h and the altitude must be between 1000 and 1800 meters. If you exceed these limits, there is a risk of ending up at the top of the loop at a lower or higher speed, which can be dangerous.

The situation is fundamentally different on the Su-35 or Su-57. Bogdan noted that the aircraft can be looped at speeds of 300 or 1500 km/h, and the loop will be executed optimally. The aircraft will not lose control even if the speed drops to zero—using the velocity vector, the aircraft can be turned and enter a safe mode. The ability to maintain control at speeds up to 70 km/h and angles of attack up to 70 degrees is a unique characteristic of this aircraft.

The pilot emphasized that the onboard intelligence of new fighters simplifies many aspects of control. On older aircraft, the pilot must independently maintain all required limits. Bogdan explained that super-maneuverability is not a show-off, but a combat advantage: it allows for quick turn-arounds in close combat and maintains stability even when approaching critical angles of attack.