Analysis cited by Vietnamese media highlights differences between the Su-57 and American fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. While stealth relies heavily on airframe shaping, construction and radar-absorbing materials, the Su-57 also uses a pixelated camouflage pattern featuring angular shapes and multiple colour bands. Radar-absorbing coatings can incorporate materials such as iron carbonyl powder, which absorb electromagnetic energy and convert it into heat. Layered treatments are intended to manage the resulting thermal signature. American fighters generally use uniform grey finishes that complement their low-observable design and beyond-visual-range combat approach. The Su-57’s pixel pattern is presented as an additional means of disrupting the aircraft’s visible outline and potentially complicating automated recognition by satellite and drone-based computer-vision systems. The concept reflects a Russian emphasis on manoeuvrability, situational awareness and survivability in contested environments, particularly where opposing fifth-generation aircraft may reduce each other’s long-range stealth advantages.
