Su-35 Jet Cockpit ‘Glass’ Can Shield Pilot from ‘Light of Nuclear Explosion’

The ‘glass’ protective cover of the Russian Su-57 fighter jet canopy is capable of shielding the pilot from ‘the light of a nuclear explosion’ besides reducing radar signature of the aircraft, its developer has claimed.

The cockpit canopy is built out of a new material, monolithic polycarbonate which doubles its impact strength while halving its weight, Andrey Silkin, the general director of the developer; ONPP Technologiya was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti on Thursday

The new materials also help in making the cockpit invisible to radar detection, he said.

The new technology for moulding aircraft glass from sheet monolithic polycarbonate, as well as using magnetron deposition of special coatings based on gold and indium-tin alloy has made the new properties possible, Silkin said.

Claiming that there were no competing products in the world for this type of technology, he said the development was awarded the prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology.

"ONPP Tekhnologiya has signed a contract with PJSC Sukhoi (that manufactures the Su-57) for the supply of components made of polymer composites for serial production of the Su-57. Until 2028, we will ensure the production of 74 sets of the products," Silkin said in a report to the government.

The Su-57, Russia’s fifth generation aircraft is in the serial production stage but manufacturing has been delayed after the first aircraft from the production line was destroyed in a crash.