Technological gap wasn't that great during those times. It is now brother...there is a reason why we didn't follow up on SU 57. Rafale is one of the best thing we bought in last 2 decade in my opinion. It is the best fighter jet in subcontinent tech wise.. Better than anything chinese or paki have. Russia made good progress in last two decade in certain fields specially armoured vehicles, submarines, even Air defence system & Radars but they are way behind specially in aviation. Russian trolls can claim whatever they want but things on ground are not that great... not even in Ukraine according to latest reports
Just had an arguement with two turkish users for thinking the TFX is better than what the F-35 is so I had to set them straight and this might apply here as well.
1. The F-18 growler Next gen jammer uses GaN also the F-35 is getting new modules which of course will be the same shit. in terms of radars
https://ir.qorvo.com/static-files/f3b850ac-b1d4-4935-9236-6a81990ac89b and changed to GaN prodction and even have some modules available for military radars like aircrafts
https://www.qorvo.com/applications/defense-aerospace/radar#all-cat-products
Now having 360 degree radar coverage isnt that bad and all since its argued that the Su-57 current version has 240 degrees and one of the officiials of KRET stated the himalayas has active detection making it 360 degree coverage
https://vpk.name/news/144206_kret_r...borby_s_vozdushno-kosmicheskimi_ugrozami.html The F-22A was not possible for a 240 degree radar design because it was too expensive and I am assuming the Sukhoi LTS went 360 degree infrared with the F-35 because its cheaper. The Su-57 new avionics upgrade is a different story for 2022-2024
https://rostec.ru/upload/iblock/749/7499bd4f8161ec87a58c080c077564e8.pdf page 63 those 3 aircrafts received new EW modules and systems after 2014. Than they are pushing on this for radar coverage.
to save everyone the headaches of what this is about here,
https://www.russiadefence.net/t8378p575-russian-radar-systems https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/photonic-integrated-circuits-and-radar-developement.32576/ the Current F-35 and Su-57 have old radars with replacement plans for them so 360 degree GaN isnt going to be all that exclusive just for the TAI TFX when it seems that both countries wont have a problem making something equal or in Russias case better, and not to be a dick but I see those replacements happening before the TAI-TFX is officially an operational aircraft.
2. They are some condescending moderators at secretprojects in their TAI-TFX thread but not too long ago they were deciding who is going to export them the engines. But the performance of three stream cycle engines will be better than turbofan engines that they already had in the past.
https://www.aero-mag.com/sixth-generation-fighter-jet-engine-17082021 and
https://webcache.googleusercontent....s/2021/5/18/228542/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us they will create turbofan engines but supercruise and range performances with fuel efficency goes to aircrafts with 3 stream cycle engines. For bonus purposes they can go for detonation engines.
https://www.aerospacetestinginterna...est-success-with-pulse-detonation-engine.html
Single-engine hypersonic stealth plane under development in Russia - source
https://ntv.ifmo.ru/file/article/14542.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._DETONACII_PODKRITICESKIM_STRIMERNYM_RAZRADOM
ОДК создает двигатели нового поколения для самолетов и ракет
3. Su-57 already had DIRCM dont know if its part of their avionics package upgrade for better DIRCM, F-35 has proposed Thndr DIRCM but MSDM uses 1 meter size missiles for self defense nothing of that missile size caliber on the TFX but proposed on the pantsir systems being quadpacked of same size but no propositions on their aircrafts. Su-57 has internal hypersonic air to ground missiles Larva-MD but nothing on the F-35 side. but where Turkey stands in missiles other than the SOM series being domestic there is nothing much heard.
Conclusion
When something is entirely a different generation or one generation up it has to have a significant advantage over an aircraft that has a lower generation. stealth aircrafts beat regular fighter aircrafts because of RCS differences where stealth can engage at BVR distances and regular aircrafts short distances, however a near hypersonic near orbit aircraft should be considered a different generation aircraft in my opinions because the air to air missiles going up altitudes will burn alot of fuel..... and the only way to target such high altitude aircrafts is to ascend into the air and not descend. At best from my personal opinion the NGAD, whatever F-35 block,TFX. Su-57 variant or F-22s if getting upgraded or not will only fall in 5th gen, 5th gen +, 5th gen ++ category rating. GaAS and regular turbo engines are 5th gen, GaN and 3 stream cycle engines are 5th gen+, DIRCM is 5th gen + or self defense 1 meter minauture missiles might be 5th gen ++, using regular flares and shafts is just 5th gen, photonic radars, microwave guns, 700km range missiles using several air to air missiles in one like the MRK DP project or near hypersonic flight would be considered 6th gen because of the huge technological leap it has over conventional radars, engines, weapons, etc.